2025 Inner Hebrides Sea Kayak Trip – Part 2 Loch Awe

This year’s trip was to the Inner Hebrides, with backup plans to base ourselves at Leachive Caravan Park – Tayvallich in poor weather.  The first week was fantastic, and we circumnavigated Islay and Jura, but we had caught an earlier ferry back to the mainland with the approach of Ex-Hurricane Erin.  We had discussed numerous options for the following 5 days of poor weather. We opted for a multiday paddle on Loch Awe, which would give us some shelter but the opportunity for a mini-expedition.

Tuesday 26th August 2025 Loch Awe Day 1 by Catriona (Day 11)

After the spectacular trip round Islay and Jura, we decided on the safe option of paddling the inland Loch Awe (Scotland’s longest loch) as even sheltered options on the west coast were likely to be rough and or have big swell as strong southerly winds were forecast.

We set off from the south western end of the loch, heading the short distance to the top of the loch, before starting the long paddle down the other side. The loch was a complete contrast to our sea paddle with gnarly lichen festooned oak and birch trees clinging to rocks on the steep shore, and multiple castles and crannogs on a loch with a long history of habitation.

We were also lucky enough to see an osprey catching a fish (they are due to migrate south very soon) and an acrobatic hen harrier dancing above the lake. There were several shallow sections of the loch between the Islands and rocks that needed to be avoided to prevent grounding on them.

We struggled to find a camp spot along the rocky, densely forested shore, but finally the forest-free patch on the map came into view, and it was a relief to see the marked houses were out of sight, meaning we could set up camp and get tea made before the rain arrived.

Paddling without tidal assistance into a headwind for much of the day had been surprisingly hard work.