UCD Canoe Club
General => Foreign Trips => Topic started by: Peter O'Sullivan on April 08, 2015, 19:38:56
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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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/scotland/west-highlands)
Levels:
http://canoescotland.org/where-go/wheres-water (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# (https://picasaweb.google.com/108250712605161593102/Scotland2015#) Video to follow soon.
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Photos are sweet Peter ! ;D afro.gif