Leaving Port an t-Sruthain we continued our exploration...
...of Islay's north coast in mirror calm conditions.
We were paddling within the shelter of the extensive reef system at the base of Rubha Bholsa. In the distance beyond the reefs, lay low lying Oronsay and Colonsay. Something wasn't quite right though. This was when the first niggle of doubt entered my head. Even at 10km away, the
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Firth of Lorn. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Firth of Lorn. Tampilkan semua postingan
A lonely sheiling on the north coast of Islay.
Above the beach at Port an t-Sruthain on the North coast of Islay, we found a natural amphitheatre surrounded by the cliff line of the raised beach. At the focal point are the remains of an old sheiling. The tinkling of a stream, cascading down the cliffs, explained the Gaelic name of the beach, “Port of the Stream”.
It would have been a hard life eking out a living here. In the distance, low
It would have been a hard life eking out a living here. In the distance, low
Sea kayaking round Kerrera
From Oban sea front round Kerrera, a 23km day paddle on the Firth of Lorn, February 2011.
Crossing Oban Bay to Kerrera.
Although we started in the town, most usually the best launches would be from Corran Esplanade or from Ganavan Sands. You can also launch over rocks north of the Kerrera ferry, opposite yacht moorings but not at the ferry itself.
Tidal flows.Sound of Kerrera the flood enters
Crossing Oban Bay to Kerrera.
Although we started in the town, most usually the best launches would be from Corran Esplanade or from Ganavan Sands. You can also launch over rocks north of the Kerrera ferry, opposite yacht moorings but not at the ferry itself.
Tidal flows.Sound of Kerrera the flood enters
Swanning about in Oban.
Back in Oban harbour we came across...
...FV Lady Evelyn. Sadly she has seen better days. But possibly there is hope that she might see the high seas again.
We were now nearly back at our launch spot below McCaig's Folly and the Oban Distillery.
No sooner had we arrived, than we were closely inspected by the local customs inspector...
...in case we had any contraband luncheon left. Only when
...FV Lady Evelyn. Sadly she has seen better days. But possibly there is hope that she might see the high seas again.
We were now nearly back at our launch spot below McCaig's Folly and the Oban Distillery.
No sooner had we arrived, than we were closely inspected by the local customs inspector...
...in case we had any contraband luncheon left. Only when
Wot a Loti toing and froing in Oban harbour.
The rain started as we continued up the NW coast of Kerrera. The rain hissed into the calm sea around us...
..and the seascape turned steadily to muted shades of grey.
Phil cut a colourful dash on the Firth as we approached the northern entrance to Oban Bay.
We let Loti* enter the channel before us and enjoyed a good surf in on her wake.
We stopped for a second luncheon on a pebble beach
Turning a corner on Kerrera
We were unable to land at Gylen Castle as there was some surf breaking on the steep rocky beach so we carried on towards the south west point of Kerrera. The crashing of the waves on the dark rock of Kerrera was the only sound.
On the way, we passed interesting natural castles of conglomerate rock sitting on top of what looked like a layer of dsark basaltic rock.
The mountains of Mull came in
On the way, we passed interesting natural castles of conglomerate rock sitting on top of what looked like a layer of dsark basaltic rock.
The mountains of Mull came in
Max, the parrot vampire of Kerrera!
We paddled down the Sound of Kerrera under darkening skies.
The great bulk of Scarba appeared in the distance and the wind dropped away to nothing.
The smoke from a lonely cottage on Little Horseshoe Bay curled lazily skyward. It is the home of Yvonne Macmillan and at least a dozen parrots!
Photo STV.
Yvonne has set up a sanctuary for distressed parrots on this remote spot on the island of
The great bulk of Scarba appeared in the distance and the wind dropped away to nothing.
The smoke from a lonely cottage on Little Horseshoe Bay curled lazily skyward. It is the home of Yvonne Macmillan and at least a dozen parrots!
Photo STV.
Yvonne has set up a sanctuary for distressed parrots on this remote spot on the island of
Better days in the Sound of Kerrera
This was the view from the sea front at Oban. In the near distance the island of Kerrera shelters Oban from the open waters of the Firth of Lorn. In the distance, the mountains of Mull were topped by a snow covered Ben More, at 966m, the highest mountain in the Inner Hebrides.
A front was rapidly crossing the sky from the SE...
...as we crossed Oban Bay to Kerrera.
Ahead a monument to David
A front was rapidly crossing the sky from the SE...
...as we crossed Oban Bay to Kerrera.
Ahead a monument to David
Sea kayak Oban
Scotland always been lucky to have a good number of really excellent sea kayak retailers. In the past I have posted about the late Mike Thomson of Scottish Paddler supplies and the good folk Geoff and Anne Turner of |Kari-tek in Ayrshire. This time I want to highlight Stuart and Cathy Wagstaff of Sea Kayak Oban.
Their shop is situated right in the heart of Oban only 250m from the railway station
Their shop is situated right in the heart of Oban only 250m from the railway station
Darkness stole across the Isles of the Sea.
The entrance of the Cuan Sound can be a bit bouncy as the flood tide jets out into the Firth of Lorn...
... but it soon flattened off as paddled up the west coast of Seil.
The sun was setting in the SW as we approached the village of Ellenabeich.
As we drifted north with the now gentle tide we looked back to Scarba, Lunga, the Black Islands and the Garvellachs.
The sun dipped behind the
... but it soon flattened off as paddled up the west coast of Seil.
The sun was setting in the SW as we approached the village of Ellenabeich.
As we drifted north with the now gentle tide we looked back to Scarba, Lunga, the Black Islands and the Garvellachs.
The sun dipped behind the
The stirring sound of moving water in the Cuan Sound.
It was now three hours after the start of the spring flood tide and our course took us in a dog leg, round the north end of Torsa and into the Cuan Sound. We had told Phil that there might be a little slope (several feet or so) but there would not be any whirlpools (Phil has an unaccountable aversion to whirlpools).
At the entrance of the Sound, the skerry of An Cleiteadh, constricts and dams
At the entrance of the Sound, the skerry of An Cleiteadh, constricts and dams
The Grey Dogs were salivating, while awaiting our arrival.
It was a cold, grey, January day but the promise of spring tides took us to Ellenabeich on the Island of Seil. David, Jennifer, Jim, Phil and I launched our kayaks in the little harbour of this former slate mining centre.
The harbour at Ellenabeich is sheltered from the open Firth of Lorn by the island of Easdale which lies just over 100m across the Sound of Easdale. A little passenger ferry
The harbour at Ellenabeich is sheltered from the open Firth of Lorn by the island of Easdale which lies just over 100m across the Sound of Easdale. A little passenger ferry
A bed of bluebells in the Sound of Mull.
From Glensanda quarry the wild and remote SE coast of Morvern continued for another 12 km...
...until we approached Rubha an Ridire...
...which marked the turning point of our route.
We now ran before the light wind, to the NW, up the Sound of Mull which separates the Island of Mull from the SW coast of Morvern.
It was getting late when we finally arrived at a curving beach at the end of our
...until we approached Rubha an Ridire...
...which marked the turning point of our route.
We now ran before the light wind, to the NW, up the Sound of Mull which separates the Island of Mull from the SW coast of Morvern.
It was getting late when we finally arrived at a curving beach at the end of our
Between a rock and a hard place at Glensanda.
All too soon we had to leave the oasis of Kingairloch...
...and continue our exploration of the Morvern coast.
We passed huge beaches of perfectly graded shingle.
After some time, we became aware of a curious noise, a bit like waves sucking shingle down a beach, but more sustained and more artificial.
We had found the Glensanda super quarry, the biggest in Europe. The noise we had heard was
...and continue our exploration of the Morvern coast.
We passed huge beaches of perfectly graded shingle.
After some time, we became aware of a curious noise, a bit like waves sucking shingle down a beach, but more sustained and more artificial.
We had found the Glensanda super quarry, the biggest in Europe. The noise we had heard was
A missed luncheon after a detour to Kingairloch?
The SE coast of Morvern is a wonderful place and we took our time savouring it. At first we paddled along a trackless wilderness...
...until we eventually came across signs of habitation again.
Loch Linnhe stretched away to the SW along an apparently unbroken line of cliffs...
...but eventually some breaks appeared like here at Camas na Croise.
Shortly afterwards we passed a narrow opening,
...until we eventually came across signs of habitation again.
Loch Linnhe stretched away to the SW along an apparently unbroken line of cliffs...
...but eventually some breaks appeared like here at Camas na Croise.
Shortly afterwards we passed a narrow opening,
Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2011
I wish a belated Happy New Year to all visitors to seakayakphoto.com. As way of a celebration of the last year and in anticipation of sea kayaking adventures yet to come, here is the 7th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.
January, Arran, Firth of Clyde.
February, Loch Creran,
January, Arran, Firth of Clyde.
February, Loch Creran,
Five fingers and a long way to fish in Loch Linnhe.
The sun set long before we reached our shuttle car, which we had left just north of the Corran narrows on Loch Linnhe.
Looking back up the loch we got a fantastic view of Ben Nevis. Just below the summit you can see the infamous five finger gully which traps the unwary on their descent of the Ben.
An Irish trawler, W297 Caronia II, registered in Waterford, passed us as she was making her way
Looking back up the loch we got a fantastic view of Ben Nevis. Just below the summit you can see the infamous five finger gully which traps the unwary on their descent of the Ben.
An Irish trawler, W297 Caronia II, registered in Waterford, passed us as she was making her way
Luncheon on a gravel bed in the River Lochy.
The sea lock of the Caledonian Canal opens to Loch Linnhe beside Corpach pier.
For a little while, the canal follows the shore and we paddled below some fishing boats.
We now crossed the head of loch Linnhe towards...
... Fort William. Unfortunately we turned left instead of right.
The first warning of our mistake was that the kayaks' seam lines were closer to the water, and talking of water,
For a little while, the canal follows the shore and we paddled below some fishing boats.
We now crossed the head of loch Linnhe towards...
... Fort William. Unfortunately we turned left instead of right.
The first warning of our mistake was that the kayaks' seam lines were closer to the water, and talking of water,
Ben Nevis and Corpach Pier.
We had come to photograph Ben Nevis (1344m) and were not optimistic, given the thick cloud that had enveloped the upper slopes of Scotland's highest mountain during our approach. From November to January the mountain's summit is in the clouds for 80% of the time. So we could not believe our luck when a weather window opened and the summit and magnificent northern corrie were revealed.
The great
The great
Better days in Corpach.
Arriving in Loch Linnhe we almost immediately came to a large pier that runs for nearly 500m out to the deep water channel. It was built to service a large wood pulp mill which operated her from the 1960's until it closed in 1980. At its peak 900 people worked there. There is still a paper mill and a saw mill on the site.
Fort William and Corpach have reinvented themselves as the UK's outdoor
Fort William and Corpach have reinvented themselves as the UK's outdoor
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