Sea kayaking the Hynish peninsula, Tiree.

From Balephuil Bay we enjoyed a downwind blast down the west side of the Hynish peninsula, which is the most southerly point in Tiree.

Once we turned the corned and headed east we were in the wind shadow  and could enjoy exploring the most incredible series of skerries and white and beaches...

...like this one to the west of Port Snoig.

It was past 1pm and so first luncheon was somewhat overdue.

Whatever, it took little excuse to stop at this piece of paradise!

Sea kayaking Balephuil Bay, Tiree.

Leaving Ceann A' Mhara on Tiree's west coast we arrived at the beautiful Traigh Bhi  or Balephuil Bay as the surfers know it. Ben Hynish is the highest point on Tiree at 141m. I would have loved to have landed and climbed to the radar dome at the top but my knee was bothering me. We missed the all encompassing view if the island from the summit. I hope to climb it one day...

Anyway the view from the kayaks more than compensated.

The turquoise and ultramarine of the sea contrasted with the dazzling white sand and...

...green grass of the dunes...

...while puffy white clouds scudded across the deep blue sky, only a little faster than our kayaks with their sails.

Simply stunning......!

Through the Maze to Ceann a' Mhara

South of the amazing beach that the Tiree surfers call "The Maze" (it is actually Traigh Thodhrasdail) lies the real Maze...

it is an incredible series of skerries and channels which lie to the north of Bharrapol Bay and the imposing headland of Ceann a' Mhara. Inside we were protected from the swell that the surfers were now enjoying...

...but as we emerged into Bharrapol Bay we were reminded of the presence of the surf.

At 103m Ceann a' Mhara is the third highest point on Tiree. Quite a distinction as Tiree only has three high points!

We had timed our arrival for slack water. If we had arrived with the north going tide against a NE wind, then it would have been somewhat bouncier than we experienced.

Once round the headland, we found a rocky cove sheltered from the swell.

It was now time for a well deserved third breakfast!

Up before the surf dudes on Tiree's Maze.

Leaving Hough Bay, we paddled through the skerries that lie off the westernmost point of Tiree, Rubha Chraiginis. The north going tide was still flowing through the channels against us.

We stopped for a rest in this little inlet on the sheltered south side of the point. Unfortunately the beach below the water was very steeply shelving with very slippy boulders. I half fell out of the kayak and it took both David and Phil to recover me. It was the worst wrench to my bad knee since the operation and it could have been serious if it was not for their speedy help. Thanks guys!

From the top of the rise behind the beach we could look back at the way we had come with the Cuillin of Skye in the distance.

21km away to the SSW we could just make out the Skerryvore lighthouse on the horizon.

We now set off in a southerly direction down Tiree's west coast. The NNE wind was cross off at "The Maze" as the surf dudes call Traigh Thodhrasdail. The surf was about 4 feet so there were a lot of boardies emerging from their camper vans for what, for them, was an early morning surf (but we had been paddling for 2.5 hours! David and I whipped up our sails and we could see several dudes rubbing their eyes in disbelief!

It was great fun sailing and paddling along the beach, just beyond the surf zone. Judging by the stares, the surfers had clearly never seen a sea kayak with a sail!

All to soon we left the beautiful Maze beach and the surf dudes behind.

Sea kayaking Tiree's north shore

 Despite a comfortable camp site on the machair of Tiree's north shore, I slept poorly. Partly it was the noise of the F5 wind and surf but mostly it was a grating pain in my bad knee. However, I had finally dozed off by the time the shipping forecast was broadcast at 0530. It was to be F4 NE in the morning rising to F5 NE in the evening.  However, the coastal station report for Tiree was currently only F3 so it was...

...time for an early start. We had the sea kayaks loaded and on the water by 0730! David hadn't ever realized that there were two 7:30's, every 24 hours!

We were soon weaving in and out of the skerries as we paddled west along Tiree's north shore. This was near Barna-Sgeir.

 Rounding the point we came across yet another of Tiree's stunning beaches. this one is Traigh Chornaig.

Away to the north, the Cuillin mountains of Skye and Rum broke the otherwise empty horizon.

The west side of Traigh Chornaig is guarded by extensive skerries.

By the time we reached Rubha na Bo Maoile there were no more crofts by the shore until...

...the rocks were breached by Traigh Bail' a Mhuilinn. Beinn Hough, at only 119m but Tiree's second highest hill, now came in sight.

As we rounded Rubha Boraige Moire, we noticed that the wind was increasing...

...but it was now more a tail wind and it blew us across the wide bay of Traigh Hough. It was only 0900 hours but we had now nearly completed our paddle of Tiree's fantastic north coast, just as the wind kicked in for the day.

Hot spuds at Tiree sundown.

After sunset the temperature plummeted so we gathered some firewood and soon had a warming blaze going.

We had just by chance brought some potatoes which went in the fire...

...and soon we had delicious baked potatoes with butter and salt. Yum!

Tiree sunset

 We sat on the rocks at the edge of our little bay on the north shore of Tiree.

We chatted for ages, basking in the warmth of the summer evening sun...

...until the shadows lengthened...

..and the sun began to set.

The sunset gave a beautiful light to...

...the shells left by the tide.