Start - Three Options

East Beach, Woodbush Brae, Dunbar (Challenging Launch)

Launch from the steps at the bottom of Woodbush Brae, very limited parking and scramble over rocks.  Swell can make for a challenging launch and it's necessary to paddle straight out until level with the end of the harbour wall to avoid low lying rocks.

Dunbar Harbour, (Easy Launch) 

Parking can be limited during the summer.  Launch at the RNLI slip being careful as it's slippery underfoot and be aware of other harbour traffic.

Belhaven Bay (Easy Launch with a longer paddle before turning for the downwind)

Paddle past Dunbar Harbour hugging the cliffs to make use of the eddy.  Turn left once past the skerries and harbour wall and head towards Bass Rock.

Finish - Three Options

North Berwick Harbour

Parking can be limited and is on street.  Landing is easy and sheltered with a short walk up the RNLI slip.  Be aware of pedestrians.

Milsey Bay North Berwick

Free parking, can be limited depending on time of day and the season.  Height barriers are in place and the parking area has pot holes.

Yellowcraigs Beach

Easy and ample paid parking, around £2.20 for the day.  Landing is after a small reef with a longer walk along a good path to the parking area. Can be busy with other beach users during the summer.

Run Length

16-19 km

Shuttle length

21 km

Weather & more

This run works best on a South Easterly of 30km/h upwards.  It's preferable to have some swell but launching can be tricky in swell over 2m.  Launch a minimum of 2 hours before HW to make use of the flood as any later can make the last  few km of this run tough.  Keep aiming for Bass Rock, it's very easy to get drawn in too close to shore by the swell and ending up having to negotiate a reef just before Carr Beacon.  There is normally impressive movement here and care should be taken to have enough space to clear the headland. The conditions step up in this area then settles again about 50-100m after the beacon.

Apres paddle

There are loads of options around Dirleton and North Berwick for the debrief.

Contributor

Lizelle Kemp