Paddle power offers a new perspective
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More and more people in Scotland are taking to the water to enjoy activities in the outdoors, and the majority of them are “casual” participants, a new study has revealed.
I’m definitely in that category, those who go out one to five times a year usually to try out new sports. My personal favourite – on the water – is sea kayaking, and I’ve enjoyed a few outings over the last couple of years, but other commitments mean it’s not something I can dedicate a great deal of time to.
So I was delighted to get chance at the weekend to have a paddle on the Caledonian Canal in Inverness as part of Explore Highland’s open weekend.
Donald Macpherson, who runs the firm, has given me plenty of guidance when it comes to paddling and it was great to see his new headquarters in the old blacksmith’s on the canal bank at Clachnaharry.
More than 130 people turned up to try out paddling, in a variety of crafts, over the weekend.
I stuck to the sea kayak to see if I could remember the Grade II training Donald had given me last year. While I’m far from being an expert, I managed to control the boat on the calm waters of the canal and even to steer it in clean enough arcs.
It was a wonderful feeling being out on the water again, albeit for a short time, and I’m hoping to get a chance to do some more kayaking this summer.
With more people like me giving paddlesports a go, there is likely to be more demand for the expertise of guides like Donald, and the Highlands and Moray is the perfect area to enjoy a taste of it, as our guide to five paddling trips shows.
The research, from a consortium of marine organisations, shows that 187,000 adults in Scotland (4.5 per cent of the adult population) got involved in watersports in 2013, an increase of 27 per cent on the figure for 2012. Canoeing was among the most popular activities, and casual participants like myself made up 82 per cent of the total numbers.
The findings were released ahead of National Watersports Month which takes place in May across the UK.
Howard Pridding, chief executive of the British Marine Federation, said: “This valuable research proves how popular and vital the leisure marine industry remains to Scotland, with almost 200,000 adults taking to the water across the country in a wide variety of activities.
“With initiatives such as National Watersports Month taking place in May, we are confident that participation will continue to rise in Scotland through the promotion of enjoyable and safe boating and watersports.”
It offers a great opportunity to dip your feet in the water, so to speak, and give watersports a go.
For more information about National Watersports Month, see www.watersportsmonth.co.uk
Five north of Scotland paddling trips to savour
1 Great Glen Canoe Trail
Crossing Scotland via 22 miles of canal and the open waters of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness on Scotland’s first official canoe trail
Where Fort William to Inverness
Suitable for Canoes and sea kayaks
Length 60 miles
More info www.greatglencanoetrail.info
2 Spey Descent
A popular river that offers a great introduction to canoeing without too many technical sections
Where Newtonmore to Spey Bay
Suitable for Canoes and river kayaks
Length 75 miles
More info www.canoescotland.org/AccessEnvironment/RiverSpeyGuide.aspx
3 Findhorn Descent
Another classic Scottish river – one of the longest in the country – with white water aplenty as it heads from the hills of the Monadhliath to Findhorn Bay on the Moray Firth coast
Where Tomatin to Findhorn for the full descent
Suitable for River kayaks, and canoes in some sections
Length 100km
4 Summer Isles
Explore these wonderful islands from the best seat in the area – your boat! A trip to Priest Island is a real highlight if the conditions are favourable
Where Off the Coigach peninsula, north-west of Ullapool
Suitable for Sea kayaks
Length As long or short as you choose
5 Scottish Sea Kayak Trail
An epic journey exploring Scotland’s beautiful west coast, which can be divided into four “holiday-sized” chunks for the expert kayaker
Where From the Isle of Gigha, off the Kintyre peninsula, to the Summer Isles
Suitable for Sea kayaks
Length 500km
More info www.scottishseakayaktrail.com
* Active Outdoors recommends employing a qualified paddling guide if you don’t have enough relevant experience to safely undertake any of these routes or adventures
