This paddle was posted as an “easy four day camping trip” and was intended as a rerun of the trip Ruaridh, Phil and I had done the year before, but having researched the routes and the campsites we felt we could bring a few others along. However a shoulder injury ruled out Phil and Ruaridh was heading off to Norway sailing so a group of Clare Eadie, Clare Andrews and Catharine Francis signed up with Gerry for the trip.
The weather forecast for the weekend was not looking good, for the first three days F4 gusting F6, and paddles across various clubs were being cancelled in the days before. A final check in with the group and we decided, given the sheltered nature of the Kyles of Bute to go ahead but to modify plans to take shelter in the lee shores which is possible in that area, all plans of reaching Skipness point or Arran were scrapped and a more conservative plan put together by Gerry.
One of the group had some last minute logistical problems and decided to join us on the Saturday which fitted well with the new route.
Launch was from Colintravie old pier 031744 beside the new Ferry pier at 11am on Friday and our group of three set off down the East Kyle. The wind behind us created a bit of manageable chop, although the forecast was F4 gusting F6 from the west we got a lot of protection from the land so conditions were manageable for the group and with the wind channelling behind us we made good progress to our late lunch stop at Kames Bay 069880. Our trip down the east coast was made more interesting by the Waverly pulling out of Rothsay harbour just as we arrived (thankfully ch12 informed us of the movement) followed by the main Ferry so we were good citizens and clearly stayed out of the way. We carried on to make it to the first campsite at Kerry Lamont Bay 118579 beside Bruchag point (pic Below) with the wind behind us and a small amount of exciting swell on the run out of Rothsay.
The next day with the wind still strong we planned to head back up the east side of Bute as any thought of crossing the southern point of Bute was dashed by the morning wind and white horses further out to sea. Hence our second day was a reverse of day one, but this time in the face of an increasing wind, we faced a tough paddle into the wind once we turned round Bogany Point to Rothsay, In fact the harbour master warned the incoming ferry that we were inbound with the words “be aware there are a few kayaks having a rough time and being bounced about on the southern shore of the bay”. However the three of us dug in and even managed to cross the ferry channel before the ferry arrived with a timely bit of sprinting.
After such a pounding we felt that a celebratory cup of coffee and cake was needed so we beached on Rothsay beach (below) and a landing party was sent out to procure coffee and snacks, just then the sun came out and we had a well earned break.
We headed on to Kames bay were once again we hugged the coast to stay out of the whitecaps in the bay as a squall had just come in. Thankfully after a break the squall had passed and we headed back into the East Kyle.
The remainder of the day was a a bit of a slog into the wind with the tide behind us so little bursts of higher energy were needed to get round the points along the way. Finally we made it back to the ferry pier at Colintravie to pick up Clare Andrews as planned about 4pm. The paddle to the campsite at the north of Bute was a short one once we got past the ferry as tides were in our favour. The campsite at buttock point 014747 (pic Below) is on the Argyle sea kayaking trial and boasts a composting toilet and a shelter and the wind was strong enough to keep the midges away, a nice campsite but with limited flat space and a good view.
The next day we set off down the West Kyle in the general direction of Ardlamont point, to stay out of the wind we crossed at the Burnt Islands and ducked into the pretty Caladh harbour for a chat with the friendly yachties. The the weather forecast was significant F4 gusting F6 from the North West, however the shelter of the Kyles blessed us again and we stuck to the Lee shore. We made a stop at Tighnabruaich on the way down were there is a new floating pontoon by the lifeboat station which makes for a great tie up and good coffee stop which was very welcome
It was increasingly windy as we headed down the Kyle, even the Waverly avoided the south point of Bute and came down the Kyle behind us on its daily run full of tourists, we stopped for a bite of lunch at the beach just before Carry point and then took a wide arc around the point as the waves were pushed up by the proximity to the point. We made it round the point for “a peek” and the very active white horses were sufficient to put us off and return to a nice campsite on the east side of Ardlamont point at 896640, from this nice camp we were rewarded with a great view down to Arran and good shelter from the wind. We were able to see a reasonable sized yacht just offshore making way into the waves which were breaking half way up its length so we were glad we had tucked into shelter for the night.
On the last day we rode the tide and the now light southerly wind back up to Tighnabruach for a take away coffee and an uneventful run back to the pier by 1pm to allow folks to get home at a reasonable time.
Good thing is this time we came back with all the kayaks …..
Regards
Gerry Mulligan