Gare Loch Helensburgh
A flat calm and very wet training paddle out in the Taran, from the Kirk Brae slipway on Gare Loch to Helensburgh and return. 7.8nm (9.3 miles) 1 hour 46 minutes (Average speed = 5.3 mph) GPS track...
Kilcreggan – Cake & Coffee Denied
It was one of those days when you seem to be constantly battling into the wind and swell, regardless of the direction you are travelling. Setting off from the Kirk Brae slipway, I headed into the wind and swell. By the time I'd reached Rhu narrows, the wind was coming at me from the...
Helensburgh morning paddle
Another training paddle out in the Taran. it was a lovely sunny morning for it. I had the wind, tide and swell, all the way to Helensburgh, which made for quick progress. Met the lifeboat setting off for a training exercise. They were being reprimanded on channel 73 by KHM for exceeding the speed...
The Grantocks, Dunoon and the Waverley
I rather fancied a long'ish paddle for Saturday and decided I would paddle my Rockpool Taran "Disco Boy". With the Taran being a fast sea kayak, even with my poor forward paddle flailing technique, it is a great boat for handling distances. The weather forecast was for it to be overcast, but with light...
Kilcreggan for Coffee and Cake, the Sugarboat, Helensburgh and return
The 6 mile trip to Kilcreggan from Shandon is always a nice trip, with the added bonus of having a coffee and cake at the cafe. With clear blue skies and next to no wind it was certainly a lovely day. Before setting off I telephoned the Kings Harbour Master (KHM Clyde 01436 674321...
16 Hour First Aid training Evening paddle across to Bute
End of day 1's 16 hour Outdoor First aid training. A quick blast to Bute was in order from Toward Seasports Club. Toward Seasports Club graciously allowed me to park my camper van on their car park for a couple of nights, whilst attending the course near Dunoon. It is a lovely spot. Annoyingly,...
Kilcreggan Cafe for Coffee and Cake
The weather forecast for Saturday morning was looking not too bad, despite gale force winds of 50-80mph forecast for later on Saturday evening into Sunday. Storm "Dave" would be making itself felt across much of Scotland. Looking at the various forecasts, I knew if I was going to get a paddle in, I needed...
Shandon to Perch Rock
A sneaky training paddle out in the Taran, seeing as the weather was so nice and Mrs T had gone paddle boarding on Loch Lomond. Bumped into the Rosneath Castle Bay Coastal Rowers rowing their St Ayles skiff. A good bit of exercise against the wind and tide on the way out and positively...
Loch Lomond Island Bagging Day 2
Tuesday 17th March 2026, was a very windy stormy day. Looking out at the sea from my kitchen window it seemed improbable the forecast weather of light winds, rising temperatures and sunshine for Wednesday 18th March was very likely. I dillydallied all day about paddling on Wednesday, about where I should go, and indeed...
Gare Loch in the rain
Another training paddle out in the Taran seeing as the weather was chucking it down! I love paddling in heavy rain when the water droplets are plopping all around you. A good bit of exercise on an otherwise wet drab Saturday afternoon. 6.2 nm 1 hour 35 minutes GPS track...
Shandon to Cove Sailing club and return
Another training paddle out in the Taran seeing as the weather was set fair. I'd been thinking about paddling to Kilcreggan for a while now, but this was the first day where the weather made it possible. With next to no wind at times and with hardly a cloud in the sky, it was...
Helensburgh
Training paddle out in the Taran. Taking a break from chopping down the jungle and taming hedges with my chainsaw. I hadn't really decided on where I was heading and let the wind and swell decide. With the wind blowing from the SE it made sense to plod down to Helensburgh. Fab 7.5 nm...
Sailing club and return via Clynder
Training paddle out in the Taran. Started off looking pretty miserable but turned out to be a really nice enjoyable paddle. Out and about in Gare loch Fab! 6.5 nm 1 hour 36 minutes GPS track...
Loch Lomond Island Bagging
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...
A new boat “IRN-BRU” – a NDK Romany Surf
First trip out in my new boat “Irn-Bru”. A Romany Surf with an orange deck and blue trim, as per the IRN-BRU colours. I have to say I am quite pleased with it. Especially seeing as I have never paddled one of these boats before, even before buying it! Thankfully, and as expected it’s...
Garelochhead again (not quite as planned)
My plan was to paddle across Gareloch to the house, opposite my house, and then head south towards Rhu Narrows, around to Kilcreggan, across to Helensburgh and return. Except, once on the loch I realised the wind was somewhat stronger than forecast and heading south for me was not going to be a good...
My new house to Garelochhead and back
A week on from moving into my new house, I finally managed to get out on the water. It was most odd kitting up in my driveway, before walking with my trolley a few meters to the slipway to get access to the loch. I guess I am so used to packing the car...
Whitby Staithes and return – Solo in the Taran
Solo kayaking in my Taran from Whitby to Staithes - and back. Although due to a file corruption error on the GoPro Max, I only have footage of the Whitby to Staithes section and a little clip on the return leg. Conditions were not easy, due to large sets of swell coming in every...
A Day on the Water with the Taran – Plymouth Sound Adventure
After such a brilliant time in Looe yesterday in the Taran, I wasn’t ready to head home just yet. I booked into a campsite for two nights, giving myself a full day to make the most of paddling before driving home early Friday morning – and crucially, avoiding the dreaded Friday afternoon traffic. Eddystone...
Looe – New boat day – A Rockpool Taran
First Date with a Rockpool Taran I’ve had a bit of a hankering for a Rockpool Taran for a while now — probably made worse by scrolling through the blistering times that Taran owners post on the Performance Sea Kayak pages. For the last few years, I’ve been paddling a Tiderace Pace 17 Tour...
