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 history. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label history. Tampilkan semua postingan
Arrival at Hirta, St Kilda.
From Boreray and the Stacs, MV Cuma motored towards Hirta and Soay, which are the two largest islands in the St Kilda archipelago. The next two by size are Boreray and Dun. The cliffs falling from the summit of Connachair (at 430m, the high point on Hirta) are the highest sea cliffs in the British Isles.
As Cuma made her way round the east side of Hirta, we caught sight of the jagged outline of
As Cuma made her way round the east side of Hirta, we caught sight of the jagged outline of
Evolution of the species on Boreray.
After sweeping round Stac an Armin we aproached Boreray from the NE. What a superlative sight! It was like a great stegosaurus rising up from the ocean. We half expected to see pterodactyls swooping round its rocky pinnacles...
...but they had all evolved into gannets!
Murdani now took the Cuma through the narrow gap between Boreray...
...and a pair of small unnamed stacs which lie between
...but they had all evolved into gannets!
Murdani now took the Cuma through the narrow gap between Boreray...
...and a pair of small unnamed stacs which lie between
The gannets of Stac an Armin.
The Cuma slowed as we approached the north end of Boreray. We were silenced by this view between Boreray and Stac an Armin. Stc Lee is partly hidden by the dark cliffs of Boreray, Hitra is in the distance with Stac Soay and Stac Biorach between it and Soay, then Stac an Armin.
Telephoto shot of Soay.
At 196m high, Stac an Armin is the highest sea stac in the British Isles. The St Kildans
Telephoto shot of Soay.
At 196m high, Stac an Armin is the highest sea stac in the British Isles. The St Kildans
Crossing to St Kilda, the islands at the edge of the World.
The morning of Sunday 12th June dawned fair and after an extensive Cuma breakfast, we took some air upon the deck to allow our stomachs to settle. Ken explained to the others how he had managed to hold on to the toast rack with the very last slice of toast!
Murdani listened intently to the weather forecast. It was not looking good at the end of the week and the wind this evening was forecast to
Murdani listened intently to the weather forecast. It was not looking good at the end of the week and the wind this evening was forecast to
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
Sandy Robson sets off to retrace 1930's voyage by kayak from Germany to Australia
Sandy Robson has set off on the first leg of a sea kayaking voyage from Germany to Australia. She will need to return to Australia and work between each stage but hopes to complete the trip in five years.
She hopes to retrace the amazing voyage by Oskar Speck from 1932 to 1939. He set off in the Depression looking for work. By the time he arrived in Australia WW2 had broken out and he was
She hopes to retrace the amazing voyage by Oskar Speck from 1932 to 1939. He set off in the Depression looking for work. By the time he arrived in Australia WW2 had broken out and he was
Up and doon the Doon, before breakfast!
The third day of our round Arran trip dawned grey but dry. We had camped beneath a dramatic tertiary sill called the Doon.
Over a cup of fresh brewed coffee...
...David suggested trying to get to the top. The volcanic sill had been used as an Iron Age fort more than 2,000 years ago. Today its only inhabitants were fulmars, which were nesting high on its inaccessible ledges.
We cut across
Over a cup of fresh brewed coffee...
...David suggested trying to get to the top. The volcanic sill had been used as an Iron Age fort more than 2,000 years ago. Today its only inhabitants were fulmars, which were nesting high on its inaccessible ledges.
We cut across
If it was good enough for a Royal to kip down, it'll be good enough for us!
By the time we arrived at Dougarie estate boathouse, it was 18:25 and pouring with rain.
We continued south and thankfully the rain stopped an hour later.
We now set across the broad expanse of Machrie Bay. We were bound for the headland below Torr Righ Mor, still some 6km distant.
As we approached the headland, the setting sun lit it in a last blaze of sunshine.
From the rocks below Torr
We continued south and thankfully the rain stopped an hour later.
We now set across the broad expanse of Machrie Bay. We were bound for the headland below Torr Righ Mor, still some 6km distant.
As we approached the headland, the setting sun lit it in a last blaze of sunshine.
From the rocks below Torr
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
Away with the fairies and an unconformity on Arran!
Ahead of us, the Cock of Arran suddenly emerged into the sunshine from the thick mist of early morning.
All was grey looking back along the north shore of Arran.
High above us, the mountains were still wreathed in mist.
We now paddling west past beaches dominated by giant boulders.
This part of Arran is known as Fairy Dell.
It was seen as the entrance to another World, a World inhabited by
All was grey looking back along the north shore of Arran.
High above us, the mountains were still wreathed in mist.
We now paddling west past beaches dominated by giant boulders.
This part of Arran is known as Fairy Dell.
It was seen as the entrance to another World, a World inhabited by
Eking out a living and doing their pan in, on the north shore.
The day dawned misty but still on the north shore of Arran.
We had camped on the hillside above the beach. The banks of this stream were bursting with primroses.
We soon broke camp and proceeded along the wild coast. On the north facing slopes above us, we could just make out runrigs, a sign of ancient cultivation.
We came to Laggan Cottage which is a locked bothy belonging to the North Arran
We had camped on the hillside above the beach. The banks of this stream were bursting with primroses.
We soon broke camp and proceeded along the wild coast. On the north facing slopes above us, we could just make out runrigs, a sign of ancient cultivation.
We came to Laggan Cottage which is a locked bothy belonging to the North Arran
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
Gasworks and kailyards on Ailsa Craig.
From Ailsa Craig pier we made our way up the old railway to the tacksman's house.
In the19th century the tacksman and assistants who lived here harvested the seabirds for flesh, eggs and feathers and caught rabbits that thrived because they had no natural predators. They also fished the seas that were teeming with fish.
Behind the cottage a large area is walled off. Inside is the gasworks with
In the19th century the tacksman and assistants who lived here harvested the seabirds for flesh, eggs and feathers and caught rabbits that thrived because they had no natural predators. They also fished the seas that were teeming with fish.
Behind the cottage a large area is walled off. Inside is the gasworks with
Run out of line but in line with the code, on Ailsa Craig!
We had landed on the north side of Foreland Point on Ailsa Craig, near the old pier.
This old wooden boat had had a rougher landing than we had. Only its transom was showing above the granite boulders. She had clearly seen better days.
We had landed near one of the old quarry workshops. It was here that they cut cylinders of granite from the quarried rock. These were exported to be made into
This old wooden boat had had a rougher landing than we had. Only its transom was showing above the granite boulders. She had clearly seen better days.
We had landed near one of the old quarry workshops. It was here that they cut cylinders of granite from the quarried rock. These were exported to be made into
A little rusty on Ailsa Craig.
From the shore of Ailsa Craig, we made our way up past the now solar powered (2001) and automated (1990) lighthouse.
The lighthouse was completed in 1886 by Thomas and David Stevenson. It originally had 3 keepers and was an oil burning light. A little railway was used to haul cans of oil up from the jetty. Unfortunately the bogey was now overturned and rusting away. The railway was also used by
The lighthouse was completed in 1886 by Thomas and David Stevenson. It originally had 3 keepers and was an oil burning light. A little railway was used to haul cans of oil up from the jetty. Unfortunately the bogey was now overturned and rusting away. The railway was also used by
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
Death in Ardlamont.
We paddled towards the mouth of Loch Fyne along a raised beach until we came to...
...Kilbride Bay. The sad remains of a dead whale lay beached on the shore. The smell of death hung so heavy in the air that we could not approach closer to investigate its species. We paddled over huge detatched ribs with flesh still attached, that lay under the clear waters below its final resting place.
The
...Kilbride Bay. The sad remains of a dead whale lay beached on the shore. The smell of death hung so heavy in the air that we could not approach closer to investigate its species. We paddled over huge detatched ribs with flesh still attached, that lay under the clear waters below its final resting place.
The
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
Less fond of basking sharks than otters.
We paddled down the Machars peninsula and across Monreith Bay. Phil's silhouette was ringed by the bright water of Luce Bay.
Crazy drystone dykes marched across the Galloway hillsides and raised beaches. I have already mentioned that Port William was planned by Sir William Maxwell. One of his descendants, Gavin Maxwell, fisherman, turned naturalist, then author, was brought up in Elrig, just
Crazy drystone dykes marched across the Galloway hillsides and raised beaches. I have already mentioned that Port William was planned by Sir William Maxwell. One of his descendants, Gavin Maxwell, fisherman, turned naturalist, then author, was brought up in Elrig, just
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)