No sooner had secured the kayaks and set off from Miavaig in Loch Roag than Gordon demonstrated the berthing accommodation for those travelling steerage class. Fortunately we had all booked berths in the Cuma's cabins!
We soon left the great strand of Traigh na Beirigh in our wake...
...as we passed Bhacasaigh and... ...in the distance Seana Chnoc.
Simon started filming the trip in the
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Swanning about and an invasion of privacy in the Sound of Islay.
There are very many opportunities to wild camp on the Jura shore of the Sound of Islay. Basalt dykes at right angles to the shore create innumerable secluded coves.
Unfortunately one of the prime sites was already occupied, so not wanting to invade any one's privacy, we turned back a little way.
We soon found a lesser bay and we decided to just make do with second best as the sun was setting
Unfortunately one of the prime sites was already occupied, so not wanting to invade any one's privacy, we turned back a little way.
We soon found a lesser bay and we decided to just make do with second best as the sun was setting
A reputation for midges in West Loch Tarbert, Jura.
West Loch Tarbert on Jura is always worth a visit with its raised beaches,....
...dykes, arches and caves.
It is a wild place but it is not totally without sight of the hand of man. Glenbatrick Lodge is the holiday cottage of Lord Astor. It sits on the south shore under the slopes of Beinn Shiantaidh, 757m, one of the Paps of Jura.
There were some delightful sandy shores backed by raised
...dykes, arches and caves.
It is a wild place but it is not totally without sight of the hand of man. Glenbatrick Lodge is the holiday cottage of Lord Astor. It sits on the south shore under the slopes of Beinn Shiantaidh, 757m, one of the Paps of Jura.
There were some delightful sandy shores backed by raised
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
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
Several short sunny days on a sojourn to the Solway .
At the end of April and beginning of May, I enjoyed a fantastic holiday on Fleet Bay in the Solway Firth. Each day dawned sunny...
...and the calm days were spent exploring the Islands of Fleet.
Thee Murray's Isles have a large cormorant colony which is surrounded by a gull colony. I was saddened to see a noisy party in 4 SOT/recreational kayaks paddle close under the rocks. The cormorants all
...and the calm days were spent exploring the Islands of Fleet.
Thee Murray's Isles have a large cormorant colony which is surrounded by a gull colony. I was saddened to see a noisy party in 4 SOT/recreational kayaks paddle close under the rocks. The cormorants all
Raised beaches and a raised graveyard on Arran's west coast.
Once we had left Catacol, our view to the south was obscured by Rhuba Airigh Bheirig.
Past the headland, the view of the Kilbrannan Sound opened up and the Mull of Kintyre...
...stretched away to the south. The coastline near Leninmore is very rocky but low tide revealed some lovely sand.
Behind every possible landing beach on this stretch of coast, you will find a cluster of cottages built on
Past the headland, the view of the Kilbrannan Sound opened up and the Mull of Kintyre...
...stretched away to the south. The coastline near Leninmore is very rocky but low tide revealed some lovely sand.
Behind every possible landing beach on this stretch of coast, you will find a cluster of cottages built on
The lack of a saw was like a millstone round our necks.
After leaving Sannox we set off along the wild north coast of Arran. There are no roads and only a rough footpath gives land access here.
We passed below the Fallen Rocks, which is a site of a relatively recent landslide of Upper Old Red Sandstone conglomerate blocks.
We arrived at the appropriately named Millstone Point. There was a quarry for millstones above the beach.
The sun had set by
We passed below the Fallen Rocks, which is a site of a relatively recent landslide of Upper Old Red Sandstone conglomerate blocks.
We arrived at the appropriately named Millstone Point. There was a quarry for millstones above the beach.
The sun had set by
A tale of three harbours and some ferrous sheep on Arran
In Mid April David and I caught the midday ferry to Arran. As we approached Brodick the mountains were cloaked in low mist.
We trollied the kayaks off the ferry and were prepared to launch almost as soon as the MV Caledonian Isles had cleared her jetty.
We planned an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Arran, a distance of about 90km. A southerly breeze began to clear the mist from the mountains
We trollied the kayaks off the ferry and were prepared to launch almost as soon as the MV Caledonian Isles had cleared her jetty.
We planned an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Arran, a distance of about 90km. A southerly breeze began to clear the mist from the mountains
The Mull of Logan
In the middle of a sunny spell in April, the day dawned grey and drizzly at Portpatrick in SW Scotland. Tony and I met Jim (fresh from Skye) and Mark and Heather Rainsley who were visiting the area. Mark was keen to get some photos of Scottish coastal fortifications and Dunskey Castle fitted the bill!
We were headed south with the flood tide for the Mull of Logan, some 16km to the south. There
We were headed south with the flood tide for the Mull of Logan, some 16km to the south. There
Clear seas full of sprats, off Ardlamont Point
The Cowal peninsula has some really great bays. This is Kilbride Bay, which was very atmospheric with the mist lying low over the hills and forests.
Off Rhuba na Peileig the sea was boiling with large shoals of sprats.
Just round the point, we came across this lovely...
...beach of cobbles.
It was now time for our first luncheon.
We sat on these wonderful whorled rocks. I found a very nice
Off Rhuba na Peileig the sea was boiling with large shoals of sprats.
Just round the point, we came across this lovely...
...beach of cobbles.
It was now time for our first luncheon.
We sat on these wonderful whorled rocks. I found a very nice
Skating about Skate Island: a baby basking shark.
From Portavadie, we set off down Loch Fyne to Sgat Mor, big skate island.
The little lighthouse used to be powered by propane and is almost all gas tank. It looked like a rocket. Nowadays it is solar powered.
Between the island and the mainland something skating about at high speed on the water surface caught our eye.
What on earth was it?
It was a baby basking shark, less than two meters
The little lighthouse used to be powered by propane and is almost all gas tank. It looked like a rocket. Nowadays it is solar powered.
Between the island and the mainland something skating about at high speed on the water surface caught our eye.
What on earth was it?
It was a baby basking shark, less than two meters
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
Imminent Barassie Monkeys.
When we left Lady Isle, the wind swung round to the SE and increased with a dramatic fall in temperature. Nearly 4 hours before, the Clyde Coastguard weather MSI broadcast had warned of gale force winds from the SE, expected imminent.
Yikes! Time to get home. By the time we approached the harbour wall at Troon Point our hands were freezing in the biting wind.
I could resist the temptation of a
Yikes! Time to get home. By the time we approached the harbour wall at Troon Point our hands were freezing in the biting wind.
I could resist the temptation of a
Ready for some windy fun on the Clyde.
Saturday's XC weather, forecast for Troon.
Saturday's MagicSeaweed, surf forecast for Machrihanish.
Saturday's forecast for Troon, in the Firth of Clyde, showed that the predicted gales were not expected to arrive until well into Saturday evening. The surf at Machrihanish was predicted to be 9.5 feet in advance of the arrival of the approaching Atlantic low pressure system. Tony and I decided to
Saturday's MagicSeaweed, surf forecast for Machrihanish.
Saturday's forecast for Troon, in the Firth of Clyde, showed that the predicted gales were not expected to arrive until well into Saturday evening. The surf at Machrihanish was predicted to be 9.5 feet in advance of the arrival of the approaching Atlantic low pressure system. Tony and I decided to
A post prandial doze under the ancient oak woods of Ardnamurchan.
From Loch Teacuis we crossed to the north shore of Loch Sunart...
...and landed at a lovely little beach under the ancient oak woods of Ardnamurchan.
David was a little too keen to land and he fell out of his cockpit, getting soaked in the process!
While David got changed, Phil and I started our luncheon. Out came oatcakes and a selection of fine mature cheeses, though we left the runnier
...and landed at a lovely little beach under the ancient oak woods of Ardnamurchan.
David was a little too keen to land and he fell out of his cockpit, getting soaked in the process!
While David got changed, Phil and I started our luncheon. Out came oatcakes and a selection of fine mature cheeses, though we left the runnier
Misty Morven morning.
We awoke on a comfortable meadow of grass by the shores of Loch Drumbuie.
A light breeze meant that there was not a single midge to disturb the morning.
There are two kayaking schools. Those that carry their kayaks right up to the tent, regardless how far the tent is from the shore, and those that abandon their kayaks just above the high water mark. We are definitely in the second school.
I
A light breeze meant that there was not a single midge to disturb the morning.
There are two kayaking schools. Those that carry their kayaks right up to the tent, regardless how far the tent is from the shore, and those that abandon their kayaks just above the high water mark. We are definitely in the second school.
I
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
Tight ropes on Slack Heugh.
The SW coast of Meikle Ross has steep cliffs extending from Fox Craig along to Slack Heugh.
They are a magnet for rock climbers as there are a whole range of routes right up to E numbers.
We still had a little tidal assistance, though we were now out of the main ebb flow from the Solway. We soon found ourselves at Manxman's Rock...
...then the westcoast of Barlocco Isle. Phil tried to cross
They are a magnet for rock climbers as there are a whole range of routes right up to E numbers.
We still had a little tidal assistance, though we were now out of the main ebb flow from the Solway. We soon found ourselves at Manxman's Rock...
...then the westcoast of Barlocco Isle. Phil tried to cross
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