Scottish Sea Kayaking Photo Gallery

Sea kayaking in the Kyles of Bute

A 12.2 km paddle in the Kyles of Bute, 14/11/04.

This was a windy, wet day so we chose the shelter of The Kyles of Bute. Total distance: 12.2km paddling time: 2hr.54 Max 11.6km/hr Av4.2

Launch from east shore of Loch Riddon.

Approaching Eilean Dearg, Eilean Dubh in the background.

Eilean Dearg. A few foundation stones are all that remain of the once impregnable 14th century Campbell stronghold, the castle of the Lord of Lach Awe. 

Eilean Dearg

East or West Kyle?

West it is.

The NE entrance to An Caladh, Eilean Dubh on the left.

Looking back through the NE entrance to An Caladh.

The S entrance to An Caladh.

The S entrance to An Caladh.

Lunch at Rhuba Ban.

Crossing West Kyle to Bute. Tighnabruaich (on the mainland) in the distance.

Paddling NE up the West Kyle below the Maids of Bute, two painted rocks resembling a pair vof old women.

Shelter to the east of Buttock Point, Bute. We saw an otter here.

Heading for the Burnt Islands.

East side Eilean Mor, the largest of the Burnt Islands. The air was full of herons. We stopped for a second lunch at the north end and watched the tide speeding by.

14:01 Passing through the Kyles of Bute with the ebb carrying at 11.6 km/hr.

Heading north up the east side of Loch Riddon.

Eilean Dearg.

Loch Riddon.

Back at the launch site.

Conditions on the day

• Issued by the Met Office at 0500 UTC on Sunday 14 November. Inshore Waters Forecast to 12 miles offshore from 0500 UTC to 0500 UTC. The Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and the North Channel. 24 hour forecast: Wind: west or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6. Weather: patchy rain. Visibility: moderate or good. Sea State: slight to moderate.
• Rubha Bodach, East Kyle 14/11/2004. Constant -0015 Greenock

  • HW	LW	HW	LW
    01:03	06:07	13:29	18:38
    3.6 m	0.8 m	3.5 m	0.8 m

References: 

• The Yachtsman's Pilot Clyde to Colonsay, Martin Lawrence.
• Scottish West Coast Pilot, Mark Brackenby.
• Clyde Cruising Club Sailing Directions West Coast of Scotland.
• Imray Chart C63.
• OS Landranger Sheet 62, 63

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.

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Site editor: Douglas Wilcox (D.E.Wilcox@clinmed.gla.ac.uk )
Created 19/02/05
Last edited 19/02/05