River Dodder : Urban paddling with some nice weirs. Section : Templeogue bridge to Dropping Well pub.
5.7km approx
Grade 2 to 3.
Use the EPA guage :
http://www.epa.ie/hydronet/#09010 The river needs to be at least 30.350, better from 30.400 and up.
Park in the layby on the Templeogue side of the R817 bridge over the river. (Same start as the old guide book).
Get in on river left under the R817 bridge. There are steps down to the river.
Overview : The river is read and run most of the way down with some lovely auto-boofs at the weirs. Good footwear is essential and a creeker is recommended.
The run : The first weir at the start is surprisingly high. Paddle it anywhere in the middle.
Grade 2 rapids for the next while with a wave to surf just upstream of the Rathfarnham Tesco.
At the end of Busy park you might need to portage the stepping stones if the level is low.
The weir on the Lower Dodder road is best run on the left. Don't forget to take some photos here. You can also climb back up this weir on the right to go again.
Near the Orwell road you'll come to a horse-shoe shaped weir. Scout on the left prior to running the chicken shoot to the left. The main weir will only run in very high water, probably best avoided the rest of the time.
Keep paddling to the weir above the Dopping well. Paddle it on the left or left of centre. The right hand line drops on to rocks.
Hop out on river left just upstream of the pub. Park in the pub carpark.
I wouldn't recommend paddling further than the pub due to deteriating water quality.
There's a video of part of this section of river.
https://youtu.be/kFawP0Cdebs.
