Back at the end of July there was a brief gap in the long series of Atlantic low pressure systems which have characterised the summer of 2009. I took the opportunity to get a couple of days sea kayaking at Arisaig. I left home at 5.45am and was paddling from Glenuig on Loch Ailort by lunchtime.
I headed east along the shore of Loch Ailort, then crossed the mouth of the loch and on across the mouth of Loch nam Uamh (
loch of the caves). It was from this loch that Prince Charles Edward Stuart finally left Scotland in 1746 on a French ship after being on the run from the Hanoverian troops after the disaster of Culloden.
The weather was fine, but a NW'ly F4 was making for hard going. The wind was backing westerly and increasing as I paddled along the north shore of the Sound of Arisaig. Eventually I arrived at my camp site for the night - there have been worse spots!
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I pitched up and paddled back a couple of kilometers to get additional water from a burn; the wind was still much in evidence
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The view from above my tent took in Ardnamurchan Point in the south, Eigg and Rum in the west and Skye to the north
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As evening came, the wind dropped and the forecast for the following day was for light winds. A severe gale was forecast for the day after that, but for now, the sunset boded well
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Sure enough, the morning dawned fine and with just enough breeze to keep away the midges
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I've rarely had such a nice camping spot...
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I headed off to the skerries off Loch na Ceall, where somebody has been relocating the road signs!
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On the way back south I stopped by my camp spot for lunch. A guided group arrived soon after. If a day like this doesn't hook them on sea paddling, they have no soul!
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An open crossing south across the Sound of Arisaig brought me to Smirisary, and another great view
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And some nice pebble art
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Just before arriving back at Glenuig, I had a close encounter of the Basking Shark kind. This chap was about 4 metres long, so by no means fully grown
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There's a video clip of him at
Al in all, it was a cracking overnight trip