We met at Portencross at 730pm......and formulated a quick plan to paddle round Little Cumbrae Island.
We set the controls...
...for the heart of...
...the sun.
As we crossed to Gull Point it slowly sank in the west, turning from orange to red.
On our return, our way was lit by the glow of Hunterston nuclear power station. Fortunately Harvey was with us and as he works there, we assumed
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Little Cumbrae. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Little Cumbrae. Tampilkan semua postingan
Making light work of a huge volume of melt and a small volume of malt.
It did not take long to reach the Little (Wee) Cumbrae from Portencross. One of the first Scottish light beacons to warn shipping is situated on the summit of the island. It is a simple round tower, 8.5m high, which...
... was built by James Ewing in 1757. An open coal brazier was situated at its top and served as the source of light. It proved to be a profitable business as there was a tax on
... was built by James Ewing in 1757. An open coal brazier was situated at its top and served as the source of light. It proved to be a profitable business as there was a tax on
A new dawn on a favourite paddle.
On Sunday we went for one of our favourite local paddles. We met in darkness at Ardrossan ferry terminal where we left shuttle cars. We then drove north to Portencross as the sun was coming up.
It was low water at Portencross, where we met the Castle Craig Kayaking Club who were planning a similar trip. At low tide this is one of the most awkward launches on the Ayrshire coast. An alternative
It was low water at Portencross, where we met the Castle Craig Kayaking Club who were planning a similar trip. At low tide this is one of the most awkward launches on the Ayrshire coast. An alternative
Winter has arrived on the Clyde.
The sun slipped away behind the Little Cumbrae and Arran.
We now started our crossing of the Hunterston shipping channel.
As we approached the Hunterston deep water ore terminal we could hear the noise of the grab cranes unloading the MV Red Gardenia.
She was built in 2005 and has a dead weight of 76,300tons. After unloading here for another 36 hours she left for she left for Port Skaw in
We now started our crossing of the Hunterston shipping channel.
As we approached the Hunterston deep water ore terminal we could hear the noise of the grab cranes unloading the MV Red Gardenia.
She was built in 2005 and has a dead weight of 76,300tons. After unloading here for another 36 hours she left for she left for Port Skaw in
Mad dogs and seakayakers smitten by the cold in the Tan.
Rounding Gull point at the south of Little Cumbrae island we now faced a 10km paddle into a cold NE breeze. The big chill had begun!
We sought some shelter by taking the inside passage between Little Cumbrae and Castle Island.
I wonder if a committee chose the name of this little and if so how many times they met?
Tony said hello to the caretaker's friendly but barking mad little dogs...
...
We sought some shelter by taking the inside passage between Little Cumbrae and Castle Island.
I wonder if a committee chose the name of this little and if so how many times they met?
Tony said hello to the caretaker's friendly but barking mad little dogs...
...
Only 40km from the City, escape to a Clyde wilderness.
As we left the lighthouse, the container ship MV Canopus J was making her way down the Firth of Clyde from Greenock to Bilbao. She was built in 2004 and measures 140m x 20m. She is equipped to carry dangerous cargo in hold 2.
Back at sea level we had time for a second luncheon and enjoyed the silence of our isolation and escape, from the everyday World...
...before hitting the sea again. As we
Back at sea level we had time for a second luncheon and enjoyed the silence of our isolation and escape, from the everyday World...
...before hitting the sea again. As we
The decay of the Little Cumbrae lighthouse, does anybody care?
We approached the Little Cumbrae lighthouse from the sea. It is positioned...
...on a raised beach which lies behind a low cliff rising from the current sea level. The "Nature Reserve No Access" sign was put up by one of the previous owners who was more interested in privacy than nature.
A large winch hauled supplies from the landing stage up a light rail track to the base of the cliff.
A jib
...on a raised beach which lies behind a low cliff rising from the current sea level. The "Nature Reserve No Access" sign was put up by one of the previous owners who was more interested in privacy than nature.
A large winch hauled supplies from the landing stage up a light rail track to the base of the cliff.
A jib
The far side of the Cumbraes.
At the north end of Great Cumbrae we entered the broader expanse of the Firth of Clyde. The Arran mountains soared above the lower hills of Bute.
Alan was just as keen to capture the scene as me! You can see his photos on his blog here.
We now paddled down the west coast...
...of Great Cumbrae before the short crossing of the Tan, ...
...the channel which separates it from Little Cumbrae. Our
Alan was just as keen to capture the scene as me! You can see his photos on his blog here.
We now paddled down the west coast...
...of Great Cumbrae before the short crossing of the Tan, ...
...the channel which separates it from Little Cumbrae. Our
Glen Sannox, Arran from Portencross, Ayrshire
A 31km day trip from Portencross to Glen Sannox on Arran and back via Brodick and the Arran ferry.
HMS Dragon was on sea trials in the Sound of Bute as we crossed...
...towards the magnificent vista of the Glen Sannox mountains.
There be dragons at the end of rainbows in the Clyde!
Clyde ore, prawns and peninsulas.
Making the most of short winter days.
This dragon does not belch smoke!
HMS Dragon was on sea trials in the Sound of Bute as we crossed...
...towards the magnificent vista of the Glen Sannox mountains.
There be dragons at the end of rainbows in the Clyde!
Clyde ore, prawns and peninsulas.
Making the most of short winter days.
This dragon does not belch smoke!
Clyde ore, prawns and peninsulas.
We set off across the Hunterston Channel for the Little Cumbrae. To our right a huge 225m bulk carrier, Grace Future, had just pulled away from the Hunterston ore terminal. We crossed well in front of it and soon came across the Campbeltown creel boat...
...Silver Spray III, lifting her pots on the far side of the channel.
We paddled past the southern tip of Little Cumbrae, we were bound for
...Silver Spray III, lifting her pots on the far side of the channel.
We paddled past the southern tip of Little Cumbrae, we were bound for
There be dragons at the end of rainbows in the Clyde!
We arrived at Ardrossan ferry terminal at dawn. The low sun was just lighting the mountain tops of Arran. We left two cars here and the four of us drove north to Portencross in my car with the sea kayaks on the trailer.
Heavy clouds and rain were blotting out the landscape but just as we were about to be enveloped in wet greyness, a rainbow appeared.
The new type 45 frigate HMS Dragon appeared
Heavy clouds and rain were blotting out the landscape but just as we were about to be enveloped in wet greyness, a rainbow appeared.
The new type 45 frigate HMS Dragon appeared
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