You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Mrs NBT and I have tried some canoeing days and fancy a longer trip. Nothing too difficult, just something scenic and pleasant. Suggestions I've found so far include the Great Glen, the Spey, the Tay and the Wye. Problem is I'm not overly keen on the idea of wild camping - in fact I'm not overly keen on the idea of camping at all. If that's your bag, then fine, but I like a bit of comfort overnight, so would prefer to stay in a pub or a B&B.
Can anyone suggest any trips which might allow us to canoe from one hostelry to the next over the course of a few days? One of the above, or elsewhere. Or am I wishing for too much and going to have to take a few Growacet before bedding down in a tent for a few nights of broken sleep? Guided trips are fine, or self guided if we're going from B&B to B&B...
Well you learn something new everyday.
A big group of us (about 20) went canoeing/glamping on the Wye.
It was great fun thanks to lovely weather and lots of alcohol in the evening.
No idea who it was organised through but it was thoroughly enjoyable.
Great Glen and the Spey can both be done without camping.
Www.spiritofthespey.co.uk
@bunnyhop - had you mentioned maybe a holiday leisurely touring the waterways of the uk, taking in the scenery? Obviously, you're thinking 'barging holiday' but he's misinterpreted it? 😂
The Spey is the finest canoe trip in the UK imo.
Can result be done without camping.
Speak to Beyond Adventure or Spirit of the Spey.
Thanks guys - I did find the Beyond Adventure site yesterday along with a couple of others, hadn't seen Spirit of The Spey. Will check them in more detail, I can see that Beyond Adventure's planned Spey trip does involve 3 nights camping though
Beyond Adventure and Spirit of the Spey do organise trips according to need - phone Jules at Beyond Adventure and see if they could organise and fill the other spaces...
Check out
www.songofthepaddle.co.uk
Thasnks Matt, will read those later. I've also read reports from Chris (Greybeard) who was kind enough to loan us a canoe for use on our local canal
https://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=678486#p678486
https://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=650041#p650041
This is quite relevant to my interests!
Have a week off work mid March and was thinking of going down the Spey from either Loch Insch or Aviemore to Spey Bay in my packraft, camping on the way.
Couple of Qs - the Spey generally seems pretty easy-going/meandering for most of its way, with a couple of rapids. How are water conditions likely to be in the next couple of weeks? Not hugely experienced, so happy to portage the rapids - am more looking for a relaxing trip than thrills.
Secondly, trying to figure out the logistics in doing this from Edinburgh.
I can drive up and park at Loch Insch or Aviemore then try to get back there from Spey Bay on public transport (not too bad with a packraft), or I can just get the train up and then train back from the other end. Any recommendations?
Morning.
Insh to Aviemore is very chilled, but actually a couple of corners can catch you out due to the trees. Take care.
Aviemore down to Grantown is again very gentle, one or two awkward corners, but picking up current and speed.
At Grantown you get the first main rapid, it's long and rocky. Easy portage on North bank if you need.
From there the rapids do step up in intensity when they occur. The main two have a reputation (Washing Machine at Cromdale, easy North bank portage, and Knockando which can be a pain to portage but the island can work. An awkward corner). Imo there's a few corners and trees to be aware of.
The last day to Spey bay also had a few cheeky corners, a couple of rocks plumb centre of the rapids that can cause an issue as it's now a big volume River. However it's stunning
I enjoy the Grantown - Craigellachie as a trip, and again last bit to the coast. For some reason the Inch-Aviemore just doesn't do it so much for me - maybe I can hear the road plus flat water? It is nice though, I'm splitting hairs...
There's a local taxi company that does shuttles. I've hitched once about 20 years ago. It worked but was slow as no-one picked my up from Grantown... 😭
Scotroutes may know a local who commutes?
Water levels are almost impossible to predict, although like the Tay the Spey usually has enough in, spring you could have a nice current.
binners - lol.
I'm sure you could do the Spey with B&Bs. The Loch Insh Centre would be a good place to start, and they picked us up at Spey Bay (minimbus & trailer) for £130. That was probably a cheap rate as they had no other work. On the later trip we were picked up by local guide Donald Macpherson of Explore Highland, who I'm sure would be happy to guide you and plan B&Bs. Since we were wild camping we tried to stop away from the towns, the only one being Craigallachie - the landing place is good for access to the town and secure boat storage and I'm sure there will be plenty of B&Bs. Grantown looks good, but there's a bit of a gap between there and Craigallachie - we paddled that in a day but you might not want to. Maybe there are B&Bs within a reasonable distance who would arrange to pick you up.
Matt mentions bends with trees. In most places, a capsize will only mean getting wet, provided you don't get caught in a tree. The most dangerous part of the river is the gravel delta at the end, because trees appear in random places where the channel has moved, particularly the bend I posted a link to (just after the swans picture) in the first of my trips that NBT linked.
For lurkers in England and Wales, there is also an official canoe trail (as in there are access agreements in place) on the River Severn from Pool Quay (just downstream from Welshpool) to Gloucester. Of course, we will have to see how much damage the recent floods have done to businesses to see when this becomes viable again.
Have done the River Wye from Hereford to Symonds Yat/Monmouth. It is mostly flat water with a few fast flowing bits but only 1 man-made rapid at Symonds Yat, quiet outside of summer and we saw lots of kingfishers and a few deer. It is 'pleasant'. You could do that section in 4 days staying in B&Bs but with the recent floods you would have to see if the pub at Hoarwithy re-opens otherwise catering would be a problem there. A shorter 2-3 day would be possible from Hoarwithy to Ross-on-Wye to Lower Lydbrook / YHA Wye Valley / Symonds Yat and then on to Monmouth. If renting a canoe, there are a ton of outfitters at Symonds Yat who will include the shuttles (we used Wye Adventures and I would use them again). If you have your own canoe, park at Monmouth rowing club (free parking provided by the Council on the far right) and book Kennys to shuttle you and your gear. For summer trips you do need to book everything ahead. And be aware, if you are using B&Bs you will probably pay a small fee at each get-out/launch each evening (e.g. in Hoarwithy you would getout at Tresseck campsite and store your canoe there; at Ross you would pay the rowing club; at Symonds Yat you can use your canoe hire place). The section from Glasbury to Hereford is supposed to be very nice with lots of wildlife, but is more suited to camping.
There must be pleasant canal trips (or canal+river loops) that a 'legal', will have to search songofthepaddle!
@yourguitarhero, the Tay and Spey respond to rainfall reasonably rapidly, within 1 day of the rains, so you should keep an eye on the weather and look at how the river is rising before you go: River Levels Spey Grantown
There’s a hostel next to the river in Aviemore which is very convenient
this is worth a read, I dont want to put people off and the Spey is a great trip and not beyond the scope of many but there is always the chance it can bite the unwary on the bum