We left Glasgow at 6:40am on Sunday 23/11/03 and drove north on the A82 to Fort William where we turned west on the A830 and arrived in Arisaig at 10:00am. There are a few parking places opposite the shops, just south of the jetty. Public toilets are opposite the jetty . We had a 300m portage to the water as we set off about 1 hour before LW. The lower shore is too muddy for trolleys so we quickly warmed up carrying the boats and were glad to be wearing wellingtons. The advantage of starting at the end of the ebb was apparent in the narrow twisting channel out to the Sound. We made 7 km/h with very little paddling as the ebb became concentrated in the narrows.
Conditions on the day:
Forecast and tide tables:
References:
Common sense:
Local information:
GPS track of
route.
Dawn
mist over the head of Loch Shiel at Glenfinnan on the road to Arisaig. The
monument was erected in 1815 by Alexander Macdonald of Glenaladale in memory
of the Highland clansmen who fought and died following Bonny Prince
Charlie who raised his Standard here on 19 August 1745, at the start of a
campaign to reinstate a Stuart on the throne of Great Britain and Ireland. It
ended in defeat at Culloden in 1746, the last battle on British soil.
Looking
out towards the Small Isles from the launch site.
Leaving
Arisaig harbour.
Loch
nan Ceall looking NW to the main ridge of the Skye Cuillin (Bruach na Frithe and
Sgurr nan Gillean under snow) with Blaven to the east.
Loch
nan Ceall panorama from the Sgurr of Eigg to the Rum Cuillin to the Skye Cuillin
and Blaven.
Loch
na Ceal.
The
Rum Cuillin from a white sand beach at the south of Sgeir an Fheoir. You can see
the bottom although it is about 3m deep.
The
Rum Cuillin, Sgurr nan Gillean (in the mist), Ainshval, Trollaval, Askival
and Hallival from a white sand beach at the south of Sgeir an Fheoir.
Looking
SE from Loch nan Ceall towards the hills of Moidart: An Stac, 814m and the twin
peaks of Rois-Bheinn, 882m and 878m.
An
Stac and Rois-Bheinn.
The
Sgurr of Eigg from Am Fraoch-eilean.
Eigg,
Rum and Skye from Am Fraoch-eilean.
Snow
covered Cuillin ridge and Blaven from Am Fraoch-eilean.
SW
to Ardnamurchan from Am Fraoch-eilean.
SE
round Eilean Port nam Murrach towards Rois-Bheinn across the Sound of Arisaig.
A
Sandy bay on the north side of the Sound of Arisaig.
Looking
SW across the Sound of Arisaig towards Ardnamurchan.
Panorama
over the Sound of Arisaig extending from Rois-Bheinn, Ardnamurchan, Muck, Eigg,
Rum and Skye.
Askival
and Hallival on Rum from near Eilean Port nam Murrach
Looking
S across the Sound of Arisaig to Moidart.
Eigg
and .Rum
Sgurr
of Eigg to the Rum Cuillin.
Swell
on the coast near Rubh Arisaig.
Entering
Arisaig Harbour with Rois-Bheinn in the distance.
SE
to the snow covered hills of Moidart rising above Am Fraoch-eilean.
A
white sand beach at the E end of Luinga Mhor.
Floating
between paradise and reality....
Moidart
behind Sgeir an Fheoir.
Swells,
held up by the north flowing tide, breaking on the SW skerries of Luinga Bheag.
Drifting
in the tide between Luinga Bheag and Sgeir an Fheoir. Inquisitive seals came
ever closer and we drifted close to resting flocks of migrating knot which are
characteristically bold, despite a close approach.
Sunset
over Loch nan Ceall, The summit of Ben Nevis , 55 km to the ESE, is still caught
in the setting sun's rays. It can be seen to the left of the Moidart Corbetts.
Winter
sun on the birch woods near Sgeir Philip.
Basking
seals enjoy a peaceful sunset with the silhouette of the Sgurr of Eigg darkening
against the western sky.
Sunset
over the Marguerite Explorer, a beautiful wooden gaff rigged ketch. Despite the plummeting
temperature, I could smell
her tar in the still evening air.
Scottish Mountain Photo Gallery Main MenuSite editor: Douglas Wilcox (D.E.Wilcox@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
)
Last edited 30/08/04
Created 24/11/03