A paddle on Loch Eck was well overdue,roughly 7 months was the last time I paddled here. With a new vehicle sourced and a roof rack fitted last weekend,there was no holding me back ( well work and weather permitting,ha).
Loch Eck it was !!! Loaded up after work and took the 20 minute drive north of Dunoon. Loch Eck has a number of possible launch points and there’s usually at least one that’s sheltered from the worst of any wind. I chose to launch at the north end of the Loch at Dornoch Bay. With no set plans I decided to paddle south to Jubilee Point then cross the Loch and return on the west side passing the ruin of Stuck Farmhouse.
In the short time I had on the water I think I spent more time taking photos than I did paddling ,but in the conditions it’d have been rude not to.
Explore Cowal 
Beautiful pictures 😍 I grew up in Dunoon and I’m coming back next month to do some camping.
Do you know if wild camping is permitted on the shores of loch Eck?
Hello. Yes wild camping still permitted over this way. Active rangers from forestry and national park due to staycations 👍
Excellent thanks for the reply thinking of having a couple of nights on the far bank of the loch so not too close to the main road.
That’s if the far side is still accessible by car i seem to remember there being a picnic area on that side too?
Think it was from the glen massan road although I could be wrong lol it’s been quite some time since Ive been back up
The west side of the Loch has no vehicle access. Closest is Glenbranter at the north or Benmore Gardens to the south. There is a dirt track from Glenmassan via Uig Hall then onto Benmore gardens , but main road to Benmore is easiest
Ok thanks I’ll need to get a map out figure out where the spot I’m thinking of is, I know there was a main parking spot just of the main road after benmore and I’m sure there was another spot on the opposite side of the loch not directly across but fairly close that was accessed by a more basic road?
I should probably also brush up on my compass points because I have no idea what way I’m facing lol.
Also can you confirm whether we will need a permit for camping as I know some of the lochs do
Thanks
Also I’m presuming benmore doesn’t allow overnight parking? So we will have to find a spot with parking fairly nearby.
I just hope it doesn’t limit our options too much.
Don’t think there’s a restriction on parking at benmore. There’s an overflow car park.
You may be thinking of the water treatment works on the west side. The Loch runs north to south. No permit despite being in the national park. It applies mostly Loch Lomond and surroundings.
Brilliant thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions.
Would you say it’s safe to leave the car overnight?
I’ve lived in England for too long now and worry about leaving it unattended.
Aye it should be fine. Glenbranter end quiet too and the base of the Forestry Commission, dare say they’d have CCTV. Depends where you’re planning on camping.
That’s great thanks.
We were looking at one of your other trips and quite like the idea of trying the west loch Eck area it looks beautiful for a couple of nights.
Then we might move on to a forest area of we can find a suitable one.