My journey north to St Kilda started at 17:30 after work last Friday. It was a slow drive due to the number of caravans and motor homes heading north. These vehicles carry such evocative names as GT, Cheetah, Concorde (Mach 2 model), Monza, Le Mans etc. However, the road quietened after Fort William and by 21:30 I was watching the sun set behind Eilean Donan Castle.
I spent the night at Gordon
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Tampilkan postingan dengan label Inner Hebrides. Tampilkan semua postingan
Navigational aids in the Sound of Islay.
The tide in the Sound of Islay whisked us south to the Carrag an t-Sruith lighthouse. Unfortunately it was not big enough to have its name painted on the side, thus somewhat hindering its navigational usefulness.
Useful though white painted lighthouses may be to navigators, we noticed a much more interesting building on the far side of the Sound, which was also painted white.
This one is quite
Useful though white painted lighthouses may be to navigators, we noticed a much more interesting building on the far side of the Sound, which was also painted white.
This one is quite
Catching the 0930 in the Sound of Islay.
We awoke at a decent time and had plenty of time to have a big breakfast in the morning. There was not a great distance to Port Askaig and the south going tide was building nicely to help us on our way. As we packed, the swans entertained us by teaching their cygnets to break into and out of the current in the Sound.
We did best to imitate their style and after catching the 0930 southbound, we
We did best to imitate their style and after catching the 0930 southbound, we
Leaving Jura under a cloud
It was high water when we left West Loch Tarbert on Jura under a cloud.
We re-entered the Sound of Islay, just as MV Hebridean Isles was returning from her Wednesday day trip from Islay, to Colonsay, to Oban, to Colonsay and back to Islay.
Gradually the sun began to break through the evening sky...
...as we took the ebb tide down the Sound of Islay.
We re-entered the Sound of Islay, just as MV Hebridean Isles was returning from her Wednesday day trip from Islay, to Colonsay, to Oban, to Colonsay and back to Islay.
Gradually the sun began to break through the evening sky...
...as we took the ebb tide down the Sound of Islay.
Mist in the Sound of Islay
Paddling to the east the tall tower of the Ruvaal lighthouse announced our arrival at the Sound of Islay.
A band of low cloud was streaming up the Sound between Islay and Jura.
The tide was running quickly so we set off at a high ferry angle toward Jura. However, despite our ferry angle, we were carried 1km down tide on a 4.7km crossing! The Paps were still partially shrouded in the mist as we
A band of low cloud was streaming up the Sound between Islay and Jura.
The tide was running quickly so we set off at a high ferry angle toward Jura. However, despite our ferry angle, we were carried 1km down tide on a 4.7km crossing! The Paps were still partially shrouded in the mist as we
Swept round the point or sea trout for breakfast?
Retreating from the Rhinns of Islay, we arrived back at the sand dunes of Ardnave Point. We paddled round into the sheltered mouth of Gruinart Bay where we enjoyed a very pleasant second breakfast. The local seals were hunting hunting sea trout in the river channel. If we had carried on round the Rhinns, we would have, by then, been in the clutches of the tide, being carried towards some of the
Retreat from Islay, the mysterious case of the disappearing headland.
I slept poorly, partly due to the pain in my knee and partly due to unease about the day to come. I awoke early to the crash of surf on the offshore reefs. It sounded so close that I feared for the kayaks but when I stuck my head out of the tent there were only small waves making it onto our beach and the kayaks were safe. It was a relief to retreat from the chill, grey light of dawn back to the
A time for reflection on Ardnave Point.
We enjoyed the view as the low sun's warm light illuminated the north shore of Islay, all the way to Rubha Bholsa, round which we had recently come. As the sun set, the temperature began to drop so we decided to make our way back down to the beach and light a fire. No sooner had I started descending the steep dune than I experienced a severe pain in my knee and my leg buckled under me. I broke
Ardnave Sunset, Islay.
There was quite a swell running up the gravel beach below the chapel on Nave Island. I landed while Phil sat offshore. The island was overgrown with nettles and thistles so we decided to camp in a more sheltered spot on Islay with some closely cropped grass! We found the ideal spot with a white sand beach near Ardnave Point. It was protected from swell by a series of offshore reefs and Nave
Smoking in church on Nave Island
We now left the wild north shore of Islay and...
...set off across the broad mouth of Loch Gruinart. On the far side of the loch low lying Ardnave Point stretched out below the bold headland of Ton Mor. We hoped to round it in the morning when we would be well on the way to the west coast of the Rhinns of Islay.
We were bound for Nave Island which floated on a sparkling sea.
Our crossing was
...set off across the broad mouth of Loch Gruinart. On the far side of the loch low lying Ardnave Point stretched out below the bold headland of Ton Mor. We hoped to round it in the morning when we would be well on the way to the west coast of the Rhinns of Islay.
We were bound for Nave Island which floated on a sparkling sea.
Our crossing was
Archeology and the passage of time on the north shore of Islay.
The coast of Islay that lay ahead looked so fascinating that we decided to move in...
...for a closer look and we were certainly not disappointed. We came across a number of stacks and caves then...
...some amazing arches.
We tried to get through this one but it was low tide and dry beyond.
The water was crystal clear and we seemed to be suspended in both space and time as we drifted
...for a closer look and we were certainly not disappointed. We came across a number of stacks and caves then...
...some amazing arches.
We tried to get through this one but it was low tide and dry beyond.
The water was crystal clear and we seemed to be suspended in both space and time as we drifted
Sea lions and elephants on Islay's north coast...it's like Jura on steroids!
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
...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
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
The dykes of the north coast of Islay.
All too soon, the tidal assistance came to an end when we rounded the point below the Rhuvaal lighthouse.
Sadly, the original lantern and rotating lens of this beautiful lighthouse has been replaced by what looks like a 100 Watt bulb on the end of a pole! However, the stonework of the tower has recently been painted and it was looking very well maintained.
From Rhuvaal we turned westwards
Sadly, the original lantern and rotating lens of this beautiful lighthouse has been replaced by what looks like a 100 Watt bulb on the end of a pole! However, the stonework of the tower has recently been painted and it was looking very well maintained.
From Rhuvaal we turned westwards
Large white navigational aids on Islay
I am sorry seakayakphoto.com has been unavailable since last Saturday. Apparently there were many other blogs affected as a result of spammers stealing content from genuine blogs (splogs) to cloak themselves then the Blogger spam detection software deleted the lot, spammers and genuine bloggers together. Thank you to Blogger staff, Brett, Gatzby and nitecruzr for sorting the problem :o).
I was
I was
Sea kayaking desktop calendar October 2010
October, raised beach, Jura.The seakayakphoto.com October desktop calendar (in a variety of screen resolutions) is available for download here.
A pasting, a couple of scones but not a Brownie in sight, at Big Jessie's.
From the Mull of Cara we made our way back to the crescent of sand where we had left the boats. Cumulonimbus clouds towered into the sky forming great hammerheads. Over on the mainland, someone was getting a pasting with torrential rain but it wasn't us!We set off from Cara back to Tayinloan in a light wind and I soon had the sail up......as Phil put in a cracking pace. However, when the breeze
Who's been sitting in my chair?
From Cara House, we made our way slowly up the spine of the Island towards the Mull of Cara. We looked back northwards over the blooming heather of Cara to a magnificent view encompassing, Jura, the Sound of Jura, Gigha, the Sound of Gigha and Kintyre.To the NW the Paps of Jura dominated the skyline while......to the NE the dazzling strip of sand, where we had luncheon the previous day,
Through the Brownie's window, on Cara.
We came across a row of old tractors lined up behind the beach at Cara. Phil tried to get the most recent looking one started......but judging by the spider's web in its air intake, it obviously hadn't run for a while.Giving up on the tractor, we started to walk up the track towards......Cara House, which was on the horizon.As we climbed, we enjoyed a fabulous view over Gigha to the Paps of
Last day of summer on Cara.
We finally made landfall on this beautiful beach at the north end of Cara.We gazed back at the stunning view over azure waters to verdant Gigha......and the distant rocky peaks of the Paps of Jura.We don't get a great deal of sun in Scotland but when we do....! This last day of a short summer will need to keep us going for some time during the dark days of the coming winter.
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