Wemyss bay to Ardyne point

 some pictures of my paddle from Wemyss bay to Ardyne point on the Clyde.

 Wee selfi

 Toward lighthouse.

Eliean Mor

Paddling out of Loch sween looking over to Jura. Started from Tayvallich. the weather was good with little wind. took my time coming down the loch as it was a beautiful evening.

Looking over to Jura 

Had a wee dram at the cross on Eliean Mor. A toast to my father who passed away in 2011.

The bay at Eliean Mor. There is a small jetty on the right of the bay at Bens bothy

lochwinnoch

these are some pictures from a wee paddle on Castle Semple loch at Lochwinnoch last weekend.

there was no wind and dark skys which made for some great pictures.

Basha paddling back up the Loch

fantastic day on the loch

Just about to land back at the slip.

Loch lomond

The view North up the loch with Ben Lomond on the left.

Three Yew trees on the west end of Inchlonaig

Ross Point

Beautiful beach. Natural formation of slate on the beach.

Amazing slate formation

Water Lilys between Inchtavannach and Inchconnachan.

Wee Peter (Kerrs Folly) this is a statue on Loch Lomond just south of Luss. Eracted in 1890 by a local stonemason.

stunning bay.

more lilys

reeds at the edge of the loch

Loch Lomond

Two wild goats on the shore of Loch Lomond.

beautiful evenings paddle on Loch Lomond

Looking north up Loch Lomond.

The light was fantastic.

Landed on an Island at the north end of the Loch and enjoyed the evening light.

very peacful evenings paddle.

black cart river

A few days ago I paddled from Linwood down the Black Cart river to the river Clyde and back. 

The Black Cart winds its way through farm land .

This is the old bridge coming out of Renfrew

this is the swing bridge at the Normandy hotel coming out of Renfrew

The old bridge again. beautiful.

Inverness to Noss Head

Started from Rosemarkie on Saturday the 2nd of August with the intention of paddling from Inverness to Oban. Arrived in Rosemarkie with the intention of camping overnight and starting paddling on the Sunday but the forecast for Sunday was not great. The weather was not too bad on the Saturday so I decided to start my trip there and then. I unloaded the kayak and packed her up and waved my brother goodbye and set off in a good swell and a stiff breeze.
 

looking back to Tarbat Ness

Landed a few hours later just north of Cromarty Bay. There are not many places to land along this coast so be prepared for a committed paddle. The coast here is beautiful.

Every paddle I go on I take a bottle of whisky with me and toast my Mother and Father every beach I land on to say thanks for everything. Soppy I know but without their support I would never have seen such beauty.

End of day one 

Looking south back to Cromarty. 

Day two was a fantastic day with a very hot sun. I stopped off here at Balintore and met George the owner of the pub The Comm. George refilled my water bottles and gave me a dram and we sat and chatted for awhile. The generosity that you meet on a trip like this is truly fantastic. I recommend a visit to The Comm in Balintore and say hi to George for me.

The Comm pub in Balintore.

Noss Head

Made great time and landed in a beautiful cove just round the head. Only to find the stress fracture just behind the seat of the kayak had got worse!!! 

I had repaired this three times and it was getting worse. Both rear hatches were full of water everytime I got off the water. 

 I didn't fancy facing the pentland firth in that vulnerable state. My fear is the fracture giving way in a heavy sea at the wrong time. So I have decided to call it a day and come back next year and finish the trip. Thanks for all your support and many thanks to the amazing people I have met along the way. Thanks x

This is the cove I landed in just round from the Noss Head lighthouse. Beautiful. I could see John O Groats from here and spent a long time debating with myself whether to call it a day or carry on and risk the kayak failing at the wrong time. After some time and alot of swearing I decided to call it a day and phoned my long suffering brother to ask if he could come pick me up. I will not repeat what he said but you can guess just what he said!!!! He cancelled a long planned fishing trip to Mull to come pick me up. Thanks Davie for always being there when I need you mate.

my last night camped at Noss Head.

Always love pictures of sunsets. I was sitting on the beach with a wee dram and with a sad heart watched the sunset on the trip. Planning the next year with an added vigor. I will finish this lol. someday.

Slangevar (cheers "good health") to you all for your support. 

Dunbeath

Arrived in Dunbeath after a fantastic days paddle through some of the most amazing coastline I have ever seen. This is an amazing place to visit. I will be back. The geology along this coast is beautiful with the most incredible optical illusion of paddling downhill on the sea!!!! The rock strata is layered at and angle the gives the impression of paddling downhill when going from north to south. The sea arch of An Dunn is beautiful I paddled through this 3 times

An Dunn 

After I had repaired the kayak again for the second time I found the nearest pub The Bay Owl. This is a wee pub restaurant at the top of the hill on the way out of Dunbeath. The food is excellent and I highly recommend the bay burger with cheese and bacon lol. I was made to feel very welcome straight away by Trevor and Irene the owners of the pub and not to forget Ron who was on holiday.

Second day Dunbeath.
Took a day off today at Dunbeath. Woke up to heavy rain fog and a strong swell so decided to sit it out today. went over my charts and checked the weather forecast for tomorrow. forecast is better and I should get back on the water.

Went back up to the Pub to watch the debate between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling oh and to have another bay burger lol. After one or two pints I went back to my tent and sat outside watching the moon come out over the bay with a wee whisky. Met Richard out walking his dogs, two beautiful collies Katie and Robbie and we chatted for awhile about how beautiful Dunbeath bay is. We went to his campervan then shared a beer and a whisky and chatted about what brought us to Dunbeath. A very interesting man that was heading home to Orkney with a scooter for his daughter. Made me think about my trip and realised that it is not the journey that makes the trip, its the amazing people you meet along the way that makes it.

 Dunbeath Castle just south of the village of Dunbeath.

 Camped at the harbour. Repaired the stress fracture on the underside of the kayak again .Gelcoated the outside and fiberglassed the inside to try and strengthen the fracture.

 Dunbeath harbour after a long day paddling in and out of all the caves and Geo's. Landed at the slip and pulled the kayak up on the trolly with a flat tyre!!!!! heavy going as the slip is steep. got there in the end after some heavy pulling. set up camp on a bit of grass at the end of the harbour. both rear hatches were full of water due to the stress fracture. Pulled out everything and laid it out to dry in the sun.