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Sea kayaking round Seil, Easdale and Insh.

A 24.2 km paddle around the slate islands of Seil, Easdale and Insh: 23/03/06. 

We left Glasgow at 06:20am on 23/03/06.  We arrived at Balvicar at 09:10 and were able to drive into the boatyard beside the jetty (NM769169). We were on the water by 10:21. We returned at 16:22, started the drive south at 17:00 and were back in Glasgow at 19:35. 

Conditions on the day: Forecast was SE Force 4 to 5 actual conditions SE Force 2 to 4. LW at Oban and Clachan Sound 11:20 HW 17:45, neaps. Cuan Sound ebb to SE start at 10:20, flood to NW start 16:35.

GPS map of route. Total 24.2km, paddling time 4:30hrs, moving average 5.4km/hr, total time 6:01hrs, overall average 4.0 km/hr.

The little beach beside Balvicar jetty and boat yard.

Clachan

Clachan Bridge with the Tigh-An-Truish Inn to its left.

Canada Geese at Ardencaple.

Ardfad Point, Ardencaple. The greyness lifted just a moment to give this lovely warm hint of coming spring light.

Our destination, the Isle of Insh.

NE corner of Insh.

Apparently the owner of Insh spends some time living in the bricked up cave.

Amazing rust coloured rocks. I hope some friendly geologist will be able to tell me their type!

The skerries round the NW corner of Insh, the only landing spot we could find.

West coast of Insh.

David. Looking back to Insh.

Looking forward to Seil and Easdale.

The Easdale ferry and the waiting room

The jetty is made from slate.

Entering Easdale harbour.

Easdale slate.

A very tame cormorant.

David's Valley Aleut Sea II.

A sadly neglected Valley Nordkapp HM.

One of the flooded slate quarries on Easdale looking towards Insh.

Looking towards Seil and the village of Ellanabeich.

Easdale slate with cubic crystals of iron pyrites or Fool's gold.

From the summit of Easdale looking to SW down the Sound of Luing to Cruach Scarba, 14 km away.

Looking SE through the Cuan Sound towards Torsa and the distant Sound of Shuna beyond.

Seil, Ellenabeich and Easdale.

A flooded slate mine on Easdale.

The flooded slate mine at Ellenabeich. This P&H Orion was lying nicely at her mooring.

Looking SW down the west coast of Luing. The Black Islands (Eilean Dubh Mor and Eilean Dubh Beag) and Belnahua are on the horizon. 

Approaching the NW entrance to the Cuan Sound this was the view to the starboard side. The Fladda lighthouse is seen on the horizon.

Entering the Cuan Sound.

Leaving the Cuan Sound and looking towards Torsa.

Entering Seil Sound.

Kilbrandon House.

A supply boat for a fish farm.

I do not have a clue what this iron pillar  is about. It is on an islet at the north end of Port Mor (NM770152).

Seil

Looking back down the Sound of Seil.

Felsted looked a bit rusty. I am not sure if it is still sea going.

Back to Balvicar.

Forecast and tide tables:

• BBC 5 day forecast Oban.
• BBC inshore waters forecast.
• Accuweather sailing forecast for Firth of Lorne. 
• Admiralty EasyTide: Oban
• 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

Tidal constants with respect to Oban:  

• Clachan Sound: constant as Oban
• Cuan Sound: NW (flood) starts +0430 HW Oban at Springs +0515 HW Oban at neaps. SE flow ( ebb) starts -0145 HW Oban at springs, -0100 HW Oban at neaps.
• Seil Sound -0025 Oban

Hazards:  

• The tides in the Cuan sound run at up to 7 knots very soon after turning.

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 Sheet 55.

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 E Wilcox (D.E.Wilcox@clinmed.gla.ac.uk )
Last edited 31/03/06
Created 31/03/06