Stoned on Gigha.

 From Poll Mor we approached Port na Cathrach on Gigha's exposed west coast. It has long been used for fishing, there are bait holes carved into the solid stone of the rocks near the old pier.

It was good to see the old pier was again in use by the Banff registered creel boat, BF42 Jewel (though her home port is Campbelltown).

Just beyond the pier lies the little sandy Port an t-Samhlaidh. On the hill behind the beach millstones were once carved out of the rock. A partly quarried millstone is still in situ.

 We then decided to circumnavigate the little island of Craro. The ownership of Craro includes the title The Baron of Gigha. This is currently held by Don Dennis who owns both Craro and Achamore House from where he runs his flower essence business. On Craro there is said to be a curious rock formation which is like a stone bull.

 We paddled all the way round Craro but found no obvious landing place so we set off...

 ...for Gigha again disturbing yet another otter on the way.

 There was no landing along the great rock wall of Cnoc Loisgte.

 Previously I have seen a pair of peregrine falcons here but today we saw only a large number of buzzards and a golden eagle.

 At last we arrived at Port an Duin were we...

 ...took a short break for luncheon on the shore below...

 ...the old water mill. I wondered if its mill stones had come from the quarry we had passed earlier. During our stop we were entertained by the silvery autumn song of a robin.

In the NE corner of Port an Duin a pile of stones form another rudimentary pier.

A pile of creels on the rocks suggest that this is another port that is being used by a fishing once more.

A grey Gigha day.

We woke on Cara to the rumble of the heavy diesel engine of this work boat. it was a grey cold day and...

...we put warm thermals and cags on.

Ceanothus UL72 from Oban set off out through the Sound of Cara as did...

...we as we were going to paddle clockwise round Gigha.

 It did not take long to approach Slocan Leim at the south end of Gigha, beyond which...

 ...we entered Grob Bagh where for a moment we thought that...

 ...the sun might break through the clouds but it did not quite manage,

 In Grob Bagh there is a striking quartzite dyke called Rubha Ban which extends well into the bay.

 The Gigha community wind farm had a fourth and larger wind turbine added in 2014.

 From Grob Bagh we paddled north through...

 ...the Gigha skerries until...

 ...we entered Poll Mor.

 Ahead heads of various sizes appeared in the pool.

 We saw several otters and seals and curiously...

 ...they seemed to be quite oblivious to each other and indeed...

 ...to us. Sammy the otter was quite happy munching crabs on his back before...

...diving down for some more.