Alva
Steve Linksted
Ordnance Survey Landranger 58, NS894960
Nearby Postcode FK10 3AW (the wrong side of the river, but within sight of the course)
Alva sees 3 annual division 3/4 events run by 3 different clubs – all of whom train here at different times. CR Cats, (contact secretary@crcats.org) the most active slalom club in Scotland, train here Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 1630 to 1830. Stirling Canoe Club train on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1830 to 2000. Several other clubs use the facilities at other times, or join in with the existing sessions.
The course is sited on the River Devon, about 1 mile east of Alva village. It is
primarily slow moving, flat water, but there is a small “fall” in the centre of
the course, and additional eddies have been constructed by the clubs to provide
more options for courses. The course is floodlit to allow for winter evening
training, and there are heated changing facilities and a flush toilet available
on site. Colorado Construction have helped significantly during 2011-2012 to add
to these facilities and assist with managing the river to keep this as one of
the most used training sites in Scotland, and in recognition of this the site is
known as the “Colorado Canoeing Centre of Excellence”, or CCCE for short!
The winter of 2011/12 saw a 3 race, handicap winter series being introduced, and
it is hoped this will become an annual event, open to all. Contact CR Cats for
more details, or keep an eye on www.canoeslalom.co.uk!
JS Grading - B
B: Slightly moving water, giving some eddy-lines, but not enough to worry paddlers; and with at the most one small drop which paddlers simply have to run down.
Even courses that are usually easy can become dangerous in exceptional high water conditions. If in doubt, seek advice or stay off the water.