MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
The wife and I are heading up to Wester Ross and Skye for a couple of weeks in June and fancy doing a days sea kayaking. We are both beginners, although I have done a few days canoeing on lakes, and my wife has spent a day sea kayaking in Alaska.
Where would you recomend either on Skye or arounf the Loch Torridon area.
Cheers
Somewhere in waterproof phone coverage area - with speed dial to the coastguard?
Ok maybe I didnt make it clear enough, I meant a days guided kayaking 🙂
[url= http://www.skyakadventures.com/sea_kayaking.html ]try here[/url]
Also,less formally (cutNpasted from an open-canoeist I know when asked about kayaking possibilities on Skye) ...
[b]Sea Lochs[/b]
I haven’t paddled on many of the sea lochs so cannot comment on the tides. Most are shallow in their upper reaches and therefore access is tide dependent. But even on windy days there is likely to be loch that is sheltered.
These are potential put ins but check the winds and tide and parking and make up your own mind.
Loch na Dal
Put in near NG702147. Bit of a carry and rocky shore.
Parking on the grass verge.
The Harbour, Isle Ornsay
NG702135 Isle Ornsay pier. Don’t know about parking or ease of launching.
Loch Eishort
Ord
Put in near NG616132. A bit exposed .Rocky shore and plenty of space to park.
Ob Gauscavaig
Put in near NG597116. Plenty parking, rocky shore. A bit exposed.
Heaste
Put in near NG647166, Don’t know about this location. Looks like a good spot to look round head of Loch Eishort.
Loch Slappin
Camas Malag
Put in near NG 582192, plenty of parking. A bit exposed.
Around the head of the loch there are a variety of parking and launching opportunities.
Loch Ainort
If the tide is high there are a number of spots to find easy access and parking on the A87. A bit rocky at low tide.
Loch Sligachan
A few spots along A87 about 1km east of Sligachan. Tide dependant.
Also from the north side at the end of the Peinchorran road NG525330. A strong tide run at the narrows.
Loch Portree
Put in from the long stay car-park (free) in Portree
or at the slipway at NG489437 – limited parking nearby.
The loch to the south practically empties at low tide.
At high tide and after a heavy rainfall a run into the loch from the river Varragil bridge at NG476407 is probably possible.
Staffin Bay
Slipway at NG494681 and parking close by.
Port Gobhlaig , Kilmaluag Bay
NG436751 Car-park and picnic site.
Camas Mor
NG370706 Slipway and parking. Exposed.
Uig Bay
Possibilities here best go and look . I haven’t yet.
Loch Greshornish
Camp at the campsite and you have direct access at NG342525 or you could ask if you can launch. Also I think they have some kayaks for hire.
Loch Bay
Put in at NG263564 near the Stein Inn (great seafood restaurant and pub) Parking may be a bit of a problem in the summer.
Loch Dunvegan
Not so easy as it looks on the map. Try NG244497 limited parking.
Loch Pooltiel
NG169500 or near the pier NG154505.
Loch Caroy
Slipway at NG306425. No idea about parking here.
Loch Beag
Slipway at NG350380 limited parking.
Loch Bracadale
Slipway at NG342359, some parking.
Loch Harport
Awkward access from car park at NG376320. Near Talisker distillery.
Loch Brittle
Access from beach at NG409205. Parking – very busy in summer, Camping close by and easy access to Cuillin for the walkers.
That’s about it but I have wondered about Loch Coruisk from Elgol. One for strong and experienced paddlers I think
Two companies I would recommend whole heartedly for a brilliant, adventurous trip (overnight etc)
http://www.beyondadventure.co.uk/ Andy Mac is particularly good chap - I know they do a few trips in OC coastally, as well as some Sea Kayak trips
http://www.raygoodwin.com/ The chap who paddled with Ray Mears in Canada and carved their own paddles etc - a legend, a nice chap and great coach (he IS Sea Kayak coach as well as OC coach...)
I have been on courses with both on a few occasions.
Enjoy - its an addictive sport!
Another person to talk to if you're up there is Gordon Brown of Skyak Adventure. Really sound guy and a great paddler
Loch Beag
Slipway at NG350380 limited parking.Loch Bracadale
Slipway at NG342359, some parking.
If you need accomodation, get in touch as my Mum has three wee holiday cottages on the banks of Loch Beag - you can see the slipway from the cottages, just over the road...... There's a cottage just along the road which is infrequently visited by its owners, who are all kayakers. They spend whole days on the water, launching from 'fore-mentioned slipway.