Living the dream of the Hebridean Isles on Gigha.

Due to the presence of an amphidromic point between Islay and the Mull of Kintyre, the mean spring tidal range on the west coast of Gigha is only about 1m so we did not ...

 ...need to pull the kayaks very far up the beach before settling down to...

 ...enjoy the sunset.

We gazed wistfully at the islands on the horizon, Islay to the west and Jura to the north west and...

...,as the midge attack lessened,  made plans to visit Islay in July. At the back of my mind I suspected this might be wishful thinking, After 4 days of paddling my shoulder was giving me real concern. I knew I would have to go and see about it on my return.

 Ever so gradually the day faded away over Islay and...

...Jura but it was still light when we went to bed about midnight. We may have dreamed of Hebridean Isles but on this trip we were living the dream!

Light my fire, on Gigha.

Nothing beats a fire on a wild camp but the machair on so many beautiful campsites is scarred by charred circles surrounded by blackened stones. Everyone seems to set up a new fire ring so the beach is scarred not just once but multiple times. It is much better to build a fire well down the beach so that the next tide sweeps it clean. We don't bother with a circle of stones.

Last year's bracken fronds make great tinder but it can be useful to have some cotton wool balls or pads in case things are damp. You can use a match or, as in this case, create sparks from a flint.

 Soon you will have a lovely fire to bake potatoes in and to...

...while away the hours until sunset.

End of a long day on Gigha.

 From the old mill, we paddled north up the...

 ...west coast of .Gigha.

We saw the MV Finlaggan round the north end on her way to Islay.

 At last we spotted a good place to...

 ...set up camp with a great view...

 ...to the Paps of Jura.