On our recent trip to Ailsa Craig, we spent time under the western cliffs and the Water Cave before rounding Stranny Point. Unfortunately the cacophony of the birds' calls and the smell of their guano does not come across in this video.
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Tampilkan postingan dengan label Ailsa Craig. Tampilkan semua postingan
Running before the wind, below the sill.
Leaving Kildonan on the fourth day of our trip round Arran we hoisted our sails then paddled along a wild coastline. The scenery was dominated by an extensive tertiary sill, which extended...
...all the way to Dippen Head where we were...
...dwarfed by the scale of the cliffs.
Once round Dippen Head, we caught our first sight of Holy Island since the first day of our trip. We continued to sail
...all the way to Dippen Head where we were...
...dwarfed by the scale of the cliffs.
Once round Dippen Head, we caught our first sight of Holy Island since the first day of our trip. We continued to sail
A big cave and big appetites at Kildonan, Arran
From the sadly deserted beach at Cleit Shore we sped past huge boulder beaches until a dramatic change in the landscape announced our arrival at Bennan Head, which marks the southern tip of Arran.
Just offshore lies Pladda which is the second biggest of Arran's three satellite isles: Holy Island, then Pladda, then tiny Hamilton Isle.
We were sailing and paddling at 9-10km per hour and David
Just offshore lies Pladda which is the second biggest of Arran's three satellite isles: Holy Island, then Pladda, then tiny Hamilton Isle.
We were sailing and paddling at 9-10km per hour and David
A distinct lack of nudists at Cleits Shore.
The SW shore of Arran is superficially less dramatic than its neighbours. A boulder beach is backed by a raised beach which in turn is backed by a line of now dry wave cut cliffs. However, a series of basalt dykes run out to sea for distances of up to a kilometre from the shore.
They are particularly prominent in the region of the Cleits Shore, where they extend for a considerable distance,
They are particularly prominent in the region of the Cleits Shore, where they extend for a considerable distance,
Ailsa sunset.
It is always sad to leave Ailsa Craig and its teeming bird colonies. Mostly we don't look back...
...mainly because the return involves crossing a busy shipping channel. We stopped to let MV Johanna Desiree pass in front of us. She was bound from Ayr to Santander at 10.8 knots. Behind us, the P&O Express from Larne to Troon passed at a faster 30.6 knots!
As the rock slowly receded...
...the
...mainly because the return involves crossing a busy shipping channel. We stopped to let MV Johanna Desiree pass in front of us. She was bound from Ayr to Santander at 10.8 knots. Behind us, the P&O Express from Larne to Troon passed at a faster 30.6 knots!
As the rock slowly receded...
...the
A quick shag on Ailsa Craig.
It was now time to paddle round Ailsa Craig. We had arranged to meet Alan and Linda from the Castle Craig Kayak Club. We set off anticlockwise, past the walkway round to the north foghorn and quarry.
We emerged from the darkness under the cliffs of Eagle's Seat...
...followed by this grey seal. "Look at the eyebrows on that!"
Jim was delighted with how the borrowed Taran performed, responding
We emerged from the darkness under the cliffs of Eagle's Seat...
...followed by this grey seal. "Look at the eyebrows on that!"
Jim was delighted with how the borrowed Taran performed, responding
White like a swan...
From the foghorn we made our way back to the lighthouse.
It is now fully automatic and solar powered.
Unlike some lighthouses, it still has a proper lens system. This rotate continuously, even during day time, for increased reliability.
The lighthouse itself is immaculately maintained with gleaming whitewash...
...but sadly, the former keeper's cottages have fallen into disrepair after the NLB
It is now fully automatic and solar powered.
Unlike some lighthouses, it still has a proper lens system. This rotate continuously, even during day time, for increased reliability.
The lighthouse itself is immaculately maintained with gleaming whitewash...
...but sadly, the former keeper's cottages have fallen into disrepair after the NLB
A great bellowing on Ailsa Craig.
We heard the bellowing long before we came to the south foghorn on Ailsa Craig.
It obviously wasn't coming from the foghorn as it has been silent since 1966. We passed a row of nine massive but rusting compressed air tanks that provided the "oomph" for the horn. They were supplied by a 2.5" inch pipe that ran 700m from the compressor in the gasworks round to the south of the island.
The air
It obviously wasn't coming from the foghorn as it has been silent since 1966. We passed a row of nine massive but rusting compressed air tanks that provided the "oomph" for the horn. They were supplied by a 2.5" inch pipe that ran 700m from the compressor in the gasworks round to the south of the island.
The air
The missing anvil of Ailsa Craig.
After the gasworks we came to the quarry man's house. I stayed here for nearly a week in the summer of 1973.
We continued south to the old forge buildings. They were relatively intact in 1973 but have been demolished to reclaim their granite blocks.
Somewhere I have an old transparency of the huge anvil but despite its size, there was no sign of it now.
The old bellows from the forge were
We continued south to the old forge buildings. They were relatively intact in 1973 but have been demolished to reclaim their granite blocks.
Somewhere I have an old transparency of the huge anvil but despite its size, there was no sign of it now.
The old bellows from the forge were
Gasworks and kailyards on Ailsa Craig.
From Ailsa Craig pier we made our way up the old railway to the tacksman's house.
In the19th century the tacksman and assistants who lived here harvested the seabirds for flesh, eggs and feathers and caught rabbits that thrived because they had no natural predators. They also fished the seas that were teeming with fish.
Behind the cottage a large area is walled off. Inside is the gasworks with
In the19th century the tacksman and assistants who lived here harvested the seabirds for flesh, eggs and feathers and caught rabbits that thrived because they had no natural predators. They also fished the seas that were teeming with fish.
Behind the cottage a large area is walled off. Inside is the gasworks with
Run out of line but in line with the code, on Ailsa Craig!
We had landed on the north side of Foreland Point on Ailsa Craig, near the old pier.
This old wooden boat had had a rougher landing than we had. Only its transom was showing above the granite boulders. She had clearly seen better days.
We had landed near one of the old quarry workshops. It was here that they cut cylinders of granite from the quarried rock. These were exported to be made into
This old wooden boat had had a rougher landing than we had. Only its transom was showing above the granite boulders. She had clearly seen better days.
We had landed near one of the old quarry workshops. It was here that they cut cylinders of granite from the quarried rock. These were exported to be made into
Return to Ailsa Craig
Just 12 days after our last visit, the call of the Craig proved too much...
...and we set off once more on the 14km crossing.
Jim had borrowed a Rockpool Taran and wanted to see if it would cope with his usual 5,000kg or so of camping gear.
It proved suitably commodious and handled a treat. We arrived at Ailsa Craig after a fast crossing...
...from the Ayrshire coast, which seemed a long way
...and we set off once more on the 14km crossing.
Jim had borrowed a Rockpool Taran and wanted to see if it would cope with his usual 5,000kg or so of camping gear.
It proved suitably commodious and handled a treat. We arrived at Ailsa Craig after a fast crossing...
...from the Ayrshire coast, which seemed a long way
Ailsa calling!
On the way back from Ailsa Craig, Phil uncharacteristically fell behind,
He had some trouble with broaching as he had put all his gear in the front hatch and a Quest does not like being nose heavy! John very kindly stayed with him and gave words of encouragement. John Willacy is a true gentleman and it was our great pleasure to spend the day with him.
The 14km crossing passed all too soon and
He had some trouble with broaching as he had put all his gear in the front hatch and a Quest does not like being nose heavy! John very kindly stayed with him and gave words of encouragement. John Willacy is a true gentleman and it was our great pleasure to spend the day with him.
The 14km crossing passed all too soon and
John Willacy surfed my wake!
It was now time to leave Ailsa Craig and right on cue a nice F3-4 breeze got up from the NW to help us home. I used the sail to get in front of the others...
...and get some photos of the Arran mountains with Phil in the foreground.
Tony flashed by in his very sparkly Cetus.
Gradually the NW wind cleared the sky behind us.
John's Rockpool Taran surfed the waves very easily...
...as we slid
...and get some photos of the Arran mountains with Phil in the foreground.
Tony flashed by in his very sparkly Cetus.
Gradually the NW wind cleared the sky behind us.
John's Rockpool Taran surfed the waves very easily...
...as we slid
Circumnavigation of Ailsa Craig.
The regular staff of seakayakphoto.com are not the World's greatest circumnavigators...
...but our new honorary member, John Willacy, does have a reputation as a rather fast circumnavigator (Anglesey, Isle of Man etc.) so we felt we could not let the side down. Honour was at stake, so we set off on a circumnavigation of the Craig...
...all 3.84km of it! We soon passed Stranny Point and came to
...but our new honorary member, John Willacy, does have a reputation as a rather fast circumnavigator (Anglesey, Isle of Man etc.) so we felt we could not let the side down. Honour was at stake, so we set off on a circumnavigation of the Craig...
...all 3.84km of it! We soon passed Stranny Point and came to
A little rusty on Ailsa Craig.
From the shore of Ailsa Craig, we made our way up past the now solar powered (2001) and automated (1990) lighthouse.
The lighthouse was completed in 1886 by Thomas and David Stevenson. It originally had 3 keepers and was an oil burning light. A little railway was used to haul cans of oil up from the jetty. Unfortunately the bogey was now overturned and rusting away. The railway was also used by
The lighthouse was completed in 1886 by Thomas and David Stevenson. It originally had 3 keepers and was an oil burning light. A little railway was used to haul cans of oil up from the jetty. Unfortunately the bogey was now overturned and rusting away. The railway was also used by
Clearing the air on the way to Ailsa Craig.
Gradually the mist cleared and Ailsa Craig emerged on the Horizon. A stream of cloud from its summit made it look as if it was still an active volcano.
It takes a long time for the rock to get much bigger.
A light NW breeze got up and brought some low clouds across the sky but at sea level the air became extraordinarily clear. We picked out the castle, which is about 1/3 of the way up to the
It takes a long time for the rock to get much bigger.
A light NW breeze got up and brought some low clouds across the sky but at sea level the air became extraordinarily clear. We picked out the castle, which is about 1/3 of the way up to the
Keeping fast company on the crossing to Ailsa Craig.
Last Sunday, Phil, Tony, Jennifer and I met at Lendalfoot on the Ayrshire coast. We were bound for Ailsa Craig, a huge monolith of granite, which is situated at the entrance to the Firth of Clyde, some 14km offshore.
The staff of seakayakphoto.com have a new honorary member. John Willacy is the designer of the Rockpool Taran, which has something of a reputation as a speed machine, especially
The staff of seakayakphoto.com have a new honorary member. John Willacy is the designer of the Rockpool Taran, which has something of a reputation as a speed machine, especially
Sun goes down at Turnberry, after a three castle day!
By coincidence, four refreshment breaks had taken so much time that we arrived at Barwhin Point just at sunset.
Both Turnberry lighthouse...
...and Ailsa Craig...
...add a certain something to Firth of Clyde sunsets.
The sunset did not last long...
...and soon the flash of Turnberry lighthouse was the brightest object in the sky...
...and we paddled into Maidens in near darkness after a
Both Turnberry lighthouse...
...and Ailsa Craig...
...add a certain something to Firth of Clyde sunsets.
The sunset did not last long...
...and soon the flash of Turnberry lighthouse was the brightest object in the sky...
...and we paddled into Maidens in near darkness after a
Sundown at Culzean
South of Dunure, Turnberry lighthouse appeared on the horizon.
We took a third luncheon (not liquid this time) at the north end of Culzean (pron. Cullane) Bay.
By the time we got going again the sun had begun to set.
The Culzean coast line was in deep shade...
...and as we paddled under sandstone cliffs, the great castle of Culzean appeared on the skyline.
This was to be our third and last
We took a third luncheon (not liquid this time) at the north end of Culzean (pron. Cullane) Bay.
By the time we got going again the sun had begun to set.
The Culzean coast line was in deep shade...
...and as we paddled under sandstone cliffs, the great castle of Culzean appeared on the skyline.
This was to be our third and last
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