A few days in the Trossachs
Hi All
This is my first post, having joined this year after buying a second hand Discovery 158. At 55, my knee sometimes objects to going hiking with the rest of me and canoeing seemed a good alternative way to wasting time outdoors.
After a first trip on Ullswater, paddling from Pooley Bridge to camp at Side Farm and then back the next day we decided to try some Scottish lochs and maybe a wild camp.
We broke ourselves in gently, booking on to one of the permit sites on Loch Drunkie on the Three Lochs Forest Drive. We ended up sharing the site with a motorcyclist who rather ambitiously was putting up his new tent for the first time without the instructions and without trying at home first.
Ah. Have just realised I need a photobucket or similar account to post pics. Will have to look into that.
On a calm afternoon we had a very relaxed paddle around the loch.
In the evening a breeze blew up which gave me an excuse for being hopeless at casting a fly (the other excuse was that it was the first attempt for several years).
While I was failing to fish, Gaynor was keeping the campfire going. Multitasking, she also managed to spot a pine marten checking out the shoreline about 30 yards away! Our first sighting, and a great start to the trip.
The next day we packed up to head to Stronachlachar to find out how to say it. We hoped to leave the car there and wild camp on the shore of Loch Katrine. After reading bloggs on this site we weren't too sure how welcome we would be. The answer was very welcome.
After coffee and cake the staff were happy to point out some steps where people often launch from. Our plan of wild camping didn't raise any eyebrows either. They did say to keep out of the way of the steamer, which sounded sensible to us. Now I don't know if it's just kayaks that use these steps, but they looked too steep for us!
Instead we found a path at the end of the car park that through a few trees down to a small launch site that we found easy enough.
When we did set off, we also found a perfect slipway just round the corner north on the Great Trossachs Path. We used this when we returned to try our wheels out on our first portage. There is a pedestrian chicane to negotiate, but the canoe went through without any lifting. Checking in the cafe, it seems OK to use the slipway.
So we paddled northwest towards the end of the loch. I was slightly concerned in case it blew up too much for us to paddle back the next day as the winds were unusually set from the east. However the path runs along the shore of the loch so we could always practise our portaging....
We found a quiet place out of sight of the road and any houses, and had a evening soaking up the scenery.
Something I should mention here is Bluebells. The Trossachs were full of them, in stunning swathes, everywhere we went. I'm amazed it isn't plugged as a major tourist attraction.
Mocking my concern, the morning gave us flat calm conditions. After a porridge breakfast we crossed to the northeast shore and had a gentle paddle back to Stronachnachlachar and a second breakfast containing lots of pig products.
We drove past Loch Arklet to check it out. A short distance on the Inversnaid road there is a Scottish water building on the right. Opposite it on the loch side of the road is an unlocked gate that looks like it provides decent access to the loch. We might try this out in the future, dumping the gear then parking at Stronachlachlachar again.
This time, we headed to the campsite at Immervoulin, near Loch Lubnaig for much needed showers and a meet up with friends. A short paddle down the river to the loch and back got a photo of us on another loch. Then good food, drink and company was enjoyed.
Next day - horror! It was raining. After sulking for a while, we tried the campsite cafe and were revived. Donning waterproofs we walked along the lochside to the Forestry Commission lodge site and tested their cafe. It passed with high marks. On the way back we found the White Stag pub and tried their food and drink. The drink was so good I had to return the next day to find my hat.
In the morning we went to Loch Voil, again with beautiful calm conditions (does the wind ever blow in Scotland?). We drove up to the car park at Inverlochlarig, but didn't fancy using the river to get to Loch Doine. We returned to the Monacyle Mhor hotel where we had coffee and a fantastic bright green and white cake (I think it was pistashio and lemon cheesecake). They were very happy to let us park on their land by the lochs. Stupidly we launched the wrong side of the stepping stones so had an immediate drag around them. After that we paddled down Loch Voil, stopping for lunch before returning. There were fantastic reflections in the calm water.
We returned to Loch Drunkie for 2 more nights, this time staying on a more remote pitch half a mile from the car park. A portage along the gravel track was no problem.
Our last day included a walk alongside Loch Katrine from the Trossach Pier end. We saw a couple of canoes entering the pier area, but weren't able to see what became of them.....
Back on Drunkie, Gaynor had a turn paddling at the back while I again didn't catch any fish from the front. Her first attempt and she was soon J stroking like a pro. We both also had a go at solo paddling for the first time. In the calm conditions the canoe felt really light and responsive.
We had mixed feelings about the Three Lochs camping area. Its the first time we've 'wild' camped in an area where evidence of previous campers was around - litter, broken glass, broken live tree branches etc. Toilet paper left above ground was particularly unpleasant. Talking to the rangers it sounds like they have to spend most of their time tidying up. The area is clearly beautiful and seeing the pine marten was great, but I think we will try to find wilder places in the future. As hikers we have wild camped in the Lake district and the Cairngorms without coming across any problems.
Packing the car in the morning was the only time we were really bothered by midges. Not the best send off, but considering the calm weather we thought we had been very lucky. An uneventful drive back to Yorkshire saw the end of a great first canoeing holiday. Hopefully there are lots more to come!
This is my first post, having joined this year after buying a second hand Discovery 158. At 55, my knee sometimes objects to going hiking with the rest of me and canoeing seemed a good alternative way to wasting time outdoors.
After a first trip on Ullswater, paddling from Pooley Bridge to camp at Side Farm and then back the next day we decided to try some Scottish lochs and maybe a wild camp.
We broke ourselves in gently, booking on to one of the permit sites on Loch Drunkie on the Three Lochs Forest Drive. We ended up sharing the site with a motorcyclist who rather ambitiously was putting up his new tent for the first time without the instructions and without trying at home first.
Ah. Have just realised I need a photobucket or similar account to post pics. Will have to look into that.
On a calm afternoon we had a very relaxed paddle around the loch.
In the evening a breeze blew up which gave me an excuse for being hopeless at casting a fly (the other excuse was that it was the first attempt for several years).
While I was failing to fish, Gaynor was keeping the campfire going. Multitasking, she also managed to spot a pine marten checking out the shoreline about 30 yards away! Our first sighting, and a great start to the trip.
The next day we packed up to head to Stronachlachar to find out how to say it. We hoped to leave the car there and wild camp on the shore of Loch Katrine. After reading bloggs on this site we weren't too sure how welcome we would be. The answer was very welcome.
After coffee and cake the staff were happy to point out some steps where people often launch from. Our plan of wild camping didn't raise any eyebrows either. They did say to keep out of the way of the steamer, which sounded sensible to us. Now I don't know if it's just kayaks that use these steps, but they looked too steep for us!
Instead we found a path at the end of the car park that through a few trees down to a small launch site that we found easy enough.
When we did set off, we also found a perfect slipway just round the corner north on the Great Trossachs Path. We used this when we returned to try our wheels out on our first portage. There is a pedestrian chicane to negotiate, but the canoe went through without any lifting. Checking in the cafe, it seems OK to use the slipway.
So we paddled northwest towards the end of the loch. I was slightly concerned in case it blew up too much for us to paddle back the next day as the winds were unusually set from the east. However the path runs along the shore of the loch so we could always practise our portaging....
We found a quiet place out of sight of the road and any houses, and had a evening soaking up the scenery.
Something I should mention here is Bluebells. The Trossachs were full of them, in stunning swathes, everywhere we went. I'm amazed it isn't plugged as a major tourist attraction.
Mocking my concern, the morning gave us flat calm conditions. After a porridge breakfast we crossed to the northeast shore and had a gentle paddle back to Stronachnachlachar and a second breakfast containing lots of pig products.
We drove past Loch Arklet to check it out. A short distance on the Inversnaid road there is a Scottish water building on the right. Opposite it on the loch side of the road is an unlocked gate that looks like it provides decent access to the loch. We might try this out in the future, dumping the gear then parking at Stronachlachlachar again.
This time, we headed to the campsite at Immervoulin, near Loch Lubnaig for much needed showers and a meet up with friends. A short paddle down the river to the loch and back got a photo of us on another loch. Then good food, drink and company was enjoyed.
Next day - horror! It was raining. After sulking for a while, we tried the campsite cafe and were revived. Donning waterproofs we walked along the lochside to the Forestry Commission lodge site and tested their cafe. It passed with high marks. On the way back we found the White Stag pub and tried their food and drink. The drink was so good I had to return the next day to find my hat.
In the morning we went to Loch Voil, again with beautiful calm conditions (does the wind ever blow in Scotland?). We drove up to the car park at Inverlochlarig, but didn't fancy using the river to get to Loch Doine. We returned to the Monacyle Mhor hotel where we had coffee and a fantastic bright green and white cake (I think it was pistashio and lemon cheesecake). They were very happy to let us park on their land by the lochs. Stupidly we launched the wrong side of the stepping stones so had an immediate drag around them. After that we paddled down Loch Voil, stopping for lunch before returning. There were fantastic reflections in the calm water.
We returned to Loch Drunkie for 2 more nights, this time staying on a more remote pitch half a mile from the car park. A portage along the gravel track was no problem.
Our last day included a walk alongside Loch Katrine from the Trossach Pier end. We saw a couple of canoes entering the pier area, but weren't able to see what became of them.....
Back on Drunkie, Gaynor had a turn paddling at the back while I again didn't catch any fish from the front. Her first attempt and she was soon J stroking like a pro. We both also had a go at solo paddling for the first time. In the calm conditions the canoe felt really light and responsive.
We had mixed feelings about the Three Lochs camping area. Its the first time we've 'wild' camped in an area where evidence of previous campers was around - litter, broken glass, broken live tree branches etc. Toilet paper left above ground was particularly unpleasant. Talking to the rangers it sounds like they have to spend most of their time tidying up. The area is clearly beautiful and seeing the pine marten was great, but I think we will try to find wilder places in the future. As hikers we have wild camped in the Lake district and the Cairngorms without coming across any problems.
Packing the car in the morning was the only time we were really bothered by midges. Not the best send off, but considering the calm weather we thought we had been very lucky. An uneventful drive back to Yorkshire saw the end of a great first canoeing holiday. Hopefully there are lots more to come!