We set off round the northern end of Colonsay and proceeded...
...down the remote and rocky east coast which is inhabited...
...only by a colony of feral goats. They are reputed to be decended from a flock which survived the wrecking of one of the great ships of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
With the hills of Islay in the distance, the ferry from Oban passed as our mini armada made its way to...
..the wonderful strand of
Traigh Ban, or Balnahard Beach as the tourists call it.
Absolute consensus was reached, this was to be the location of...
...first luncheon, after which...
...we set off to explore this enormous beach...
...which is stunning, whichever way you look at it.
Right in the middle of the bay can be found...
....the sad remains of a wooden Swedish steamship, the SS Wasa. In 1920 she caught fire midway between the Dubh Artach rocks and the north end of Colonsay. 4 of the 28 crew were lost but 24 survivors were picked up by the trawler Hibernie II which towed the burning Wasa to this spot. If I were a Swedish sea kayaker I would not name my boat Wasa or Vasa!
All that remain are her keel timbers, still held together with rusting iron bolts. Clearly the SS Wasa has seen better days.
I climbed a steep dune at the back of the beach from which this magnificent panorama could be seen.
Slowly and almost reluctantly I made...
...my way back across the strand to where...
...the others were preparing to put to sea.
Read
Ian's account here.
