At the end of May 2010, h2go coaching went to Scotland. We drove to Arisaig on the west coast. (Turn left at Fort William). Launching into loch Nan Ceall in weather that we thought would be typically scottish, rain!. Leaving the north channel of the Loch, the sea was like a mill pond. After a while the mist took away our view of Eigg. We Continued on the heading we had planned. After half an hour the peaks of Eigg started to become visable, then the green hillside came through.
Not long after we heard and then saw our first Minke whale.
We headed round the northen end of Eigg, to the bay of Lairgs. Camping by the sandy beach named singing sands, due to the noise the sand makes when it gets blown about. After setting up camp, we made a quick meal, before retreating to our tents to get out of the rain.
Day 2
We awoke to a total change in the weather, hot and sunny.
As we had to wait for the correct tidal flow, we explored the bay we were in.
Then after lunch we paddled off to the Island of Rum. A campsite, hot showers and a toilet at Kinloch.
After a hot shower, we found a bar at Kinloch castle.
Day 3
We headed up the coast of Rum towards the sandy beach on the end of Rum, Kilmory. Fantastic sandy beach, with the deer sitting on the sand trying to get away from the midges.
After a rest for lunch, a course was set for the isle of Canna. As we started to enter the harbour, we were greeted by a colony of seals. After searching out the campsite, a long walk at low tide, also on a steep slope. We decided to paddle out of the harbour and wild camp. During the night the wind came up, I thought my tent would be blown away, and it started to rain heavily.
Day 4
Looking out of the tent at the sea conditions, it was decided to stay put and have a rest day. We explored part of Canna called Sanday and walked to the cafe that we noted the day before by the harbour.
Eventualy the rain stopped, the sun came out. We left the cafe and explored part of the island.
The wind and sea state were still not good, so we booked for an evening meal in the cafe. Yes book, there are only 20 people on the island, no shops though. The cafe is not just your greasy spoon, food was definetly up market and excellent.
Day 5
We awoke to slightly less wind, but still a rough sea. Due to not being able to get a reliable weather forcast, and we had several attempts. The decision was made to retrace our steps to Rum and the Kilmory campsite and hot showers. We had wanted to go direct to Muck past the western side of Rum, but the wind would mean rough sea's all the way. When we Paddled in to Kilmory it was directly into the wind and we struggled the short distance. We new our choice of route had been correct. There is always next time. Unfortunatly the showers were cold, so we went without. The midges started to get annoying, so we went to an informative talk about Rumm in the islands village hall.
Day 6
The wind dropped and so had the sea to almost dead calm, what a change. We headed past Eigg and on to the island of Muck.
The still waters giving us lots of chance to see more Minke whales, bottle nose dolphins and seals. Entering the bay we were planning to stay at, 40 seals came along to greet us. After setting up camp Dan, who was paddling with us, went for a swim in his shorts. I followed a while later, it was a lot colder than it had felt in my dry suit, but I needed a bit of a wash off, with no shower for 4 days.
The sunset that night made some good photo's.
Day 7
Dan and I took the longer route around muck and were treated to some puffins that posed to be photographed.
Having got the group back together we headed for the main harbour on Muck, where we had heard rumour of a cafe. When we found the cafe, we couldn't believe the number of cakes and food on the menu. Having stuffed ourselves on Soup and three bits of cake.
We headed for our final island camp on Eigg, by the ferry pier.
Exploring the area we found the local hall selling beer, they also had hot showers. Desicions, What first. After a shower followed by a beer and food, We explored the large cave that islanders hid in when they were attaked. It hadn't worked and they were all killed.
Day 8
Last Day.
Sunshine, calm sea, mist/fog. Planning our navigation, we worked out our bearing to head on. Leaving Eigg on our bearing before very long we couldn't see anything but fog. 2 hours later we saw land again. After a bit of discussion on which direction to go. We paddled along the coast and before long we found the navigation marker at the start of Loch Nan Ceall.
Going from post to post, we arrived back in Arisaig to bright sunshine and the trip was over.
