Whilst the south had a wet and miserable weekend, the west coast was amazing. Dave was suffering from withdrawal symptoms from Scotland having beeen back in Cornwall for a whole weekand, so he came back up for some great paddling.
Saturday we paddled into Knoydart from Mallaig, dodged up the coast to Tarbet, accross to the Kyles and down to Inverie. We camped on the Bivy site at Inverie and headed to the Pierhouse for an excellent meal, pints in the pub afterwards. The wind got up a bit in the morning making us regret the second round in pub as we bobbed about in an interesting sea! We headed for home in a nice lumpy sea with a following wind. I was much comfier in the new boat in these conditions than I had been in the Quest LV, Dave did find the LV a little challenging but that may have been the Jack Daniels coming back to haunt him.
I dropped Dave back at the airport on Monday morning, having had time to change my kit as I passed through home and headed off to Mountain Bike. It was a lovely afternoon, great weather though a bit windy. I joined up with Mark for the afternoon and we headed out of Inverness. 32 miles later and after far to many hills we got back, leaving Mark enough time for a shower before he headed out to work and I went home to collapse on the sofa, glad I was getting a rest tomorrow..... well I was going to work, which is much more relaxing than all this excertion.
28 May 2008
17 May 2008
Back again... wow, what a trip
Well I am back on dry land, though it was swaying a bit yesterday.
What an amazing trip, Scotland at it's best, great weather, no midgies, long white sandy beaches and a calm sea.
We started out on the worst day of the trip ... it rained, thankfully not someting we were going to see again... We launched from Kylesku and headed up Loch Glencoul. We headed up into Loch Beag and took in the waterfall ( longest drop un the UK) before heading Glen Coul bothy. Seems that we just missed Sam Weir and his group from Kayak Scotland. We headed back down the Loch under Kylesku bridge and back into the harbour. A lovely afternoon paddle even in the rain.
After camping at Achmelvich, we set off from the campsite the next morning. Despite the beautiful beach, Mark decided we should launch from the rocky cove on the campsite.... !!!!. We had a great trip, Point of Stoer was wonderful and relatively calm, thankfully. We landed in at Clashnessie bay, a lot nicer than the launch, on a beautiful sandy beach. Supper was in Ullapool, fish and chips, probably the best I've had in years... the one next to the CalMac ferry office on the front.
I popped back to Inverness for 2 days whilst Dave and Jen went to the Summer Isles. Mark and Johnathan had to go back to work. Two days later and I was back in the chipper in Ullapool and ready to start the next part of the trip.
Jen, Dave and I got the ferry out to Stornoway, the weather was amazing, the Minch was like a mirror. There were loads of dolphins who provided an wonderful show for us. From Stornoway we went to Valtos and on to the campsite at Cnip. It is the most stunning beach and the pitch I got was great, a fabulous view.
We paddled out to Campaigh, through caves and arches. We were incredibly lucky with the conditions, which were really calm, they allowed us to go through the cave which goes right through Campaigh. The conditions perked up a bit so we headed back in. The bird life was great with loads of Puffins, Black Guillemot, Shags, and Eider. The next day we headed round Bernera, exploring the coastline, not nearly as interessting as the trip out to Campaigh but a lovely trip.
After 3 nights on the campsite at Cnip it was time to pack up and head to Harris via a visit to Callanish Stones. It was an interesting day... firstly we went to the aid of a chap in a camper who had reversed off the road, despite our best efforts we couldn't get all his wheels back on the solid ground, that seemed to set the theme for the day. After unloading on the beach we managed to get Jen's car stuck in the sand, it took a lot of digging and a passing large chap to get us out. I then managed to put the van in a hole at a very jaunty angle, just to round things off day. We finally got on the water from Horgabost and headed over to Taransay. We went round the island to Loch na Uidhe bay, where we camped up. A great view back to Harris. We explored a bit of the island on foot and found a great arch and some amazing coves. The camp site was lovely but is did get a bit breezy catching the onshore breeze ....
Having finally got organised we reluctantly left the stunning bay and headed on round the island and headed out to Toe Head. A great crossing with a gentle swell though a bit lumpy at Toe Head and we were round into the Sound of Harris. There were quite a few Scua down the coast here and they were determined to come as close as possible, I adpoted a nice high paddle stroke! Lunch was on Rubh an Teampaill, on a lovely little beach. From here went out round Ensay and on to Killegray. Having camped on an bit of an exposed site last night we opted fror a nice sheltered beach. Pitching on the sand was a bit interesting and my little titanium pegs were not much use, I had a very saggy looking tent. We spent the evening in shorts on the beach, watching the sun set and porpoises feeing in the channel between us and Berneray. This has to be one of the most amazing views I have ever seen, so tranquil and beautiful. I recommend the beach as a campsite (grid ref 969840)
We explored the Sound of Harris next day. The conditions were a bit more interesting and the crossing from Glisaigh to the skerries south of Killegray a bit lumpy with a following sea, that was soon forgotten as we spotted an otter with her cubs on the way up the east of Killegray. The crossing over to Ensay was fun with loads of eddies and bubbling sea as the the water tried to funnel through the channel between Ensay and Killegray. After a late lunch on Ensay it was back to Leverburgh, where we had left the car round in the sheltered waters of An t-Ob. After collecting my van from Horgabost we went to the campsite at Minch View at Drinishader.... it was awful, don't go there. The site at Horgabost is far better though at the moment it has no showers they are planning to up grade it further. We decided it should be Minch Inch View as all you could see from the site was an inch of the Minch!! Watch out for the Great Scua, who thinks it is his domain!!!
We caught the 7.30am ferry from Tarbet to Uig, drove over Skye and got the 11.35 ferry from Armadale to Mallaig and were on the water Silver Sands north of Arisaig at 1pm. We meandered down to Arisaig exploring the coast and had a leisurely late lunch on a little coral beach on one of the islands in the bay. Whilst we had been in the shelter of the bay the wind had got up and as we headed back up the caost it all got a bit lumpy bumpy.... a good reminder never to take the sea for granted and a fun way to round off the trip.
Dave and Jen have now arrived back in Cornwall, and are planning the next trip north already. It really was Scotland at it's very, very best ....WOW....
Having spent all those days in my kayak and before my legs atrophied completely, I headed off mountain biking today. Just a little trip round the Spey Valley but again just beautiful conditions. This is turning into one of the best May's for years....
What an amazing trip, Scotland at it's best, great weather, no midgies, long white sandy beaches and a calm sea.
We started out on the worst day of the trip ... it rained, thankfully not someting we were going to see again... We launched from Kylesku and headed up Loch Glencoul. We headed up into Loch Beag and took in the waterfall ( longest drop un the UK) before heading Glen Coul bothy. Seems that we just missed Sam Weir and his group from Kayak Scotland. We headed back down the Loch under Kylesku bridge and back into the harbour. A lovely afternoon paddle even in the rain.
After camping at Achmelvich, we set off from the campsite the next morning. Despite the beautiful beach, Mark decided we should launch from the rocky cove on the campsite.... !!!!. We had a great trip, Point of Stoer was wonderful and relatively calm, thankfully. We landed in at Clashnessie bay, a lot nicer than the launch, on a beautiful sandy beach. Supper was in Ullapool, fish and chips, probably the best I've had in years... the one next to the CalMac ferry office on the front.
I popped back to Inverness for 2 days whilst Dave and Jen went to the Summer Isles. Mark and Johnathan had to go back to work. Two days later and I was back in the chipper in Ullapool and ready to start the next part of the trip.
Jen, Dave and I got the ferry out to Stornoway, the weather was amazing, the Minch was like a mirror. There were loads of dolphins who provided an wonderful show for us. From Stornoway we went to Valtos and on to the campsite at Cnip. It is the most stunning beach and the pitch I got was great, a fabulous view.
We paddled out to Campaigh, through caves and arches. We were incredibly lucky with the conditions, which were really calm, they allowed us to go through the cave which goes right through Campaigh. The conditions perked up a bit so we headed back in. The bird life was great with loads of Puffins, Black Guillemot, Shags, and Eider. The next day we headed round Bernera, exploring the coastline, not nearly as interessting as the trip out to Campaigh but a lovely trip.
After 3 nights on the campsite at Cnip it was time to pack up and head to Harris via a visit to Callanish Stones. It was an interesting day... firstly we went to the aid of a chap in a camper who had reversed off the road, despite our best efforts we couldn't get all his wheels back on the solid ground, that seemed to set the theme for the day. After unloading on the beach we managed to get Jen's car stuck in the sand, it took a lot of digging and a passing large chap to get us out. I then managed to put the van in a hole at a very jaunty angle, just to round things off day. We finally got on the water from Horgabost and headed over to Taransay. We went round the island to Loch na Uidhe bay, where we camped up. A great view back to Harris. We explored a bit of the island on foot and found a great arch and some amazing coves. The camp site was lovely but is did get a bit breezy catching the onshore breeze ....
Having finally got organised we reluctantly left the stunning bay and headed on round the island and headed out to Toe Head. A great crossing with a gentle swell though a bit lumpy at Toe Head and we were round into the Sound of Harris. There were quite a few Scua down the coast here and they were determined to come as close as possible, I adpoted a nice high paddle stroke! Lunch was on Rubh an Teampaill, on a lovely little beach. From here went out round Ensay and on to Killegray. Having camped on an bit of an exposed site last night we opted fror a nice sheltered beach. Pitching on the sand was a bit interesting and my little titanium pegs were not much use, I had a very saggy looking tent. We spent the evening in shorts on the beach, watching the sun set and porpoises feeing in the channel between us and Berneray. This has to be one of the most amazing views I have ever seen, so tranquil and beautiful. I recommend the beach as a campsite (grid ref 969840)
We explored the Sound of Harris next day. The conditions were a bit more interesting and the crossing from Glisaigh to the skerries south of Killegray a bit lumpy with a following sea, that was soon forgotten as we spotted an otter with her cubs on the way up the east of Killegray. The crossing over to Ensay was fun with loads of eddies and bubbling sea as the the water tried to funnel through the channel between Ensay and Killegray. After a late lunch on Ensay it was back to Leverburgh, where we had left the car round in the sheltered waters of An t-Ob. After collecting my van from Horgabost we went to the campsite at Minch View at Drinishader.... it was awful, don't go there. The site at Horgabost is far better though at the moment it has no showers they are planning to up grade it further. We decided it should be Minch Inch View as all you could see from the site was an inch of the Minch!! Watch out for the Great Scua, who thinks it is his domain!!!
We caught the 7.30am ferry from Tarbet to Uig, drove over Skye and got the 11.35 ferry from Armadale to Mallaig and were on the water Silver Sands north of Arisaig at 1pm. We meandered down to Arisaig exploring the coast and had a leisurely late lunch on a little coral beach on one of the islands in the bay. Whilst we had been in the shelter of the bay the wind had got up and as we headed back up the caost it all got a bit lumpy bumpy.... a good reminder never to take the sea for granted and a fun way to round off the trip.
Dave and Jen have now arrived back in Cornwall, and are planning the next trip north already. It really was Scotland at it's very, very best ....WOW....
Having spent all those days in my kayak and before my legs atrophied completely, I headed off mountain biking today. Just a little trip round the Spey Valley but again just beautiful conditions. This is turning into one of the best May's for years....
1 May 2008
Paddling about....
First days out of the year, what a lovely day. I went out out with my long lost cousin... Bob, what a great day.
Started out on the beach on the south end of of Loch Gruinard, as the tide was in it was an easy put in .... that always means a long walk on the way back and it was. We followed the coast up to Laide and then across to Gruinard island. The wind was behind us and it was a bit of a quick trip across. The western coast of Gruinard was beautiful, lovely arches and caves, the eastern coast is a bit less dramatic but lovely. The southern end is a pebble spit where there is the remains of steading. From the south of the island we headed round the 'Large heathery island' and back into the bay, it was a long carry out... but after such a great day it was a small price to pay.
Despite a promise of a nice day, the rain started as I had breakfast and was still falling as I ate lunch. Popped down to Gairloch to the Mountain Cafe, coffee was good but the scone was a definate 'rock cake'. Bob decided he might shrink if he got wet so he headed south, leaving Mark and I to get wet.... so off we went. We left from my favourite beach on Loch Ewe and headed round the headland to Eilean Furadh Mor, finally the rain stopped. Meandered back and headed for home, another lovely day, rain what rain...
Started out on the beach on the south end of of Loch Gruinard, as the tide was in it was an easy put in .... that always means a long walk on the way back and it was. We followed the coast up to Laide and then across to Gruinard island. The wind was behind us and it was a bit of a quick trip across. The western coast of Gruinard was beautiful, lovely arches and caves, the eastern coast is a bit less dramatic but lovely. The southern end is a pebble spit where there is the remains of steading. From the south of the island we headed round the 'Large heathery island' and back into the bay, it was a long carry out... but after such a great day it was a small price to pay.
Despite a promise of a nice day, the rain started as I had breakfast and was still falling as I ate lunch. Popped down to Gairloch to the Mountain Cafe, coffee was good but the scone was a definate 'rock cake'. Bob decided he might shrink if he got wet so he headed south, leaving Mark and I to get wet.... so off we went. We left from my favourite beach on Loch Ewe and headed round the headland to Eilean Furadh Mor, finally the rain stopped. Meandered back and headed for home, another lovely day, rain what rain...
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