For those who would like to follow the thread of a single trip, I hope this index will be useful. Unfortunately the Google "search this blog" function is not working properly at the moment so the link may not recover all the relevent posts.
2009 running total distance: 890km
December:
The Cumbraes, Firth of Clyde, 27km
The Mull of Galloway tide race, at full belt! 21km
November:
Sannox synchronicity: Portencross to Brodick, Arran, 31km
Maidens to Ayr, 20km
October:
A trinity of tide races: circumnavigation of Scarba 38km
September:
Fleet bay Solway Firth, 3km
Islay, Oronsay, Colonsay, Jura, Islay 109km
August:
Seafield, Ayr, Firth of Clyde, 7km
Lady Isle, Troon Firth of Clyde 9km
June:
Ardnamurchan to Coll, Gunna and Tiree
Inner Hebrides
15/06/09 Coll to Ardnamurchan, 18km
14/06/09 Gunna to Rubha Sgor-innis, Coll, 34km
13/06/09 NW Coll to Scarinish, Tiree, 40km
12/06/09 Ardnamurchan to the Cairns of Coll, 28km
A Solway smugglers' Ccave
Fleet Bay
09/06/09 Solway Firth 9km
Full Moon at Rumblekirn
Fleet Bay
08/06/09 Solway Firth 14km
Sea shells and egg shells
Fleet Bay
01/06/09 am Solway Firth 10km
The great dun of Carrick
Fleet Bay
31/05/09 pm Solway Firth 19km
Three Pillars of Knockbrex
Fleet Bay
31/05/09 am Solway Firth 12km
Plumage and blossom on the Solway
Fleet Bay
30/05/09 Solway Firth 13km
Sea eagles and coral sands
Loch Eishort
23/05/09 Isle of Skye 19km
A big day!
Portuairk to Mull and return.
10/05/09 Ardnamurchan Point 42km.
Surf's up on Ayrshire's Atlantic Coast
Finnarts Bay to Lendalfoot
02/05/09 Firth of Clyde 21km
Arran Direct, Firth of Clyde
19/04/09 Kildonnan to Brodick 19km
18/04/09 Lendalfoot to Ailsa Craig then Pladda then Kildonnan, Arran 41km
Dumfries to Southerness in search of the Nith bore!
13/04/09 Solway Firth 25km
The Islands of Fleet
11/04/09 Solway Firth 12km
Fairlie to Little Cumbrae
04/04/09 Firth of Clyde 20km
The Islands of Fleet
02/04/09 Solway Firth 11km
Troon Ballast Bank to Lady Isle
01/04/09 Firth of Clyde 11km
From Portencross to Bute and Arran
21/03/09 Firth of Clyde 31km
"End of the Winter timetable!"
By ferry to Loch Ranza on Arran and return to Portavadie
19/03/09 Firth of Clyde 30km
The Carrick coast, Maidens to Ayr
15/03/09 Firth of Clyde 20km
The islands of Loch Leven
01/03/09 Firth of Lorn 11km
Port Appin to Loch Leven
28/02/09 Firth of Lorn 29km
"Any port in a storm on Great Cumbrae"
21/02/09 Firth of Clyde 19km
Bute from Seamill.
15/02/09 Firth of Clyde 23km
Surfing from Turnberry Point to Carrick Shore
08/01/09 Firth of Clyde 9km
The MacCormaig Islands from Carsaig Bay
02/01/09 The Sound of Jura 35km
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query "31/05/2009 pm". Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query "31/05/2009 pm". Sort by date Show all posts
Monday, January 05, 2009
Friday, June 05, 2009
The most southerly broch; Castle Haven
Last weekend it was neap tides on the Solway. HW here is always in early morning and evening with neaps and as the tide goes out a long way, mid day paddling is not possible from many of the bays.
I set off at 5pm on Sunday evening and crossed the mouth of Fleet Bay. I turned into Castle Haven Bay as I know of a wonderful historic site at its head. Castle Haven is passed by by most people. Its wall grow out of the Galloway rocks but have become overgrown by vegetation. It is a D shaped broch or dun. These double walled dry stone structures were built up the west coast of Scotland and the Hebrides in the final centuries BC. Castle Haven is the most southerly example.
Dun Carloway in Lewis is perhaps the most famous. As the sea was the highway of communication in those days it is likely that the owners of Castle Haven and Dun Carloway knew each other even though they are 420km apart as the sea eagle flies. Perhaps they were even on first name terms!
The typical doubled wall structure of a broch is seen from the SWE corner...
... and more clearly in this aerial view from the scran website.
Most brochs are circular but Castle Haven's west wall is straight as it follows a low line of cliffs, which drop to the bay below. The resulting enclosure is D shaped.
The quality of the interlocking stone masonry has survived two millenia. Unfortunately most of the upper structure has been raided to build some of the many 18th and 19th century drystone walls which criss-cross the Galloway countryside.
After a very pleasant exploration of this fascinating structure I made my way back down the stone steps to the sea gate and the bay below.
White campion flowers adorned the rocks below the castle walls. I returned to my kayak and paddled on in the evening sunshine.
31/05/2009 pm
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Days like these...
This yacht was visiting the Solway from the Isle of Man. Early the following morning, she hoisted her jib, then her main and lifted her anchor all in one smooth motion then slipped away on a broad reach to the Isle of Man.
It is always a pleasure to see a ship shape, well handled yacht when nowadays the majority stay in the marina or only venture out with the motor.
I drifted for some time on the ebb tide...
...but all too soon I had to break the glassy calm and my paddles drove me against the gathering current between Ardwall Island and the mainland.
As I entered Fleet Bay, the last of the sun slid towards the dark granite slopes of the Galloway Hills.
The sea turned to gold and ebony as the last gasp of the day slipped away with the ebb tide. Even the shrill pipping of the oyster catchers fell silent. I paddled home in the silence and the night gathered round me.
What would tomorrow bring?
31/05/2009 pm
Sunday, June 07, 2009
A Solway sunset swim
After my visit to the stack and caves, I returned to the little beach below Meggerland Point. As I my way through the skerries, I floated over cobbles, which shimmered in the ripples of the crystal clear water.
I couldn't resist a second swim in this beautiful spot, as the sun sank gently to the west.
31/05/2009 pm
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
End of another Solway Day
As I was leaving Meggerland Point, I caught a glimpse of light at the back of a geo called rumblekirn.
I could not resist exploring and I discovered a small cave with turquoise waters and a blow hole at the back.
I now made for the Sw corner of Barlocco Isle.
Rounding Barlocco, I now turned towards Ardwall Island as the sun dipped towards the horizon.
As I neared Ardwall I came across this beautiful yacht lying peacefully at anchor, her bow towards the ebb.
31/05/2009 pm