West is Best!

Really lovely couple of days away with Helen in the van on the West Coast. With two days of sunshine forecast the shorts and sun cream were packed for the first time in 2018. Day 1 had a fantastic walk on the coast from Ganavan Sands to Dunstaffnage Castle and back. This excellent circuit with a rugged but beautiful coastal walk with great views. The route then visits the dramatic dunstaffnage Castle before returning by following the cycle path.

 Ganavan Sands Beach

 Looking towards Mull

 Winston was happy!

 Looking North towards Benderloch

 Beginning to climb away from the coast

 Looking down at Camas Fish Farm

 Camas Rubha Bay

 Helen's happy place!

 Approaching Dunstaffnage Castle

 Dunstaffnage Castle

Helen looking out at Eilean Mor

Back to the start along The Caledonia Way Cycle Path Route 78

Chilling in the van in the sun

Day 2 we headed to 'Bridge over The Atlantic' walk. This enjoyable circuit heads from the Bridge over the Atlantic at the north end of Seil to the delightful Phuilladobhrain Anchorage, a good place for birdwatching and otter spotting. This is then followed by a rougher coastal walk (difficult at highest tides) to Camuslaich before returning by the road.

 Otters Pool

 Looking towards Mull

 Sunny again

 Looking out over Balvicar Bay

 Stood on Clachan Bridge looking up Clachan Sound

Clachan Bridge

We then headed in to Oban for some lunch followed by a walk around the town.

 Looking through the sound of Kerrera

World War One memorial for the Oban soldiers who lost their lives during the Great War. In later times fallen from World War Two and one from the Falkland War have been added to the memorial.

 McCaig's Tower. Built in 1897 by local banker John Stuart McCaig, the aim of the tower was to provide work for local stonemasons and a lasting monument to the McCaig family.

 The hills over on Mull

 Winston!

 Kerrera and Mull

 Overlooking Oban's distillery 

Oban Town

Day 3 saw us heading back inland and home, stopping off for two more walks. The first at Fearnoch, There are dramatic views to Ben Cruachan, Argyll’s highest mountain form here just not today! And the second at Strone Hill, Strone Hill woods are a fine remnant oakwood almost hidden by the surrounding forestry of Glen Lochy. Finally a bite to eat in the 'Real Food Cafe' in Tyndrym

 No sun today and Helen had her hat on

 Strartng to look like summer in the forest

 Winston leading the way

 Following the way marked path

 Waterfall on the River Lochy

Ahhhhhhh eating time

Really young guns

Last night saw the first fo the Breadalbane Canoe Clubs summer river trips. After practicing some skills during the winter period in a nice warm swimming pool, we moved on to a section of the river Tay through Aberfeldy. Turns out the falling in the river is a bit colder than the swimming pool............. who knew!!!!!!

Days off

Days off will soon become rare as the season gets busier and busier, Two in row equals a day on bikes with Helen and laps on my favourite river with Young Callum. Happy Days.

Look closely at Helens face!!!!!

Needless to say Winston was tiered after running 16km

 Callum on the entrance fall

 Callum getting some airtime

 Love this river so much

 And the sun came out

Handed the camera to Callum...... Ooooo look its me!

Definitely Started

The season is well and truly off.............. Sunsets at 19:00, Roger and the Brann, DofE Canoe training on Faskally, Family canoeing on the Tay, became a 'National Navigation Award Trainer', and some Gorge Walking. Looks like its going to be a busy season.

 Longer days in Aberfeldy

 Roger on the River Brann

 DofE Canoe Training on Loch Faskally

 And the sun came out

 Enthusiastic group

 Family group on the River Tay

 National Navigation Award tutor course

 Was this a sign of things to come

 Family fun in the sun

 We don't look that cold!

 Belly Flooooooooooopp!

 Flop!

 Nicole jumping in to the rapids

 Her mum folder shortly after

Hot Chocolate and warming the feet up on the van heaters

Has it begun?

It certainly feels like the season has begun. A busy week directing day 2 of a 'Open Canoe Leader' Assessment, a kayak trip with two folk from Glasgow, a DofE canoe training on Loch Lomond with Glasgow Academy students and a day safety kayaking for the Breadalbane Prep slalom race. Winter is still holding on with snow and bitterly cold easterly winds but with the sun shining today, is spring just around the corner?

 A rest bite from being blown back up the river!

 Happy kayakers!

 Under 'Wade's Bridge' in Aberfeldy

 Perthshire Garry was the venue for day 2 of the 'Open Canoe Leader' Assessment

 Glasgow Academy canoeing at Balloch on Loch Lomond

 Grant chatting about using a towing/ pushing system

 Safety kayaking at Grandtully on the River Tay, fulled by coffee and hot chocolate

Beast form the East

Well....... It kind of came to Aberfeldy but was really quite a none event. However it did bring a fair amount of snow and cold temperatures, which bought the 'Birks of Aberfeldy' Into prime photograph perfection. A Saturday winter walk with Helen and Winston.

 Bridge in the lower 'Birks' just round the corner from the house

 Looking upstream

 Frozen pool below waterfall

 I love snow settled on rocks in the middle of the river

 Temperatures really have been low

 Some small icicles!!

 The snow formed in some spectacular ways

 Helen

 Helen and Winston

 Family portrait

 The 'Falls of Moness'

 "The Birks of Aberfeldy" is a song lyric written for a pre-existing melody in 1787 by Robert Burns. He was inspired to write it by the Falls of Moness and the birch trees of Aberfeldy during a tour of the Scottish Highlands with his friend William Nicol.

Looking down the falls