Between May and August, the sea kayakers meet each Wednesday evening – varying the location to provide variety. There is a coached and a trip group (max 12 people in each). The aim of the coached group is to bring you up to the level of the Sea Kayak Award, which is now continually assessed. Those in the trip group will also be encouraged to practice skills as they explore the local area and there will be a number of designated wet sessions throughout the season for both groups. The wet sessions are a chance to practice rescues and rolls – as well as make a fool of yourself with balancing games!
Places need to be booked in the coached/trip group and bookings will be opened 1 weeks in advance of any given date. Bookings will close on the Sunday night prior to the date of paddling. To book a place and, if necessary, to hire a boat, you will need to be logged into WebCollect.
The details for each meeting place are given below. We aim to meet at 6.30pm to be on the water for 7pm – and generally stop for a cup of tea and a snack at some point during the evening, returning around 9pm. Please bring with you appropriate clothing/change of clothes, towel – and your own drinks and snacks.
Occasionally, dolphins are encountered when paddling in the Moray Firth – and there are often many dolphin watchers at Chanonry Point: we try not to spoil their enjoyment by avoiding this area when the dolphins are likely to be feeding close inshore. Please note that dolphins are a protected species and there are legal consequences for anyone found to be disturbing them. Your attention is drawn to the club’s Dolphin Code of Conduct.
Any further information on Wed evening sea paddling, e.g. occasional changes of venue, will be announced via email to the sea kayaking list, so please ensure that you have signed up to the sea kayaking list on WebCollect.
VENUES
Please be mindful of local residents in respect of getting changed and keeping noise to a minimum.
Rosemarkie: boats can be unloaded at the Beach Café end of the beach (turn off at the Plough Inn). Cars can then be parked in this area where space is available or at the public car park opposite the Plough Inn. In Rosemarkie, there are public toilets in the car park opposite the Plough Inn and, in Fortrose, the public toilets are near the main car park, opposite the doctor’s surgery. These are operated by the local Community Association, to whom the Club makes a donation. There are also toilets at the Leisure Centre in Fortrose.
North Kessock: meet in the car park by the old ferry pier, opposite the Kessock Hotel. There are public toilets at the Old Ticket Office by the pier.
Cromarty: meet at the start of the links, where the car park and bus stop are. There are toilets near the harbour, by Sutor Creek restaurant and Ecoventures.
Loch Achilty: You will find the loch by turning off the A835 just beyond Contin – it is sign posted for Loch Achilty. Grid reference NH 426 563. There is a small car parking area just off the road and a larger car park just below. There are no public toilets at the Loch, the nearest being at the Contin Forest car park.
Chanonry: parking is at the main Chanonry Point car park with boats being launched from the beach directly beside the car park. Public toilets are available in Fortrose centre (near to the medical practice) or the Leisure Centre. There are no toilets at Chanonry Point.
Invergordon Sailing Club: meet in the car park for the sailing club (what3words: menu.scrub.luring; NGR NH 68157 68976). There are no public toilets here, but there are toilets in Morrisons at Alness.
Dochgarroch: boats can be unloaded in front of the Jacobite Queen, but then cars should be moved to the car park further along the canal past the locks (towards Inverness). There are no public toilets at Dochgarroch.
There are also public toilets and parking at Avoch and in Fortrose, which are on the way to Rosemarkie and Cromarty.
