By Hell’s Glen

A Mitchell and B Davies

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

We left Loch Lomond by the River Leven and on the way encountered
many people fishing from the rivers’s edge. Good progress was made
until unfortunately Allan’s rudder line broke and had to be repaired
before we ventured out into the Clyde. On our way again, we were swept
to the Clyde at Dumbarton with the minimum of effort, but were soon
aware of a strong headwind which had not been apparent in the
comparative shelter of the boathouse. On reaching the Mussel bed
opposite 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 wheels
being fixed to the axles made cornering difficult and inadequate strength
led to the trolleys collapse. After repairs were carried out we proceeded
to Helensburgh where we were warned by a policeman that we could
be booked for parking on a yellow line just outside the car park: We
walked all the way to Garelochhead before finding a campsite, and there
we spent our first night.( 4 deg 48’W, 56 deg 5’N.)

On Sunday we paddled out of the Gareloch into the estuary, once more
to 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 well
earned break. We canoed farther down the Firth finding a suitable
stopping place for tea, but had to continue until dusk before finding a
cosy campsite at Toward Point.( 4 deg 49’ W, 55 deg 52 ‘ N.)

The following day we called in at Rothesay to replenish our food stocks

before continuing through the Kyles in brilliant sunshine. About Two
and a half miles short of Colintraive we were met by driving rain which
Slowed our progress considerably and this was endured until we
rounded the point to reach the shelter of the hills and a welcome sunbelt.
We camped that night two miles south of Tighnabruaich on the west
side 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 helicopters
engaged in aerial exercise

On Wednesday we entered Loch Fyne in bright sunshine and little or

no wind until after we had passed East Loch Tarbert to port, when a
strong wind on our beam brought waves which tried to swamp us. We
found a delightful campsite at dusk and settled down for the night. (5
deg 20, W, 55 deg 58’ N ). The following day we encountered vast
families of seals basking in the brilliant sunshine. It was a very pleasant
sail up the picturesque loch and once again we camped on the eastern
shore of the loch ( 5 deg 9;W, 56 deg 8’ N). Before the last stage of the
trip to Inverary.

We arrived at Inverary early on Friday afternoon, and after dining,

booked in at the Youth Hostel. The remaining evening was spent
wandering around viewing the town.

Saturday was overcast and the sea had foam icing. We departed clad
in oilskins and warm clothes, under the eyes of astonished tourists and
pointed our canoes at St.Carherines on the opposite side of the loch. The
portage over Hell’s Glen we found to be easier than expected, and
accounts of previous portages to be exaggerated, although the downhill
stretch was very steep. At Lochgoilhead we set off down the loch, fishing
en 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 the
locality, 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 to
Arrochar where we arrived in the early afternoon. Here we had a meal
of hot pies and tea to help the circulation return to our hands. Car drvers
cheered 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 Rowardennan

Youth Hostel for the night.
 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.