Paddleboarding in Claggain Bay – Islay

Paddleboarding on Claggain Bay was a quick wee session and the first of two paddles for SUP Safari Scotland on the Isle of Islay.  We discovered this area after a tip off from some fellow paddlers and were so glad that we checked it out.  It is a really quiet tucked away wee spot and the beaches are stunning. Scotland can certainly be a windy place to paddle and if you are on Islay Claggain Bay is worth checking out if the wind is right.

Claggain Bay can be reached by heading from Port Ellen out along the Three Distilleries Pathway. This pathway can be walked, cycled or if you are carrying a heavy SUP there is a road that roughly follows along side that you can drive. 

If you would like to follow our journey throughout Scotland finding all the best places to Stand Up Paddle along the way you can check out the video series here or our blog post here.

The Main Points – Paddleboarding in Claggain Bay

• Location – Claggain Bay, Isle of Islay, Scotland
• Cost – Free beach access from road side
• Conditions – Seawater Loch
• Other users – Passers by mostly driving
• Entry Point – Pebbly Beach
• Surrounding amenities/Bathrooms- Nearest amenities are in Port Ellen 14 km south west (8.7 miles)

Location

Weather

Water Temperature

Tides

A Wee Blether – Paddleboarding in Claggain Bay

Paddleboarding in Claggain Bay was a nice wee surprise. There really isn’t much else there as this particular location is set within farming surroundings. There is potential for further exploration up along the coast a little more but when we found this spot we couldn’t resist getting the SUP out.

If you are heading out to Claggain Bay it is worth stopping at one of the islands cafes or grocery stores. This way you will have supplies prior to heading out for your paddleboarding session so you are self sufficient. This will also ensure you avoid the need to make the 28km return journey into Port Ellen if you get hungry.

And after your paddle check out the Three Distilleries Path Way upon which are the Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroig Distilleries. As previously mentioned the pathway is suitable for walking and cycling as it is relatively flat and makes for a nice alternative if the conditions are too windy for paddleboarding.

Check out our location video of Paddleboarding on Claggain Bay here

Check out our SUP Safari Scotland Episode 2 – Isle of Islay and Jura for more paddling locations here

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If you haven’t yet watched part one of our SUP Safari Scotland Travel Video Series  check it out here.