Kayak

We are so fortunate to have Mountain and Sea Guides based here in Lochcarron - lots of activities to chose from, taster sessions right through to large scale expeditions. Check out their details here

The sheltered, deep waters of Lochcarron, Loch Kishorn and the Inner Sound offer route options to suit every ability and confidence level. This guide aims to highlight the best routes in the area and you should be mindful of the following. Written by Mike Arkley.

Safety

Sea Kayaking has potential for risk and injury - ensure that your party has one member who can perform deep-water rescue and towing techniques and is trained and practiced in these. Some routes are committing, where you may be at sea for extended periods at risk of changing conditions and where demands will be placed on the individual paddling skills within the group. Paddlers should have a good grasp of the basic skills as well as being well-practiced in essential stability and recovery skills.

Protection of Wildlife

From early May to late July do not disturb nesting birds or seal colonies or those with young between these periods. Outside these times always consider your impact on wildlife. Do not

paddle directly into seal colonies. When porpoises, dolphins or whales are present allow them to come to you. Do not chase after them. Stay 100 metres out and paddle parallel to wildlife.

Route Grades

GREEN Short routes of 5-10 km with lots of options to get out or turn tail if the weather changes; emphasis is on pottering about rather than eating up the kilometres; non tidal, sheltered, physically easy.

BLUE Medium-length route of 10-15 km with some exposure to open sea areas and bigger wave action; some tidal movement may affect the journey; physically requiring more effort and more planning with particular consideration to weather changes over a longer period.

RED Longer routes of 15-25 km with plenty of exposure to long fetches, wind and wave action; tidal movement throughout the duration will need to be built into the plan; big demands will be placed on individual fitness during extended periods paddling into the wind.

All routes have start points which minimise disturbance to local residents and facilitate your launches and landings. Please ensure that your vehicle does not block driveways or track entrances. Distances are given as a round trip returning to the start point unless stated otherwise.

Plockton

These routes start in Plockton village from the public car park opposite the small island - GR 803 334

PLOCKTON TO EILEAN NA CREIGE DUIBHE GREEN 5KM Head due east towards the forested island of Eilean na Creige Duibhe. This is a very gentle paddle offering great views across the loch to the Applecross peninsula. Otters and seals are nearby as well as plenty of herons near the island.

NOTE: Strong Northerlies can cause problems along this route.

PLOCKTON TO CAMAS DUBH-AIRD GREEN 10KM Paddle out on the left side of the bay heading N round the headland towards the Plockton islands. Depending on the state of the tide you can weave your way through the islands via Camas Deannd or around the seaward side at low tide. Choose to potter or head around An Dubh Aird into the sandy bay of Camas Dubh-Aird. A very easy route so take your time in the hope of sighting local otters.

NOTE: An Dubh-Aird can be quite rough when exposed to strong westerly winds.

Loch Carron & Achintraid

SLUMBAY TO CASTLE BAY BLUE
Take the minor road from the W end of Lochcarron village towards N Strome for 1km, and turn left at Dalacladdich where Slumbay Island comes into view down to the left. Start at the Slumbay road - end at GR 894 385 - you can launch on either side of the spit of land connecting the island, allowing leeside launching when the wind blows on-shore. Thereafter, paddle SW along the Loch Carron shore line but keep to the left, S, of the upcoming fish farm. Two dolphins have become resident near the farm in recent times so you may be lucky enough to meet them. Carry on past Mid Strome where you'll see the wrecked ferry from the days before there was a road on the south side of the loch. Paddle into Strome narrows past the old ferry slipway into Castle Bay and have a break at the ruins of Strome Castle. This dates back to 1472 when it was an important stronghold of the Lord of the Isles, but has been a ruin since 1602 after an attack by Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Lord of Kintail. NOTE: As you approach Castle Bay the old ferry slipway offers an escape point, should the tide be running fast and making it difficult to get in or out of Castle Bay. You can also opt to walk back to your car from this point if the weather makes the return trip hard.

STROMEMORE TO THE KISHORN ISLANDS BLUE 14KM Start GR 863 354 at the old ferry slipway at North Strome - you can park opposite the castle with a short easy carry down to the slipway. Paddle through the Strome narrows on the north side with stunning views west to the Skye mountains on a clear day. Via Eilean na Beinne cross Loch Reraig heading towards the forested point at GR 816 364. Stay close to the mainland so as not to disturb the seal colonies on the Kishorn islands. Landing is easy on the east side of An Garbh Eilean but you should steer clear of Sgeir an Fheòir and the Southern tip of Kishorn Island to avoid disturbing seals. You can decide to end your trip in Achintraid where there are many landing spots in the shallow bay (long carry at low tide) or make the return trip to Stromemore. NOTE: The Strome narrows often have strong tidal movement and this should be anticipated. Local seal watching boats frequently visit the Kishorn islands. Pay close attention to avoid seal colonies so as not to spoil sightings for other people: seals will abandon their positions when kayakers are too close.

ACHINTRAID TO UAGS RED 26KM Approaching Achintraid, park in a sensible place - having ascertained locally that it is in order to do so. Please park so as not to obstruct entrances or turning areas. You can launch opposite the Meeting House (the long white building, on the left, as you leave Ardarroch going towards Achintraid). This is a long day along the wildest shores of the Applecross peninsula. Head SW to the Northern tip of Kishorn Island. Avoid the seal colony on the southern tip of the island. Paddle on a bearing WSW for 3km to pick up the bay at Arigh-drishaig on the south Applecross coast. Just beyond this there is a nice landing spot with an easily accessible water supply at GR 763 362. Continue along some tremendous cliff-lined geology paddling towards Rubha na h-Uamha. Just beyond the headland there is a landing in Uags bay which is hidden. The best approach is to paddle towards the SW gable end of the bothy. Enjoy lunch at the picnic bench outside the bothy or shelter out of the wind inside.

NOTE: The south tip of Applecross peninsula, from Uags to Arigh-Drishaig, is exposed and very rough in S to SW winds and conditions are complicated by clapotis (standing waves) in the last 4km towards Uags.

Applecross Bay & Loch Toscaig

TOSCAIG TO UAGS GREEN 7KM
Start GR 709 378 at Toscaig, 6km S of Applecross. An easy launch is available through a break in the rocks 70m north of the pier car park. A nice easy paddle along the SW shoreline of Applecross peninsula leads to the tranquil setting of Uags bothy. The bothy is a great venue for overnight trips and can be used by small parties - camping on the green outside is an option for larger groups. The point of Rubha na h-Uamha offers great views of the Skye Cuillin as well as tremendous wildlife spotting. Otters are very active around this point.

NOTE: The whole route is prone to large swells during S or SW winds and Rubha na h-Uamha can be particularly rough.

TOSCAIG TO THE CROWLIN ISLANDS RED 15KM Start GR 709 378 at Toscaig pier as for the previous route. On leaving Loch Toscaig head round the headland W to Sgeir Shalach. There is a large seal colony here on the N side of the point. The 2km crossing of the Caolas Mor to the Crowlins offers opportunities to see porpoise as this is a particularly good spot for them. Head directly to the gap at south end of Eilean Beag where there is an easy landing at GR 684 355 on a shingle beach. These islands have many birds that nest on the shoreline just above the high water mark so be observant during these times. After short circumnavigation of Eilean Beag you can paddle south through the natural harbour between Eilean Mòr and Eilean Meadhanach (short portage if the tide is low) or head down the W side of Eilean Meadhanach for tremendous views of the Cuillin mountains. At the SE point of Eilean Mòr, Sgeir Bheithe, either head N back to Loch Toscaig or extend your trip with a detour to Uags.

NOTE: This is a committing day with two open crossings which, although relatively short, can be prone to rough conditions from the North Inner Sound.

APPLECROSS BAYTO CORAL BEACH (ARDBAN) BLUE 11KM There are multiple launch points on to the bay depending on the state of the tide. At low spring tides it is often better to use Milton jetty - GR 708 441 to avoid long carries; otherwise you can launch from the kayak base by the village car park at GR 712 446 where rock has been cleared for access to the sandy bay. This is a short but varied paddle, heading S to Eilean nan Noamh, which is split by an interesting north- south channel at low tide. There are often seals on the NE corner of the island. Cross to the reefs around Sròn na h-Airde Bàine and paddle close to shore at Ardban over the clear Maerl coral beds. The landing at Coral beach itself is fairly hidden at mid-tide; tucked away behind a promontory of rock. In good weather, extend your trip to include the sandy beach at An Ruadh-Eilean or the circumnavigation of Eilean na Bà which has large seal colonies on its North and South ends. NOTE: This route is prone to sudden changes in conditions when air spilling off the Cuillin mountains 20km away can develop into squalls that cross the Inner Sound at speed.