Beginners Canoe Camp, Loch Lomond June 2018

Paddlers: Euan, Geoff, Alex, Jenny, Jessica, Rebekah and Paul

Weather: Good on Saturday, Brilliant on Sunday

Report: The choice of canoes and sea kayaks was intended to give more experience to the Paddlers in a run up to the 2 Star assessment. For the record the sea kayaks unsuprisngly proved the more popular.

We met at Aldlochlay at 2pm and were away before 2.30 for the first leg over to Inchtavannach and Inchconnachan. At this time there was a good breeze from the north.

Rebekah
Paul, Alex and Rebekah

We stopped at Inchconnachan to investigate the old summer house and hunt wallabies. The former was more successful. The summer house is gradually rotting away but some rooms are still OK including the one with the mural

The island mural

A very gentle paddle through the narrows took us to our camp site on Inchtavannach.


A long rest and we were off for an evening paddle. Our first stop was Inchgalbraith, a tiny island with an old ruined castle eminently climbable.

Inchgalbraith Castle with damsel
Close Up of Damsel
Euan having rescued Damsel

On to the long sand beach on Inchmoan for a stroll.

 

Inchmoan

Finally back to the camp for a swim, evening meal and a camp fire

The Beach with excellent fire
The Swimmers

The evening finally darkened at around 10.30 and we went to bed shortly after midnight.

The morning was glorious with Loch Lomond looking at its very best, which is as good as anywhere in the world if not better.

Looking south with Inchgalbraith

A slow lazy start but we were still away just after 10am. 

We moved quite quickly and by 11am were opposite Aldlochay and decided to climb to the top of the hill (the highest point on Loch Lomond at 86m (282 ft). It is surprisingly steep but are rewarded with exceptional views south. The boats are just visible at the edge of the trees/loch on the right. 

The climb is steep and the path poor/non-existent but still worthwhile but an excellent way to spend 30 minutes.

A quick paddle and we were back at Aldlochlay just before midday. An excellent and Hopefully instructive trip.