| White water rafting is fun, exciting, dangerous and | | | | With the growth of rafting as a recreational |
| now Scotland has placed itself firmly on the map | | | | activity and a sport, many improvements in the |
| as the place to do it. Since the early 1970s white | | | | options that are open to people have become |
| water rafting has become a sport that has grown | | | | available. This means that lazy rafters looking for |
| rapidly year on year. Places such as River | | | | cheap frills without wasting energy can now look |
| Tummel in Scotland are now home to thousands | | | | towards motorised rafts, rather than the |
| of tourists and experienced rafters alike who take | | | | traditional human-powered raft. This is also a |
| to the water each year. | | | | great way for people to settle into the |
| With white water rafting comes more than just | | | | experience of riding a rapid, without the added |
| adventure, there is the risk of injury as well. That | | | | worry of steering and powering the raft at the |
| is why anyone who is new to the sport must | | | | same time. It is also worthy of note that many |
| understand the risks that are involved every time | | | | say the motorised element can remove much of |
| you enter a raft. The fast-paced nature of the | | | | the fun associated with the sport. |
| sport means literally anything can happen, and not | | | | Scotland and white water rafting now go hand in |
| just falling overboard. Steering in and out of | | | | hand for a number of reasons, not least the great |
| obstacles also means that you run the risk of | | | | facilities. Scotland is home to highly skilled and |
| collisions, so it is imperative that you understand | | | | qualified instructors in the area of white water |
| the importance of wearing a life jacket and as | | | | rafting, but that is just the start. Places such as |
| well as a safety helmet. It is usually the case that | | | | Grandtully, Dunkeld and Averfeldy have world |
| rapids are given a rating between 1-5 for how | | | | class facilities for experienced rafters and |
| complicated they are, so remember and start low | | | | beginners alike. Not only that, but Scotland is also |
| before working your way up. 1 is the lowest and | | | | home to dam induced rapids that mean rafters do |
| would be suitable for young children and beginners, | | | | not have to count on conditions to be sure they |
| whilst a more experienced rafter may be able to | | | | can have a great days sporting activity. |
| take the challenge of a rapid classed as 5. | | | | |