Stand Up Paddleboarding Castle Stalker – Loch Linnhe

Paddleboarding to Castle Stalker

Paddleboarding to Castle Stalker has been on my SUP-it List for years, even before moving back to Scotland!  The idea of being able to paddle out to a centuries old castle is the stuff that SUP dreams are made of.  Finally we got the chance, the weather was great and Castle Stalker didn’t disappoint.

The Main Points

• Location – tidal islet of Loch Laich off Loch Linnhe (Firth of Lorne) eastern shore, Argylle 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 Loch
• Other users – Mainly Stand Up Paddleboarders and kayakers
• Entry Point – Rocky/pebbly
• Surrounding amenities/Bathrooms- Town of Oban 37km to the south or Fort William 34km to the north

A Wee Blether

I think the best thing about our SUP Road trip was the spontaneity that having our camper van allowed us. We had a rough plan to head towards the Isle of Mull but as yet hadn’t booked the ferry over. Of course leaving it to the last minute isn’t advisable if you have time limits as we found that the ferry from Oban was booked up a week in advance.

Out of Oban we headed south to Seil Island for a side trip. SUP bloke had been there before and wanted to return. It was the perfect day for a drive and when we got there it was really tempting to go for a paddle. But I had other ideas! We decided that we would head for Fort William and then to Ardnamurchen as there was a shorter ferry we could cross to Mull which didn’t require booking, just turn up.

Paddling to Castle Stalker

The great thing about this plan was that we would pass Castle Stalker on the way. We found a spot to park Harmony our camper and sat and watched the tide come it. This made it easier to wade into the shallow water. The conditions were absolutely perfect. On days such as these with the sun shining, the breeze gentle and the water calm and glass like, there is no better place to be than on a SUP in Scotland.

Paddling out we saw hundreds of jellyfish as the water was so clear. For the most part the islet of Loch Laich was fairly shallow and the bottom was visible the whole way out to the castle. Loch Laich was one of the most beautiful places I have paddled from an underwater perspective. I love filming with the GoPro attached to my paddle handle. It is always a surprise to see just what you have captured on film when you get home.

There were a couple of other groups of paddlers enjoying the near perfect conditions. I don’t think Castle Stalker will remain a secret SUP destination for long!

Check out our video of our Isle of Mull SUP Road Trip Part 2 to see just what it was like Stand Up Paddleboarding at Castle Stalker.