Loch Leven Paddleboarding

We've begun to make our way south again, but only as far as Fort William. The clouds are still on the mountains, but the winds seem to remain eerily light wherever we go, so we set out for the quiet backwaters of Loch Leven for some more paddleboarding explorations. I've been up almost all the mountains surrounding this loch, but never been on the water. Today looked like the perfect day to try it out.

We'd worked out the wind and tide combinations better for this journey so that we could go up and back using the wind and tide. I also had my running shoes packed in a dry bag so that we had the option of doing a one-way trip and then returning to the van along the road.

Showers were still passing through the Glen, but between them the visibility and colours were great.

We set off towards the pointed peak of the Pap of Glencoe on lovely flat calm water.

Near where the lock narrows, we pulled over near some small cliffs and were delighted to see an Otter swimming about in the water!

For the return journey, we moved into the centre of the Loch, where we were exposed to most of the increasing wind. With it pushing us in the right direction, we flew back towards the van, stopping briefly in the lee of an island.

Back at the van, we got our feet back into warm socks and brewed up a couple of rounds of hot drinks while taking in the views.

Later in the afternoon, before meeting up with a friend in Fort William, we took a scenic drive up Glen Nevis. We had planned to hike up to Steal Falls but the weather had other ideas.

Climbing was also out of the question as the crags were soaked. It was good to look up at them though and remember the time when Daragh, Matt and I had climbed solo up this buttress nearly twenty years ago!