Rises – J226989 (R)
Tributaries – Douglas Burn and Glenwhirry River
Codename – Grunting
Paddling ability – Intermediate upwards
Why the codename? Although the journey is idyllic and the features non-threatening or hazardous, there is a lot of physical work in moving the boat through the shallows and you have to think quickly and continuously to avoid rocks.
Section One - Battery Bridge J220991 (A) to Moorfields J190992 (B) 2 hours / 4km journey time approx
Section One - River Access and Launching/Recovery
Battery Bridge is found on the B94 approximately 10 miles north of Ballyclare. You can find this road from the centre of BallyClare or come in from Kells along the B53. Travel along the B53 until you see the Battery Inn on the left. The turn for the B94 is on your right and the Bridge is at the bottom of the hill.
You access the river downstream of Battery Bridge on river left. Access is down a bank, however this is stepped thanks to bank conservation work which has placed wire cubes of stones into the bank. You do however have to carry the boat along a fairly busy road and lift then over a wall. Boats can be left down near the water’s edge out of sight of passersby.
Section One - Parking
Roadside in a lay-by where you could park 3 cars turning is available within 0.5 miles in both directions
Section one - Craft Advice
A beautiful section to journey and will allow improvement of canoeing skills but kayakers will be bored silly unless water levels are very high.
Section One - Water Levels Required
Difficult to gauge as no easy marker is available. You will require a number of days of rain in the days before your trip, however I suggest it would next exceptional rain levels before the river at this point would be washed out or madness. Inspection is essential, if your canoe floats down the initial section below Battery Bridge it will likely be passable to Moorfields.
Section One - Journey
This section is moving water. It is difficult to grade as, although it is moving quite quickly and there are no clear paths the water is shallow and rescue (including self rescue) is easy. This is a perfect section to practice poling, lining and tracking. In fact in some sections in all but high levels poling will be the most effective mode of propulsion. The scenery is lovely and the paddle is very relaxed. For part of the way there is a path for fishermen that follows the river (river left) and this would be a perfect place to stop for rescues/snacks etc.
There is one weir on this section and you will know you are coming to it because the river right bank rises sharply and you can see a green barn at the top of the embankment. Fields to left are flat. The weir as you can see below is in two sections with the angle of the weir becoming less acute towards river right. However once you go past the obvious break in the weir (beyond the furthest arrow)you will run off into a fallen tree which at very high levels would be a very dangerous strainer. Full inspection of the weir and subsequent run off is advised and is easy from the field river left. The best run down is either the V slot against the left (closest arrow) or just left of the break in the weir (furthest arrow). Be careful in low to moderate conditions as the water below the weir is very shallow and you may need to line it.
Section One - Egress
Let’s be reasonable you could egress the river at Moorfields, but seriously have you seen the picture ...that’s a tough pull up the hill.
If you have to you have to... but you would be better paddling on down to Rock Bridge. To get to Moorfields carry on up the hill pass Battery Bridge and at the Battery Inn take a left along the B53. Carry on till you see the road signs for Moorfields and take a left onto the Speerstown Road. Pull into beside the carpark. Access to the carpark is gained by getting the key from the man who lives in 1 Speerstown road (directly across the road)...be nice our continued use of this facility is based on our relationship with him.
Section Two – Moorfields J190992 (B) to Rock Bridge J160982 (C)
Section Two - River Access and Launching/Recovery
Moorfields is a district name. You are in search of the bridge and it is located coming west along the B53 (towards Kells) on the left just as you see the road signs for Moorfields and heading east it is on your right after the articulated lorry depot. The Road is called the Speerstown Road. Down this road you will cross a high aqueduct bridge over the river.
Access to the river is over a style and down a steep bank (see photo above) with a mud track carved into it. This will be a reasonably easy carry or you could simply slide the boats down on ropes. Access at the bottom to the river is from a level field with a low bank.
Section Two - Parking
There is a gravel car park with a locked gate at the access point. This is not contrary to the signage owned by the fishing club but by a very pleasant man who lives across the way in the house at the bottom of the lane. If you explain you wish to use the car park to access the river for paddling he will give you the key. Remember to be nice as continued use of the facility will depend on our attitude as a paddling community.
Section Two - Craft Advice
A very enjoyable section of river including many natural drops and boulder gardens and a few industrial weirs. This section would be suitable for canoes from medium to very high levels and for kayakers in higher waters. It may be a possibility in times when other rivers are too swollen to be of any use.
Section Two - Water Levels Required
Again this is difficult to guage. I would suggest that if you have managed from Battery Bridge the rest of the section will be fine. However unlike Battery Bridge to Moorfields which is quite shingly and smaller rock gardens, this section really has much larger rocks and boulders to hit and get stuck on. The day we ran it section one was a pleasant slide down most things but we would have liked another 2 feet on this section just to make hitting things a little less frustrating.
Section Two - Journey
Again this section is mostly moving water and again difficult to gauge with the shallow fast flowing water. I would place this at bottom grade 3 due to the difficult to negotiate routes through the boulder fields. There were a few broaches and we took on water, a few overhanging trees and times when a bit of whitewater knowledge was necessary. This section was tough physical work, especially at the lower end of water levels, plenty of shoving, lifting and the like.
As you come to a swinging left hand bend in the river you will see up a steep embankment a white coloured house. This is the industrial weir of this section.
Inspection of the weir can be made from shingle beach, river left on the bend. This weir again forms in two sections with a small “wall” sectioning it. All aspects of the weir run off to a further small drop which has a interesting hole.
This hole will cause no problems for open paddlers but could be sticky if a kayaker landed in it the wrong way. The rest of the river is a series of fast moving sections dropping all the time to Rock Bridge. In moderate flows you will need to avoid boulders and pick your channel carefully. In higher flows it will all be washed out. There is a good chance in moderate flows that open boaters could broach. Watch out for overhanging trees.
Sction Two - Egress
The egress off the river at Rock Bridge is wonderful. Unless the river is washed out there is a large shingle beach river left. This leads to a field and up a short track, over a style to the road.
Road access is on the B59. From Moorfields come along the B53 and at the Y junction just past a shop on your right hang a left. At the end of this road turn left and parking is available on both sides of the road after the bridge. You will find two laybys either side of the road enough parking for 6 cars.
