8/8/2019 By Hell's Glen. From The Paddler 1967.

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By Hells Glen

All our gear had been transported to the boathouse on Friday night toawait our arrival on Saturday. After purchasing some remaining oddsand ends of food on Saturday morning, we boarded our train at QueenSt. Station, looking forward to our trip which was to begin very soon andwhich was our first since joining the club.

We left Loch Lomond by the River Leven and on the way encounteredmany people fishing from the riverss edge. Good progress was made

until unfortunately Allans rudder line broke and had to be repairedbefore we ventured out into the Clyde. On our way again, we were sweptto the Clyde at Dumbarton with the minimum of effort, but were soonaware of a strong headwind which had not been apparent in thecomparative shelter of the boathouse. On reaching the Mussel bedopposite Greenock, we stopped for tea and biscuits.

Tired by the wind and sea, we put our canoes on trolleys and headed

towards Helensburgh. Here we found faults in our trolleys; both wheelsbeing fixed to the axles made cornering difficult and inadequate strengthled to the trolleys collapse. After repairs were carried out we proceededto Helensburgh where we were warned by a policeman that we couldbe booked for parking on a yellow line just outside the car park: Wewalked all the way to Garelochhead before finding a campsite, and therewe spent our first night.( 4 deg 48W, 56 deg 5N.)

On Sunday we paddled out of the Gareloch into the estuary, once moreto meet a strong westerly wind, which persisted until the early afternoon,before dying away completely. Soon graceful yachts came to a standstill,while we pushed on at a much faster pace to reach Dunoon for a wellearned break. We canoed farther down the Firth finding a suitablestopping place for tea, but had to continue until dusk before finding acosy campsite at Toward Point.( 4 deg 49 W, 55 deg 52 N.)

The following day we called in at Rothesay to replenish our food stocksbefore continuing through the Kyles in brilliant sunshine. About Twoand a half miles short of Colintraive we were met by driving rain which

A Mitchell and B Davies

8/8/2019 By Hell's Glen. From The Paddler 1967.

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Slowed our progress considerably and this was endured until werounded the point to reach the shelter of the hills and a welcome sunbelt.We camped that night two miles south of Tighnabruaich on the westside of the Kyles. (15 deg 12 W 55 deg 52 N.) Here we stayed for a

day in the clammy arms of a Scotch drizzle, being buzzed by helicoptersengaged in aerial exercise

On Wednesday we entered Loch Fyne in bright sunshine and little orno wind until after we had passed East Loch Tarbert to port, when astrong wind on our beam brought waves which tried to swamp us. Wefound a delightful campsite at dusk and settled down for the night. (5deg 20, W, 55 deg 58 N ). The following day we encountered vast

families of seals basking in the brilliant sunshine. It was a very pleasantsail up the picturesque loch and once again we camped on the easternshore of the loch ( 5 deg 9;W, 56 deg 8 N). Before the last stage of thetrip to Inverary.

We arrived at Inverary early on Friday afternoon, and after dining,booked in at the Youth Hostel. The remaining evening was spentwandering around viewing the town.

Saturday was overcast and the sea had foam icing. We departed cladin oilskins and warm clothes, under the eyes of astonished tourists andpointed our canoes at St.Carherines on the opposite side of the loch. Theportage over Hells Glen we found to be easier than expected, andaccounts of previous portages to be exaggerated, although the downhillstretch was very steep. At Lochgoilhead we set off down the loch, fishingen route but not with much success and in the late evening we arrived

at Carrick castle Hotel. Since a number of Gypsies were camping in thelocality, we camped by the hotel (4 deg 55 W, 56 deg 6 N ).

Sunday was cold and wet with a head wind blowing from Loch Long,we got away and picked up a good push from the tide up Loch Long toArrochar where we arrived in the early afternoon. Here we had a mealof hot pies and tea to help the circulation return to our hands. Car drverscheered and jeered at us as we trudged along that short stretch of road

which connects Loch Long- side with Loch Lomond-side.

Our next stopping place was at the boathouse and RowardennanYouth Hostel for the night.

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Our remaining week was spent touring in the northern half of the loch

before returning to Auchendennan on Thursday.

The only troubles experienced on the trip were, the lack of campsites

on the Clyde, North of Toward Point and the midges which seemed to

breed in thousands in our tent. Otherwise a very enjoyable first trip it

was, during which we covered approximately 170 miles.

A Mitchell and B Davies. Spring 1967.