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Play-run, Ireland, North-West, County of Donegal, Duff River.

What's it like

So you are in the north west of Ireland. It has been raining heavily, but not enough to bring the playspots up. All you have is a playboat and you don't fancy tackling grade 5 in a little slicey boat (who could blame you?).

So why don't you give the Duff river a go? The Duff has about 500 meters of shallow but pretty easy grade 3 rapids leading into one of the nicest, easiest 12 foot waterfalls on earth: the fall is totally vertical, has a very deep plunge pool and the hole at the bottom is harmless. The fall can be run in surprisingly low water and just begs you to run it again and again. You can run this in any type of boat, from the tiniest play machine to the biggest beginner tank. When you have it dialled forwards and backwards (with old-school grabs of course :-) try a freewheel off or maybe a kickflip. It's all safe.

The main line is easy. But if you like a bit more spice there is a little funky channel down river right. It's quite obvious and there is little risk of going down it accidentally. It is tough though.

When you have had enough, either walk up to the car (or jump in again) or just paddle out into the surf and play more!

Water levels on the Duff can change very fast. And it can sometimes burst its banks and become a high volume monster. Again, check the river and judge well.

How to get there

To get to this river go north out of Sligo towards Donegal. It's well signposted. On the northern border between Co. Sligo and Co. Donegal is the Bunduff bridge. Also well signposted. This is the put in. Just park on the roadside. Walk down either bank to inspect the rapids till you get to the last fall. Easy, easy, easy.

Locals

This Duff is a fishing river, so make sure to check for fishermen in the fishing season. Caution: sometimes fishermen put a steel cage or something like that submerged beneath the last fall. It's supposed to be to stop poaching, but it also serves as a great boater killer. It's best to avoid this river in the fishing season, but if you don't, inspect the last fall!

Info sources

tao

Nearest weather station (°C): Sligo, Ireland Daily Hourly Apr 06 16 5 11 0 Clear Apr 07 18 4 11 0 Clear Apr 08 19 6 12 0 Clear Apr 09 19 3 11 0 Clear Apr 10 17 4 10 0 Clear Apr 11 13 7 10 0 Overcast Apr 12 12 6 9 0 Overcast Apr 13 10 6 8 1.8 Overcast Apr 14 11 4 8 2 Rain, Partially cloudy Apr 15 12 5 8 9.3 Partially cloudy Apr 16 12 5 8 4 Overcast Apr 17 13 4 8 0.4 Partially cloudy Apr 18 13 8 10 1.3 Overcast Apr 19 13 8 10 4.1 Partially cloudy Apr 20 12 7 9 0.4 Partially cloudy Apr 21 11 7 9 0.3 Overcast Credit