Used the sea kayak to get from the Beauly Firth across Scotland via Lochs Ness, Oich & Lochy, and the Caledonian Canal to finish up at Corran Ferry at the west end of Loch Linnhe. Had a night in the bunkhouse at Inchree with a good steak dinner and then used the Jekyll full suss to cycle off-road back again to above Inverness. So 255 kms in total with 115 on the water (2.5 days) and 140 over the hills (1.5 days).
Rough campsites on the banks of Ness are pretty rough.... the portages are nearly all OK but couldn't have done this without a trolley,.... wouldn't want to try the paddle bit against the wind.... AND bike-wise;- the high route above Fort Augustus is a series of push-ups with the down-hills interrupted by big gullies. The best down hill section is actually the last 10 kms at the north end.
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Heading across Beauly Firth from Bunchrew launch site facing the Kessock Bridge but actually aiming for the lagoon just past the sea loch entrance to get under the mainline railway.
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Entering Loch Ness proper at the Bona Lighthouse
Watching the tourists on Urquhart Castle taking pictures of me.
Moy Bridge camp
Neptune's Staircase at Fort William (Corpach) at breakfast time on the 3rd day.
And down in salt water again on Loch Linnhe
Corran light, must dodge the ferry...
Paddling leg completed (east to west) on beach at C/Club site, Bunree/Inchree.
Going west to east now on a bike; early hours up through Fort William, this is the outflow of the river Lochy near the old castle.
North west of Loch Lochy on the fireroad above Clunes.
Then the tougher stuff began. The high route is nice once I got up high and the rain stopped. Poorly designed climb and loose surface made it a grind for mtb-ers.
This things appears somewhere at the top of a climb near Drumnadrochit but can't remember exactly where or why its there at all! I think it was called the "sight-catcher".
Enjoyed the final downhill stretch after going round Abriachan so much I simply didn't stop to take photos, until the end at Inverness Castle where there is this marker stone. Did the final few kms back to Bunchrew to pick up the car.
