Robin McKelvie embraces Solo Paddling on the majestic River Spey in Scotland.

It was a pleasure to share time in canoes last Friday October 7th on the River Spey with Robin McKelvie ~ prominent Scottish Freelance writer and photographer. Having done a little paddling previously, Robin was keen to learn skills associated with open-canoeing and in particular solo paddling. Before very long Robin was master of his craft ~ looking cool into the bargain. Following on from the session on The River, Robin experienced a full Balvenie Malt whisky tasting.

Commissioned by VisitScotland, Robin is currently travelling the length and breadth of Scotland seeking out and writing about a wide variety of quality outdoor experiences across Scotland. To follow Robin's exploits across the country log-on to ~ tp://active.visitscotland.com/grabaglen/  

I would like to thank the staff at Visit Scotland, who helped set up this session with Robin. As well as appealing to seasoned outdoor enthusiasts, I feel certain Robin's on-line Outdoor Diary will inspire many people to responsibly take part in, for them, new and exciting outdoor activities.

Healthy Otter Population on the River Spey

I last week (Sept. 19th ~ 23rd) completed another unique 5-day Spey Descent with Outdoor/Environmental-studies students from Edinburgh University. All in all a great trip with a group of interesting & accomplished students from various parts of the world ~ incl. UK, US, Canada, Finland, Germany & China. We were blessed with good water-levels & the weather was, in the main, kind to us. Undisturbed by our presence, we passed close to many small birds ~ incl. pied & grey wagtails, dippers, as well as herons & also buzzards soaring above in the mainly clear skies ~ a bird-watchers' paradise.

At various points along the river, we saw otters on each of the five days. Never before on all my many Spey Journeys have I, every day, had such clear sighting of these beautiful creatures.

Over the weekend, immediately following the Edinburgh University descent, I facilitated a two-day river trip as part of a Beeches Boysie-Bonding (alias 'Stag Doo')  ~ comprising one night D.B&B at The Beeches (~ www.thebeechesnewtomore.com) followed by two days on the River Spey ~ Advie to Spey Bay (~ www.spiritofthespey.co.uk). No otters on this Spey Journey but still a great many beautiful Atlantic Salmon leaping close to our canoes.

Right now, I am just back at The Beeches having earlier today been on the picturesque section of the Spey between Loch an Uvie & Newtonmore (~ www.newtonmore.com/events.html ) ~ delivering an introductory moving water skills session for a lovely couple from Torphins, Aberdeen-shire.

Lady Spey is currently wearing her rich yellow and golden autumn cloak as, along her banks, the leaves of birches, rowans and aspens bid their colourful farewell to 2011.

Canoeing on the River Spey In Heavy Rain - Great Fun!

This week overcast with some heavy rain in Strathspey but canoeing clients have thoroughly enjoyed being on the wonderful River Spey ~ the extra water in the river making things even more exciting in places!