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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St Kilda preview!
Looking back to Stac Lee, Stac an Armin and Boreray while en route to Hirta.
Tony and I had planned a week to St Kilda with Murty and Murdani on the MV Cuma at the beginning of June. We were both well pissed off when the University changed the dates of the exam season and we couldn't go. I was then completely gobsmacked when Gordon Brown phoned up and asked if I would like to go on a trip to St
Tony and I had planned a week to St Kilda with Murty and Murdani on the MV Cuma at the beginning of June. We were both well pissed off when the University changed the dates of the exam season and we couldn't go. I was then completely gobsmacked when Gordon Brown phoned up and asked if I would like to go on a trip to St
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
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
Sammy the Otter slumbers at sea.
We left Lamlash Bay at Clauchlands Point.
The coastline became more mountainous the further north we travelled along Arran's east coast. We drifted in the peace of this wild place.
We were not the only ones enjoying the peace. We came across our old friend, Sammy the Otter, having a quick nap!
"What's that?"
"Cripes, two of the ugliest sea kayakers I have ever seen!"
The coastline became more mountainous the further north we travelled along Arran's east coast. We drifted in the peace of this wild place.
We were not the only ones enjoying the peace. We came across our old friend, Sammy the Otter, having a quick nap!
"What's that?"
"Cripes, two of the ugliest sea kayakers I have ever seen!"
Sailing into the lee of Holy Island by sea kayak.
From Kingscross Point we crosssed the southern entrance of Lamlash Bay to the south end of Holy Island.
The brisk crossing was rewarded with a wonderful view from the Holy Island inner light into Lamlash Bay and the Arran mountains beyond. Since 2008 the north part of Lamlash Bay has been a protected marine reserve with a complete ban on commercial and recreational fishing. The great news is
The brisk crossing was rewarded with a wonderful view from the Holy Island inner light into Lamlash Bay and the Arran mountains beyond. Since 2008 the north part of Lamlash Bay has been a protected marine reserve with a complete ban on commercial and recreational fishing. The great news is
An early supper with the Twelve Apostles
Upon leaving Loch Ranza, a pesky head wind got up and as we were by now getting hungry (it was past midday)...
...we were delighted to come across the Catacol Bay Hotel. It enjoys a magnificent situation under Meall nan Damh (570m) but it looked a bit run down. However we were cold and hungry...
...so we landed on the awkward stony beach and made our way up to the hotel.
The welcome was warm,
...we were delighted to come across the Catacol Bay Hotel. It enjoys a magnificent situation under Meall nan Damh (570m) but it looked a bit run down. However we were cold and hungry...
...so we landed on the awkward stony beach and made our way up to the hotel.
The welcome was warm,
The "castles" of Loch Ranza.
We paddled into Loch Ranza on the NW tip of Arran. The ferry from Claonaig Kintyre, the MV Loch Tarbert was just arriving at the village of Lochranza.
We paddled into the loch, captivated by the sight...
...of the jagged rocky ridges of Caisteal Abhail (859m), "the castle of the fork".
Down at sea level, the grim walls of Lochranza Castle...
...were topped by the jagged outlines of long
We paddled into the loch, captivated by the sight...
...of the jagged rocky ridges of Caisteal Abhail (859m), "the castle of the fork".
Down at sea level, the grim walls of Lochranza Castle...
...were topped by the jagged outlines of long
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
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
Some long views from Ailsa Craig.
On previous visits to Ailsa Craig we have gone in a high pressure system and the visibility has been poor due to haze. On this occasion, the atmosphere was crystal clear. To the ESE Girvan was very clear but in the middle of the photo, the summit of the Merrick was hidden in the clouds. The dip to the right of the photo is Glen Trool.
The view to the S showed Stranraer at the head of Loch Ryan
The view to the S showed Stranraer at the head of Loch Ryan
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
Better days in the Sound of Kerrera
This was the view from the sea front at Oban. In the near distance the island of Kerrera shelters Oban from the open waters of the Firth of Lorn. In the distance, the mountains of Mull were topped by a snow covered Ben More, at 966m, the highest mountain in the Inner Hebrides.
A front was rapidly crossing the sky from the SE...
...as we crossed Oban Bay to Kerrera.
Ahead a monument to David
A front was rapidly crossing the sky from the SE...
...as we crossed Oban Bay to Kerrera.
Ahead a monument to David
All the essential sea kayaking elements round Morvern.
As we approached the head of Loch Sunart we came to the Liddesdale narrows. It was spring tides and the ebb rate runs out at 3.5 knots. We arrived at slack HW and negotiated entrance to the inner loch with minimal effort.
Garbh Bheinn (Garven) 885m dominated the view to the head of the loch. It is one of the highest mountains in Ardgour which borders the Morvern peninsula to the north.
The wind
Garbh Bheinn (Garven) 885m dominated the view to the head of the loch. It is one of the highest mountains in Ardgour which borders the Morvern peninsula to the north.
The wind
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
Seakayakers, gypsies and bothy dwellers on Morvern.
This was a memorable trip that took place early in the month of June. Our aim was to circumnavigate the Morvern peninsula in western Scotland. It is very nearly an island being nearly surrounded by Loch Sunart to the north, the Sound of Mull to the Sw and Loch Linnhe to the SE. Only 11km of land lie between the head of Loch Sunart and Inversanda Bay on Loch Linnhe. We left a shuttle at the public
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,
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