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Loch Lomond A sign has gone up (early September 02) at Balmaha Bay, forbidding the launching of canoes and kayaks. The owner of MacFarlane's Boatyard at Balmaha, believes that due to crowding in the Bay, there is an accident waiting to happen between powered craft and kayakers/ canoeists, and has erected the sign. You are entitled to ignore the sign and go paddling anyway - it is important that we keep the access point functioning until the matter is resolved. Balmaha Bay is a well-known public site for recreation - there is an access agreement for the path along the loch side, well used by walkers and paddlers - and it is discriminatory that paddlers should be shoo-ed off like this. The footpath running alongside the Loch gains access to the water, and you can put a boat on by an old slipway or more commonly, directly from the shore itself. You can park in the public car park and walk your boat 100m to the loch's edge. There are paying launch facilities for powered craft and rowing boats at MacFarlane's Boatyard but these are not of relevance to recreational canoeists. Regarding the concerns about safety, there has been scant evidence of such problems in recent years, but the way round it is hardly to ban paddlers, especially as the objectives of the National Park are to encourage "quiet recreation" which is very much seen to include canoeing. Fortunately Bridget Jones, the Access Officer for the area has been very supportive, is very pro-canoeist and others undertaking "quiet recreation". She understands that the site has been used for many years and also that it is ideal in that it is sheltered and offers good access to the islands for novices - better than that offered by Millarochy Bay further north, which is where the MacFarlanes have been re-directing paddlers. Please could you email the SCA Access Officer or write c/o the SCA Office if you have used this site, how long for, who with and why you consider it is important to protect access there. I will then forward this information to Bridget who is trying to amass evidence of use, as well establishing ownership and boundaries at the site in support of getting rid of the signs. Contributed
by SCA Office |
