Canoeing: Fort William, Caledonian Canal, Loch Lockey.

Kidder & Chiefy load up the 17 footer Canadian canoe they have hired for the trip up the canal and into Loch Lockey. All the kit loaded the pair dip the paddles into the still waters of the canal and head off. Kidder & Chiefy were like duck in water, neither of the pair had commanded a canoe let-alone a fully loaded 17 footer. When the pair reached the lock gates they had to man-handle the canoe & kit some 300 yrd's along the quay-side to the edge of the loch.
Canoe loaded off they paddled out into the dead calm waters of Loch Lockey, but half way across the bay the wind picked up whipping the waters into 2 foot waves. Chiefy was not bothered he was prepared to weather the waters, for he was driving the boat. Kidder was up at the pointy bit surveying the horizon for a glimpse of the camp-site unaware of the storm clouds gathering behind.
The pair found the camping spot using there expert navigationally skills & drove the canoe up onto the beach. The sun was setting so there was no time to waste, so first things first, open a bottle of red wine (a nice little number with a hint of berries) fire-wood patrol was next and in no time the pair had a roaring fire. Kidder & Chiefy dinned in style that night with Aberdeen Angus steak with a mushroom sauce & baby new potatoes followed by cheesecake. (Oh to live the outdoor life)

Mountaineering, Canoeing: Loch Lockey shores to Sron a Choire Ghairbh 935m

The pair got kitted up & set off to find the trail which would lead them up to the summit.10 minutes later they were lost, so like true mountain troopers the pair made a B-line straight up the hillside carving a way through the wild terrain. 200 ft higher they found the fireroad, it had been a hot climb to this point so surplus kit off they made tracks to the start of the trail path. The trail snaked its way up through the forest crossing mountain streams and out into open land. It was a long hard climb to the summit, but what a fantastic reward waited for them at the top. The views were beautiful but unfortunately time was not on there side, so the decision was made to head back down before it got dark. The wind had pick up too, the pair were nearly blown over several time heading back but they made it down to base camp, tea on and time to inspect there battled feet.
After tea Chiefy came up with a bright idea, the pair would paddle across the Loch to a pub for a few pints. So Kidder set up a landing beacon so they could navigate the way back to camp after a skin full. So off they set out into the black still waters of the Loch with only a small light from the pub as an aiming point. half way across the waves picked-up hitting the canoe it made for a rough ride not being able to see the waves before they hit you. The pair landed the canoe and walked up the drive to the main door of the pub only to find it has shut up for winter, (Well that's bollocks) Kidder gets out his phone and calls in for a E-vac, lucky for them Kidders mum & dad are staying just down the road at a holiday complex. 10 minutes later the pair are sat in the pub with a nice pint of Guinness, a few hours later the pair are dropped off at the canoe and head off into the black night aiming for the light on the opposite shores of the Loch. Again half way across the waves are big and this time they are ready, but Chiefy's hat blows off and it's lost at sea, well Loch.

Canoeing: Loch Lockey shores to Extraction Point Laggan Loch

After a good fry-up the pair break camp and load up the canoe for the return leg back to Fort William, but the weather has put pay to that, so it's go with the flow to Laggan Loch. The pair battle with the waves all the way trying to keep the canoe on an even keel, Chiefy drove the boat like an old sea dog. At the extraction point the pair dumped the canoe and headed off to the pub for a couple of pints, they contacted the support who came and took them back to the B&B.
Back at the B&B it was a quick change and out for some tea and beer. The first pub/hotel the pair went into charged them £6.80 for two pints, so Kidder & Chiefy downed the expensive liquid and moved on to some where else. Bellies full and a few pints later the pair found themselves in some grubby pub watching a Scottish football match. The night was late so the pair retired to the B&B.

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For the trip
we used
www.rhiwgoch.co.uk

As featured in
"The Rough Guide"
&
"Which?"
Guide to Britain's best B&Bs.
On the edge of
the Caledonian Canal,
overlooking
Fort William,
Ben Nevis
and the
surrounding area.