Tuesday, 31 January 2017

Serene Loch Duich

Last weekend our kayak club had a trip planned to Loch Duich near Kintail, West of Scotland, a 4-hour drive from our house. It's a long way for just two days but it was worth it as we couldn't have had any better weather. High pressure, freezing, wall to wall sunshine and no wind on the Saturday. Kintail Outdoor Centre was our base for the weekend.


Map of our kayak route on Loch Duich ©Fenfolio2017

We launched our kayaks at the bridge of Dornie, just around the corner from iconic Eilean Donan castle. From the moment we arrived, most of us were more involved in taking photos of the stunning scenery in golden light than preparing all our equipment!


Eilean Donan Castle at dawn ©Fenfolio2017


Eilean Donan Castle at dawn ©Fenfolio2017



Eilean Donan Castle at dawn ©Fenfolio2017


Getting ready to launch ©Fenfolio2017


A perfect start of the day! ©Fenfolio2017
 
It was actually more of a photography trip on the water than a kayak trip. Well, at least for me! I had to pinch myself regularly because it was as if we were paddling in a fantasy world.


Paddling towards Eilean Donan castle ©Fenfolio2017


Dornie bridge ©Fenfolio2017


Inspecting Eilean Donan Castle from Loch Duich ©Fenfolio2017


Is this for real? ©Fenfolio2017



Loch Duich and the five sisters of Kintail ©Fenfolio2017


Splendid scenery from Loch Duich ©Fenfolio2017


Approaching Heaven ©Fenfolio2017


The tops of the 5 sisters of Kintail can been seen in the background
©Fenfolio2017


Synchronicity ©Fenfolio2017

Happy paddlers on Loch Duich ©Fenfolio2017


The perfect reflection ©Fenfolio2017


Pure bliss! ©Fenfolio2017


The 5 sisters of Kintail ©Fenfolio2017


Paddlers in Paradise ©Fenfolio2017


Breaking the thin layer of ice was fun and noisy! ©Fenfolio2017


Ice layer ©Fenfolio2017


On our way back again ©Fenfolio2017


View of Eilean Donan castle from other side of Loch Duich ©Fenfolio2017


Paddling underneath bridge that leads to castle ©Fenfolio2017