Bikerafting Morvern
- Feb 24
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 25
Peddle, paddle, peddle…We've been bikerafting regularly for a few years now and we couldn’t wait to try out our new Alpacka Caribou Packrafts for a Bikerafting journey. A window in the weather proved the perfect opportunity for a pre season shakedown and we certainly blew the cobwebs away with a bracing but beautiful, sub-zero camp on the West Coast of Scotland.
The rafts packed down to a perfect fit for our bike handlebars and all our pre-packed kit found a home within our panniers and backpacks. Adorned with her familiar buoyancy aid, Millie was raring to go as we set off in glorious afternoon sunshine. We’d recce’d a few different areas to give us weather options, however our pre-planning with maps and aerial view didn’t quite reveal where the supposed marked ‘track’ to the shoreline decided to peter out in bog and thicket…
Eventually untangling ourselves and our bikes from the firm grasp of fallen tree branches and with a fair bit of huffing and puffing, we finally emerged from the mire to the reward of a perfect camp with accompanying stream at waters edge.
The usual shared cheesy mashed potato starters all round, (Millie’s favourite time of camp) ahead of our stash of Tent Meals (THE perfect camp food, with our supplies running low, we’re delighted to hear that they’re available once more!) Snug in our sleeping bags, all layers were required during the night. We woke to beautiful, echoing curlew cries, the dawn revealing a deeply frozen tent and winter wonderland on the shore; seaweed entrapped within a million fronds of dazzling ice.
The low tide afforded us a lazy and relaxed, enjoyable breaking of camp in the warming sunshine and plenty of time for the preparation of Packrafts. We were really pleased with the light, sturdy rafts that welcomed our bikes with ease. Kit stored securely away within their TiZip holds, they were a delight to paddle accompanied by our Celtic Surge paddles, getting the grab just right. We had a fantastic day on the water in sun soaked skies and wall to wall, unbelievable blues. Followed all the while by inquisitive seals, we had a lucky spotting of a mother sea otter and we think, her last seasons’ pup, busily bobbing and feasting on their lunch amid the seaweed.
Transitioning back to bikes, the temperature was dropping fast. We were greeted on the shore by a kind gentleman who had wandered down from his house to welcome us with mugs of steaming hot tea! He was very interested in our whole Bikerafting set up and happily shared local stories whilst keeping Millie amused with sticks as we packed up (hence no landing photos!) The perfect end to our day, we bade our cheerios with a welcome warm boost to hasten our bike ride back to our start point. Big grins all round; peddle, paddle… perfect.
We have exciting Tirio Bikerafting news coming soon! Watch this space ☺️
