Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The paddling route
Park at the free Kilchurn Castle car park on the A85 and follow the castle path down under the railway, where a shallow bay gives a sheltered start. Paddle out past Kilchurn Castle on its spit, a Campbell stronghold from the 1400s now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland; you can land by the jetty below it. Cross the head of the loch to Lochawe village and St Conan's Kirk, under the long slopes of Ben Cruachan, then come back along the wooded south-east shore and into the bay.
It is 4.3 km round; allow about an hour in a canoe or kayak and 1¼ on a paddleboard. The grade is Easy: it is short and you are never more than about 250 m from a shore. But Loch Awe is the longest freshwater loch in Scotland, a south-westerly can build waves all the way up to the head, and the water is cold all year, so turn back early if it freshens.
Scottish access rights cover paddling on the loch; no permit is needed. The launch is about 400 m from the car park along the castle path, so bring a trolley for a heavy boat. Loch Awe station is about 1 km from the start. Wear a buoyancy aid and check the conditions before you set off.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap waterways (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Kilchurn Castle, a Campbell stronghold from the 1400s, on a spit at the head of the loch
- Under Ben Cruachan, across from Lochawe village and St Conan's Kirk
- A sheltered start in the shallow bay east of the castle
- Loch Awe is the longest freshwater loch in Scotland
On the water
- Put in: Below the railway bridge, Kilchurn Castle car park (bank) 56.40460, -5.02220
- No locks or weirs on the way.
- About 4.3 km (2.7 mi) on open water, up to 235 m from the shore: wind and waves build quickly.
- Suits canoes, kayaks, paddleboards.
Getting there
Start: Below the railway bridge, Kilchurn Castle car park. 56.40460, -5.02220
By train: Loch Awe station is 1.2 km from the start.
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Below the railway bridge: Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Water levels, flow and the weather decide the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; wear a buoyancy aid, check the river levels and the forecast, keep well clear of weirs and powered boats, and don't go out in flood.