Jayno55 wrote:

Now come on everyone else. If you are Scottish, tell us the best lochs.

Define "best"...

Beyond that rather unhelpful but sadly necessary riposte, you might have
a look at the SCA's web site to see if you can find anything via that.

http://www.scot-canoe.org/touring/index.htm

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Hi Pete

Thanks for the Scottish reference, which looks a pretty good information
source on the lovely Scotland to start with.

By "Best" I mean from a non-White Water, kayaker's point of view however
people would justify speaking well of somewhere. People who know their
waters will presumably describe their own criteria for "best": e.g.
available water area; attractive setting; good places for boat
access/egress; how crowded or quiet the location is; scope for water side
parking, changing, camping, stopping for drink/food etc; best section of,
end of canal, lake, loch etc; best loch to choose of choices available in
a given area - and so on!

I we get enough contributions here, I might try to organise all the info
in some systematic way (for myself and others to reference), but this
would have to be in a few months time as I am leading a busy work life for
the immediate future.

Jayno

You've already either found or been pointed to the best locations (SCA / BCU
/ Canals / UK Sea/Rivers Guidebooks) - work is already underway by the SCA
to collate material for a book on Scottish "touring" waters btw and of
course the UK Sea Guidebook already has a massive range of articles and
reports on a huge variety of touring waters both sea and inland. That said,
it's a bit light on canals - but when there are so many other options I
suppose canals won't feature that highly.

That said, now that the Forth & Clyde is open to navigation, I hear tell it
is rather nice although I have yet to bother paddling for mile after mile
after mile between two walls - perhaps it's just the luck of having mile
after mile of decent sea-paddling within reasonable reach. . . . . . . .

If you want specific ideas for Scottish inland lochs then I'd recommend Loch
Ken in Dumfries & Galloway, Loch Lomond, Loch Awe, Loch Tay, Loch Earn, Loch
Ness - any Loch in fact except the limited few where there are fishing
"issues" (at the moment!) and the few reservoirs where someone from the
water board will take issue with you being there. Notably Loch Katrine. As
all these have some form of habitation at one or both ends and quite often
along their sides, there is an abundance of suitable opportunities for
refreshment!

The River Tay is a good touring river, with a few white-water spots of
course, as are the other well known Scottish rivers such as the Spean, Nith,
etc etc.

Try posting your request on the Forum of the Guidebook - it's a busy place
so you may get more replies. Your trip reports will be most welcome on the
Guidebook - or
will get them to the relevant editor!

Best of luck with the idea - Mike.

Jayno55 wrote in message
lkaboutboats.com...
Hi Pete

Thanks for the Scottish reference, which looks a pretty good information
source on the lovely Scotland to start with.

By "Best" I mean from a non-White Water, kayaker's point of view however
people would justify speaking well of somewhere. People who know their
waters will presumably describe their own criteria for "best": e.g.
available water area; attractive setting; good places for boat
access/egress; how crowded or quiet the location is; scope for water side
parking, changing, camping, stopping for drink/food etc; best section of,
end of canal, lake, loch etc; best loch to choose of choices available in
a given area - and so on!

I we get enough contributions here, I might try to organise all the info
in some systematic way (for myself and others to reference), but this
would have to be in a few months time as I am leading a busy work life for
the immediate future.

Jayno

Thanks Mike. Your 'informed' view on the lochs to go for is just the sort
of response I was hoping for. I'll try the Guidebook Forum at some point
as you suggest.

J :-))