Learn about and paddle coracles in Scotland with Piotr Gudan, founder of Outdoor Explore. Coracles, crafts of the past yet still are very much inspiring and enjoyable today.
Coracle (from the Britannica dictionaries)– coracle, Irish Curragh, light, a primitive bowl-shaped boat with a frame of woven grasses, reeds, or saplings covered with hides. Those still used, in Wales and on the coasts of Ireland, usually have a canvas and tar covering.
How are coracles part of the Scottish heritage?
Coracles are Welsh, right? As I used to live, and paddle, in that part of the UK, that’s exactly what I thought for a while. It was great to discover over the last decade living in Scotland that coracles have their place in the local heritage as well.
The first historical mention of Curragh is when St Columba arrives in Scotland, in the VI century. This craft was a significant size, up to 12 people travelled with him, and had a sail.
Coracles appear in the historical descriptions in the XV century across various parts of Scotland. From the West end, the Isle of Skye, to River Spey and River Tay. They have been used mainly for fishing, for ferrying people and in Speyside for assisting timber logging down the river.
Where to use them?
Surprisingly, these small, round crafts are not only for flat water. They handle the river pretty well and they have been used on the coast as well. The coracles I use, are built here, in Perthshire as well. Willow framework and canvas with tar paint over it. Round or pear shape.
They capsize and spin a lot, which is mostly what many presume about these crafts, before trying. Coracles are fragile, yet repairable as well. It takes about 3 days to build one. Is not an easy process. Is so rewarding when you can start with ‘a bunch of sticks’ and end with something which not only floats, and provides lots of fun, and can handle grade 1-2 rapid and gentle tidal flows too.
A couple of years ago I was asked to co-deliver a tester coracles session just off the beach at Broughty Ferry. This was aimed to complete novices, on a sunny, warm, summer day, yet as we all know tides/currents have to be taken into consideration. I have to say, I was really impressed by how well the crafts handled this water, and more importantly how much people I never met before truly enjoyed the experience.
Why do I like them?
I came across coracles in Perthshire by accident, inspired by Jane Wilkinson from Special Branch Baskets. She had one and did let me try, and wow, this was a game-changer…
I have been a guide and a coach for over two decades now, and on a daily basis leading trips at Outdoor Explore, a company I launched, based in Blairgowrie, re-discovering Tayside. Heritage crafts have always been something I have had a passion for. My storage is packed with some amazing gems. Coracles however taken a special place amongst all those.
I am sure the first one I sat on one, brought a huge smile to my face. Testing my balancing and canoe paddling techniques. Now, introducing these crafts to many more folk over the years, I am pretty sure, the coracles brought smiles to all faces of those who tried them.
Coracles are just simply a ‘happy craft’. You have to plan, as their initial speed is limited. No, you don’t have to spin around all the time, and surprisingly it’s better to run big rapids in them backwards than forwards. This was handy when I did paddle the River Garry (Perthshire) or sections of the River Tay, or Ericht in higher water levels. In other words, paddling a coracle is like no other type of craft. Try it, you will love it, I am certain of that!
How can you try?
The easiest way is to look up Coracle taster sessions, which I have published on the Outdoor Explore website, in the ‘upcoming guided tours’ or on the ‘Tayside Paddle School’ pages. These short sessions, are aimed at any level of paddling experience participants and take place at our base in Blairgowrie, on the River Ericht. However, we can arrange a PRIVATE COACHING at a venue of your choice!
If you like researching more about the heritage, look up the Coracle Society website. Get in touch with me at info@outdoorexplore.co.uk as a starting point.
Thinking of building a coracle for yourself? I can recommend getting in touch with Jane, she is a great willow worker weaving traditional baskets, and of course coracles.
Learn more
Watch a short clip. Paddle and the hike with the coracle, on the River Ericht, in Blairgowrie. A brilliant way to travel across Scotland. Coracle, crafts of the past are really still very much inspiring adventures today.
Coracles: Craft of the Past, and Still Enjoyable in the Present
