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sorry not a picture, but will take some when we next get out
we have an open canoe (Old Town Discovery), which we use on the River Stour Dorset. I haven't done any modifications to it, mainly because we are lucky enough to get out of the MIL back garden straight in. Planning to go further afield this year including possible Poole Harbour. Do any of you run buoyancy bags? if so what do you recommend? Also looking at putting some lashing on the sides and grab loops front and rear, I was thinking about getting hold of some retired climbing rope for this but does climbing rope float if I was also going to use it as a painter? Any other tips on modifications gratefully received
Spent the day paddling around the edge of Llyn Dinas near Beddgelert with Bert onboard!
Nice weather, slight breeze and warm water temperature.
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Took the paddle board around to Lochbuie - most disconcerting when paddling in a mirror calm looking at the sea bed about 5 metres below. Barrel jellyfish was pretty impressive. Esther still hasn’t got beyond using the board as a diving platform - she’ll swim out, jump aboard then dive off again
Ok so now I live near the coast and a river I would like to dip my toes so to speak.
What does stw recommend for a beginner
The coastline is quite rocky so thinking I will need something solid and I want to sit down not stand
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Went to look for the recently seen pair of white tailed sea eagles on St Mary's Loch. No luck seeing them but beautiful day on the water. </span>
P&H Virgo of the appropriate size and some kayak training?
Or a Sit on top?
Where are you based it might help to know your location.?
Depends on if you want to kayak or canoe really.
A sit on top kayak can be a great starting place. Most paddle ok, you fall out rather than have to get out if you capsize, self draining etc.
A 'proper' touring kayak is likely faster and better in waves. A bit drier and warmer too.
Beyond that we can talk sea kayaks or canoes, both of which are superb, but maybe take a bit more thought and skill.
The big thing would be to find a club or coach and try a few things out and to get some coaching.
(Although as a huge canoe fan, just buy a canoe... 😉 )
we have an open canoe (Old Town Discovery) …Do any of you run buoyancy bags? if so what do you recommend? Also looking at putting some lashing on the sides and grab loops front and rear, I was thinking about getting hold of some retired climbing rope for this but does climbing rope float if I was also going to use it as a painter? Any other tips on modifications gratefully received
Buoyancy bags (or foam blocks) are used in 3 main situations; if your boat is 'fibreglass' composite, to stop it totally sinking (not a problem with polythene boats like yours), on whitewater to stop it becoming totally unmanageable (and wrecked) if swamped, and on open water to make it easier to self rescue from a capsize.
Lashing points are known as 'lacing' - watch this:
He also covers end loops (climbing rope is fine for loops but doesn't float). Calling them or using them as grab loops is discouraged, as if you have your hand in the loop and the boat rolls over you can break your fingers. The idea is to make them big enough to tie a painter to or clip a krab, but not get a hand in.
Have a browse on https://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/ - it's STW for canoes but more 'on topic' and politics is banned.
The coastline is quite rocky so thinking I will need something solid and I want to sit down not stand
A plastic sit-on-top is probably a better place to start if you’re just pootling about - they don’t catch the wind like an inflatable. Your local FB buy/sell might turn up some used ones for reasonable money.
Next step up would be a plastic kayak of some description - more length, less beam means they track/run better in waves and tides and offer more scope to improve your paddle stroke and technique. Worth considering joining a club or doing a course to learn the basics including self-rescue if planning on venturing further afield. Knowing you can get back in your boat if you wet exit is an important skill.
Having bought myself a sea kayak earlier this year - I used to paddle a K1 and did some racing on flat water and can roll in a pool, but going out on your own and encountering stronger winds and waves than expected can be both exhilarating and disconcerting and makes you realise how relatively vulnerable you are even a short distance from home.
Based in Berwick upo Tweed.
Thanks for the info so far
Went to look for the recently seen pair of white tailed sea eagles on St Mary’s Loch. No luck seeing them but beautiful day on the water.
I didn't know about the eagles will keep my eyes out on my next trip
Did you shoot the river between the two lochs?
Regarding inflatable SUPs, are Decathlon ones any good (for a beginner)? Plus what paddling can people recommend near Edinburgh and East Lothian?
Plus what paddling can people recommend near Edinburgh and East Lothian?
Thriepmuir, gladhouse,loch of the Lowe's/St Mary's loch, North Berwick****
**** I debated putting this here. Do not take going in the sea lightly even on the calmest day. Which to be fair is the same everywhere.
Don't do it alone either atleast until you have gained confidence and knwlowledge. Getting back on a board once is easy but three times is harder add some chop and a cold breeze in the wrong direction with a tide and things can go south pretty quickly.
I thought that seeing as the STW team have made it easier to post pictures I thought you might like to see some of the pictures from our trip sea kayaking in Plockton and Skye. We did a number of day paddles some with my partner and some solo.
I know solo trips carry more risk but I have quite a lot of experience, good weather and careful tidal planning
Sea Eagle chased by Gull
Eilean Donan Castle
Near the Strome Islands
Wildlife?
Gull
Excellent,.
From last week, a trip north from Tobermory, around bloody bay and up to Ardmore Point. Almost no wind by the time I got back. The water was thick with jellyfish of all varieties and I even saw a comb jelly. I saw what I thought was some floating seaweed - turned out to be an otter feeding on his back. On the way back I was able to drift on the current and it surfaced about 10ft away. Basking seals on the skerries at Ardmore plus I encounter ed a seal nursery on an isolated islet.
@dmorts we have this one and it's perfectly fine.
I'm looking for a second one that is one step up from a beginner model. It needs to be inflatable (to get it on a train) for days out on big lakes (Constance and Zürich). Any advice?
Just back from a fantastic trip to the fabulous rivers that flow from the Massif Central in France.
First, the Vezere. Lovely gentle paddling in wonderful limestone scenery, with the odd fairy tale chateau thrown in.
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Next we had a day on the Cele, a small river that flows into the Lot. More limestone scenery, stepping it up a notch in size! The Cele also adds in some simple whitewater, mostly barely grade 1, with just a smattering of slightly harder. To round it off, there are some weirs with excellent "glissieres" to slide down.
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With the two warm up rivers over, we headed for the truly magnificent Gorges du Tarn. A 500m deep limestone gorge with a lovely moderate whitewater river at the bottom. Astonishing place.
We planned our trip to slowly increase the difficulty, as my companions didn't have much moving water experience. The first day was through the heart of the Gorges, the most spectacular part, but all just grade 1. Mostly, you just drift and stare upwards.
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Our second day was a little further upstream, St Enimie to La Malene, and just added in the odd little grade 2. Otherwise, more boring and dreary scenery 😉
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The third day again moved up the difficulty a tiny bit, with more, and longer, sections of grade 2. The scenery remains remarkable.
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Our final day, Les Vignes to Le Rozier, is arguably my favourite open canoeing whitewater paddle anywhere, and I hadn't run it for a few years. Regular grade 2, with a couple of rapids pushing up towards grade 3, all in the setting of this enormous canyon.
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And that was it, 7 days, 7 outstanding paddles. And we barely scratched the surface of what is possible.
@malgrey looks absolutely stunning
North Berwick****
**** I debated putting this here. Do not take going in the sea lightly even on the calmest day. Which to be fair is the same everywhere.
Don’t do it alone either atleast until you have gained confidence and knwlowledge. Getting back on a board once is easy but three times is harder add some chop and a cold breeze in the wrong direction with a tide and things can go south pretty quickly.
Yes, North Berwick is somewhere I wondered about. I have surfed in the past*. I imagine inflatable SUPs can be a bit of handful in swell or wind. Definitely can't duck dive them!
Inland water can be dangerous too, still the wind to contend with plus very cold water.
It is a return to salty water that I'm thinking about and appreciate the reiteration of staying safe.
*I had no real patience or time for it in the UK, just too inconsistent unless you live right on the coast and have plenty of free time. Only relatively recently did I move to Edinburgh.
Had a couple of trips out of Rèinigeadal on Harris when the wind dropped to a fresh breeze last week. Paddled across the mouth of Loch Seaforth (the water depth goes from 100m in the loch to 30m rather abruptly so can get a touch bouncy) and explored the sea lochs of Pairc. Most of the settlement along the coast was cleared in the 1800s so aside from the lobster pot buoys that punctuate the skerries there's not much sign of human life. Plenty of puffins from the nearby Shiants, gannets from further afield, razorbills and guillemots. Loads more exploring to be done here so will definitely be back for a longer overnight trip in the future.
Also went south to Eilean Glas and Scalpay. Glassy seas early in the day meant that spotting dolphins was easy. We had to wait until the ferry back over the Minch to see the minke whale that had been reported in the area, but did see sea eagles feasting on a deer carcass on the hillside above Loch Trollamarig. Whether it was due to warm water temperatures or the way currents have been moving there were assorted flavours of jellyfish absolutely everywhere. The wind picked up during the day and we had a pleasant following sea to aid the journey back up to Port Rèinigeadal.
Loving the photos in this thread and thought I'd add some of my damp lensed snaps while I'm stuck behind a screen and missing being afloat in a boat.
Loch Ken
Nope, very far from there.
I can finally post some pics on here. Feels like I've been waiting forever to get a break in the weather and having the time to get out. Got a 2nd board so my 13yr old can come out with me and we can actually go somewhere rather than taking it in turns up and down a short stretch.
I'm in East Yorkshire so none of the amazing scenery that you all share, but heading to Bala next week so might get to amend that. Anyway, for now we've managed a bit of Pocklington Canal (curtailed by terretorial swans with young) and the River Hull - so peaceful and beautifilly clear water - nothing like what it's name would make you imagine. The photos don't really do it justice but they're quick snaps before I stop concentrating and lose my balance!
That looks good fun 🙂
No-one would have guessed anyway. It's near Minocqua, Wisconsin, USA.
No chance we would get that! 🙂
That's why I said 'closest' I thought someone might guess North America.
Back from Bala. Highly recommend Glanlynn campsite for good campign with lakeside access.
A float down our local river - I am again reminded how great the local paddling is. We did Deanston to Stirling on the Teith & Forth. Gentle white water, lots of moving but flat, lovely views and peace.
We even beat the rain - it started as I loaded the boat back onto the car...
Slightly more mundane - crossing Flanders Moss using the biggest ditch in Scotland. (Yesterday)
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7580161
I still intend to paddle that ditch, source to sea....one day I will dray my arse out to paddle without a view...
Couple of weeks ago on the way to bow fiddle rock
A few photos from a week based in Laga Bay on Loch Sunart in Ardnamurchan. Absolutely magic place to paddle. Mostly incredible weather, lots of interesting wildlife and gorgeous Celtic rainforest down to the rocky shoreline.
Lovely Loch Teacuis.
Conditions off Rubha Aird Shlignich getting interesting in the swell and wind.
Not too bad a morning.
Crossing Loch Sunart to Glen Cripesdale.
Absolute stoater of a day after the fog burned off. Made our way up to Repisole and stopped for ice cream at the Salen Jetty shop and a swim to cool off on the way back to Laga.
Doirlinn, Loch na Droma Bhuide, Oronsay
Ceann Garadh looking towards Ben Hiant.
Wandered up Ben Hiant and did some bouldering at Sanna beach on the days it was a bit too windy to get out on the water. Hiant joins the list of the best wee hills in Scotland for its outlook, absolutely amazing. Good views of all the places we'd paddled throughout the week.
Will hopefully be back up again soon, but likely only once the Corran ferry is sorted. Both of the alternative routes are a bit hectic with the extra traffic. Maybe just paddle out, best way to travel.
River taff at the back of my house,you can't get that far upstream but it's a nice little paddle.
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12 mile circumnavigation of Hayling Island on my sup today.
Parked at the northern end of the island and utilised the ebb tide to help me southbound to the coast. Which i achieved in less time than expected. Along the seafront it was heaving, nothing says i respect the sea more than a 9 year old in sn. Inflatable swan.
Then north away from tje jetski knobs and up chichester harbour. Saw 2 x seals hauled out on the mud, loads of egret, cormorant and i think mullet.
4 1/2 hr on the water and very enjoyable it was too.
Like your post debaser - I live in Tobermory and the last week has been glorious paddling conditions. Nipped out yesterday evening across the Sound of Mull and back. I can see across to Loch Sunart from my house and hoping to get a good day in the next few weeks to get around to Oronsay and back.
Keeping our double coated dog cool yesterday.
Llyn Dinas nr Beddgellert
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[url= https://nonprofitlight.com/ma/milton/laboure-college ]laboure college[/url]
I can see across to Loch Sunart from my house and hoping to get a good day in the next few weeks to get around to Oronsay and back.
Aye, Oronsay is a very pleasant explore. It was the windiest day we went out and less sheltered from a south easterly than we'd hoped with the wind funnelling pretty fiercely down Loch Sunart so didn't follow the coast as much as we'd have liked. Worth doing on a spring tide I think. It was headed towards neaps for us and while we timed things with the high tide to squeak through the Doirlinn there wasn't as much water as we'd have hoped in the big lagoon/fish trap on the south-east side of the island. Great though, especially around the north west corner.
Envious of your local paddling @dovebiker Have you made use of the local ferries as a foot passenger with a boat on a trolley? It's always struck me as a great way to shuttle trips and make the most of the tide in one direction, but I've never gotten around to it.
Might not be best place to ask but taking sup course (can windsurf ok and surf a bit, sail dinghies and cats), and possibly interested in buying one
Pensioner, 85kg, use (starting with most) on canals, rivers, estuary, near coastal, very occasionally possibly adding a grandchild,
I suspect like mtb I’ll be effectively rambling ie enjoying the view etc etc
Jobe Sena 11ft and Jobe duna adventurer are both in sales , have 5yr warranty, duna gets good write ups, can’t find much on sena, (adventures is duna plus side fins and a few bits),
Sound ok or too much (esp the duna adventurer) for basically a slow old bimbler.
Thanks
Long weekend kayaking with the club on a trip to Pembrokshire around St Davids . Some stunning coastline to explore, get into some cases and rockhop (until the swell built up to ~ a meter and 12sec period). Lots of seals and their pups (we kept away from those beaches) but the highlight was a pod of common dolphins. About 15 of them including youngsters swimming and jumping past us. One swimming right under my bow .
Some photos from the Aberdeenshire coast and Moray Firth.
Todhead Lighthouse.
The Garran, a big archway just north of Catterline composed of what appears to be conglomerate choss. Not sure how often the massive boulders in the roof plop into the sea, probably wouldn't like to paddle through here after heavy rain.
Covesea lighthouse in the Moray Firth from a different day. Early morning light and glassy sea.
Halliman Skerries off Lossiemouth.
Beautiful Photo 🙂
I’ve just bought a new boat, (the green one)
Tryweryn?
Dart loop.
Slight boycott of the thread but has anyone canoed or paddle boarded on the River Derwent in Yorkshire please ?
Well, people do!
They do on Derwent Water in the Lake District as the link says but I was after information on the River Derwent in Yorkshire. 🙂
It's on the UK Rivers website but I can't find much information about the river entry & exit points or the flow.
Looking at a paddle board trip over a couple of days with a wild camp overnight but can't find much information.
I've asked on 'Song of the Paddle' but got no responses yet.
I did find a blog a while back of someone who did Kirkham Abbey to Stamford Bridge with an overnight in a woods somewhere. - I'll see if I can find it. I think the biggest problem is a downed tree blocking the river just down from Kirkham. I've not done it myself though.
My plan is for a run from Stamford Bridge to either Kexby or Elvington at some point this summer as they're relatively local to me. Definitely not anytime soon as the river is well in flood in all the usual places.
Have you tried the Go Paddling app? It used to have loads of info on but the android versions seems to have lost a load of data since last summer?
Thanks Pocpoc, loaded Go Paddling and those links were helpful. I’ll start planning. 😀
A week in Assynt over Easter
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The Uidh Fhearna between Lochs Veyatie and Fionn Loch
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Suilven and camp
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On Fionn Loch
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Leaving Fionn Loch for the portage to Loch Sionasgaig
Portage to Sionasgaig (about a mile. 4 hours)
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Two days on Loch Sionasgaig
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Escape via the Polly Lochs
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Escaped to the road, and hitched back to start. As always, winds changed our plans several times, especially when it came to trying to get back east into 30mph headwinds, hence we just kept going west!
Mal, your photos continue to be inspiring!
Thanks Matt, but that very landscape is just totally inspiring, which helps! Don't tell anyone about it though 😉
We’re having a bit of a late spring here on Mull, temperatures barely touching double digits and nothing but strong northerlies. Have managed to get out a few times, but this week was the first time where it was calm enough for a more leisurely pootle out to the top of the island to Ardmore Point and back. Big contrast to 2 weeks ago where I went out for some “rougher” weather experience with a coach - sea state 3-4 and as it turned out a force 5-6 headwind on the return - took an hour to paddle 3 km as we were hugging the shore and seeking shelter behind rocks.
Different locations but part of the same geological rock formation. Last weekend and today
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Third canoe outing for my dog
I give up
Third canoe outing for my dog
How does the dog like it?
My Harold is unbelievably calm whenever we get in the canoe. More than anywhere else I'd say. Apart from the odd go at some ducks anyway.
How does the dog like it?
Following the judicious application of cooked bits of chicken she is learning to love it. She's not much of a swimmer (which probably isn't a bad thing as she stays in the canoe) but she seems happy enough floating around for a bit.
Hoping to get her happy enough for an overnight canoe trip at some point.
With this amazing weather, took the opportunity to kayak out to Staffa yesterday and explore the coastline, cliffs and caves. It was a 13km paddle from Gribun on Mull. The island is currently ‘closed’ to boat traffic as they’re building a new landing - nice to have the place to myself. As well as Fingal’s Cave, there are two others, Boat Cave and McKinnon’s Cave that you can paddle into. Only disappointment was that the puffins weren’t ashore, just swimming around in big rafts.
