Headed for Loch Etive as I thought it would be a bit more sheltered than the open sea. In the event a strong NE wind was blowing down the loch making the journey up slower than anticipated. Put in was at Bonawe quarries with scenery for the first mile or so affected by quarry working along the north coast of the loch.
A good number of fishermen around here though, some fishing from what looked like the floating hull of an old steamer with a portacabin dropped on top. I followed the North coast of the loch up passed a large number of mussel farms. All of them seemed to be out of operation as there were no ropes hanging from them just a series of large plastic floats links by horizontal ropes. This apparently is due to a different and inferior strain of mussels colonising the farms throughout the loch - all the farm owners have agreed to keep their farms dormant in an effort to eliminate the new strain. The scenery really opened up as I crossed the widest part of the loch with Ben Cruachan over my right shoulder and the Glen Etive hills, including the conical Ben Starav, dead ahead - beautiful.
As the loch narrows again, just at Rubha Bharr there is a lovely sandy beach and camping spot. From here the north shore is covered in a mature deciduous woodland with the odd house hidden in the trees.
Just after an old stone pier I turned and made for the south shore which I would follow back down towards the Bonawe narrows. At first this side of the loch was more open and shallow with sandy bays and the odd rocky island before becoming wooded closer to the narrows. I paused at one of the islets - one that I'd stopped at over 25 years ago on kayak trip to the head of the loch - which was followed by a run over the hills and a bike back to Taynuilt from Victoria bridge. I still recognised the spot where we'd 'parked' the kayaks amongst the rocks and seaweed and remembered the presence of seals in the area. Looking around, sure enough, there was one tailing me yet again.
Weather: Overcast, windy but dry
Wildlife: A mink on the north shore near camus na Cuirte; seals (2) on small skerries on the north coast near Rubha Bharr; seals on the skerries near Inverliver Bay (south coast)
Garmin details and GPX file: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185927939
A good number of fishermen around here though, some fishing from what looked like the floating hull of an old steamer with a portacabin dropped on top. I followed the North coast of the loch up passed a large number of mussel farms. All of them seemed to be out of operation as there were no ropes hanging from them just a series of large plastic floats links by horizontal ropes. This apparently is due to a different and inferior strain of mussels colonising the farms throughout the loch - all the farm owners have agreed to keep their farms dormant in an effort to eliminate the new strain. The scenery really opened up as I crossed the widest part of the loch with Ben Cruachan over my right shoulder and the Glen Etive hills, including the conical Ben Starav, dead ahead - beautiful.
As the loch narrows again, just at Rubha Bharr there is a lovely sandy beach and camping spot. From here the north shore is covered in a mature deciduous woodland with the odd house hidden in the trees.
Just after an old stone pier I turned and made for the south shore which I would follow back down towards the Bonawe narrows. At first this side of the loch was more open and shallow with sandy bays and the odd rocky island before becoming wooded closer to the narrows. I paused at one of the islets - one that I'd stopped at over 25 years ago on kayak trip to the head of the loch - which was followed by a run over the hills and a bike back to Taynuilt from Victoria bridge. I still recognised the spot where we'd 'parked' the kayaks amongst the rocks and seaweed and remembered the presence of seals in the area. Looking around, sure enough, there was one tailing me yet again.
Weather: Overcast, windy but dry
Wildlife: A mink on the north shore near camus na Cuirte; seals (2) on small skerries on the north coast near Rubha Bharr; seals on the skerries near Inverliver Bay (south coast)
Garmin details and GPX file: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185927939
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