Name: River Roe
Length: 4km
Grade: 2+ to 3+
Get In: Footbridge over the river at Carrick Rock’s. Off the B192 road on the left bank of the river. This leads to a small lane with a car park at the bottom. A small stepped path leads down to the footbridge with the get in on the other side of the bridge on the downstream side.
Get Out: Wooden footbridge after O’Cahan’s rock

Water levels can be inspected by the appearance of the small beach, which is the get in on the downstream side of the bridge. This level is just right for running the river. If the beach is any higher than what would be presumed level with the river then it will be a scrape down most weirs. Any higher than the beach i.e. “you can’t see the beach”, then the river is in flood.
Just below the footbridge is the first weir. This is a fish ladder weir, which is usually run middle to river Right. Flat-spins are possible here. Next is what used to be an old manmade weir, which had to re-built after heavy floods destroyed it. It is now a fish ladder type weir with a natural ledge drop directly after it. This is usually shot on river left heading towards river Right or if you prefer river Left. This weir has great play potential but is not for use of beginners, as an ass kicking will ensue. Splats and
Splat-wheels are real easy on this weir as well as cartwheels in the powerful flow coming from the fish ladder. The natural ledge below this weir is also deep enough for tail squirts. On down are many small to medium size rapids with some deep powerful bits. A swim here would be painful. The next weir of reputation is just after a bridge with a dolphin painted on it which has a small natural ledge under it creating a small deep stopper. This weir is always best shot straight through the middle. This weir produces a brilliant surfing wave in all water levels. Don’t blunt or cartwheel here as this weir is shallow and you can stand in it. OUCH! You can cartwheel just river Left of you in the flow that comes off the diagonal wall on the weir. Also on river left is a great spot to have lunch. On down from this weir are some rapids of varying size with the trickiest on the run up to the start of the “Dogleap rapid”. You will know the run up to the Dogleap as the river widens and the Roe Valley Country Park buildings appear directly in front of you with a large beach on river Left which follows the river. The river does a 90° turn to river left down the Dogleap rapid itself. Get out here and inspect this rapid! Remember bank safety is important here as it is very slippy. As you walk downstream with the river you will see the gorge that the Dogleap rapid enters. As you come to the start of the gorge before the big stone bridge just slightly downstream you should be facing the Dogleap itself. This is a narrow slot between an overhanging outcrop of rock and the bank itself. Watch your head as you go down this. In higher water it is more of a danger as you will be pushed closer to it at high speed and may make even the best paddlers in your group capsize.
Rope safety here on the bank facing the Dogleap and below is a must in all water levels. Just below the Dogleap itself is a big eddy, which is great for picking up gear and swimmers. However you should send your best people down first to show the line to the beginners and then to act as chase boaters to rescue swimmers who get washed the rest of the rapid.
Directly after the big eddy the is a large drop which also has a an overhanging outcrop of rock which may put people in even after surviving the Dogleap. If your not busy rescuing people and it is all going sweetly then you may want to try some cartwheels at the bottom of this drop. This is however at your own discretion. Those who capsize at the start and are not rescued at the big eddy will have a big bouncy water swim down to one of the eddies on river Left. It is best to send your chase boaters after the stricken swimmer to provide much needed support and encouragement as a swim here in high water can be scary. Once you are all together presuming you get all your swimmers together before the next rapid which is about 50m on down, you will find a pour over style set of holes in the middle of the river before you make a sharp turn to river Right to get into an eddy. I cannot give you a definite line here. I usually shoot it straight through the craziest stuff I can find which is usually middle to slight river Right and then into the big eddy behind the outcrop of rock on river Right. Swimmers can be picked up here. A breather can be taken here before the last section. The last section is a calm water lead up between two vertical gorge walls either side. Head to river Right to inspect the weirs. The weir closest to river Right is the hardest and gets harder in higher water. This is a two-tier drop with a bloody nasty stopper at the bottom. This will kick the ass of even your best paddlers if they go in sideways or if anyone capsizes above and ends up in it. On far river Left is a chicken shoot, which is best used in times of flood or higher water levels. High angled flat-spins are possible here. Round the corner is the last rapid, which has a pretty clear line in lower water. In higher water it is best shot river Right. About 300m downstream of this on river Left is your get out beside the wooden bridge over the river. Walk up the path alongside the river and turn left to get back to your car.