WHITEWATER

Whitewater is an adventurous branch of the sport where paddlers navigate their way down a river. This can be done in a recreational, explorative or competitive way.

Scotland boasts an array of world-class locations for whitewater adventures - from the iconic Stanley stretch of the River Tay to experiencing some of the most renowned 'creeking' destinations globally, including waterfalls on rivers like the Etive. With the perfect combination of river levels, a skilled paddling crew, and the right river selection, you can enjoy a day on Scottish whitewater that is as leisurely or exhilarating as you desire.

Scotland is blessed to have a schedule of dam release rivers over the summer, when temperatures are higher and typically our natural river levels are low. Paddle Scotland is instrumental in arranging and maintaining this annual schedule of releases for all paddlers.

Whitewater can be undertaken in a vast array of different canoes, kayaks and other craft.

Typically, crafts used for this discipline are made from plastic. It's quite routine for whitewater boats to come into contact with rock, so they need to be robust.

Whiteater paddlers should always have a wide range of safety equipment and training, given the potentially risky environments that they need to navigate.

Any experienced whitewater paddler will always have a helmet, buoyancy aid, throwrope, knife, webbing sling and carabiners when they are getting into some serious whitewater.