Helensburgh CC

Helensburgh to Helensburgh via Lochs Long & Lomond, Leven & Clyde

June 6^th – 8^th, 2025

Participants: Steve Wheaton, Rem Fowler, Gotz Bucher, Damien Theaker – complete trip Alice Hewson – Fri & Sun, Jim, Seb Lay, Stephen Hearns – Sun

Tidal estuary, a long loch, camping, portaging, inland loch, camping on an island, two rivers and another portage.

Friday 6^th June, F3 from West, 33Km

Helensburgh to Guanan 29Km (4km North of Mark Bothy)

Steve & Damien walked boats down from homes (no car weekend for us). Met Rem & Alice and headed out around 1300. Bit of a push into a head wind off southern end of Kilcreggan peninsula but easier going when off the wind down loch Long. Gotz joined us at Cove, break on Ardentinney beach and onto campsite at Guanan. A sheltered eastern shore, damp and humid, no breeze, and yes we were not the only ones there. Alice who had experience of the site in the same conditions declared she was carrying on to her home at Succoth. Despite a good beach bon fire we all gave up after eating our suppers from under midge hats and were all in our beds for 21:30.   

Saturday 7^th June, F3-4  from North West

Guanan to Inchmurrin 30Km (including 3Km portage)

Breakfasted, suited up from within our tents we were quickly in our boats and enjoying a bug free paddle to the head of the loch. The portage over from Arrocher to Tarbet is a delight and taking about an hour thirty not much longer than a regular walk. Coffee and snacks at the Cruise Loch Lomond cafe then headed down Loch Lomond with a nice tail wind. A great camp site at the north end of Inchmurrin with sunhine, a breeze and no neighbours other than a small motorboat.     

Sunday 8^th June, F3 from West South West

Inchmurrin to Helensburgh 31Km.

0800 start to meet up again with Alice, plus Jim, Seb & Stephen H at the entrance to the River Leven.  Portage around the Balloch Barrage then lovely run down the river in bright sunshine. A lunch stop on the edge of Leven Grove Park before heading down river with a following tide but head wind to Ardmore. Brief stop then off the wind to Helensburgh Pier for 1700.

Ice creams from Dino’s to fuel a one-mile portage up the hill home for a couple of us.

Paddlers: Gordon, Seb, Alice and Jim

F3-4 SW

25km

The original plan had been to paddle round Lismore with an overnight stop at the South of the island. However, with very strong winds forecast for Sunday, we curtailed it to a day trip.

We set off from the northerly of the two laybys opposite Shuna on the A828 (OS 937503) as launching here is easier.

Heading south round the outside of Shuna, we were buzzed by the Waverly as we made our way across to the skerries into a stiff head wind and choppy seas. After a quick leg stretch at the northern bay of Rubha Ban, we continued south to Castle Coeffin for lunch.

The journey back north was much easier with the wind behind us, passing seals perched on the last bits of drying rock as the tide rose. As we followed the northern coast of Lismore round to Port Ramsay we saw goats on Eilean Ramsay and an otter swimming across the channel in front of us.

Another quick stop by the Lime Kilns on Eilean nan Caorach, a quick circumavigation of Castle Stalker before heading back up the Sound of Shuna and home.

Steve W, Gordon, Norrie, Geoff, Stuart McC, Alice, Finn, Seb,

Sunday 27th April , F4 from south, 21Km

Not the greatest forecast with gusty winds from the south and an ebbing spring tide to start into. Eight of us set out from just north of the ferry car park and within the hour made it round to Gylen Castle for a look, always worth the visit. Quite choppy relaunching but everyone safely afloat. Ardmore Bay saw one of the team rolled and so very nearly self recovered, but quickly and efficiently rescued by Gordon & Stuart, the rest of the team standing by.

We took a lunch stop out of the chop and wind at Port Phadruig, just as the rain started and finished as we headed back out!

Lovely brisk run up the west coast and after rounding the top of the island back into the weather again down to Heather Island before getting some shelter off the mainland and returning to our start point.

Rain washed, a little tired but happily completed one of several island rounding’s planned for this year. Hoping for better weather on the next one.

Ancient Home of the McDougalls

Was JS here?

Out in a new boat and its not even his.

Happy in the weather

Leader: Gordon

Paddlers: Al, Alice, Martin, Stuart

F1 Wind. 22.7 km

First club paddle of the year. A glassy day with even less wind than forecast and occasional glimpses of sun.

We launched from the beach to the West of Helnsburgh Pier – the slipway being inaccessable due to the cordons for the pool roof. Took in the sugar ship and Ardmore Pointon route to Newark Castle. The sugar ship definitely looking the worse for wear after the storms with large cracks and and buckling around the hull and large splits in the deck.

Returned along the north edge of the shipping channel, watching “Craner Swift” and “UCrane Bolt” unloading a container ship. The crossed back over to Rosneath Point passing an anchored naval boat for a leg stretch before returning to Helensburgh pier.

Joined by couple of seals along the way.

Paddlers: Chris, Iain and Mags

The intrepid trio were on the river again today!

The Tay was another first for Iain, and both Iain and Chris had the new experience of paddling river running kayaks, which they found have a bit of a different feel compared to the touring kayaks they have been used to. As well as being more fun to paddle, the river runners also gave the opportunity for some rescue practice, which is always good to have, even in December!

Jessi, who had been enjoying some shopping in Perth, met us afterwards and we all headed to Stewart Tower Dairy to indulge in their irresistible ice cream.

Great way to end a year of fabulous river paddling with Helensburgh Canoe Club!

Thanks to everyone who came along on the trips and looking forward to more white water adventures in 2025!

Participants: Steve Wheaton, Gordon Smith, Gotz Butcher, Mags Elliott, Adrian Curtis, Damien Theaker, Seb Lay, Geoff Riddington, Mike Bignall, Andy Bignall, Colin Hosey.

Sunday 8^th December F3 / 4 from north

Last club paddle of the year. With storm Darragh still blowing all around, a little swathe of relative tranquillity allowed us to get out on our local loch. Ben Lomond with an early covering of snow and the sun shining, what better venue for a couple of paddlers new to the club.

We had tentatively planned a circumnavigation of all the main islands but a longish lunch on Inchcailloch saw us forego the southern islands and take the more direct run back to Luss via the narrows.

Great finish to a lovely season.

Paddlers: Chris, Iain and Mags

The trip almost didn’t happen today as there was so much snow yesterday I thought I would have to cancel it, however, the forecast for today promised mild, dry weather with even some sun, so we decided to risk it and luckily we were blessed with a beautiful day!

The Awe turned out to be on a slightly bigger release than usual but still okay for us to run, and Chris and Iain took it in their stride. The water was more powerful and eddying out challenging, but the rocks were less exposed making the rapids less technical.

The Magnetic Rock rapid was particularly big and bouncy and Chris and Iain made the most of it by coming down twice!

The photos were taken towards the end of the river when we were able to relax and paddle gently into Loch Etive.

Another excellent day on the river!

Leader: Gordon

Assistants: Alice, Paddy, Stuart

Paddlers: Al, Colin, Damien, Edward, Geoff, Seb, Stephen H

Conditions: Light Southerly breeze veering to stiff westerly F3-4.

Distance: 16km

Even after a couple of dropouts a big turnout – 11 of us altogether, necessitating some assistant leaders. We set of from Helensburgh Pier in almost still, misty (or atmospheric) conditions and paddled a little way up the Gareloch to minimise crossing distances and then followed shore round to just West of Kilchreggan Pier for lunch. The sun duly came out but the wind also veered to Westerly and picked up – the crossing over to Royal West at Greenock was quite lumpy. Deciding discretion was the better part of valour we headed back across to Kilchreggan peninsula to get some shelter rather than returning via the sugar ship as originally intended.

Quite a few eider ducks and a couple of seals poking their heads up but generally not much wild life seen. The Hebridean Princess crossed in front of us as we were crossing back to Rosneath Peninsular and surprised us by heading up into the Gareloch and anchoring off Rhu Marina.

As a grand finale, we were treated to a demonstration of Paddy’s fish roll – ask him about it!

October 18^th & 19^th 2024

Participants: Steve Wheaton, Gordon Smith, Stewart McCartney

The bothy was booked in January with the hope that the weather would be fair and that members with all abilities could attend. Instead, we had a yellow then amber Met Office Weather Warning and the first named storm of the year – Ashley.

Friday 18th       F8 from south-east through day dropping F4 – 3 in evening

From the 10 members initially showing interest in the trip 3 of us travelled up in Gordon’s smart new electric car. After a short stop for food at Fort William and a boost for the car we arrived at Glenuig to see a flattish sea but with spray lifting offshore. As forecast, this subsided and we departed from inside Samalaman Island east along the coast to Roshven before heading north to Peanmeanach. A clearing western sky heralded a calmer day for tomorrow.

Peanmeanach Bothy has been taken back into management by the Ardnish Estate and is only available by prior booking. It is a popular place as testified by the website booking calendar and deservedly so. We enjoyed a pleasant evening warmed by the wood burning stove until the early hours.      

Saturday 19^th     F3 from south-east

Relieved to see the forecast was accurate we decided to explore loch Ailort. Alerted to the prospect of seeing sea eagles by a couple scallop farmers off Eilean nan Trom one immediately came into view overhead quartering the hills. Slack water saw us easily passing through the narrows and on to Eilean Dubh near the head of the loch. After lunch taken on the south shore we headed back west against the tide which was only noticeable in the narrows. We stopped on Eilean nan Gobhar and climbed to the ruins of a fort for views all around.

Drizzle then rain, a portent of the coming gale saw us return to Samalaman Island.  

We had planned a second night in the bothy but though the forecast showed a two-hour gap in Sunday’s gales those with day jobs on Monday wisely considered it too risky.

The electric car got us home in great style via a short re charge and fish and chips for us in Fort William.

Paddlers: Chris, Iain and Mags

This was Iain’s first white water trip and the Teith was an ideal venue to start learning river running skills. There are also plenty of opportunities to try out more challenging moves, so Chris was kept busy too!

The weather was unexpectedly better than forecast and a combination of fun and a good core workout was had by all!