Loch Shiel Canoe Circuit Day 6 - Last Day

Final Strava activity: / strava
For the whole trip…
Total distance paddled: approx. 40 miles (64 km)
Date: May 2023
Start point: Glenfinnan Jetty (NM 90122 80481) having left the van/car at Loch Ailort Station and caught the train back to Glenfinnan.
End point: Old Jetty (NM 75740 82402) then it was less than a mile walk to the station to collect the van.
Canoe: Old Town Discovery 158 (2006)
Tent: Vaude Mark II
We were lucky with the weather the only things we had to watch for were tides.
The exit from the River Shiel into Loch Moidart and the sea is not really safe to paddle (at least in loaded open boats) at low tide. But the portage is straightforward.
The ford in the North Channel of Loch Moidart between the mainland and Shona Beag is fine at high tide but will require a portage at low tide.
It’s much easier to head up Loch Ailort with the tide, especially where it narrows.
We were happy that we would be able to scope out the River Shiel into Loch Moidart and North Channel into the sea before committing and had planned contingency escape routes. These would have relied on public transport to get back to the van.
Generally we had no problem finding wild camping spots, but the stretch between the end of Loch Shiel, down the River Shiel to the coast didn’t look promising.
At most camp spots along Loch Shiel we found plenty of drift/fallen wood for fires. If there were no previous signs of fire or fire pits we dug our own and left no trace on leaving.
As well as what we post on TH-cam you can also visit salmager66.wixsite.com/archiv... for related content.
Please feel free to ask any comments and, of course, ‘like and subscribe’ it’s simple and free to do and will help me feel like a real TH-camr!

[@BurtReynoldstash]

Excellent adventure, loved watching it. Thanks for sharing.
Now I just need to palm our kids off on the in-laws for a few days. 😂

[@robinmager]

Glad you liked it. Good luck with off loading the kids!

[@martinoutdoors6941]

Just came across your channel. I’ve done a few days on loch Shiel and it was great. This trip of yours was on another level, very well filmed beautiful and relaxing and showed parts of the trip I’ve not seen on other videos. You were so lucky with the weather as well. One of the best series of videos on the Loch Shiel circuit I’ve seen, certainly the most relaxing.

[@robinmager]

I'm glad you liked the video and thank you for your kind words. Yes, we were really lucky with the weather. I've had a bit of a break from TH-cam but have got some footage I'm currently editing for a few more cycling videos. So watch this space for those. If you have any ideas for other trips I can do please let me know. I was thinking of a Loch Morar - Loch Nevis circuit at some point, but a Source to Sea on the Severn is also calling and that's much more local for me!

[@rasclartrasclart8354]

Just found you. Now subscribed having binged watched this mini series. Inspirational stuff Sal & Robin, I doff my cap. The circuit looked perfect, and perfectly executed. Best regards Paul

[@robinmager]

Glad you liked this series of vids and really glad you've subscribed. More videos coming soon.

[@JamesFleming888]

Brilliant little trip. Fantastic and thanks for sharing.
great ending.
James

[@robinmager]

Not quite the ending I had planned, but it all worked out well. I don't think I'd change much if I was doing it again.

[@captainlandslide9874]

Brilliant series, well done! I am hoping to explore this area in April 2024, hopefully i will have the weather that you had, without the midges!

[@robinmager]

I think you stand a good chance of dodging the midges in April, keep an eye out for ticks though! It is an absolutely fantastic area and hopefully you'll have good weather to enjoy it in. Good Luck.

[@captainlandslide9874]

Thanks, I know ticks are pretty much a year-round phenomenon unfortunately so I will take all the precautions i can. Can’t wait! 😁

[@JonnywildernessKing]

Hello Robin, great videos, what an adventure. I'm heading there this June and I'd love to pick your brain a bit. I'll be driving from Germany so want to make certain I have all in order before hand. might I be able to email you?

[@robinmager]

Hi, Glad you liked the videos. It's a wonderful trip but I guess there'll be more midges in June! I'm happy for you to email me with any questions - you can use [e-mail]