Stand Up Paddleboarding Ardnamurchan Peninsular

After leaving the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse we wound our way along the Ardnamurchan Peninsular. We were heading towards Mallaig for the night but had plenty of time to do some exploring down some of the narrow country roads. While we were hoping to do some more Stand Up Paddleboarding along the way we weren’t sure if the weather would hold out. Finding such a sheltered place in the Ardnamurchan region didn’t seem likely until we discovered the small settlement of Ardtoe.

The Main Points

• Location – Rhub a Mhuran , Ardtoe, Ardnamurchan Peninsular Scotland
• SUP – Own Fatstick Inflatables, Pink Panther* and Blue Lagoon (*Pink Panther now has a new design – check it out here)
• Cost – Free 
• Conditions – Sea/saltwater Coast
• Other users – A couple of boats at anchor and dog walkers
• Entry Point – Sandy Beach
• Surrounding amenities/Bathrooms- Parking spot for overnight self contained campers. Town of Acharcle is 5km away and has a small grocery store and bathrooms.

Map

Current Weather Conditions

A Wee Blether

The west coast of Scotland is really undulating in areas. You can find beautiful little protected coves like Rhub a Mhurain. Quiet and calm water is some of our favourite conditions for stand up paddleboarding. It wasn’t long before we were out on the water again. I really love these quiet wee places for paddling. There were lots of rocks disappearing into the water, creating little islands and it reminded me of our paddle near Iona on Mull. In some places the water was separated by patches of sand and we had to carry our boards from one cove to the next.

The water is some of the clearest I have seen and offers up a unique insight into the aquatic environment below. One of the things I love about Stand Up Paddleboarding is how you are able to look down into the water from this height which gives you a great perspective. Scotland certainly has a lot of seaweed and a lot of sealife amongst it! Unfortunately I didn’t get any great underwater footage of this spot. 

We had time for a quick stand up paddleboarding session before the clouds closed in. Even though the clouds were getting darker it was still relatively calm and we enjoyed exploring the area. Paddling from secluded cove to sandy bay we carried our boards across the sand peninsular. Having navigated the rocky shoreline we decided it was time to pack up before the rain started.

Camping In Rhub a Mhurain

Even though we didn’t stay, the car park at the Rhub a Mhurain beach is great for an overnight camping park up. There are no facilities and so it is only suitable for those who have their own self contained shower and toilet. The park up is very peaceful and makes for a quiet nights camping as it is at the end of a quiet road there is no through traffic.

Leaving Ardtoe and the Ardnamurchan region we continued north along the west coast towards Mallaig. As we drove we discovered the rich history of this region. The area surrounding Loch an Uamh and Loch Shiel is where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed on the Scottish mainland in 1794 as part of the Jacobite Rebellion. The most notable marker of this landing is the Glenfinnan Monument which is adjacent to the Glenfinnan Viaduct.