Sunday Sea Kayak

After this morning's torrential rain it turned out nice today so Wally, Amanda and I headed for Lamlash bay in our kayaks for a little potter on the water.

Setting out from Lamlash 

The distinctive shape of Holy Isle

A rest at Kings Cross

Back to the village via Holy Isle

Lamlash to Sliddery by sea kayak

As Britain basks in a heatwave, Arran has been sweltering too. Yesterday seemed too hot for any land based activities, so Wally and I took to the water in our sea kayaks and paddled from Lamlash to Sliddery for a family supper- a distance of about 24km. It was long hot day's work, with mostly calm and mirror like conditions- a bit of a headwind at Bennan and some interesting swell as we came past Kilmory and the Cleats Shore. Wally did a bit of fishing around the south end and was rewarded for his efforts with five mackerel to contribute to the feast that evening.

Leaving Lamlash Bay, we were joined by a pod of porpoises.

A chilled out rest spot near Largybeg.

Glassy water around Pladda Isle

The dramatic Black Cave at Bennan Head

Bliss

What do you do when you have a day on Arran between expeditions, you are tired, and the sun is beating down from a cloudless sky?  Get on the water, thats what! This was last Saturday, back from a Gold DofE Exped in Glenshee, and just before a Silver in the Kinlochleven area. Time to rest the legs, chill out, and relax in my sea kayak.  Wally and I paddled around Holy Isle at a leisurely pace, took in the sights, and were back at home in time for dinner and for me to catch the last ferry off the island.

Making for the Inner Lighthouse opposite Kings Cross

Moon jellyfish drifts past.

Looking back towards Arran's hills, basking in the sunlight.

The Inner Lighthouse keepers cottages, home to a closed Buddhist retreat.

Rounding the southern end of Holy Isle

Pasing the Outer Lighthouse

Around Holy Isle

The weather today was blissful.  This afternoon I dragged myself away from a mountain of admin to paddle around Holy Isle- a little mountain of a better kind, sitting in the middle of Lamlash Bay. Its a stunning journey in a sea kayak, and do-able in half a day with leisurely stops. We saw plenty of wildlife, including eiders, black guillemots, gannets and fulmars. The eiders are particularly entertaining just now as the males are displaying like mad and exclaiming ooo-OO-oooh at everything. The best of today's photos are below.

 The summit of Holy Isle stands 314m high. 

The peaks of the Goatfell Range visible looming above the Lamlash hills. 

"Wee Donald", the inner lighthouse on Holy Isle, and the lighthouse keepers cottages, now home to a Buddhist retreat.

Pillar Rock Lighthouse, the first square one to be built by the Northern Lighthouse Board, and designed by David A Stevenson

Mainland Raiding Party

Yesterday was a lovely calm day and both Wally and I had the day off. We took the difficult decision of water over hill and put the kayaks on the roof of the van for a little jaunt over to the west of Arran.  The mainland was sat there winking at us from across a perfectly still Kilbrannan Sound as we put in at Dougarie. It was too much to resist and before long we were out in the channel and heading for Kintyre dreaming of ice cream shops and friendly locals.

Looking back towards Drumadoon point from the Kilbrannan Sound. 

We saw plenty of wildlife on route, including a wonderful flypast by a couple of puffins, and a fleeting glimpse of a porpoise fin rolling through the water in the distance. Gannets soared overhead, and a fish jumped clean out of the water in front of us.

Before long we were approaching Carradale Point, and knowing that we had a good supply of munchies on board decided to forgo the teashops and icecream of the village (are there teashops in Carradale? There ought to be) and head round to the sheltered bay on the other side of the point in search of a peaceful spot for a picnic.We explored the point on foot,  the location of a well preserved fort that  is cut off from the mainland in high tides.

The rocky coastline of Carradale Point

Sheltered beach that was perfect for a stop. 

It is a rugged and dramatic stretch of coastline.  Arran is visible beyond. 

We wished that we had planned a longer trip and brought tents and sleeping bags with us for a night out but it was not to be.  Reluctantly we tore ourselves away from this lovely and wild stretch of coastline and got back in to the boats.  The wind and waves were up and the paddle back to Arran required a bit of body power before we were back on dry land for a well earned beer and rest. 

 Lighthouse Buoy of Crubon Rock by Carradale Point, visible at low tide. 

Approaching Arran's shore again after a tough windy crossing.

Intensely Beautiful: Kayaking from Kildonan

I'm reassuringly behind on the blogging here which means that I am out and about having fun.  Here are some fantastic photos that my husband took whilst we were in our kayaks around Kildonan on Monday evening. We set off from the grassy slip way down to the beach opposite the village hall, and struck out east towards Bennan Head.  Almost immediately we were joined by a flotilla of curious harbour seals who followed us for a kilmoetre down the coast.

 I am surrounded!

Getting a good look at us. 

The tide was dropping and we drifted along the coast through forests of kelp and watched the nesting birds on the cliffs above in the haze. 

The Black cave looks like something from a film set, with a stunning waterfall on the west side. It is accessible on foot close to low tide but the path is very rough and bouldery (read non existant).

There are nesting fulmars on the cliffs above and it was the perfect place for little stop and a gaze...

After the Black Cave, we paddled over to the little island of Pladda, uninhabited now except for a large colony of seabirds including shags, eiders and common gulls that nest along the rocky shore. 

With so many birds about, landing was impossible, but it was good to sit and watch the comings and goings on the island from the little bay on the east side.

Glassy water, no wind, perfect for draw stroke practice. 

We headed back to the Kildonan Shore as the sun began to set. 

Couldn't leave this wee razorbill enjoying the warmth of the setting sun out of the album.  Love these birds!

A hard paddle

What does someone who walks for a living do on her day off? Well on Wednesday I gave the legs a rest and got in my sea kayak. Wally joined me on the water, and after a look at the weather forecast and the predicted wind direction (a breezy WSW apparently), we planned a paddle from Lamlash to North Sannox, which should have been a straightforward trip, of about 12 miles, with a following wind.....

It all started benignly enough.  Lamlash bay was looking glassy as we put in on the beach by the village green and we enjoyed a gentle paddle through the No Take Zone down towards Clauchlands Point.

As we turned North towards Brodick, the wind swung round to a Northerly too. We figured it was getting funneled round the hills of Dunn Fhionn and put our heads down for a steady paddle into the wind to Brodick Bay.

We paused to let the Caley Isles in, and finding the wind quite strong in the Bay hugged the shore until almost at the pier, and then set out across the bay surrounded by whitecaps. It was at this point I stopped taking photos- things got quite splashy and I'm not sure that my camera likes salt water much. It wasn't all bad though, we were surrounded by manx shearwaters who zipped backwards and forwards, skimming the waves with their narrow wings.

We were also treated to views of inquisitive grey seals, who followed our boats from Brodick to Corrie, but my fantasies about spotting basking sharks in glassy water were definately not going to come true.  The wind did not return to its friendly WSW position but kept blasting down the coast from the North. From Corrie onwards it became a matter of will power.  The road hugs the shore at this point and it would have been very easy to get out an hitch a lift up to North Sannox to fetch the van from where we had left it waiting.  Knowing that escape was always an option, we plugged on in to the wind.  The last half mile was really really hard work!

After dragging ourselves and our boats ashore, we went for a slap up meal in the Sannox Bay Hotel.  The staff did not seem to mind our disheveled appearance and politely ignored our appalling table manners as we devoured our dinner. Normally the portions are too large at this fab place to eat- not on this occasion though!

Afterwards I was pretty sore and tired.  I certainly need to work on my stamina in a boat as headwinds happen! However, it was all in all a good day- but definitely "type 2 fun" (fun afterwards).
View this trip in OS Explore.

West Coast Holiday Snaps

I recently returned from a great 10 days on the West Coast climbing, scrambling and sea kayaking with my husband Wally. Below are a selection of snaps from the trip.

Wally on D Gully Buttress, Buchaille Etive Mor.

On Castle Ridge, Ben Nevis


The Forcan Ridge, Glen Shiel


Paddling out of Glenbrittle with the Cuillins behind. Had great views of Golden Eagles on this journey.


We stayed at Camasunary Bothy.



Sea Stack, off Soay in the Soay Sound.


The Cuillin Ridge Looking South from Bruach Na Frithe, Skye



Fairy Pools, Skye

Messing about in boats!

What a wonderful week it has been here on Arran. The sun shone for most of it and it really felt like the new season had arrived. On Thursday evening I rushed home from work for the first paddle of the season. A quick sploosh around a very tranquil Lamlash Bay at sunset was the perfect end to a busy day. We attracted the obligatory curious seal and were treated to great views of wading birds including curlew, ringed plover and oystercatcher flocking on an exposed sandbar at Cordon that was not quite covered by the high tide.
This brief paddle was not enough for me and on Friday we took the boats over to the west coast of the island and put in at Imachar. The day was a breezy one and a rolling swell was coming up from the Irish Sea. Getting out on to the water was my first challenge as I am really a novice paddler. With aching arms and lots of heavy breathing I managed to control my kayak sufficiently to paddle beyond the breaking waves and in to flatter water to turn north and paddle up the coast. Surfing a gentle swell, we were quickly swept along, and arrived in Lochranza exhausted but happy after a brilliant afternoon. Along the way we had spotted pairs of mergansers, shelduck, shags and flotillas of male and female eider ducks.
On the downside, we saw a lot of plastic and other rubbish in the water which is very dangerous to wildlife. We collected some of the larger stuff including this balloon. Balloons are easily mistaken for jelly fish by leatherback turtles and dolphins. If they eat it, they will almost certainly die. The balloon cannot be digested, and the creature, thinking it is not hungry, starves to death. Balloons can travel long distances, so even balloons released hundreds of miles inland can be incredibly dangerous to marine life. For more information visit the MCS website: http://www.mcsuk.org/mcsaction/pollution/balloons