The Scottish River Dee – A paddler’s guide and tales of the riverbank
A new guide to an iconic Scottish river by Jonathan Kitching
Many readers will have come across Jonathan Kitching, long-time River Advisor to the Dee, member of the Access and Environment Committees and founder of Aboyne Canoe Club. Jonathan was a passionate advocate for everything to do with the river Dee and was always enthusiastic about getting people out paddling and active outdoors. JK lost his long battle with myeloma in 2023. A team of his friends have finally managed to finish JK’s book, which he had been working on before his death, which is the first complete guide to the Scottish River Dee.
This book is written principally for the river paddler who wishes to know more about the river, its twists and turns, rapids, heights and delights, old crossing points, and many tales about things paddled past as progress is made down the river. That said, it is also a useful guide for anybody travelling close to the river by foot or bike, fishing its pools, cycling the Deeside Way, or picnicking and swimming at one of the many beauty spots.
The River Dee in northeast Scotland is one of the four big rivers for canoe touring. It is also probably the least frequented and offers stunning scenery with a sense of isolation in the upper reaches despite the ease of access to the water. The river is also one of Scotland’s premier salmon fishing rivers. It has a complex and fascinating history, with many delightful tales and folklore to entertain visitors to the river.
A little exploring away from the river
The book has ten sections, each describing a river segment from the uppermost reaches to the end of the paddle-able river above Aberdeen Harbour. Each includes a summary of information on length, grade, and main access points, as well as a detailed guide to this part of the river, referring to places and stories of interest along the way, mostly seen from the river. Still, some will require a little exploring away from the river. There are stories about buildings of note, bridges and old crossing points of ferries and fords. The guide is beautifully illustrated with colour photos collected from local paddlers, organisations and history enthusiasts.
The second part of each section, Tales of the Riverbank, expands on some of those places and stories mentioned in the first part to broaden the reader’s knowledge and understanding. This gives the opportunity to delve a little deeper into a story, a way of life, farming practice, a human story, a ghost story, or just a good tale handed down through the generations. The book concludes with further information about topics of interest to paint a more detailed picture of the river, selected history and its environment.
ANCHOR charity
At Jonathan’s request, the full sale cost of each book will go to the Friends of ANCHOR charity, which supported Jonathan and many others like him on his cancer journey. The ANCHOR Unit in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is the central hub of cancer and haematology care for the north of Scotland, providing person-centred wellbeing services, medical equipment and pioneering research.
If you’d like a copy, you can buy it directly from the Friends of Anchor online shop at www.friendsofanchor.org or by emailing jkbook100@gmail.com. We hope you enjoy the book and are inspired to spend time on or beside JK’s river.
