Canoeing Scotland

[morgaa3]

Hi,

I have a week off work first week of September and looking at a 5 day paddle somewhere in Scotland, looking at combining a range of canoeing skills and incorporating a range of different waterways. I will only have one car and looking at a good round trip, I am a competent paddler and looking for suggestions if anyone has any for some where to paddle for this week. I'd like to get a classic route done.

Thanks

[Scots_Charles_River]

Sounds like the Caley Canal Canoe trail is for you !

One of the good things is it's not level dependent like a river trip.

http://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/our-can ... l/paddling

[Mal Grey]

Doing a round trip is the difficult part.

The suggested Caledonian canal is good, though a straight line, and public transport makes it doable with a single car.

Are you solo, alone? What sort of canoe/kayak?

Loch Shiel, River Shiel, Loch Moidart, Loch Ailort, Loch Ailt then walk or hitch the 4 miles or so back to Glenfinnan is a trip I've fancied for a while. A few portages likely. Needs good weather, or at least low wind. As do most of these trips really!

Loch Monar, portage to Loch Nevis, explore that, then return via Inverie and Mallaig round the coast is another, but needs a lot of luck with the conditions and good experience of padding sea lochs with waves, tides and currents.

The Spey is always an option, with taxi shuttle. Its a bit short for 5 days, but you could stop for a day en route to explore the area somewhere.

[morgaa3]

Thanks, the trip you have mentioned Loch Shiel, River Shiel, Loch Moidart, Loch Ailort, Loch Ailt is the route I'm potentially thinking of and seems to incorporate the range of skills I'm wanting to use. I have a week in total to spend in Scotland but allowing a couple of extra days if conditions aren't great and if all goes well allows a day or two in the hills. I am paddling just me and the dog that for the week, so yes will be alone

Thanks for your help, do you have any other details of this trip?

[Mal Grey]

Thanks for your help, do you have any other details of this trip?

No, not personally, but have read a few blogs over on Song of the Paddle which have done all or most of it. That's why its on my own tick list!

I believe the River Shiel is mostly paddleable, but has a tricky drop right at the end in all but the highest tides, likely to need portaging with a loaded boat.
I seem to remember the Glenfinnan Hotel are helpful with leaving cars and launching, but that they have particular requests as to how/where this is done so should be contacted first.

[elveys]

I would have also suggested the Sheil circuit. This is a possibility for a trip we are doing in September so I have been gathering some info which is mainly a list of bloggs from SOTP containing useful info about the trip. Although it's a potential circuit there is also the option of going clockwise from Glenfinnan to Moidart and if the sea leg doesn't look like a goer either portage or go back up the river and back into Sheil.

I'm happy to pm you the links and info I have, might save you some legwork or might spoil your planning fun depending how you look at it.

[morgaa3]

Hi,

Thanks for the help. If you could pm me with anything you have that be great, the more ifo the better.

Thanks

[maryinoxford]

This is a blog of a couple of people who did this trip 3 years ago, using a folding kayak and a plastic sea kayak:
http://foldingkayaks.org/phpBB/viewtopi ... =20&t=2797

Mary

[voyageur]

HI Ive done Loch Sheil a number of times and a big fan of it. If I can be of any help in your planning or for advice please feel free to get in touch and PM me

Here is a little blog of trip I did on there earlier this year

http://www.palmequipmenteurope.com/blog ... ell-tents/

See you on the water.....

Jules