Thank the Lord, for the Ortlieb Aqua Zoom bag!

After crossing the Sound of Bute, it was a relief to land on the welcoming granite sand beach at Sannox on Arran.

Photo by Ian from Mountain and Sea Scotland.

This was my longest trip in a kayak for six months as I have suffered increasing instability in my left knee and pain in both knees. I am only able to go sea kayaking with the help of my understanding friends. Thank you all. Ian's photo shows Phil assisting me from my kayak. I was hardly able to walk up the beach to the shelter of some gorse bushes to be out of the cold breeze. We sat enjoying second luncheon washed down with a very fine 14year old Glefiddich followed by more 10 year old Jura.

Unfortunately I had been in so much pain when I landed, I had not pulled my kayak high enough up the beach. A combination of a big spring tide and increasing shore break capsized my kayak and filled the cockpit with sand and water. My trusty Ortlieb Aqua Zoom camera bag (with my 5D mk2 inside) was trashed beneath the upturned kayak by the waves for about 20 minutes. Ian and Phil helped me empty the kayak while I inspected the bag and camera. Not a drop of water had got in. I thoroughly recommend this bag to any kayaking photographer.

Leaving Sannox at 1406, time was just a little tight for the last leg down the east coast to Brodick. Nonetheless, Phil and Ian saw the resident otter off Merkland Point.

We landed beside the pier at Brodick at 1548, some 20 minutes before the ferry berthed. The usual ferry, MV Caledonian Isles, was away for her winter refit and her place was taken by Loti*. We enjoyed some banter with her Highland crew as we loaded the kayaks onto the car deck. Then it was up to the cafeteria for curry and chips and fish and chips and a very pleasant chat on the way back to Ardrossan. After running the shuttle, Ian had a 200mile drive back to Aberdeen!

What a day!

*MV Lord of the Isles.

The finest scenic sea kayak crossing in Scotland?

 The crossing of the Sound of Bute from Garroch Head on Bute...

...to Sannox on Arran...

...is probably one of the most scenic in Scotland and at 10.6km requires just a little commitment.

I (and very many others) also like the crossing of Loch Scavaig from Elgol to Loch na Cuilce on Skye but it lacks the commitment of an open crossing, as you can keep to the shore.

So I would like to propose the Garroch Head to Sannox crossing as the finest scenic sea kayak crossing in Scotland.

The Carradale trawler FV Caledonia (TT34) was still trawling her nets...

 ...as we reached mid channel.

Gradually, the mountains of Glen Sannox on Arran began to dominate the horizon to the SW.

 We were entertained..

...by an ever changing vista...

...as the low cloud...

...drifted and swirled round the corries and peaks.

Then, when we paddled under the clouds,...

...we too were  alternately in their shade then...

 ...back in the sunshine as we made our final approach to Sannox.

First luncheon and a first paddle in the Cetus MV.

From Little Cumbrae we set off across a glassy sea towards Bute. Our destination, Port Leithne is just below the second dip on the horizon (from the left).

We were crossing one of the main shipping channels on the west of Scotland; the Firth of Clyde Channel. Fortunately this fishing boat was the only other vessel and it was just motoring in circles with its nets out. On other occasions we have met very different vessels such as this one exactly four years ago. Amazingly, the first time we crossed wakes with Ian was also 4 years ago in this channel. At the time he was not in his kayak but on the bridge of this ship.

Upon arrival we had a serious discussion about whether we would be having second breakfast or third luncheon. I was of the opinion that because the sun could be clearly seen over Phil's shoulder that it must be first luncheon. This discussion was not just of semantic importance. No matter how fine it is, we do not normally quaff malt whisky at breakfast. Without further ado, I settled the argument by opening the 10 year old Jura. It was notable that none of the others disagreed with this decision.

While we enjoyed luncheon in the sunshine, Phil swapped his Quest for the new P&H Cetus MV, which I have on long term test. He could hardly believe how tight it turned compared with the Quest. He also commented on how comfortable the seating position was and how stable the kayak felt on edge.

His grin, when he returned, said it all but he was not going  to get away with paddling the Cetus MV all the way across to Arran. Oh no, I was going to make sure I got it back. I distracted him with some more 10 year old Jura and jumped back in before he realised what I was up to. I will say a lot more about the Cetus MV in the future but let me just say that so far, in conditions from flat calm to force 4/5, I like it a very great deal. The only minor niggle has been some skeg problems caused by very light downhaul elastic in the prototype Mark 2 skeg system in this kayak. It is the only touring kayak that I have tried that might tempt me away from my beloved Nordkapp LV.

Soon we had to launch for the second leg of our paddle, down to Garroch Head then across the Sound of Bute to Arran.

The Pavlovian sound of splashing paddles.

Our first destination was Gull Point on the Little Cumbrae though we did not planned to stop for a break until we reached the south point of Bute, which can be seen rising beyond the point.

 Usually Gull Point resounds to the squabbling calls of the resident gulls but on this still morning...

 ...our approach was heralded by fierce barking from the four terriers of Little Cumbrae! They had started barking when we were still about 3km from their home. The splash of approaching paddles set off a Pavlovian frenzy of barking and salivation. These terriers associate approaching kayakers with sandwiches!

As we rounded the point the view to the north...

...opened up, as we left the Little Cumbrae and its lighthouse in our wakes.

We set off on a limpid sea.

 We set off on a limpid sea...

 ...it was the first time there had been a calm spell in two months.

Our destination was to be the magnificent island of Arran.

Her rocky ridges soared into a clear blue sky. Only on the highest summits did scraps of snow remain after the recent, relentless and relatively warm SW gales.

We met before dawn.

 After two months of incessant wind and rain, today promised to be fair. Ian, Mike , Phil and myself met at Portencross on the Firth of Clyde.

We arrived at low water on a spring tide. This sea urchin found itself exposed...

 ...as we made our way through the narrow channel...

...to the open sea beyond. It was good to have Mike back on the water with us again.

Ian had driven down from Aberdeen to join us. It was great to meet up with him again after our last paddle together on the St Kilda trip.

We then set off at dawn for what promised to be a fantastic day.

Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012 December.

Ailsa Craig at sunset from the Ayrshire coast near Dunure.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

This was the end of a glorious winter day when Tony, Phil and I set off from Seafield at Ayr and paddled past three castles of Carrick (Greenan, Dunure and Culzean) to Maidens. The photo was taken while running the shuttle at the end of the day. To the left of Ailsa Craig you can just make out Ireland. To the right you can see the Mull of Kintyre.

Sea kayaking desktop calendar 2012 November.

STS Europa sails from Greenock south down the Firth of Clyde towards Arran before turning west into the Sound of Bute.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

Phil, Tony and I chose to view the parade of sail (as the tall ships left Greenock en route for Shetland) from the north west side of the Little Cumbrae. While we waited, we fished for some mackerel and cooked them on the beach. We did what generations of Clyde-siders have done. We went doon the watter for some fish and ships!

Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012 October.

Balephuil Bay on the SW coat of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

David, Phil and I enjoyed unbroken sun on our visit to Tiree. We circumnavigated the island in an anticlockwise direction in F4 to F5 NE winds. Being on the SW side of the island this was where we enjoyed most shelter. The SW faces the prevailing wind and is usually very exposed. The combination of clear water, shell sand and weed covered reefs creates wonderful patterns of turquoise and ultramarine on this coast,

Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012 September

Ben Cruachan from the Firth of Lorn.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

Phil, Jennifer and I were crossing From Loch Buie on Mull (where we had camped) to Ellenabeich on Seil. We had set off in a force 4 north easterly, with the wind shrieking round the cliffs of Mull. Half way across the Firth of Lorn the wind dropped to nothing before picking up from the SW again as we approached Seil. 

Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012 August.

In the lee of Soay, St Kilda Archipelago.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

After leaving Village Bay on Hirta, we explored Dun and the south and west coasts of Hirta. We then met with the MV Cuma and boarded her for lunch in the lee of Soay. Afterwards we paddled across the open Atlantic to Boreraray, which is just visible on the horizon beyond the stacs in the Soay Hirta gap.

Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012 July

The Great Cave of Boreray, St Kilda Archipelago.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

Liz Willis paddles out of the cave, as Simon Willis films from the bow of MV Cuma, during the filming for Sea kayak with Gordon Brown Volume 2. In the middle distance, Stac Lee rises straight from the sea. The gap between Hirta and Soay (from which we had paddled) is on the horizon.
 

Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012 June.

Seilg Geodha, Dun, St Kilda Archipelago.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

Seilg Geodha is a narrow fissure on the NE coast of Dun. It leads right through the island to a large cavern which exists onto the SW side of the island. This cave was used as shelter by the St Kildans when they were fishing at night. In the evening they would leave Village Bay and sail or row up to 5km off the SW coast of Dun and leave baited lines attached to floats. They would return to this cave and spend the night in its shelter before returning for their catch in the morning.

This photo was taken during the filming for Sea kayak with Gordon Brown Volume 2. It shows Gordon, Donald Thomson (who led the first return trip to St Kilda by sea kayak) and Calum McKerral. It was a very special sea kayaking trip.

Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012 May.

Port Mona, Mull of Galloway, North Channel.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

This was a wonderful day in early summer when Jennifer, Jim W, Phil and I paddled round the Mull of Galloway from East Tarbert to Port Logan. Port Mona is an isolated beach, guarded by steep cliffs, strong tides and swell. It is a privilege to visit such places.

Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012 April

Sundown behind Garroch Head, Bute, Firth of Clyde.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

This photo was taken at Gull Point at the south end of Little Cumbrae. Jennifer, Phil, Tony and I met up with some members of the Castle Craig Club including Harvey, Zoe and others from the SE of Scotland. We left from Portencross for a circumnavigation of Little Cumbrae. The slow sunset gradually faded to darkness by the time we had reached the north of the island. We crossed the navigational channel by hopping directly across from the port channel buoy to the starboard. 

Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012 March.

March, Dippen Head, Arran Firth of Clyde.

This was on the last day of a fantastic circumnavigation of Arran with David. We were able to use the sails for nearly half of the trip.The headland is composed of Tertiary olivine basalt cliffs.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

Sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012 February.

February, Ailsa Craig, Firth of Clyde.

The 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar is available from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

Seakayaking desktop wallpaper calendar 2012.

I wish a Happy New Year to all visitors to seakayakphoto.com. As way of a celebration of the last year and in anticipation of sea kayaking adventures yet to come, here is the 8th annual sea kayaking desktop wallpaper calendar from seakayakphoto.com. The above link will lead to high resolution photos in four different desktop sizes.

As usual, all the photos were taken in 2011, even though my sea kayaking activities have been restricted by increasing disability this year.

January, Carrick coast, Firth of Clyde.

The other months will follow soon!