Falls of Chia-aig

Summery
A fully featured adventure canyon with some enclosed sections and multiple quality features. Long sections of gorge walking separates more exciting features. Anchors are of poor quality and may need replacing/ placing. Extra care is needed on the second abseil, see notes.
Canyon Descent:
190m
Highest Drop:
20m
Canyon Length:
2km
Minimum Ropes:
1X 40m
Flood Risk:
HIGH
Access Type:
Public
Rock Type:
Psammite
Catchment:
17.7km2
Duration: in, down and out:
IN: 45 mins DOWN: 5hrs OUT: 1 min
Anchors
Mixed
Notes
To descend this canyon the waterfall opposite the road should be thin and you should be able to see clearly through it. See Water Level Indicator for reference. The second abseil needs extra care as it lands you in the pot which is deeply undercut, recirculating and difficult to escape. Anchors are of poor quality in the canyon and may need replacing or placing.
Description
Approach by Car: Park at the Falls of Chai-aig viewing area. Approach by foot: From the car park follow the path up stream until you reach the forestry road. Join this road and follow until it flattens out. Canyon entry: 56.967346, -4.994698 . The popular start is at the first main waterfalls with 2 abseils, however you can start below this point. It's worth being aware the second abseil lands you in an extremely dangerous pool and is worth avoiding in anything but low water (difficult to escape, deeply undercut and recirculating). 2 bolts can be found river left on the first waterfall and 1 bolt (rusted) and one small peg river left for the second waterfall. Following this, long sections of gorge walking with jumps and slides thrown into the mix take you down the canyon. 2 larger waterfall can be found, the former is about half way down and can be jumped or abseiled (boulder anchor). Worth checking the boulders and ledges in the landing pool. The second larger waterfall (3/4 way down the canyon) has one rusted bolt which can be backed up to lodged tree trunk, unless the latter has been washed down taking the bolt with it. After lots more scrambling, and couple of jumps, slides you'll get to the hydro station where water may be flowing back into the canyon (taken out above the start). Either exit here, or there's a jump river right leading to the final waterfall where there are multiple options.
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Have You Descended This Canyon Recently?
If so we would love to hear from you in the comment section below! Let the whole community know more about this canyon, Information such as time taken to: approach, descend and exit are extremely helpful, as well as any new hazards you may have come across whilst canyoning at this location.  If any information on this page is missing, incorrect or out of date, please get in contact with us directly so we can rectify as soon as possible. 
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Sol Armer
Sol Armer
September 15, 2022 7:47 pm
Canyon Experience :
     

If anyone finds a blue bag, with a 55m green rope and a barrel full of bolts and equipment, I’d love to get it back. Message +447920865994. It was lost in the second pool. After landing in the chute it was dragged back in and under. The bag floated in normal conditions.

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