The morning dawned fair. We were all feeling a bit tired after our paddle to Dun the previous evening...
...so we decided to spend the morning exploring the village.
We waited to meet the National Trust for Scotland warden at the pier head and he introduced us to the island.
We started at the feather store...
...then moved to the gun that was installed after a German U boat had shelled the
Tampilkan postingan dengan label harbours. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label harbours. 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
The start of another Islay adventure.
It was with considerable anticipation that Phil and I viewed Port Ellen as the ferry from Kintyre...
...approached the terminal on Islay's southern coast. Islay's characteristic whitewashed buildings with black painted windows crowded round the bays on either side of the jetty.
We then drove north to Islay's second terminal, Port Askaig. As we launched from the little harbour, the flood tide
...approached the terminal on Islay's southern coast. Islay's characteristic whitewashed buildings with black painted windows crowded round the bays on either side of the jetty.
We then drove north to Islay's second terminal, Port Askaig. As we launched from the little harbour, the flood tide
An effective navigational strategy for the Arran crossing.
The sails had driven us so quickly that we very nearly made the earlier ferry back to Ardrossan. The ferry attracted our attention because (unusually) it gave several blasts on its horn. It was being trailed by a noisy tribe of jet skis riding its wake. Every so often one of the bolder ones would skillfully cut across the ferry's bow, under the admiring gazes of the many passengers crowding the
False impressions at Blackwaterfoot.
Back on the water, we set off on the third day of our circumnavigation of Arran. We caught our first glimpse of Ailsa Craig as we rounded Drumadoon Point. Mist was curling off the Craig's summit, giving the impression that it was still an active volcano.
The point was also a turning point as far as our sailing was concerned. We set off for Blackwaterfoot on a beam reach and were to continue
The point was also a turning point as far as our sailing was concerned. We set off for Blackwaterfoot on a beam reach and were to continue
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
Preparations for invasion in Caladh Harbour.
Near the head of the Kyles of Bute we first passed a monstrosity of a fish farm but then approached the beautiful wooded isle of Eilean Dubh.
A stone lighthouse marks the entrance to the delightfully hidden Caladh Harbour which nestles behind the isle. The light has long gone but the whitewashed tower is a great landmark for the harbour beyond.
Not much remains. A rusting derrick still swings
A stone lighthouse marks the entrance to the delightfully hidden Caladh Harbour which nestles behind the isle. The light has long gone but the whitewashed tower is a great landmark for the harbour beyond.
Not much remains. A rusting derrick still swings
The Sound of Tomorrow, Islay.
Port Askaig on the Sound of Islay is one of the best places to set off sea kayaking. The Sound is only 0.75km wide so you can really only go north or south. However you don't even need to make that decision as the tide will make it for you (5 knots at springs can be somewhat persuasive).
The scenery on the Sound is stunning with the Paps of Jura being the high point on the horizon.
A number of
The scenery on the Sound is stunning with the Paps of Jura being the high point on the horizon.
A number of
Home to roost in Garlieston.
We had enjoyed our sojourn in the Isle Whithorn so much that, by the time we left, the whitewashed houses had a pink glow from a sun that was already sinking in the west.
On leaving the harbour we turned our backs to the sun and turned east...
...into the broad expanse of Wigtown Bay.
We made for Cruggleton Point...
...which is topped by the remains of Cruggleton Castle.
By now the sun was
On leaving the harbour we turned our backs to the sun and turned east...
...into the broad expanse of Wigtown Bay.
We made for Cruggleton Point...
...which is topped by the remains of Cruggleton Castle.
By now the sun was
Navigational aids: #7 The luncheon beacon.
Leaving Burrow Head, we paddled past the rather grandly named...
...Isles of Burrow.
Eventually (and remember we were still quite without luncheon) we noticed a white beacon above the line of apparently unbroken rock. Jim was new to the south west but immediately understood its meaning. This was a luncheon beacon!
Through a gap in the rocks, we slipped into Isle of Whithorn harbour.
We landed
...Isles of Burrow.
Eventually (and remember we were still quite without luncheon) we noticed a white beacon above the line of apparently unbroken rock. Jim was new to the south west but immediately understood its meaning. This was a luncheon beacon!
Through a gap in the rocks, we slipped into Isle of Whithorn harbour.
We landed
A peculiarly cold form of burnishment, in Port William.
The tide was ebbing fast from the little harbour of Port William. The village was planned and built in the 1770's by Sir William Maxwell of Monreith.
The harbour is one of very few on the west of Galloway and like most in the area it dries out. Although the sun was now rising in the sky, the roofs of the village houses were still covered in frost.
Our departure was watched over by "the Man"...
The harbour is one of very few on the west of Galloway and like most in the area it dries out. Although the sun was now rising in the sky, the roofs of the village houses were still covered in frost.
Our departure was watched over by "the Man"...
We were so far south that there was almost a whiff of civilisation in the air.
At the end of January we drove far to the south, into the recesses of Galloway's remote Machars peninsula.
The winter sun struggled into the sky above the distant Burrow Head, a mysterious headland, which is isolated by the swirling tides that scour the Irish Sea.
We convened at the little harbour of Port William. Our arrival did not go unnoticed, the local sea kayaker braved the minus 5 degree
The winter sun struggled into the sky above the distant Burrow Head, a mysterious headland, which is isolated by the swirling tides that scour the Irish Sea.
We convened at the little harbour of Port William. Our arrival did not go unnoticed, the local sea kayaker braved the minus 5 degree
Rolling along the Carrick coast at Dunure.
On a calm afternoon David, Phil and I nipped down to Dunure. I haven't rolled my kayak for nearly 2 years, since I dislocated my knee in an accident. I ripped a lot of the medial ligaments round the knee and the patella and the thought of using my knee in a rolling kayak has not been a pleasant prospect since the operation nearly a year ago..
The surroundings at Dunure were so serene that I
The surroundings at Dunure were so serene that I
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
Toberonochy, what's the story?
As the glassy calm waters of the Sound of Shuna slipped astern, we came across some scattered houses on the Luing shore.
We had come across the little village of Toberonochy which nestles round a small harbour.
Crystal Waters, a former Banff registered trawler (BF 209), was leaning against the harbour wall. She was decommissioned under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme
We had come across the little village of Toberonochy which nestles round a small harbour.
Crystal Waters, a former Banff registered trawler (BF 209), was leaning against the harbour wall. She was decommissioned under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme
Tobermory, what's the story?
We followed the Morven coast for a further 1.5km north of Caisteal nan Con before we crossed the Sound of Mull to the Mull coast. The Sound carries a lot of shipping traffic so we chose to cross at its narrowest point in these parts. It was a relief to get out of the main shipping channel marked by the buoys. Several cruise ships had made their way up and down the channel just before we crossed.
Mines a bacon butty in Lochaline!
As the flood tide carried us up the Sound of Mull we came to the little village of Lochaline, which nestles on the west side of a narrow inlet that is only 90m wide.
The in going tide carried us through to Loch Aline at 7km/hr.
You need to be careful to keep out of the way of shipping in this very narrow and tidal channel. The Mull ferry, MV Loch Fyne passes through it nearly 30 times per day
The in going tide carried us through to Loch Aline at 7km/hr.
You need to be careful to keep out of the way of shipping in this very narrow and tidal channel. The Mull ferry, MV Loch Fyne passes through it nearly 30 times per day
Danger on the Solway
From the quayside of Kirkcudbright we took the ebb tide back down the River Dee to Kirkcudbright Bay.
We passed the Gallovidian III which is the Range Boat for the Dundrennan firing range sea danger area that extends for 24x33km along the Solway coast to the SE of Kirkcudbright. Telephone contacts for the range are: 0141 224 8501 (Range Officer) or 0141 224 8502 (Guard House).
The channel was
We passed the Gallovidian III which is the Range Boat for the Dundrennan firing range sea danger area that extends for 24x33km along the Solway coast to the SE of Kirkcudbright. Telephone contacts for the range are: 0141 224 8501 (Range Officer) or 0141 224 8502 (Guard House).
The channel was
The quest for a haddock of gargantuan proportions.
Entering Kirkcudbright (kir-coo-bri) Bay, the landscape changed dramatically, the cliffs gave way to gentle wooded shores.
We stopped for a break at a little beach with a view to the far side of the bay and the distant Lake District hills in England beyond.
We now had a stiff paddle against an increasing ebb tide.
As we approached the town we came across a long marina pontoon. The tide was
We stopped for a break at a little beach with a view to the far side of the bay and the distant Lake District hills in England beyond.
We now had a stiff paddle against an increasing ebb tide.
As we approached the town we came across a long marina pontoon. The tide was
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,
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)