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Proposed event for next May 23rd - 25th before the Midgies get into full swing! Peer Paddle!Its a 3 day journey on water and foot that I have done before and ideal for a group paddle due to two large bothies both with lots of camping opportunities nearby, and the train for the shuttle.
Plan would be:
Friday: Get the train from Banavie (near Fort William) to Morar, and walk the 2KM to the put-in. Paddle via the islands to Oban Bothy for the night. Couple lovely remote spots on this Loch to stop and admire the scenery!
Saturday: Walk the length of Glen Pean, making use of the boats to cross the small Lochan Leum an t-Sagairt (because the path is nasty!). The path continues past Glen Pean Bothy before reaching a larger track that leads to Loch Arkaig. (Sections of the river alongside this track may well be paddleable depending on levels). The day would finish at Invermalie Bothy in the SE corner of Loch Arkaig after paddling the length of said loch.
Sunday: Get back into Loch Arkaig, and paddle into the River Arkaig under the bridge. I've not paddled the Arkaig (twas dry), it has a Gr4 drop not far in (portage on river left), but otherwise apparently Gr2. There are options to simply walk down the road and meet others at Bunarkaig. Paddle Loch Lochy, into the Caledonian Canal to Gairlochy before a short portage into the River Lochy. The River Lochy is Grade2, but again, there is the option of paddling the Caledonian Canal instead (low water or not wanting to paddle the Lochy). The trip would finish with either a miles walk on the road back to Banavie.
Notes to would-be attendees:
- Lochs Morar and Arkaig run east-west and are both very sizable bodies of water with a huge fetch, and hence potentially big waves.
- The trip should not be your first-ever all day paddle, nor your first day in the wind on a big loch.
- The journey would start along the northern shore of Loch Morar until Tarbert, the footpath back to the start here giving folks a safe exit option. Beyond this point, paddling is mandatory.
- Very remote country, dunna expect any kind of facilities on-route! No WiFi/Mobile signal!
- Three full 8Hr+ days in the wilderness, please be certain that your fitness levels allow you to complete the trip.
- The route is far better paddled West-->East, should the wind be blowing the wrong way, its prob better saved for another day. I found a sail to be very useful, but again don't make it your first ever packraft-sailing trip!
- The white-water sections (River Arkaig and River Lochy) are both bypassable, the former via a 3KM trot down the road and the latter by using the caledonian canal instead.
- We might want to stash WW gear east end Loch Arkaig beforehand.
- I'll add more to this post assuming there are takers closer to the time!!
My own journey from 2018 here: https://www.veletron.com/lochs-morar-arkaig-lochy-linear-packraft-journey/
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Loch Morar, Broadford, United Kingdom
