Author: Gordon Smith

Paddlers: Mags, Tom, Stuart, Steve, Gordon

After our warm-ups on the Teith and Tom’s successful White Water Leader Canoe leader assessment on the Tay, it was time for the Awe. Stuart and Tom were in open boats, the rest of us in kayaks.

There was supposedly a damn release but the water levels did not seem very much higher than normal. There was however, plenty of water.

The kayakers successfully navigated the Grave Yard, although Steve and Gordon both took swims afterwards once we had navigated the difficult bits. The open boaters (sensibly) lined round. From there we progressed down through the various rapids until we reached magnetic rock (Gordon taking the opportunity for another couple of refreshing dips at the easier bits).

We all got past Magnetic Rock without incident and stopped for lunch while we watched some others play in the waves.

From here we descended the rest of the river without incident, taking out at the car park at Loch Etive.

Paddlers: Mags, Andy R, Steve W, Gordon

This was the second introduction to white water trip that Mags had run down the River Teith. Postponed from October, temperatures had fallen somewhat in the meantime and we set off from the Meadows car park in flurries of snow.

Some exercises trying to write our names with our tracks soon had us warmed up and we set off on what turned out to be a rather scrapey paddle – the river level was at 0.6 and although paddle-able, the less experienced of us frequently found ourselves sat on top of rocks.

However, confidence built as we practiced ferry gliding, breaking in and breaking out. Lunch part way down saw evidence of possible beaver activity.

There remained time for a couple of the party to take refreshing swims further down the river before the get out (by the lay by). One successful roll, one unsuccessful!

River Tay – Tom Ridsdill White Water Canoe Leader Assessment.

Aberfeldy to Grandtully

Congratulations to Tom for passing his assessment!

As well as checking all your kayaking gear prior to a trip, don’t forget to check your transport too 🙁

(or break down on the way back).

Paddlers: Gordon, Hugh, Ed, Gary
Sat F2-3 SW. 27 km
Sun F3-4 NW. 23.5km

Having got the ferry 19:30 ferry from Oban to Craignure on the Friday, we camped overnight at Salen campsite and launched from the (very steep) slipway at Ulva Ferry. We left the cars at the far end of the car park (making the requested donation for doing so).
We paddled around the south of Ulva and across to Little Colonsay and then on to Staffa for lunch, stopping at a skerry on the way to fix a wayward foot peg.
Fingal’s cave looked dramatic but the southerly swell and high tide precluded close inspection.
We then paddled to Lunga, landing in the bay on the southern end at 276414. Having setup camp, we walked over to the West side of the island past the sea stack and the hugely impressive array of sea birds.

On Sunday, the wind had picked up a bit and swung round to the NW. We paddled up the Treshnish islands, to the west of Fladda and landed on Cairn na Burgh More. From there we crossed across to Gometra. The remnants of the SW swell and the building NW swell made for somewhat confused water and we had to deal with a capsize on the way over. Although we had to contend with the NW swell for the rest of the journey, it dropped as we progressed along the northern shore of Ulva.

Paddlers: Gordon, Andy R, Vonna, Sharon, Lorna

Sat:SWF2, 25km. Sun SW,WF3, 22km

Counter clockwise circumnavigation of Lismore from the layby opposite the middle of Shuna (OS 929 492). Plenty of parking space and OK launching spot but somewhat rocky and awkward. Lunch at Castle Coeffin. Small portage between Bernera and Lismore as arrived at low tide. With rising tide at Rubha Fiart at South end of Lismore there was quite fast tidal flow E-W – one capsize on entering the flow. Camped at OS 786357. Good spot although foreshore covered in slurry, seaweed and dead sheep so somewhat malodorous!

Sunday mostly sheltered from the wind. Mid morning stop on bar between Eilean na Cloiche and the southerly Eilean Dubh. Lunch at Port Moluag with an intention of visiting Tirefour Castle but no ready access. Would have been better to stop at beach on West of Eilean Dubh.

Paddlers: Gordon, Steve W, Vonna, Andy R, Bryan, Dorothy, Innes, Geoff

Winds: Light

Distance: 19.5km

Started at Polanach layby (OS 938505) in fine conditions. Wind had been forecasted to pick up in the afternoon from the NW but either it did not appear or was delayed, or we were sheltered. Paddled round the outside of Shuna and through the skerries to lovely beach on NW end of Lismore for lunch. From there paddled round the islets by Port Ramsey and on to Eilean nan Caorach and from there across to Castle Stalker. Tide was quite confused as we crossed and wasn’t always flowing in the expected direction.

We don’t normally post for these but as 24th May was the first session of 2022, here’s a couple of pics…

Paddlers: Gordon, Steve, Grant, Edward, Rem, Damian, Geoff, Colin
Winds: Light
Distance: 16km

First club paddle of the new year.   Simple but enjoyable paddle round the islands in light winds and intermittent rain.  As always, good to get out!
Launched from Luss.   Brief stop on NE shore of Inchfad for a leg stretch and then a nosey into the canal/boat yard on the southern shore.   Lunch stop at the NE end of Torrinch.   Then rounded Eilanderroch and Inchgalbraith on route back to Luss.

Weather: Cloudy with occasional sun degenerating to light rain in late afternoon. Wind not perceptible and water flat calm.

Paddlers: Gordon, Steve, Andy, Zak and Hugh

Distance: 20km

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This day paddle was put on to replace the scheduled Soay trip which had insufficient takers (one). Plan was to take in the islands at the N end followed by a bit of the Orchy and then Kilchurn castle while looking at potential camp sites for future use.

First stop barely a kilometer away from launch point was the island of Inishail which has a ruined church and graveyard with both ancient and relatively recent use. Main users appear to be the Campbell Dukes of Argyll and families. Here is a good campsite but like the NE shore of the loch is used by the fishing fraternity. The little island of Fraoch Eilean has substantial ruined castle to look round and is also a possible campsite.  

Up the Orchy for about a k to look around then back to Kilchurn. Despite quite a few visitors it was shut and we could only walk round the outside. Disappointed, it was suggested we visit St Conans Kirk (on OS map) in Lochawe village which had the appearance of something rather more than a simple kirk when seen from the water. And so it proved with the 19^th century design and architecture of particular interest. Access to the kirk can be made through a railway underpass about 300m to the N. So more of a sightseeing trip than a kayak trip but that was intended.