Scottish Sea Kayaking Photo GalleryScottish Sea Kayaking Photo Gallery
We left Glasgow at 06:15am on 23/03/06. At 08:50 we arrived at the lay-by (NR33716) beside Bagh Sean-ghairt on the B8024 that runs along the SE shore of Loch Caolisport. We were on the water by 09:46. We returned at 15:49.
Conditions on the day: Forecast was E to SE Force 4 or 5 actual conditions NE Force 1 to 3. Tide times:
Oban:
|
HW |
LW |
HW |
LW |
|
02:37 |
08:10 |
14:50 |
21:15 |
|
3.1 m |
1.7 m |
3.4 m |
1.7 m |
MacCormaig Islands. Tidal flow: north going flood +0450 Oban (07:27) south going ebb -0110 Oban (13:40)
Craighouse Bay on Jura:
|
HW |
LW |
HW |
LW |
|
00:01 |
05:41 |
12:13 |
18:55 |
|
0.7 m |
0.5 m |
0.8 m |
0.5 m |
GPS
map of route. Total 23.8km, paddling time 4:22hrs, moving average 5.4km/hr,
total time 6:03hrs, overall average 3.9 km/hr.
There
was a gate down to the beach.
The
Paps of Jura behind the Point of Knapp.
Port
an Aomaidh, Knappdale.
Crossing
from the Point of Knapp to the MacCormaig Islands.
A
lobster boat off Dubh Sgeir, to the SW of Eilean Mor, the largest of the
MacCormaig islands.
Paddling
up the west side of Eilean Mor, looking north up the Sound of Jura. The snowy slopes of
distant (65km) Ben Cruachan can just be
seen.
The
bothy on Eilean Mor, the largest of the MacCormaig Islands. The bothy is locked
and belongs to the Scottish National Party; a rest home for tired MPs?
The
sheltered anchorage inlet on the north side of Eilean Mor.
The
12th century Chapel dedicated to St Cormac (d.640). In front stands the shaft of
an early Celtic cross.
Inside
the vaulted chancel there is a small crypt covered with a slab decorated with
the effigy of an ecclesiastical figure. Some believe that this is the tomb of St
Cormac but he was buried some distance away on the island and of course the
chapel was not built until 600 years after his death.
Towards
the south of the island there is a modern Celtic cross. In the distance to the
SSW the hills of the Mull of Kintyre can be seen rising over the low lying
island of Gigha.
Below
the cross on the hillside, there is a second older chapel that has been built
outside the entrance to St Cormac's Cave.
The
cave is really only a vertical shaft in the rock, so a ladder would have been required
to get in or out. There are two 8th century crosses carved on its walls.
St
Cormac's view of Gigha.
Crossing
from Eilean Mor to Corr Eilean.
The
channel between Corr Eilean and Eilean Ghamhna. Although sheltered from the
wind, the tide was already flowing south like a river. It was only 12:50 and the
tide was not predicted to turn south until 13:40.
Grey
seal basking at the north end of Eilean Ghamhna.
Beach
at the south end of Danna, looking over the Sound of Jura towards the Paps of
Jura.
View
looking south to the MacCormaig Islands from Danna.
Billy
and Jennifer on Danna.
Heading
south for the MacCormaigs again.
Eilean
nan Leac.
As
we approached Eilean Nan Leac, the tide picked up and swept us down its east
side.
Gigha
on the horizon.
Off
the Point of Knap.
Crossing
the mouth of Loch Caolisport.
The
western horizon shows Islay, Jura and the rocks of the Point of Knapp.
Sunset
over Loch Caolisport. Photo by Billy Nicol.
Bagh
Sean-ghairt, Loch Caolisport.
Forecast and tide tables:
Tidal constants with respect to Oban:
Hazards:
References:
Common sense:
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Site editor: Douglas E Wilcox (D.E.Wilcox@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
)
Last edited 13/04/06
Created 13/04/06