During the Loch Lomond Helensburgh Canoe Club trip on 27th December, we bumped into another kayaker, Phil Smith, who had driven to Scotland, all the way from Portsmouth. Phil was desperately trying to bag the Loch Lomond Islands to rack up as many points for the 2025 "Performance Sea Kayak 1000 Island challenge". Coming all the way to Scotland obviously helped him, as Phil won by just 64 points.
The last time I featured in the PSK 1000 Island Challenge was in 2022 when I was 20th. However, 20th place really came about by accident, due to circumnavigating the Isle of Wight that year, which was my main objective. Having bumped into Phil, it occurred to me, I could easily start 2026 with a load of points for 2026, by island bagging myself on Loch Lomond. This way I would also gain a better idea of the islands on Loch Lomond, as I have to admit, I was really confused as to which islands were which on the HCC Loch Lomond trip. It also might just encourage me to get out there and bag some other islands too.
It is quite a challenge plotting the route around the islands. Each island must be completely circumnavigated before starting on a new island. Therefore, prior route planning is essential if you don't want to add unnecessary miles to your trip. I use Garmin Basecamp for my route planning. Sometimes though, it is just impossible not to go over "old" ground.
I decided to split the Loch Lomond islands into two groups/trips. Partly, as I would be pushed for time to do all in one go. I think Phil did them all in about 6.5 hours. I knew I did not have 6.5 hours free on the 13th January, but also by splitting the islands into two groups, it reduced the amount of going back over "old" ground" particularly with Slot Isle and Inchgalbraith Castle (Ruin). Therefore, my plan for "Day 1" would be for just 9 islands: Creagan dubha (its more of a rock in reality), Inchlonaig, Inchconnachan, Inchcruin, Inchmoan, Inchtavannach, Eilean na h-Aon Chraoibhe, Eilean Daraich and Fraoch Eilean.
Below is my planned route.
My actual GPS track - not a lot of difference to the planned route, apart from the bottom Inchtavannach, where I was distracted by the Highland “Coo”’s
It was a brutally cold day though; at some point, during the day, I had just about every weather, apart from thunder and lightning! At least now I have a much better knowledge of the islands now, as I must admit, I was really confused as to which islands were which on the 27th December Helensburgh Canoe Club trip.
A couple of highlights: seeing a deer drinking from the loch, on the big beach, at Inchmoan, and the everchanging light, as the storms passed overhead. The views were amazing at times. During my time on the loch, I didn’t see another person; there was absolutely no one else out on the loch. I guess no one else was that stupid...
I plan to do the remaining islands at some point now on a much warmer, less brutal day (plan below)
As my planned Day 2 will be a 20nm paddle bagging the remaining 13 islands, I will almost certainly factor in a pit stop at Balmaha for coffee, whist “doing” Inchalloch.
So, it looks like I might just be doing the PSK 1000 island challenge after all in 2026… we will see.
Today’s effort was 13 nm in just over 3 hours (excluding the stop for lunch).
Fab paddle.
