Gorge Walk – Kilannan Burn_Abriachan

August 28th, 2009 • Gorge Walking • Misha

Last weekend we got out to Kilannan Burn in Abriachan. Chris, Sarah, Lorraine and myself wandered up the gorge in wetsuites. The Burn itself was once the subject of book by Mollie Hunter, about the amorphous and mythical Highland creatures known as Kelpies. As kids my brother and sister ocassionally went up the gorge – we once found a dead sheep in the gorge but I dont think we saw the kelpie, although it is difficult to tell when they can change from one animal to another.

The Gorge section is an excellent trip from the bridge which crosses the river about half way up the hill (GR568347). You can also visit the waterfall which is beneath the bridge -wander down the path to the left of the river for a hundred yards or so and you should be able to get down into the gorge (watch the steeps sides though). Once in the bottom of the gorge walk upstream to get a little shower under the waterfall – excellent!

After the waterfall we wandered back up to the bridge to walk thorugh the main gorge section. We did it without ropes, but a confidence rope probably wouldn’t go a miss, particularly if anyone’s just getting used to gorge walking. It is of course level dependant – this river in spate would be a different proposition. Most obstacles/waterfalls are avoidable but be careful of loose rocks and the slippy sides of the gorge which could be more dangerous than the waterfalls. The end of the gorge section is easily obvious as it’s just after the biggest waterfall climb. You can sometimes jump into the plunge pool form here although I dont think it’s that deep.

I did take a Hi-8 video cam in so should be able to get some footage up here soon.

Equipment:

wetsuites
dry shoes/trainers
helmets << should’ve had but didn’t
lifejackets << should’ve had but didn’t

Tags: Abriachan, Gorge walk, kilannan burn

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The Code

The Country Code, which most of us learned in school (and we probably haven't read since!), was updated in 2004 when it became the Countryside Code. Here's the updated version: In Scotland, where there is a more general right of access, there also exists the Scottish Outdoor Access Code: There's obviously a lot to to be learned from these - it's amazing how many people get out to enjoy the countryside but are still happy to leave it in a mess. Even with the recent updates, the Countryside Codes seem slightly outdated when considering the wider issues involved when lots of people get out into the countryside. Some places just can't handle high volumes of people, no matter how they behave and publicity, no matter how interesting or well-done , has the potential to attract lots of people to an area. Blogs including video, pictures or words, form part the the wider media which could easily contribute to tipping the balance, and so we as bloggers have to consider the implications of what we decide to post. Can the place we're writing about take more people, and if not, it might be wiser to leave maps, place names or grid references out of posts. In Scotland, the Mountain Bothies Association has been careful to protect the location of some Bothies due to mis-treatment and, in some cases, even malicious vandalism. That is not to say they would not advocate people using them - in fact, a well used, maintained and loved network of bothies exist, and the MBA as an organisation is there to encourage this. Some bothies are busier than others but generally it is the less remote places which are more susceptible to abuse - something which might be worth considering when deciding whether to post information. It must be said, in most cases it's obvious what should or shouldn't be publisiced, but it's worth taking these considerations to mind.

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