Hello, I’ve been lazy in updating this page but have been out and about. Some posts on Facebook and I’ve taken to uploading some videos on to the YouTube.
Link to channel here, I think
Hello, I’ve been lazy in updating this page but have been out and about. Some posts on Facebook and I’ve taken to uploading some videos on to the YouTube.
Link to channel here, I think
Route Name: North West Loch Striven
Terrain: Forest road and track. Also open field if heading to the shoreline.
Features: Views, Sea Loch
Distance: 9.5 miles return trip if dropping down to shore.
Time: 3-4 hours, but take longer and enjoy a rest or two and take in the views.
Now that the trees have been harvested and the road linked with the southern section this walk provides stunning views.
This is a straight forward walk starting and finishing at the forestry road at top of the climb of the B836 , Craigendive. Walking out to Troustan and back provides great vistas south north and over to Ardtaraig and Glenstriven. The majority of the walk is on forestry road, with a short section on forest track and open field to get to the shoreline. The walk can be extended to Colintraive
A few wee locations, all offering something different.
** Please take your litter home, leave any site as you found it, if not better**
OFF GRID:
Ardentinny: Semi Rural – Large
Coastal-Forestry Walks/Cycles-Forestry Toilets (seasonal), no drinking water.
Loch Eck, Dornoch Point: Rural – Small
Lochside-Kayak-No facilities.
B836,Loch Tarsan: Rural
No Facilities-Walking
Luib Chonnal bothy, maintained by the MBA situated on the Brae Roy estate.
A track winds it way to the bothy, never straying far from the scenic River Roy.
Lower level is open plan with concrete floor. Used as storage for the estate and at the time of my visit full of wood for the stove!
Upstairs features a sleeping area on the landing with a door that leads a room with stove, table, multiple chairs and a sleeping platform.
Fuel: Scarce at locus, however looks like it’s kept well stocked.
Altitude: 330 mts.
Bike friendly 10/10.
SOLD Selling my Venture Easky Sea/Touring Kayak.
Venture Easky 15. Full package to get you on the water.
Excellent primary and secondary stability. Plenty of storage and the drop down skeg aids tracking.
Comes with original log book. Has always been stored in garage between use. Usual launch and landing marks on underside.
Comes with additional deck storage pod.
Also……
-Werner Tybee ( carbon shaft, nylon/carbon blades). Adjustable feather, left or right handed. Splits for transport.
-Paddle float.
-Lomo trolley ( cradle/wheels set up ).
-Lomo neoprene spray deck.
-Peak Nylon spray deck.
-Throw line.
-Hand bilge pump.
-Peak Symbiant WW buoyancy aid M/L ( chest pocket zip jammed shut). This is an overhead style.
£600.
Reviews by clicking HERE
Boat Data HERE
Contact via explorecowal@gmail.com or Tel 07732426273
Thanks.
The normal format for the annual Clyde Swim is to leave Dunoon in RIB’s and head to the Cloch lighthouse on the eastern shore. The swimmers disembark into the Clyde and make the return journey under their own steam, landing at the West Bay,Dunoon.
This year, due to the weather forecast a change of plan was required. The chosen start point was Seal Rock, just north of the Balaclava Garage. This guaranteed that the usual 1.6 nautical miles were covered and the finishing point stayed as originally planned.
I volunteered to help out with the support for the event. Basically getting in the kayak to help keep an eye on the participants, should they require assistance.
A few pics my dad took from the shoreside.
The brother in law coming in 2nd 👍
Some footage from the kayak at the start.
Huge congratulations to all taking part and a huge well done to those that organised and helped on the day.
Being fortunate enough to receive a voucher for a Sea Plane tour leaving from Loch Lomond let me see Cowal (and beyond) from a totally different perspective.
The weather was dry, with a cloud base down to 400 mts in some areas. The flight route we took was Loch Lomond over to Loch Long, passing over the Waverly for some aerial photographs. Followed by a tour of the Holy Loch then heading through Glenlean to the Kyles of Bute, passing over Tarbert, Crinan and out toward Jura and Islay.The return route was via Lochgilphead,Portavadie , The Kyles of Bute, Colintaive, Toward Point then north taking in the Firth of Clyde before returning to Loch Lomond.
A fantastic way to see Cowal and it’s surroundings, West is definitely the best.
Below are only a few pictures taken on the day…………….
What’s a bothy ?
A bothy is a basic shelter, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use free of charge. It was also a term for basic accommodation, usually for shepherds, stalkers or other workers on an estate.
Where can I find out about Bothies?
The Mountain Bothy Association has a great website, visit by clicking HERE.
Where are these bothies ?
The MBA ( Mountain Bothy Association) website details lots of information about Bothies. In amongst that information lies a location map, giving grid references and brief information.
Locations can be found by clicking HERE.
Round the Bothy fire, ‘ the bothy TV’ is another great source for information. The more bothies you visit the more information you can perhaps extract from fellow visitors ( application of alcohol may be required). There are many Bothies that aren’t documented, mainly on private grounds such as estates.
Grid references can be entered into this website, gridref.org.uk
Once the coordinates are entered it plots a point at the location.
Of course, if visiting a bothy, more so the remote ones,a map, compass and the knowledge to use them is a must.
What to take to a bothy ?
Similar to camping minus the tent, although a tent can sometimes be a good idea should a bothy be full on arrival. Although some say, ‘a bothy is never full’ and you’ll always find a space.
Having a tent gives you somewhere to retire to as the well known bothy shenanigans carry on into the wee small hours.
Fuel for the fire.
The majority of bothies have a fireplace or a stove. It’s always worth carrying in any fuel you can, some bothies have no nearby resources.
Fire lighters and candles are handy too.
Membership of the MBA is optional, but any monies raised from membership fees go towards maintaining these fantastic buildings. A worth while cause and money well spent.
Membership info HERE.
Some bothies I’ve visited and info, click HERE.
Basic guidelines.
As bothies are located in such remote places some are affected by deer stalking and other estate activities. The MBA detail contact info and activity timings. This could restrict access and some bothies may be closed for a duration.
Outdoor access Scotland – Hill Phones , is also a provider of Stalking information. Visit the site by clicking HERE.
The call of nature. If you need to go, you need to go. There’s usually a spade at each bothy, this isn’t for turning over the flower beds! Out with the vicinity of the bothy and away from any water courses.
Always leave a bothy as you found it, if anything, in better condition. Take all rubbish back out with you. Leaving any spare fuel or scavenging some wood for the next person is good practice.
Perishable foods should not be left as this encourages vermin.
The Bothy Code, click HERE
Most importantly………. ENJOY!
Gorton Bothy, maintained by the MBA is situated north of Tyndrum approximately 5 miles from the main road.
Stone built with corrugated roof. Wood cladding to interior walls and ceilings. Two rooms, one with open fire. No raised sleeping platforms. The building extends to the east, this section is used for storage of farm materials ( locked ). Porch of timber construction, ideal storage area.
Fuel: Nothing at location. Take fuel in.
Altitude : 302 mts.
Bike friendly : 10/10