Scottish Sea Kayaking Photo Gallery

Loch Sunart and Loch Teacuis.

A 26 km paddle across Loch Sunart and deep into the heart of Morven via the Islands of Oronsay and Carna and Loch Teacuis, 28th March 2004. 

We left Glasgow at 5:50am on Sunday 28/03/04 and  arrived at Nether Lochaber in good time for the 8:15am Corran Ferry for Ardgour. We arrived at our launch spot, (NM582620) Port na Croisg on the north shore of Loch Sunart, at 9:10am and launched at 10:17am. Total distance 26.2 km, paddling time 5hrs 29mins, av. speed 4.8 km/hr, max speed  11.7 km/hr. We landed  at 1650, left at 1740 and with a stop at the Clachaig Inn, Glen Coe, were back in Glasgow at 21:30pm.

Conditions on the day: 

• From Mull of Kintyre to Cape Wrath. Wind: southwest 4 or 5 perhaps 6 at first, veering west 4 or 5, but backing southwest 3 or 4 later. showers. Visibility: moderate or good. 
• Tide times (BST) at Oban:  HW 10:53 LW 17:31 (neaps).

Forecast and tide tables:

• BBC 5 day forecast Lochaline.
• 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 00:20
  • MRSC Stornoway: every 4 hours starting at 01:10
• BBC 6 day tide times Oban.
• Tidal constant:  Salen, Loch Sunart constant as Oban. Loch Sunart ingoing stream -05:00 Oban, out going stream +01:30 Oban.

References: 

• The Yachtsman's Pilot to the Isle of Mull and adjacent coasts, Martin Lawrence.
• Scottish West Coast Pilot, Mark Brackenby.
• Clyde Cruising Club Sailing Directions West Coast of Scotland.
• Admiralty Tidal Stream Atlas, NP218.
• Imray Chart C65.
• OS Landranger Sheets 40,47,49.

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.

GPS track of expedition.

08:09 "Just nipping out for the Sunday papers, Dear." 

09:35 Launch site at Port na Croisig. Chaffinches gave us a noisy welcome.

10:19 Launch site at Port na Croisig.

10:29 Heading SSW across Loch Sunart for the west end of Oronsay.

Heading SSW across Loch Sunart for the west end of Oronsay. The low point on the horizon is the valley occupied by Loch Teacuis.

11:03 Entering Loch na Droma Buidhe (Loch Drunbuie) with Oronsay on the left. We were surfing in at up to 11.7km/hr. Cormorants watched us as we rounded Ceann Garbh at the west end of Oronsay. 

11:13 Loch na Droma Buidhe.

11:15 Loch na Droma Buidhe.

11:23 Looking back to the west entrance to Loch na Droma Buidhe

11:28 In the tidal channel that separates Oronsay from the mainland.

11:29 Leaving the tidal channel that separates Oronsay from the mainland, looking across the west Kyle of Carna to Carna.

11:30 Looking NE to Loch Sunart past Carna. Buzzards wheeled overhead as divers dived before us.

11:31 Looking into Loch Teacuis through the west Kyle of Carna.

11:36 Eilean nan Eildean with basking grey seal, west kyle of Carna.

11:38 The grey seal colony of Loch Teacuis.

11:43 Grey seal with heron behind.

11:53 Approaching a lunch stop on the shore of Loch Teacuis, NM614574. Flocks of dunlin flew over the loch, oystercatchers peeped to one another announcing our arrival while eider duck and mallard duck remained on the surface getting on with the serious business of courtship. Curlews'  plaintiff cries could be heard over of Poll Achadh Luachrach to the south and turnstones scurried around the mud flats now exposed by the rapidly receding tide. Closer by, rock pipits did the same on the exposed rocky shore.

12:01 Looking down Loch Teacuis to Beinn na h-Uamha, 465m, in the heart of the Morven wildlife reserve.

12:35 Stormy sky above Sithean na Raplaich, 551m, to the south of  Loch Teacuis. (For technical interest, this was taken with a polarising filter and a graduated neutral density filter.)

12:37 Looking NW across Eilean nan Gabhar to Cruachan Carna,169m, and Ben Laga, 512m, on the north side of Loch Sunart.

14:37 From the head (south end) we followed the east shore of Loch Teacuis northwards. This is looking  NW to Ben Hiant, 528m, on the north side of Loch Sunart. Two golden eagles soared high above the Morven hills while swans and heron were frequent sights on the loch side.  Sadly we saw no otters which are often seen in Loch Teacuis.

14:58 Approaching the east Kyle of Carna.

15:09 At last, with wind and tide assistance, drifting at 5km/hr through the east kyle past Sgeir Liath.

15:12 Approaching the reef of Drochaid Charna in the east kyle with Ben Laga, 512m, and Beinn Resipol, 845m, in the distance.

15:29 Rubha Beithe, Carna. Once we left the shelter of the next point, Rubha an Aisig Mhor,  crossing  to the north side of Loch Sunart across the narrows north of Carna in the strong westerly wind with an ebbing tide diverted my attention from photography. Then we had a stiff paddle of 4km back to Rhuba an Eilein Mhoir.

16:14 Loch Sunart. heading west looking towards Auliston Point, Morven with Mull in the distance. Guillemots were untroubled by the wind and waves.

16:17 Loch Sunart looking NW to Ben Hiant, 528m, and Beinn Bhuidhe, 282m. It looks hard work and it was hard work.

18:54 On the way home, the Corran lighthouse Ardgour looking across Loch Linnhe to Creag Ghorm, 758m, one of the foothills of the mighty Beinn a Bheithir ridge, 1024m, that guards the southern entrance to Loch Leven from Loch Linnhe.

18:56 The Inn, Ardgour from the Corran ferry.

18:57 Looking SW down Loch Linnhe, past the Corran lighthouse  to the mountains of Ardgour with rocky Garbh Bheinn, 823m, disappearing into the clouds.

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