North Esk, Lothian
Kayak spot · UK
Whitewater: a river with rapids
Is it worth the trip?
52Fair out of 100 for your dates
Best on Sun 8: Wind 4 kn gusting 11, Air 8 °C, River levels: no free forecast gives them, so check a gauge before you go
Tue 3 · 51 out of 100
- Wind
- 4 kn
- Gusts
- 8kn
- Air
- 8°C
- Rain
- 1.2 mm
Wed 4 · 53 out of 100
- Wind
- 5 kn
- Gusts
- 13kn
- Air
- 8°C
- Rain
- 0 mm
Thu 5 · 50 out of 100
- Wind
- 7 kn
- Gusts
- 16kn
- Air
- 9°C
- Rain
- 0 mm
Fri 6 · 50 out of 100
- Wind
- 6 kn
- Gusts
- 18kn
- Air
- 8°C
- Rain
- 0.6 mm
Sat 7 · 51 out of 100
- Wind
- 5 kn
- Gusts
- 13kn
- Air
- 8°C
- Rain
- 0.6 mm
Sun 8 · 54 out of 100
- Wind
- 4 kn
- Gusts
- 11kn
- Air
- 8°C
- Rain
- 0 mm
Mon 9 · 50 out of 100
- Wind
- 2 kn
- Gusts
- 7kn
- Air
- 6°C
- Rain
- 0 mm
Tap a day for wind, gusts, air and rain. Full forecast
Forecast: next 10 days
Full forecast- Mon 257, fair
- Tue 351, fair
- Wed 453, fair
- Thu 550, fair
- Fri 650, fair
- Sat 751, fair
- Sun 854, fair
- Mon 950, fair
- Tue 1046, fair
- Wed 1159, fair
The spot in three facts
- Grade IIits hardest rapid III
- Moving waterthe water
- Best in Jul5 good days in 7
Full forecast
every day, every number
| Day | Score | Wind | Gusts | Air | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 2Nov | 57, fair | 2 kn | 6kn | 9°C | 0 mm |
| Tue 3Nov | 51, fair | 4 kn | 8kn | 8°C | 1.2 mm |
| Wed 4Nov | 53, fair | 5 kn | 13kn | 8°C | 0 mm |
| Thu 5Nov | 50, fair | 7 kn | 16kn | 9°C | 0 mm |
| Fri 6Nov | 50, fair | 6 kn | 18kn | 8°C | 0.6 mm |
| Sat 7Nov | 51, fair | 5 kn | 13kn | 8°C | 0.6 mm |
| Sun 8Nov | 54, fair | 4 kn | 11kn | 8°C | 0 mm |
| Mon 9Nov | 50, fair | 2 kn | 7kn | 6°C | 0 mm |
| Tue 10Nov | 46, fair | 7 kn | 13kn | 7°C | 6.9 mm |
| Wed 11Nov | 59, fair | 2 kn | 8kn | 9°C | 0 mm |
Wind and gusts are in knots, rain in mm. River levels: no free forecast gives them, so check a gauge before you go. More
Forecast updated . It refreshes every three hours. Forecast data: ECMWF, DWD, Météo-France and NOAA, served by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Changed by us. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information.
Best time to go
best in Jul
Good kayaking days in a typical week, each month, for new paddlers, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).
- Jan0of 7: a trip from Sat 2 Jan
- Feb0of 7: a trip from Sat 6 Feb
- Mar0of 7: a trip from Sat 6 Mar
- Apr1of 7: a trip from Sat 3 Apr
- May3of 7: a trip from Sat 1 May
- Jun3of 7: a trip from Sat 5 Jun
- Jul5of 7: a trip from Sat 3 Jul
- Aug4of 7: a trip from Sat 7 Aug
- Sep2of 7: a trip from Sat 4 Sept
- Oct0of 7: a trip from Sat 2 Oct
- Nov0of 7: a trip from Tue 3 Nov
- Dec0of 7: a trip from Sat 5 Dec
Tap a month to see this spot for a trip then.
Typical weather, not a forecast, and not the river's level: a month that is often good to be outside may still be low water.
Map
put-in, take-out, its town
North Esk, Lothian on Google Maps · Directions
Each place wears its best day on these dates: green good, amber fair, pale red poor, as the key says.
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Photos of North Esk, Lothian
More kayaking near here
1 place
- Polton 7.4 km away
About
the place in full, sources, credits
About North Esk, Lothian
A river section on the North Esk, from a put-in down to a take-out. Grade II, its hardest rapid III, on the international scale. Suits new paddlers and up, by its grade. None within 10 km, the nearest 12 km away. For new paddlers the best month is usually July, with about 5 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Penicuik. Within 5 km we also list 1 kayak spot.
- River North Esk
- Grade Grade II, its hardest rapid III, on the international scale.
- Who it suits Suits new paddlers and up, by its grade.
- Access No source states the access rules: check locally.
- Schools, hire None within 10 km, the nearest 12 km away.
Spots and rivers: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Whitewater sections © Rivermap (rivermap.org), Riverzone and Jonathan Riddell, ODbL.
The score is the conditions only: the journey, the price and the partners never change it (how we score, how we earn).
Rough cost (estimate): about US$1,290–US$2,420 each
about US$1,290–US$2,420 each · 6 nights, 2 sharing: flights, taxi, stay, food, kayak hire.
Our estimate from typical public prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book (where they come from). Prices are about, in US Dollar (USD): our pound figures at the European Central Bank's rate of 30 October 2026.
How we worked it out
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to EDI, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | about US$422–US$884 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | about US$40–US$60 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | about US$322–US$543 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | about US$315–US$583 |
| Kayak hire | 5 days, or about US$114 to fly your own | about US$188–US$348 |
| Total | about US$1,290–US$2,420 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026.
Where to stay: Penicuik
Ad Links marked Ad may pay us if you book. You pay the same, and they never change a score. How we earn
about 5 min by car · 5 places to stay
about US$121/nightcountry average
About Penicuik its beds, food and every spot near it
About US$121 a night is our estimate of the country's average 2-star double room that month: not each town's price, and not a quote. Drives are estimates. Prices are about, in US Dollar (USD): our pound figures at the European Central Bank's rate of 30 October 2026.
Getting there: about 12h 30m
About 12h 30m door to door from Chicago
Fly ORD → EDI, direct, then 35 min by road
Flights ORD → EDI on your dates · AviasalesAdeSIM for your phone · Search on AiraloAd
An estimate, one way; the journey never changes the score.
On the water
Kayak trips and courses in Penicuik · GetYourGuideKayak hire in Penicuik · GetYourGuide
River level
River levels: no free forecast gives them, so check a gauge before you go.
Paddling schools, clubs and hire nearby
Bridge 8 Hub 12 km
Forth Canoe Club 12 km
The nearest named schools, clubs and kayak or canoe hire within 25 km, in a straight line. Listings, not a recommendation. Schools, clubs and hire: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Credits