Author Topic: Scotland Paddling - How to guide  (Read 9406 times)

Offline Peter O'Sullivan

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Scotland Paddling - How to guide
« on: April 08, 2015, 19:38:56 »
For future reference here's a brief how to guide for Scotland.

Where:
Stay in Fortwilliam https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Fort+William,+Highland,+UK/@56.8169325,-5.1030703,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x48893323371c031b:0xcda03ee308544821

Or Glencoe https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Glencoe,+Ballachulish,+Highland+PH49,+UK/@56.682697,-5.102645,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x488930ea7b29b375:0xd1dce0f3c21732e7

Dates:
Go for at least 4 to justify the driving.

Accommodation:
I stayed in Bank Street hostel in Fortwilliam before http://www.bankstreetlodge.co.uk/accommodation.php. Since good Friday and Easter Monday are both Bank holidays in Scotland everywhere was booked out so we stayed in this place https://www.google.ie/maps/@56.842902,-5.123256,3a,75y,79.93h,78.25t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sP8WPf_Z9ChOJ775hooBYMw!2e0

Getting there:
P&O's Larne to Troon is the better option. Approx 430euro return for a car and 4 people. Slightly cheaper for students. Just over 2:15hr sailing time. Larne is 2hrs 20min drive from Dublin. Fortwilliam is about 4hrs drive from Cairnryan.

Cars/Drivers:
Ideally you would have 4 people per car to split the ferry and petrol costs. Even better still if you have an extra insured driver to share the driving. You'll need two cars.

Booking ferries:
I suggest there getting a commitment from people to go and book 4 or 5 days before hand if the levels look roughly correct. They will never be perfect.

Rivers:
Probably best to get the guide book. Phone/data signal near the rivers is poor. Go paddle the Etive, Orchy, Spean and the Roy.
But for those who want the online guide http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/scotland/west-highlands

Levels:
http://canoescotland.org/where-go/wheres-water
There is another website. Hopefully Zog can remember it. Factor in snow melt too.

Good idea to message locals in Napier Uni to get some local knowlegde.

 Some photos https://picasaweb.google.com/108250712605161593102/Scotland2015#  Video to follow soon.
« Last Edit: April 08, 2015, 23:45:16 by Peter O'Sullivan »

Offline Vettie

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Re: Scotland Paddling - How to guide
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2015, 00:36:52 »
Photos are sweet Peter !  ;D afro.gif