11-12 July Loch Sween
Club rules state that any official club paddle must in the interests of safety have three or more participants. Only two paddlers participated in the scheduled trip to Loch Sween, so not officially a club paddle. Gear and boats were unloaded at Carsaig, cars taken over to Tayvallich and then a pleasant short walk back. Setting off from Carsaig, we paddled down the west shore of the Taynish peninsula with views of the flatter bit of Jura at first until the Paps of Jura came into view. A quick lunch stop and otter spot at Auchoshin was followed by a crossing to the McCormick Isles where we had a second stop and wander on the biggest island of Eilean Mor. We had lovely views to Jura, Islay, Ireland, Kintyre and Gigha. We crossed back over towards the Point of Knap to a fine wee camp spot and a lovely swim. It was a fine evening and we were able to sit out and enjoy the views. Next day after another quick dip, we paddled up Loch Sween and into Linne Mhuirich, spotting lots of brittle starfish, then back up Loch Sween to Tayvallich.
Distance paddled: Circa 45k, little wind, lots of sun!
Paddlers: Karin and Ruth
19th July Paddle UK’s Big Paddle Clean Up
M&DCC ‘s contribution!
On Sunday 19th July seven members set off from just west of Millburn Cottage on the Rhu peninsula and headed west round Rubh Arisaig and on into Loch Nan Uamh. Their mission was to clear what rubbish they could from the stony beach at Camus Leathann some 10km from where they launched. This beach clean had been postponed from earlier in the month when the weather was wet and windy. On arrival we had lunch before starting on the mammoth (virtually impossible) task of clearing the beach of the masses of courlene rope entangled in the seaweed and buried under the stones. We filled the six bags sent to the club by Paddle UK using pickers (also sent by Paddle UK) or our hands….easier to pick up the small pieces which would have been washed clean by the sea! When it was time to leave, we loaded what we could into and onto our kayaks and left the rest on the beach to be recovered at a later date. Another 10km paddling (accompanied some of the way by leaping dolphins and porpoises!) found us at the beach under the railway viaduct at Glen Mama. Having loaded the boats and rubbish bags into cars we repaired to the Loch Ailort Inn for a well-earned drink!
Special thanks to Gill for helping with the shuttle and a chufty badge to Tony for walking in and helping with the clean up!
Distance paddled: Approx 20km
Paddlers: Joan, Sheila, Elizabeth, Bill Scott, Duncan, Arthur and Kate
