Category: Trip Reports

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

08/12/202407/09/2026 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...

Epic Summer Expedition to Orkney – Margaret’s Tale

04/07/202328/06/2023 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...

DCKC Big Weekend Away: Tayvallich

DCKC Big Weekend Away: Tayvallich

01/07/202321/06/2023 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...

Lismore introduction to sea kayak camping trip 17/18 June 2023

26/06/202326/06/2023 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...

Wow, we got there to St Kilda!

12/09/202221/09/2022 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...

Fairy Isles & Loch Sween Trip Report

18/07/202221/09/2022 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...

Summer Isles – Trip Report

18/07/202221/09/2022 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...

Sea Kayaking trip report, Skye 18 to 23 August 2021

22/09/202121/09/2022 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...

Bute Camping Trip (or “The 19!”)

13/09/202121/09/2022 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...

Awesome DCKC Expedition August 2019

06/09/202121/09/2022 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...

Elterwater Lake District River Weekend

17/03/2019 By graham Comment Closed

Having undertaken extensive research Graham was able to identify a suitable Hostel in Elterwater which was cheap, had both male and female sleeping areas, a dry room, a full English breakfast, close to a pub, and central to a wide range of rivers. The last criteria obviously being the most important! Travel arrangements in place we headed down to the Lake District as we experienced the tail of Storm Freya. Sandy’s wee van did well to make it up a 25% gradient hill fully laden and Sandy did well manoeuvring all the tight corners in the dark. Having dumped our kit in the prison…..sorry hostel….we headed down to the pub to wait on Graham and Campbell. After a good nights sleep (in the ladies dorm) and a noisy sleep in the boys room we stocked up on energy reserves with a very tasty cooked breakfast. Following a most excellent exercise in skilful (tandem) navigation we arrived at our put-in point on the...

GlenIsla trip 10th and 11th November 2018

20/12/2018 By graham Comment Closed

This year was an alternating year when the Lochawe weekend goes on tour. After phoning just about every village hall in Scotland we went to the GlenIsla village hall near Kirriemuir. A great hall with showers, a fantastic kitchen and a pub 300m away. It also brought a new area with new rivers and sea trips, but more later. After some ins and outs the group ended up as 12 people, with a mix of river and sea participants. A game of paper-scissors-stone on Saturday morning gave Misha a sea day followed by a river day, whereas Graham had a river day then a sea day. Rain overnight had meant that a debate of West Water (Grade 3 / 4) or South Esk (Grade 2/3). The group (Graham, Derek, Gianni, Marcus and Sam) stopped for a look as we crossed the South Esk and it looked big and brown and seemed a good choice. The gauge when we got a phone...

Sound of Luing trip report 08.09.2018

10/09/2018 By graham Comment Closed

Rab, Leigh, Sandy, Hannah, Pat This trip was carefully named to reflect the difficulty of predicating where you might end up depending on the tides and wind conditions in this area. We had hoped for Garvellachs but it became apparent as the week progressed that we would get there but couldn’t be sure whether we would get off the island anytime soon. We settled for Belnahua, an island at the north end of the Sound of Luing where we would camp and set off early the next day to escape the worst of the weather. We launched from near Craignish point, west of Ardfern. It was F2 and we were slow to make progress across Dorus Mor against a 2 mph tidal stream to Dearg Sgeir which lay 1 ½ km off shore. We then headed for Scarba with the Corryvreckan opening up to the west. As we got closer, we could hear the roar of the body of water passing through...

Glenuig Weekend May 2018

30/05/201830/05/2018 By Pat Smith Comment Closed

Keywords: settee, swim, perfect calm, view of Small Isles, 'someone's taken my kayak', otter, 'how much for a go in your canoe Mister' Who was there: Janice, Anne, Bev, Marcus, Alan, Pat Special guests: Morven who brought her parents Jo and Michael, and Liz (sister of Janice) Conditions each day Weather: perfect calm Sea state: perfect calm Views: fabulous over to Small Isles, Skye, Coll Friday night we were down at the settee on the shore watching one of several fabulous sunsets Saturday Loch Moidart 25km Put in Samalaman by Glenuig with carry out over sand. Paddled out round Smirisary to first stop at Silver Sands. Then on to lagoon formed by low tide at SW corner of Eilean Shona for lunch. Continued on through South Channel to explore Castle Tioram then through North Channel to arrive back at Samalaman. On the way, a few of us gals went swimming from Eilean Shona beach - it was Baltic but don't let that put you off. It was a lovely spot...

Bothy Adventures

14/03/2018 By Bev Ouzman Comment Closed

Saturday dawned grey, but dry. Arriving first (or so they thought) Bev and Geri set out to search Plockton for coffee, only to see a sea kayak being carried down to the beach. Closer inspection revealed Leigh under the kayak, girl-handling it over the seaweed like a pro. Take-away coffees in hand, the three of us set about the mammoth task of trying to fit all the kit and food and more kit into the kayaks. There was some re-packing and some re-jigging of which kit was actually going and which had been brought along just to be stored in the car. In the midst of this chaos, Misha and Andy (Misha's pal, who lives on Skye) paddled into the bay. Finally, all kit was duly stowed, hatch covers battered down and boats slid (slowly) over the last bit of seaweed into the water. Only an hour or so late... We paddled out into Loch Carron from Plockton, aiming to cross...