Rhodes Kayak
Allison and William have been paddling with me for years, they keep coming back to Wester Ross as many times a year as they can, always keen to get out paddling! We had a lovely day paddling, a great place to paddle on a calm day.
Crawford Pauwels Paddling, Shieldaig and Gairloch
Amanda and Edwin joined me for a kayak from next to the Shieldaig Lodge Hotel. We had a nice paddle around the loch , seeing plenty of seals swimming around us.
On our second meeting Amanda and Edwin brought along Archie, Marsaili and Abigail. This time we set off from Gairloch Harbour in the big canoes. After mastering some paddling strokes we played some games and set off around the coastline to see the dramatic coastline.
Top 10 reasons to drive the NC 500
Checkin, trivago’s blog, has it’s top 10 reasons to drive the #NC500. Ewe Canoe is nestled in there, section 8 – fun for all the family.
Check it out here, and see other great things to do on your North Coast 500 holiday.
Shepherd Loffill Kayak, Gairloch
Eloise and Elizabeth joined me in the afternoon for a paddle from Gairloch harbour. We headed out in the sea kayaks, sadly it was a very low tide meaning we had a fair way to carry the boats but once we got on the water it meant we had fantastic views of the sea bed. The weather was great for the end of October, giving us good paddling conditions to see the coastline and wildlife.
Graham Kayak, Gairloch
Doug and Lily where on their honeymoon, travelling around the North Coast 500 #NC500. They had just spent a night with the Pool House in Poolewe, so after a great breakfast they where ready to explore the coastline. We headed out in the sea kayaks, practised some skills and then headed off. On our journey we spotted seals, star fish, urchins, herons and oyster catchers to name a few.
Congratulations on your marriage, I hope the rest of your honeymoon went as well as our trip!
Rippin Martin Kayak, Mellon Charles
Clare, Carol and John Angus joined me for a paddle at Mellon Charles. We chose to use the sit on top kayaks – they’re great for learning kayak skills with and handle well in the breeze that we had. It was tough going in the wind, but they all got the hang of the boats quickly. They all grew up in the area but hadn’t paddled along the coastline before so were able to see it from a different perspective.
Clare and Carol’s parents are just retiring from their butchers shop in Aultbea, if anyone wants a great business opportunity look here.
Josiah Ogilvie-Taylor Kayak, Gairloch
Jo, Abigail and Richard were in the area visiting family and enjoying the beautiful Wester Ross scenery. We went for a paddle from Gairloch Harbour on some sit on top kayaks. Abigail is more used to paddling on the Thames, not a place you want to fall in – unlike the crystal clear waters up here, Richard couldn’t wait to jump in with the seals!
Gairloch High School Paddle, Shieldaig
The Activity Tourism class and Rural Skills class joined me, along with their teachers Mrs Johnston and Mr Milner, for a day out in the boats. The aim for them was to learn about Ewe Canoe, learn some paddling skills and of course have some fun. After setting off in midge hoods we were soon able to take them off and enjoy the sunshine, couldn’t have asked for a better day.
It was clear from the start that some boats were going to capsize, by the end most folk had a good soaking. Had a great time with them paddling around the coast for lunch on an island and playing plenty of wet games.
Sarah & Sam Kayak, Shieldaig
#NC500 Sarah and Sam are yet more folk doing the fantastic North Coast 500. It’s becoming very popular, it’s easy to see why. On our paddle around we had some very inquisitive seals, coming up right next to our boats for a look. Towards the end of the afternoon we had a light spot of drizzle, this gave a great rainbow!
Stannard Canoe, Shieldaig
#NC500 Melissa and Richard are on their own version of the North Coast 500, they met me near the Shieldaig Lodge Hotel. We paddled around the sheltered loch, spotting seals and bird whilst enjoying the relaxing atmosphere.
Knowles Kayak, Poolewe
#NC500 Natasha and Chris met me in Poolewe during their journey around the North Coast 500. We paddled from just in front of Poolewe campsite and headed along the shoreline of Inverewe Garden. As we got around to Camas Glas we found some seals swimming around watching us as we watched them.
Coats Kayak, Gairloch
Downton Abbey star, Susie, and her husband, Chris, joined me in Gairloch for a paddle around with the seals in the sunshine. The weather was perfect (this week probably being the best week of weather all summer!) making paddling around the coastline very relaxing and nice. We had seals following us along our journey as we paddled along spotting star fish and urchins under the water.
They have had a variety of larger boats in the past, Chris was keen to get Susie out in a kayak for her to try it out before possibly getting some. We couldn’t have had a better day to help persuade her!
Taylor Kayak, Loch Maree
Innis has been coming along on some of my sessions recently to practice his paddling skills and see how I run my sessions. Today him and his dad, Robert, came paddling with me on Loch Maree. Robert grew up in the area and has always looks across to the islands as he drives the A832, today he got the chance to paddle through and around them. We had a beautiful day for it, leaving a damp and midgy Gairloch we arrived at Slaterdale in the sunshine and practically no wind at all – perfect.
Malawians & Explorer Scouts, Loch Shieldaig
Gairloch High School’s Gairloch Malawi Partnership Project had 4 Malawian youngsters and two teachers in Gairloch for a while. They were keen to do an activity with the local Explorer Scouts (which I’m one of their leaders), so we thought we’d take them canoeing. We had a great night for it, sunshine and windless. Everyone had a fantastic time splashing about and getting wet.
More pictures can be seen here.
Harris Gordon Canoe, Shieldaig
Neil and Fiona have done most of their boating in yachts, they where keen to try a smaller boat. We headed out into Loch Shieldaig from my normal spot just along from the Shieldaig Lodge Hotel. We paddled around the loch and coastline spotting lots of seals and enjoying being able to paddle close to the shoreline – something not possible from bigger boats.
Solomon Wittenberg Kayak, Badachro
Nicola, Libbi and Kadya joined me again, this time to paddle from Badachro. We set off quickly as they are all proficient paddlers and all had my safety briefing a matter of days before. We had a much dryer session this time, far less swimming. The coastline around here has some great patterns in the Torridonian Sandstone, so we explored along lots of the coast. As normal, seals popped up along our route to say hello.
Brown Canoe, Badachro
We had a relaxed paddle from Badachro, spotting the wildlife and scenery around us. As well as the normal seals that we had following us around we where lucky enough to see a pod of dolphins jumping through the water as we sat having a brew.
