After a Saturday of heavy rain cabin fever was beginning to set in. A few text messages and I had a sea paddling buddy for Sunday. If you’re going to get wet, make it salty! The forecast was light SW winds and rain all day so we opted for a 20km trip from Shuna Island just N of Appin to Ballachulish. Left a car at the public car park by the Isles of Glencoe Hotel and set off down to the lay-by and great little launching beach on the A828 just N of the top of Shuna.

The wind looked better than forecast with definite white horses in the middle of Loch Linnhe. Just as we set off a rain squall hit and a good blast of wind from the rear to get us surfing up to Eilean Balnagowan. Who cared about the rain, we were hooting along! Strange but eventually we noticed that the rain had stopped and things were brightening up. Just off Balnagowan the waves heaped up and we were off like rockets to Rubha Mor, the western tip of Cuil Bay.

The closer we got to Ballachulish Bay the warmer it got, the wind easing off then picking up again. And then the tide, still two hours to low water. With the sun beating down and the wind dropped to a gentle breeze it was a hot slog against the tide under the bridge and into Loch Leven. No let up in the edd until we were past Eilean Choinneich. A few more paddle strokes and we were in the bay at the car park.

Whether you're an experienced sea-kayaker or new to the sport, Lochaber is a fantastic place to come and play. For great days out and more information visit the kayaking section of the outdoor capital website.