Scottish Sea Kayaking Photo Gallery

Sea kayaking in Loch Ailort, the Sound of Arisaig and the Borrowdale islands of Loch nan Uamh.

A 22.6 Km paddle around the islands of Loch Ailort and across the Sound of Arisaig to the Borrowdale Islands: 21/02/04. 

We left Glasgow at 6:13am on Saturday 21/02/04 and drove north on the A82 to Fort William where we turned west on the A830 and arrived at Loch Ailort at 9:13am. 

Conditions on the day: 

•  Met Office Inshore forecast was: "From Mull of Kintyre to Cape Wrath: Wind: variable mainly north or northeast 2 to 3 soon becoming mainly north 3 or 4 then gradually increasing north to northwest 5 or 6. mainly fair, but showers later. Visibility: good occasionally moderate. 
• Tide times (GMT) at Moidart: HW 0720, LW 1355, HW1945 (springs).

Forecast and tide tables:

• BBC 5 day forecast Arisaig.
• BBC inshore waters forecast.
• Online weather 4 day sailing forecast for Tiree.
• Times of Maritime Safety Information broadcasts by HM Coastguard on VHF. Initial announcement on Channel 16 advises which channel will be used for broadcast.
  • MRSC Clyde: every 4 hours starting at 0020
  • MRSC Stornoway: every 4 hours starting at 0110
• BBC 6 day tide times Mallaig.
• BBC 6 day tide times Ullapool.
• Tidal constant:  Moidart -0048 Ullapool.

References: 

• The Yachtsman's Pilot to the Skye and Northwest Scotland, Martin Lawrence.
• Scottish West Coast Pilot, Mark Brackenby.
• Clyde Cruising Club Sailing Directions West Coast of Scotland.
• Admiralty Tidal Stream Atlas, NP218.
• Imray Chart C66.
• OS Landranger Sheet 40.

Common sense:

• The information here is given in good faith and is believed to be correct but it is every sea user's responsibility to check original data sources and conditions on the day before deciding if their experience is sufficient for a safe voyage.

Local information:

• The Sound of Arisaig, Marine Special Area of Conservation.

GPS track of route. Start time 1010, stop time 1610, paddling time 4hrs 30mins, distance 22.6Km, av speed 5.0Km/hr, max speed 13.5Km/hr. We launched at NM741799.

1014 Loch Ailort. We timed it so the spring tides would suck us out then propel us back in again. Maximum speed in the narrows north of Eilean nam Bairneach was 13.5 km without paddling!

1025 Loch Ailort.

1034 Eilean nam Gobhar from Laggan Bay.

1038 Eilean nam Gobhar.

1041 Eilean a Chaolais.

1057 Passing a sandy cove on the north side of Loch Ailort.

1130 Crossing the Sound of Arisaig past An Glas-eilean with An Sgurr of Eigg in the background.

1302 View S from Camas Ghaoideal across the Sound of Arisaig to Moidart and Ardnamurchan.

1333 The Borrowdale Islands with Moidart behind.

1339 Borrowdale Islands.

1341 Eilean an Sgurra with mighty Rois-Bheinn behind.

1342 Eilean nan Cabar with the mountains of South Morar behind.

1351 Looking up Loch nan Uamh to Eilean nan Cabar. 

1356 Eilean nan Cabar. 

1401 Eilean nan Cabar  with Rois-Bheinn behind.

1415 Crossing the Sound of Arisaig to the Ardnish peninsula.

1450 Passing the W side of  Eilean a Chaolais.

1451 Passing the W side of  Eilean a Chaolais.

1457 The mouth of Loch Ailort.

1506 The beach on the E side of Eilean nam Gobhar.

The beach on the E side of Eilean nam Gobhar.

1512 The beach on the E side of Eilean nam Gobhar.

1511 Eilean a Chaolais from Eilean nam Gobhar.

1511 Eigg, Rum and Arisag across the Sound of Arisaig from Eilean nam Gobhar.

1522 Looking up Loch Ailort.

1525 Rum, Eigg, Arisaig and Eilean a Chaolais.

1531 A kayaker dwarfed by Rois-Bheinn.

1536 Peanmeanach bothy.

1602 Upper Loch Ailort with tide assistance.

1607 Sea cows, very rare.

1608 Nearly back to the launch site.

Scottish Sea Kayaking Photo Gallery Main Menu.

Scottish Mountain Photo Gallery Main Menu

We also do whitewater!

Site editor: Douglas E Wilcox (D.E.Wilcox@clinmed.gla.ac.uk )
Last edited 24/02/04
Created 24/02/04