We’re in lockdown. No paddling (at least in the UK). BUT. If you could get out and paddle, where is the first place you would head for on this Easter weekend? This is the third set of replies – to read the first set see: https://paddlerezine.com/where-in-the-world-would-you-have-paddled-this-easter/ and the second set here: https://paddlerezine.com/where-in-the-world-would-you-have-paddled-this-easter-2/

We asked some of our valued contributors to the Paddler magazine for their answer and starting on Good Friday and over the Easter weekend, we will feature those answers from the four corners of the planet. Paddlers will feature in the order they sent their replies.

We have to somehow get through this difficult period together, so let’s give each other hope that the world hasn’t ended and that there will be time when we are free to paddle wherever once again.

Mal Grey
Northwest Highlands of Scotland

Every Easter we head to the wonderful Northwest Highlands of Scotland with the ‘Pirate Captains’, a bunch of growing kids for whom this year’s trip would have been their seventh year. We were due to head to Loch Maree, to attempt a route we’d tried and failed on four years ago, portaging up to lonely Fionn Loch, the head of which lies in the heart of the most remote region in these isles. That year was one of extremes.

We started by surviving a Force 11 storm on an island which tried to destroy both our tents and the ground on which they sat. Later, broken equipment forced a turn around half-way up a three-mile portage with time running out. The reward though was a return to the islands in utterly fabulous conditions, where we spent a magical few days revelling in the landscape around. We were looking forward to a rematch but the closest we will get this year is a video call from our separate gardens, but though we won’t be in the wilderness, the wilderness will still be with us.

Martin Rickard
Papa Stour, Shetland, Scotland, UK

So where on my doorstep would I go for an Easter paddle?

There are so many fantastic paddles in Shetland, it’s hard to choose just one. However, Papa Stour always springs to mind. On the west side of mainland Shetland, it offers a fun and challenging day out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papa_Stour 

The cliffs have been under siege from the Atlantic for thousands of years, the erosion there has produced some of the best caves, geos, stacks, tunnels and arches you are likely to see.

To be honest if you want to explore the very best caves and tunnels, then it’s pretty much a fair-weather paddle as any swell from the west makes it impossible to enter safely.

From the crossing point at Melby it doesn’t look spectacular or even mildly interesting, but within half an hour of reaching the other side you are in a different world… 

It’s worth taking some serious illumination. Many of the best caves are long, narrow and dogleg. One is 600 metres long and beware conditions can be very different on the other side. Lots of camping options, bring water.

Pete Astles
Cromford Canal, Derbyshire, UK

Anywhere would be good… Just on the Cromford Canal, with my boys would be nice. It’s right by our house, but we’re being good and abiding by British Canoeing’s policy of not going out on the water! We’ll be down there as soon as we’re through this. Much love. Stay safe. Pete xxx

Cornil Wambergue
The island of Comino, Malta

My name is Cornil and I own ‘Gozo Adventures’, based in Gozo, the small sister isle to Malta. It’s a small island (just 5×7 miles) and surrounded by the beautiful Mediterranean sea. As long as it’s not too windy, it’s a pleasure to kayak all year round. 

If I could set off now I’d being heading towards the tiny island of Comino and the famous Blue Lagoon. It’s always an amazing experience in spring before the summer swimmers and tour boats arrive and we have to share it. The water there on a sunny day really is the most amazing turquoise colour. Bliss 🙂

Chris Brain
Loch Ness, Scotland, UK

I always associate Easter with heading to Scotland for some kind of adventure, whether this is kayaking in Glencoe sliding down waterfalls, over on the river Spey on a multi day canoe trip or making the journey from coast to coast across some of the major lochs in Scotland. 

A place that has always held a strong attraction for me is Loch Ness, a spectacular expanse of water with beauty and challenge in equal measure. I’ve travelled across this Loch in a range of crafts, paddled it with groups, tandem and solo, explored the north coast, the south coast and plowed straight down the middle too! 

Even though I feel like Ive seen a lot of this water it still shows me something new every time and that will keep me heading back there for years to come. I am yet to complete the Great Glen Way on a SUP, so once the world has regained a bit of normality, that is certainly a challenge I would like to set for myself.

Tom Thorpe
South west of the UK

If I could go anywhere to paddle right now it would be my home turf. I love the south west of the UK, there is a surf zone for all conditions and there are extensive rock gardens, not to mention offshore and downwind options. If you know where to look there are also tide races. I live next to the slipway and can access some amazing places in a day, but there is another place which is calling out.

When people ask me where I’d like to go, normally the first thing that always comes to mind and one of my favourite places in the world is the west coast of Scotland and for sure escaping other people would be great right now.

However! Brittany is amazing and for me its just across the channel as I can drive onto the ferry at the bottom of my road. I love how easy it is/was. We were all worried about Brexit and the issues it may cause, now we are worried about when this Covid storm will pass and trying to do the right thing to make it pass quicker!

In the north of France you’ll find great surf breaks, sheltered paddles and of course tide, it also tends to be a tad warmer than here in the U.K.

The islands west of Le Conquet including lle Molene and Ushant are fantastic, linking the islands is so much fun and a paddler can go as far as they want or just stop, chill and play. Most of the Islands are nature reserves and landing is forbidden, but there are small settlements on some of them and pure white sandy beaches. Do not under estimate the Islands as the tide that flows between them is strong and being good at eddy hopping will help you a lot, not to mention surfing standing waves!

Sea kayaks are not the best at surfing beach breaks, especially steep close out waves but sea kayaks are made for these kind of surfy, longer adventure trips. 

Sal Montgomery
Rio Claro, Chile

If I could be anywhere with primo levels and a good bunch of buddies right now… it’s a tough one but I think it’s got to be the Rio Claro in Chile. Waking up and spending the whole day running clean waterfalls that drop in to big pools of perfectly clear water, in the sunshine and one of the most beautiful valleys you’ve ever seen. Can it get any better?

https://vimeo.com/262946273

Photo: Eli Castleberry

JF Marleau
Broken Group and Deer Group islands, British Columbia, Canada

When the legal and social norm restrictions are lifted or softened and kayak touring will become socially accepted in relation to the evolution of the status of COVID-19 in our area, we have a few plans to enjoy the freedom of the sea again. 

Weeks ago before COVID-19 transformed the world as we used to know it, my partner Justine Curgenven and I were planning two Easter adventures. First a seven-day trip where we will leave from a beach beside our house in Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island for the Broken Group Islands and Deer Group islands in Barkley Sound. 

The Broken Group Islands has over 100 islands by itself. This is currently on the path of the grey whale migration and the area between our place and the Broken Group and the Deer Group Islands is very wild and beautiful with so many whales around. This is just a start.  

We were also planning to take a float plane to go kayak fishing trout to a remote alpine lake called Pretty Girl Lake for a few days. This Lake is only accessible by float plane. When things return to normal, in addition to guiding and teaching in remote areas, we are planning to circumnavigate Haida Gwaii for a personal holiday from guiding and teaching sea kayaking:)

Sean Clarke
White Nile, Uganda

Escaping from lockdown and an imminent winter, I’d love to be on a river anywhere. But if I have to choose, then the White Nile, Uganda – even in spite of the recent Isimba Dam, everything about Jinja, Bujagali and surrounds, it is my favourite place on earth.

April is the rainy season but other than bodas and mutatus sliding everywhere in the mud, paddling continues year round. Freestyle paddling is much reduced without the Nile Special section but the river is still mighty and holds the attention of any paddler unawares on it. Ingenuity and a genuine love of the river is what draws people back each year for the Nile River Festival (Jan/Feb each year) and I can’t help myself in answering the call and heading back.

There’s not too many places in the world you can get to the river holding your kayak and paddle on the back of a motorcycle sliding through mud. Adventure and social interactions (sorely missed in the isolation) is what draws me back year on year. God damned I wish I could get there right now.

Greg Paquin
Fishers Island Sound, New England, USA

Here in New England, the north east coast of the US, it is still quite cold around the Easter weekend.  So, it is a toss up whether to go paddling on the sea or skiing in the mountains. Especially since a recent Nor-Easter storm just delivered 12-14 inches of springtime snow. If I were to set my sights on paddling, which traditionally is part of my self-conditioning process ahead of the annual trip to Angelsey North Wales to help coach at SKUK’s early May symposium, I head to my favourite coaching/paddling grounds. 

This is a place where three states, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York meet together in Fishers Island Sound. Fishers Island Sound is a dynamic place where the glaciers left terminal moraines in different orientations giving us over falls and tidal races where the water pours in and around creating up to five knots of tide.

It is always interesting to see how the winter storms changed this eastern section of Fishers Island Sound and what migratory bird and marine life are still around or passing through.  And, with constant tide movement and exposure to ocean swell, it’s a fantastic place to paddle.  Stay safe everybody and make wise decisions.

Hap Wilson
Lady Evelyn River, Temagami, Canada

It’s unlikely we would get out during any Easter weekend here except for a couple of local rivers that would be running high (Big East/photo/running rapids). Our first venture would always be the Lady Evelyn River in the heart of the Temagami Wilderness Park, once the ice is out and that generally doesn’t happen until the first week in May, sometimes even later.

Compared with other countries graced with warmer climes, the best canoeing in central Canada owns a rather short season. I’ve paddled the Lady Evelyn more than 200 times – it’s our commute to our Ecolodge (www.cabinfalls.ca). It’s a 35-kilometer paddle with twelve rapids and portages; great fun in the spring, beautiful no matter how many times you paddle it.

Andi Brunner
Pacific north west, USA

Most kayakers are not allowed to go kayaking at the moment. But we are all sitting in the same boat!

If there wasn’t the lockdown, I would immediately go to PNW in America. I have already been there once before with lower water and it was amazing! I am dreaming of paddling there with good flows! Unlimited laps on the famous Little White Salmon must be so good. And many more great rivers that are in this region. Actually it was my plan to go there in April. Unfortunately it didn’t work out. If they would end the lockdown now, it wouldn’t take more than two hours for me to sit in a plane to Portland.