Scottish Sea Kayaking Photo Gallery

"Seeing the Light in Loch Scavaig."

Across Loch Scavaig to the hidden black and white sands of Port Sgaile under the shadow of the Cuillin.

A day paddle from Elgol across loch Scavaig to Loch na Cuilce and Loch nan Leachd, 7th March 2004.

We left Glasgow at 5:10am on Sunday 07/03/04 and arrived in Elgol, Isle of Skye Arisaig at 10:00am. There are a few parking places just before the pier but you cannot leave a car overnight here. If you wish to do this, there is a public car park further up the hill. There are no public toilets so a stop at the garage in Broadford is advised. We were on the water at 11am. Total distance 16.3 km, paddling time 3hrs 45mins, av. speed 4.3 km/hr, max speed 8.8km/hr. We returned to Elgol at 1605, left at 1710 and with a stop for a meal at the Cluanie Inn, were back in Glasgow at 22:30pm.

Conditions on the day:

From Mull of Kintyre to Cape Wrath. Wind: north 4 or 5, easing northeast or variable 2 or 3. veering southeast 3 or 4 later. fair. Visibility: good.
Tide times (GMT) at Loch Scavaig: LW 13:20 (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 00:20
- MRSC Stornoway: every 4 hours starting at 01:10
BBC 6 day tide times Ullapool.
Tidal constant: Loch Scavaig constant -00:40 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 32.

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.

14.1 km, 2hrs 23 mins paddling time, average speed 5.3 km/hr, max speed 10.0 km/hr.

Moonset over Beinn Garbh, Ardgour

Dawn over the South Kintail ridge and Loch Cluanie.

Eilean Donan in the early morning.

Bla Bheinn (Blaven) across Loch Slapin.

Looking across Loch Scavaig towards the Cuillin from Elgol.

Behind Sgurr na Stri (peak of strife), heavy rain obscures Coruisk (Coir Uisge, hollow of the water).

Camas Fhionnairigh (Camasunary) with Bla Bheinn behind. Desktop 1024X768.

Eigg is still in sunshine, as we paddle into a headwind under clouds spilling off the Cuillin ridge.

Looking up Glen Sligachan, flanked by Sgirr na Stri and

Cloud boiling in a Cuillin caldera: An Garbh Coire (the rough hollow) formed by the ridges of Gars-bhein and Sgurr Dubh Mor.

Paddling towards the great ridge of Druim nan Ramh (ridge of the oars).

The "Bad step on the path from Camasunary to Coruisk. the route follows the shallow V crack across the slab.

Sgurr a Ghreadaidh (pron. Greeta) towers above Loch nan Leachd and the black and white sands of Port Sgaile.

Kelp and gabbro.

Allt a' Chaoich: the Mad Burn.

Loch na Cuilce with the Scottish Mountaineering Club hut behind.

There is a colony of over 100 common seals in Loch na Cuilce. After a long winter we proved to be first class entertainment.

Common seals.

In Loch na Cuilche the little waves flashed from aquamarine to sky blue, to white to black as the grreny colour of the water over sand caught reflections from the sky, the clouds and the gabbro of the Cuillin.