Author: Gordon Smith

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.

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.

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!

Paddlers: Gordon, Stuart and Norrie

Winds: F3-4 SW to NW

Total Distance 36km

Norrie’s Relive Video

Neap tides and relatively low winds made trip round Gigha look attractive. Fairly late start on Saturday from the beach just South of the ferry terminal at Tayinloan. Plenty of parking (although this is apparently not always the case) and easy access for launching.

Saturdays paddle took us across the sound of Gigha to Eilean Liath and then South with the last of the ebb tide inside Gigalum Island and to the West of Cara Island for a late lunch stop. Here we were meant to ask permission to land from the island’s ghosts. However, they appeared to have smiled on us anyway as when Gordon got back into his boat he realised that he had paddled from Tayinloan with his car keys on his deck!

We went round the Mull of Cara and into the more exposed West side of Cara and headed North to Cuddyport beach where we set up camp for night in a delightful spot after just over 15km of paddling. Gordon’s son was first mate on Provident, a Brixham Trawler celebrating its 100th anniversary and en route from Dublin to Oban. As luck would have it, they were anchored in Ardminish Bay so we walked over and were treated to a tour of what is a wonderful boat.

We hadn’t seen much marine life during the day, but in the Garden of the Gigha Hotel we did see a very bold hedgehog. The hotel is currently closed but hopefully will be refurbished in the not too distant future. In the meantime there is a horsebox bar in the garden.

On Sunday we paddled North with the last of the flood tide up the stunning West side of Gigha – the tide timings allowed for a very leisurely start. We stopped of in a small bay with an old mill – now converted into a house and with a couple of other We arrived with the end of the tide at Bagh na Dorlinne for lunch and then paddled round the North End and South with the ebb tide. A final crossing back from South of Arminish Bay back to Tayinloan completed just over 20km for the day and a very enjoyable trip.

Paddlers: Gordon, Gus, Stuart, Gary, Norrie

Saturday

Cars parked at Resipole Farm Holiday Park and set off just after midday into a F3 southerly breeze. Paddled over to the south shore and headed west. Met by inquisitive seal and a brief otter appearance. Sheltered paddle along to Glencripesdale where we crossed over to Dun Ghallain for a late lunch. Stunning views West.

We then headed over to Carna and through Caol Charna and onwards into Loch Teacuis – well worth the effort. Fair amount of tide running in the narrows which provided opportunity for a bit of practice breaking in and out of eddies.

Camped at 624582. Quick (and very refreshing) swim by some of the party before dinner.

Northern lights had been amazing the night before apparently but nothing to see when we checked at 12:30am.

Sunday

Civilised start – on the water for 9am. Tide was high enough to paddle round south of Carna and into Loch na Droma Buidhe and also to investigate the inner loch in Oronsay.

We continued clockwise around Oronsay – quite a dramatic shore. Then headed West, passing Ross Rock to the North, the northern tip of Carna and on to Dun Ghallain. From there we retraced our steps back to Resipole.

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.