Puffin Paddle July 2026

Puffin Paddle July 2026

By Pat SmithNo Comments
DCKC trip leader Celia with Richard Bott, Matthew Merrick, Pat Smith paddling together with Fife Kayak Club. and all of us lead by Alan Hunter Distance 22km Conditions: swell  0.5m, wind F3 NE, tidal flow 0.5kn max Isle of May lies 8km off shore from Crail and conditions have to be near perfect to allow a landing at the harbour on SE of the island. It was touch and go in the lead up but Celia pulled off a great paddle in association with Fife Kayak Club. Led by Alan Hunter (Fife), a team of 9 of us set off from Crail into a steady F3 cross wind and made good time before reaching the lee of the island. It was a delight to be paddling near enough the cliffs, among puffins, guillemots and razorbills and a few circling gulls. As we rounded the South East end of the island the sea was more choppy and despite some swell and breaking waves...
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Boden Boo to Lang Dyke 10/1/26

By Amanda Grant Comment Closed
Leading a Second Saturday paddle with DCKC is made more testing if the forecasters don’t agree with each other and all keep changing their minds about what we should expect on the day. The club paddle on 10th January was a case in point. Living in Perthshire we had had temperatures of minus 8c, snow, rain, fog and rain turning to black ice in the week preceding the event but the forecast for Erskine on BBC and XC was consistently “fine” with temperatures hovering just above zero. So, on the Thursday before, Ronnie and I decided to let our trip from Boden Boo car park to Dumbarton go ahead. By Friday night ten of us had packed ready for an early start, the days being short, but then the forecast changed to snow, freezing temperatures and fog with light winds. Being keen to get out onto the water, we decided to go ahead. On Saturday morning we awoke in the dark...
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Mingulay, Barra Head and the Uists, 14-24 August 2025

Mingulay, Barra Head and the Uists, 14-24 August 2025

By James Fraser Comment Closed
Words and Images By Paul Gardner A trip to Mingulay has been on the DCKC calendar for several years, but weather has always resulted in cancellation, or moving the trip to less exposed locations.  However, this time it worked: a forecast for settled weather, at least for long enough to make it worthwhile getting the ferry across to Castlebay on Barra. On day 1, nine people made the ferry journey in three cars and a van, arriving in Castlebay in the afternoon, with plenty daylight left to drive to Vatersay, pack up and paddle a few km to a beach campsite on the south coast.  Far enough to make sure you packed properly and didn’t forget anything, and near enough for one person to walk back to the car to collect their trousers. On day 2, we followed the chain of now-uninhabited islands south: Sandray, Pabbay and at last Mingulay, landing on a perfect beach.  We were greeted by the NTS warden Ben,...
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2nd Saturday Paddle; 10th May 2025 – Paul Meiklejohn

By Amanda Grant Comment Closed
Inchmurrin The trip was arranged and led by Janice with the assistance of Amanda and Richard; joined by Paul, Dearbhla, Agnes, Peter, Marek, Noelle, Susie and Mairi. Originally planned as a trip from Helensburgh to Kilcreggan, the team of leaders made the call on the Friday evening to relocate to Loch Lomond due to the forecast Force 4 to 6 winds that would be beyond conditions suited to our group. As a new paddler this was a perfect opportunity to develop my experience, which consisted of a few weeks in the pool and a single Tuesday evening session at the Loch. We set of from Drumkinnon Bay at Balloch in the glorious sunshine, heading along the west coast of Loch Lomond towards the island of Inchmurrin. We all understood that a southerly wind would be picking up later on, at which point we could make our return to base. On the way to the island we had a short unscheduled stop on the beach...
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Gigha Long Weekend May 2025 – Rob Plant

Gigha Long Weekend May 2025 – Rob Plant

By Amanda Grant Comment Closed
Celia planned another kayaking trip around Gigha for the long May bank holiday weekend. (Ed. Is this to become an annual feature in the cub calendar?) We met at Tayinloan Pier at 10am, but due to high winds, we had to wait for the ferry, as the crossing was too exposed for a direct paddle. So we boarded the ferry with trolleys attached to our kayaks. Thanks to Andrew for bringing a wide selection of trolleys for everyone to use.   Once we arrived on Gigha, we portaged to the beach and launched, heading south toward our intended camping spot on Cara Island. It was only a short trip, but the wind and swell were pushing us from behind, making for a brisk paddle.   Upon landing on the beach, we discovered that Mark’s boat had been taking on water through the skeg box, and all of his Lomo dry bags had failed. We worked together to dry out as much gear as possible. Thankfully, the...
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4 Star (Rough Water) Group Trip Report to Skye  –  Ronnie’s First Weekend Trip With DCKC

4 Star (Rough Water) Group Trip Report to Skye  –  Ronnie’s First Weekend Trip With DCKC

By Misha Comment Closed
Friday 15th November to Sunday 17th November ‘24  By Ronnie G.  On a personal point of note when Misha posted a thread on the DCKC Whatsapp group a couple of months ago about looking for people who wanted to improve their paddling skills and experience on rough water in a safe environment I was very tempted as this is an area I’m very keen to improve. I would have to admit to feeling a bit apprehensive about whether my current kayaking skills were at a suitable level to join this group or not. When I discussed this proposed new group with Misha he explained that a group was set up by Alan Rollo a number of years ago offering the opportunity for peer group paddlers to practice and develop their skills in challenging conditions but in low consequence venues and that he was looking to restart / re-energise this initiative again. Misha explained to me this was likely to be pretty challenging...
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Epic Summer Expedition to Orkney – Margaret’s Tale

By graham Comment Closed
Graham, Misha, Pat, Joe, Bev, Danny, Geoff, Leigh, Cam, Richard, Liz, Margaret The trip lived up to its name, a truly epic kayak to the cold and windy northern isles of Orkney whileGlasgow basked in the sun. Several days were 30k, most capsized at some point testing their rollingability or the team’s rescue skills from dodgy rocks and headlands, and day 1 winds were Force 5,gusting 6! Had I realized beforehand….!!?On Friday 26 May, nine of the group gathered at Thurso campsite. Plan A was going ahead, plans B(Shetland), C (other) had been cancelled. We were glad of Pat’s organizational skills with campsitespaces booked and just what we needed, a pattern that was to continue for the rest of the trip. https://dckc.smugmug.com/DCKC-2023/Orkney/i-NRM7PhZ/A Sat 27 th It was a windy, rough crossing from Scrabster to Stromness on the large Northlink ferry. Surely wewon’t be kayaking today was my thought. Little did I know. In Stromness we went to look at thesea, westerly, force 5, gusting...
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DCKC Big Weekend Away: Tayvallich

DCKC Big Weekend Away: Tayvallich

By Pat Smith Comment Closed
We had 2 glorious days paddling based in the campsite at Tayvallich. We formed two groups, our group comprised Alan, Bev, Janice, Joe, Paul and me, Pat. On Day 1 we set off from Carsaig Bay for a 33km paddle south to MacCormaig Isles and back up Loch Sween to Tayvallich. It was a beautiful sunny blue sky day. We were protected from the F4 gusting 5 westerly wind on the leg south and enjoyed some tidal assistance all the way to EIlean Mhor, near the entrance to Loch Sween. We were able to get ashore at the end of a long north-facing inlet. The views were fantastic with great visibility. A conservation group had been working on the island and built a bothy displaying information for visitors as well as restoring part of the ancient chapel. We found the original cave used by monks (anchorites) who were seeking a hermit’s life for purposes of spiritual advancement - and maybe even...
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Lismore introduction to sea kayak camping trip 17/18 June 2023

By Pat Smith Comment Closed
A group of 6 new and excited kayak campers( Eleni, Ian ,Harriet ,Kathryn, Wojtec and me ) led by  Pat with Bev who kept an eye on ever changing weather forecast were delighted when Pat gave the all clear on Thursday night and it was Lismore here we come! Departure Day 1We left from the lay-by opposite Shuna Island at 10 am after perfect team work getting boats down to the beach and packed. The weather was supposed to be a gentle breeze and drizzle . No breeze no drizzle , so a very calm start to our adventure.We headed SW from Shuna guided by Pat who was keeping an eye on tides and flows across to the NE of Lismore though the little islands where we saw seals and pups galore, and started our main journey down Lismore’s western coast. The plan and route had already been described to us , we knew there would be plenty of opportunities for sightseeing...
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Wow, we got there to St Kilda!

By graham Comment Closed
A trip report by Janice Gow. MV Cuma Kayak Store Saturday 13th August Arrived at Miavaig Pier, West Loch Roag and MV Cuma at 4pm today. (Some of us, Bev, Marcus, Joe, Graham, Hannah and I, had travelled through the night from Glasgow before the ferry from Ullapool at 10am – thanks Hannah and Graham for all that driving.) Met everyone else there – Pat, Alan, Misha, Angus, Danny and Geoff. Got kayaks on, tied to side of boat with our roof straps, got all our bags on and got our cabins. Murdo, our skipper, had said we were going to Scarp, that St Kilda wasn’t possible, and we’d known it wasn’t likely given the forecast. BUT as we travelled, we became aware we were going away from the coast and going west? A big cheer went up. We were going to St Kilda! St Kilda is 45 miles west of Harris, an archipelago of five islands, the biggest one being Hirta, the one that...
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Fairy Isles & Loch Sween Trip Report

By Bev Ouzman Comment Closed
By Martin Kendall Friday 8th July saw a group of ten take to the roads and head to Tayvallich, Argyll & Bute for a three-day kayak/camping expedition. Everyone arrived at the campsite Friday lunchtime with the idea of fitting in an afternoon paddle up Caol Scotnish and round to the Fairy Isles. Tents were set up in the campsite and the kayaks were deployed from the shore at Tayvallich where we headed north into Caol Scotnish which is a narrow stretch of water approximately 4km to the bay end. En route the group stopped on one of the very small islands (Eilean na Circe) which has the remnants of a fortified dwelling on it. The group kept an eye out for interesting wild and marine life and a pair of Ospreys were spotted with one carrying a large fish it had just caught. We then tracked back down this stretch of water and headed northeast to the Fairy Isles. As it...
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Summer Isles – Trip Report

By Bev Ouzman Comment Closed
By Paul Gardener Thanks to both Bev (for organizing) and the Queen (for conveniently having a 4-day jubilee holiday), 11 members of the club had a trip to remember around the Summer Isles.  A lot of caves, varying sea states around the cliffs and rocky shores, and the weather just kept getting better… On the Thursday afternoon, we left the beach just north of Achiltibuie and crossed to Tanera Mor.  There was no obvious campsite to aim for, so we traversed around the south of the island and then west across to Tanera Beg, looking in at possible beaches.  All looked bouldery and slippy.  Eventually after going round Tanera Beg we found an adequate landing spot on Eilean Fada Mor, where the boats with some difficulty could be unloaded and lifted up to safety.  Tidal range was close to maximum, and conveniently the morning high tide was around 10 am, resulting in civilized start times on all days.  On Eilean Fada Mor...
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Sea Kayaking trip report, Skye 18 to 23 August 2021

By graham Comment Closed
by Gianni Filippi ably assisted on Day 1 by Danny This trip, Plan E, was organised at short notice to take advantage of a favourable weather window after a strong winds forecast delayed our start by a few days. The location was Skye, the great playground for sea kayakers. The launch point was the working harbour at Meanish Pier and ended at Elgol, a focal point for tourists taking advantage of the varied boat trips on offer. This trip involved setting up a shuttle between Elgol and Meanish Pier. Day 1 - Spar Cave With great anticipation we met at 12.00 noon at Elgol. Before setting up the shuttle, we took advantage of the time allowed to have a short paddle from Elgol which was of course all carefully planned. The aim of the day’s paddle was to discover and investigate Spar Cave. The tide was high which meant we would not be sharing our experience with walkers who can...
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Bute Camping Trip (or “The 19!”)

By Bev Ouzman Comment Closed
28-30 August 2021 Over Etrrick low tide sands,The 19 pack their crafts A three-day trip requires bulk: The 19 puff, stuff hatches stern and aft Then launch, once briefed and photographed Go west, go west and west a little more Just past Ardlamont point: a pause Unpack a spot of lunch An onshore opportunity to start and to recharge 19 friendships.  This group is just so large! Yet more west the 19 paddleFlotilla pattern, set to Roddy’s stampA course to Kintyre – the Skipness Castle strandBy sliver sands, set up the campRefreshing swims, meals and fire lights Next morning breaks damp, grey, a little windyAgainst the forecast waves do more than danceRethink the plan, Lochranza is abandoned Aim for the crowing Cock of ArranSofter seas, and eastwards to Inchmarnoch West coast, the island hosts a second night19 tents face Arran’s Sleeping Warrior *Tired but more confident A team of 19 chatter, banterLater turn to bed, and join the soldier. Unlike the warrior, 19 early...
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Awesome DCKC Expedition August 2019

By graham Comment Closed
A group of fourteen paddlers signed up for a week’s sea kayaking in the North East of Scotland, we were holding off making decisions about the final destination in the hope that the winds would ease sufficiently for us to head for Orkney or Shetland. We conceded a night or two ahead of departure and converged instead on the Old Brewery Hostel in Cromarty on the Black Isle. The Hostel was a treat – and we nearly had it all to ourselves. Day 1 Saturday : Rosemarkie to Cromarty 25km 5 hours Conditions: Dry, light wind, flat calm initially F2 later in day Oil rigs in Cromarty Firth We launched from the beach at Rosemarkie Bay tucked in behind Chanonry Pont, and paddled out to the Point then directly across to Fort George. We had a lunch stop at the atmospheric Eathie salmon station – and learned a thing or two about the salmon fishing industry over the past 2 centuries. As we...
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