Rafting has been a popular activity since the days of orange flares and big moustaches...yeap, the 1970s. It has only really become a regular adventure offering in Scotland however since the 1990s.
What is Rafting?
Well, here is the history bit.....rafting like traditional canoeing is one of the earliest means of transportation across water. Similar to canoeing, rafting was established as a utilitarian means of transporting people, animals, products, food etc. In the 20th Century numerous expeditions have also used rafts for exploring many uncharted waterways.
Around the 1960s, in conjunction with increases in leisure time and income, rafting started to become a leisure activity and famous rivers such as the Colorado in the Grand Canyon became commerically rafted. According to the internet (and our favourite generic encyclopaedia site detailing all things trivial and not entirely accurate) "the big turning point in rafting came with it's inclusion in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games".
However, that little fact is proving illusive to verify. It appears that rafting has never been an official olympic sport but many olympic whitewater courses, built for canoe and kayak slalom events are now used for commercial rafting. Well it makes a good story and you've got to think it would be more fun to watch than synchronized swimming!
Anyway, by the 1980s rafting was becomming truly international as rivers in Africa, South America, Australia and New Zealand became commercially rafted. Finally, the International Federation of Rafting was instituted in 1997 and in 1998 the first Official International Championship was held in Costa Rica.
What is a Raft?
So, onto the technical bit....a raft is generally an open inflatable boat which any customer on a raft trip will be expected to help pump up!! They come in various sizes but are usually around 16ft (5m) and can take 1-2 instructors plus 8 crew (often affectionately know as 'punters'). Rafts are very durable made of multi-layered rubberized or vinyl fabrics. Perfect for bouncing off rocks as you make your way downstream. The raft has a number of independent air chambers so can stay afloat even if one chamber is punctured. The crew sit on these inflatable chambers, feet on the floor of the raft (which can also be inflatable) and reach over the side of the raft to paddle. Meanwhile the guide sits at the back of the raft, giving instructions and steering the raft. Many rafts are also self draining, another feature which helps keep them afloat.
A new 16ft raft will probably set you back a good £1,500-£2,000. Second hand they might be around half this but may have a fair bit of wear and tear.
I want to go rafting - what do I need?
Well, as a rafter, you will be in the raft helping (or hindering?!) its passage downstream by paddling so you will need the following:
Now the average person doesn't usually have all this kit and generally not a raft, let alone the skill to paddle it. Don't worry though, the best way to experience rafting and at least work out if it is for you (before you invest in any kit) is to go on one of the many trips provided by activitiy companies. They should then provide all the kit you need and will tell you what to bring e.g. a swimsuit and often footwear such as old trainers you don't mind getting wet. Even better, you should get a nice experienced raft guide and you don't even need to take friends as the company will sort out other customers to make a suitably sized crew for the river trip.
Is it safe?
Despite the movie portrayal (think Meryl Streep in the River Wild or Deliverance) commercial canoeing and specifically rafting trips in Scotland are pretty safe. Think about it... You're in a relatively protected craft - a big bouncy inflated rubber raft, steered by a professional instructor. Also, most rafting companies in Scotland do the majority of their trips on fairly friendly rivers i.e. not much over Grade 3/3+ this is safer for them and the customer (see river grading below).
Having said, all that, it wouldn't be so popular or so much fun unless there was a bit or risk and excitement. Taking a swim is a distinct possibilty as is bumping into some rocks. Basically check you are going with a reputable company, there should always be at least 2 rafts on a trip or one raft with a safety kayaker and the raft guides should be qualified. It undoubtedly helps if you are a reasonable swimmer and comfortable in cold water. By the same token, non-swimmers, those petrified of water or really small kids should probably give rafting a miss.
What kind of rivers can I raft on?
There is an International River Grading System desgined to classify water in terms of difficulty for navigation. This should be the same the world over but think about it... You are basically putting every single stretch of water in the world into 1 of 6 cateogories and inconsistencies (commonly between countries) occur. That and the fact that more people are rafting and canoeing and equipment has improved so rivers are being run which 10 years ago were considered unnavigable. Broadly speaking Class V river rafting trips are for the serious adventure seeker (think the Zambezi in Africa) while class I-II trips are for family float trips (e.g. sections of the Spey in Scotland).
The classification is as follows:
Class I - Easy. Small riffles. No significant waves or obstacles.
Class II - Novice. Moderate rapids with regular waves, small drops, clear passages and wide channels. Occasional manoeuvring may be required.
Class III - Intermediate. Moderately difficult rapids with larger irregular waves, often narrow channels. Complex manoeuvring to avoid obstacles required.
Class IV - Advanced. Intense, powerful rapids requiring precise manoeuvring in fast, turbulent water. Complex channels with many significant obstacles to be avoided.
Class V - Expert. Extremely long violent or obstructed rapids, often following each other almost without interruption. Drops may have large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with difficult routes. Steep gradient.
Class VI - Commercially unrunnable. The class of a rapid or river can change at different water levels. The temperature of the water, the air temperature, the remoteness of the river, and the difficulty of a rescue can all influence the rapid's class.
As detailed above, most rafting companies in Scotland work on fairly friendly rivers i.e. Grade 3/3+ this is still exciting enough for the majority of people as usually their experience of whitewater is pretty limited. Put simply, compared to what they raft in Africa, NZ and even the continent, rafting in Scotland is gentler but consequently the risks are generally lower.
Rafting vs. kayaking
The title is tongue in cheek as there shouldn't be a versus. Both are legitimate, albeit different ways, to enjoy the water and there is enough room on the river for everyone. Although I have heard a fellow kayaker call the local rafter "the floating undercut"......
Who enjoys rafting?
Everyone! Although there is a definite art to choosing the right kind of trip. Rafting is in general a really good way to introduce those less confident on water to the fun of water sports. Ok, it might seem tame to many more experienced water users but it's hard to beat a sunny day on the river Garry, grade 3 bimble and all. Hard nosed kayakers can enjoy rafting but generally the river needs to be harder (Grade 4 and above) and heaven help the poor raft guide who tries to get a crew of kayakers to work as a team!
Where can I go white water rafting in Scotland?
There are a few options for white water rafting in Scotland and a number of activity companies who provide trips. In terms of the 'best' rafting it's a bit subjective and depends how exciting you like things. Rafting is also largely restricted to dam release rivers in the summer i.e. rivers with guaranteed flow on set days (see our dam releases page). Although... should it rain, (not unheard of in Scotland in the summer!) companies can expand the range of rivers they run trips on.
The following white water raft trips are offered by a number of companies in Scotland. Rivers with a * are dam release so have regular water levels the others rely on rain so are less predictable:
Easier trips - river Awe* near Oban, the river Tay in Perthshire and the river Spey.
Moderate trips - river Garry*, North of Fort William, the lower river Roy in Roy Bridge or the river Tummel* near Dunkeld
Harder trips - river Braan near Dunkeld, the river Moriston* in Invermoriston, the river Findhorn near Aviemore or the river Orchy at Bridge of Orchy