Showing posts sorted by date for query "02/11/2008". Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query "02/11/2008". Sort by relevance Show all posts

Sunday, November 09, 2008

"Nae man can tether time nor tide": the return to Ayr.


We emerged from the Anchorage bar to see the World bathed in a rosy glow. The "Sleeping Warrior" of Arran lay still on the far western horizon.


Our timing was impeccable. Beyond the Castle and the skerries and even beyond distant Ailsa Craig, the golden orb of the Sun was just kissing the horizon as we made our way to sea again.


After a few pulls on our paddles we turned back to catch a last glimpse of the sun but it had already gone.


The temperature dropped like a stone, the pipping of the oyster-catchers' calls died away and the flocks hunched together on shore for the night. The silent winter silhouette of Ailsa Craig invited a return, but in the Spring when it would once again be surrounded by a cacophony of noisy breeding birds!


As the cold began to seep into our bones we felt another calling.


After a refreshment stop at Dunure, Bracken Bay is conveniently located for a final stop before landing at Ayr. Our last 5km were paddled in the dark, but once we rounded the Heads of Ayr the myriad stretch of the town's lights did little assist navigation. A quick compass bearing indicated that the constellation Plaedes would be our main navigational aid. However, our noses guided our final touchdown. The light north easterly breeze was blowing directly from Ayr India. The mixed pakora eaten on the sea front provided a spicy end to a perfect day and night's paddle!

02/11/2008

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Enlightenment at Dunure.


We now approached the grim and impregnable walls of the ancient castle of Dunure. Its walls are now silent witness to a bloody past. Unlike its neighbour, Culzean, it was not gentrified during the period of the Scottish Enlightenment in the 18th century.


Approaching from the sea it is easy to see why this site was chosen....


... the castle seems to grow out of the cliffs by the shore.


We landed on the shingle beach below the castle.


Sadly we had arrived somewhat too early for the best of the sunset. It was rather cold and we had at least another hour to wait before the sun sank towards the horizon...







...well what else could we do? We reluctantly entered the portal of the Anchorage Bar in Dunure.

02/11/2008

Thursday, November 06, 2008

A meeting with Garnock Canoe Club in Culzean Bay.


Leaving Culzean we paddled across the broad expanse of Culzean Bay. Arran and the Holy Isle were clear on the western horizon....


.... and Turnberry Point and Ailsa Craig stood out to the south. However, our eyes were on the coast to the north. David was due to paddle south from Dunure to meet us.


Instead of a solitary David we met him with members of the Garnock Canoe Club: Duncan, Dave, Jim, Alison and Alison.


Duncan Winning OBE is a long standing member of the Garnock club which has a fine reputation for training its sea kayaking members. Gordon Brown is a former member and Richard Cree is another current member.


We had a good chat before we all paddled northwards, bound for Dunure.

Tony, David and I paddle this coast regularly but this is the first tme we have met anyone on the water! First we met Alan then the Garnock club! Sea kayaking in Scotland is a growing activity.

02/11/2008

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

The Culzean Coastline


From Turnberry Point we crossed Maidenhead Bay (in truth it was not our first time) and found ourselves at delightful Port Carrick at the south end of the Culzean coastline.


Long winter shadows stretched across the sands but the north end of the beach was bathed in wonderful low winter sunlight.


Port Carrick is a great place to stop for lunch. In winter you will have it to yourself but at the height of summer it can be very popular.


After a sandwich we paddled out to sea under an amazing sky. The sunset promised to be fantastic!


We turned a corner and found ourselves in a bay with a shingle beach backed by a round bath house, a ruined laundry and Dolphin House.


The next headland is dominated by the magnificent Culzean Castle. It was built for the 10th Earl of Cassillis by Robert Adam in 1770. Its great central staircase is actually built within the interior of the original square keep which is now surrounded by these newer and more ornate walls.

What a wonderful coastline Culzean is and I haven't even mentioned the caves or the blow hole!

02/11/2008

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

A chance meeting at Turnberry Point


Approaching Turnberry Point, we entered a maze of rock channels.


We kept our bearings as long as the distant peak of Goatfell on Arran remained in view.


We rounded the Point in calm conditions but the Stevenson lighthouse and ancient walls of Turnberry castle both told of turbulent times.


Then we met Alan from Ayr out on a solo paddle from Maidens. He has just recently started sea kayaking but has already some great solo trips round the Cumbraes and up the Bute coast to his credit. He asked if he could come along. We explained that we might need to spend some time at Dunure and then he would need to paddle back to Maidens on his own. Alan was happy to join us and we were very happy to have his company.

02/11/2008

Monday, November 03, 2008

Turnberry Bay


We set off from Turnberry beach with Ailsa Craig on the horizon.


The settled conditions promised a perfect day and the bank of cloud on the horizon promised a spectacular sunset.


We paddled below the bank of sand dunes which separate the famous Turnberry links golf course from the sea.


Behind us the Brest Rock beacon shimmered at the edge of the reflection of the low winter sun. Above us a pair of swans powered up the coast towards Turnberry point. We followed at a more measured pace.


The "Four Castles of Carrick" is one of our favourite routes. It is 23 km from the launch site at Turnberry to the landing at Seafield in Ayr.

02/11/2008

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Dunure Sunset


A small ridge of high pressure announced the arrival of summer 2008 in Scotland. I expected a cracking sunset and thought a view out to Ailsa Craig from Dunure, with the castle as a frame, would be worth a trip. Unfortunately we arrived in Dunure 1and a half hours before sunset. What does one do in Dunure on a freezing cold afternoon?

The wait was worth while.


Once the sun had set the air temperature dropped rapidly.


We still had 9km to paddle back to where we had left our shuttle car at Ayr.


Once the golden glow left the southwestern sky...


We were left in the darkness of the winter's night. Before we rounded the Heads of Ayr and came to the glow of the town's lights, we had an amazing view of the stars. We did not arrive back at Ayr until 2 hours after sunset.

02/11/2008

Monday, September 08, 2008

Sea Kayakphoto.com trip index 2008

I have been posting little snippets of various trips concurrently. For those who would like to follow the thread of a single trip, I hope this index will be useful.

Less is more round Lismore!
27/12/08

What a carry on round the Mull!
15/12/08 The Mull of Galloway

Another West coast sunset! Firth of Clyde
14/12/08 Bute from Portencross,

Dunure from Maidens, Firth of Clyde
06/12/08

The Four Castles of Carrick, Firth of Clyde.
02/11/08 Turnberry to Ayr

The River Fleet from Fleet Bay
17/10/08

Loch nan Ceall and the Sound of Arisaig
13/09/08
14/09/08

To the Corryvreckan
30/08/08 Seil to Scarba via the Corryvreckan
31/08/08 Scarba to Seil via the Grey Dogs and the Cuan Sound

The Mull of Kintyre
26/07/08 Macrihanish to Sanda via the Mull
27/07/08 Sanda to Davaar Island

To Islay
12/07/08 Claggain Bay
13/07/08 Traigh Bhan
14/07/08 An Claddach
15/07/08 Port Askaig

To St Kilda
30/05/08 Loch Roag
31/05/08 Taransay
01/06/08 Monach Islands
02/06/08 Hirta and Dun
03/06/08 am Village Bay, Hirta
03/06/08 pm Boreray and the stacks
04/06/08 Loch Reasort to Scarp
05/06/08 Pabaigh Mor and Bhacsaigh

To the Garvellachs
10/05/08 Seil to the Grey Dogs via the Corryvreckan
11/05/08 Grey Dogs to the Garvellachs and Seil

Lady Isle
08/05/08 A busy night at Troon

Ailsa Craig
05/05/08 Gannets and granite

Fleet Bay
02/05/08 Solway sunshine

A misty Firth of Clyde
27/04/08 Maidens to Ayr

Arran
18/03/08 Portencross to Brodick via the Wee Cumbrae, Bute and Glen Sannox

Mull of Galloway
17/02/08 Ardwell Bay to East Tarbet

Dorus Mor
12/02/08 Craignish through the Dorus Mor to Crinan and Loch Craignish then back through the Dorus Mor as the sun set.

The four maritime castles of Carrick
20/01/08 Turnberry to Ayr.

The Cumbraes and Bute
12/01/2008 A day trip in the Clyde from Largs