Stacks of coves on the Solway

Near the caves there are sea stacks and rocky channels.


Further along the coast, towards Fleet Bay, there are islands and sandy coves.


We stopped here for lunch and to compare notes about the Rockpool Menai 18 and the Valley Nordkapp RM before the ebb tide left us stranded.

29/09/2007

Solway caves

A Solway cave.


Leaving Little Ross Sound we turned eastwards round the base of Fox Craig. We rested in an eddy out of the main flow of the ebb tide. Looking back we caught a final sight of the Little Ross lighthouse between the skerries at the base of the cliff.


The coastline between here and Fleet Bay has lots of opportunities for rockhopping but is often unapproachable due to strong tides and swell. We were lucky we had a north east wind. The Nordkapp RM is a fantastic boat with all the performance of its composite sibling. I have written a review in the current issue of Ocean Paddler issue 3 and will post it here once the next issue is published.


This beautiful cave is just a little further east than Dove cave.

29/09/2007

A nine metre tide in Little Ross Sound

This last weekend saw 9.1m spring tides in the Solway so Tony and I drove down to Dhoon shore on Kirkcudbright Bay in the Solway. The Valley Nordkapp RM was dwarfed by the Rockpool Menai 18.


The ebb tide began to pick up as we approached Little Ross Island. Tony enjoyed the Menai 18.


We ferry glided across to the island for a spot of lunch. The Little Ross light was built by Alan Stevenson in 1843. The light flashes white every 5 seconds. In 1960 there were two keepers on the island and one murdered the other. (Thanks to Andy for the link.)


After lunch we swapped boats and went for a play in the tide race in Little Ross Sound.

29/09/2007

Holy Island of the fifth precept.

The sharp thinkers among you might wonder what on Earth thirsty kayakers like Tony and I got up to on the Holy Island of the fifth precept....


We ascended to a higher plane.

Fair wind for crossing Whiting Bay.

After leaving Dippen Head we rounded Largybeg Point.


We then had the magnificent prospect of Whiting Bay backed by distant Goatfell and, nearer to hand, the dark outline of our next destination, Holy Island. We were headed for the inner lighthouse on Holy Island. It was built in 1877 by David and Thomas Stevenson. With a force 4 wind and the tide behind us our speed was usually between 8 and 10 km/hr. Perfect paddling conditions!

Dippen Head, Arran

Leaving Kildonan we headed NE to Dippen Head. A raised beach runs round almost all of Arran.


At Dippen Head Tertiary basalt cliffs are broken by a waterfall and clothed by a beautiful, mixed deciduous woodland. Peregrine falcons swoop on their prey from ledges hidden by the tops of the trees. There is an ancient fort at Dippen. The centuries have eroded it so that it is all but indistinguishable from the surrounding rocks.

17/08/07

Ocean Paddler magazine #3

Oh look! We're in this one!

Ocean Paddler Issue 3 will soon arrive....

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