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After an amazing trip, we came home to start the process of washing and drying everything and packing it away, with the help our our nephew Tamlin.

 

CalMac

 CalMac take kayaks for free, and we had a lot of gear to upload

Unfortunately, trying to load all gear onto the ferry in a hurry (to avoid delaying the already late-running ferry) I sprained my knee.

 As I couldn't put any weight on my knee at all, it rapidly became clear that it wasn't feasible for us to disembarg on Eigg.  

The CalMac crew were very helpful. They loaded the kayak and everything into their truck and took us to Malaig, where one of them stayed late to help Tom put the kayak on top of our car.

After trip to A&E in Inverness the next day, we started the journey home.

Very pleasant overnight stay in Appleby Manor

Samhnan Insir Beach, Rum

 From Rubha an Dunain, we paddled the 12km, past gambling dolphins to the delightful Samhnan Insir Beach on Rum

 

A chance to relax and do some washing, while being careful to avoid disturbing the deer (which are part of 50 year research programme)

The next day we paddled past an apparently abandoned fish farm to Kinloch to get the CalMac Ferry to Eigg

Rubha an Dunain.

 Rubha an Dunain is a stunning place, thats been used as far back as the Mesolithic

We camped beside the harbour and dry dock complex, that was built by the Vikings, using facilities that have clearly been used and refined by users of small boats for 1000s of years.

 

 

  Above us was a Dun, built of massive blocks defending the headland looking over to Rum

 

At high tide, in the evening light, we saw at least 100 dolphins feeding on a shoal of fish.  Gannets and gulls fed on them from above.

To Rubha an Dunain.

 We spent a few days paddling round the S west coast of Skye to Rubha an Dunain.  Lots of brilliant views.

 

 Having found ourselves battling an unexpected force 4+ headwind, we paused a few hours in the little cleft of Rubha a' Gheodha Bhuidhe under the Cuillins, waiting for the winds to decline (luckily they did) 

The coast is quite committing, because its not always easy to land, even for a pee.

Our "Basha"

 This trip we solely used our basha, leaving our Hilleberg tent in the car. We like the basha because it is spacious, light weight (1kg) and compact and gives an excellent view.

It is now quite a sophisticated and versatile design. The outer is made of a rectangle of 36g/m2 silnylon, with 2 triangular side wings to increase the shelter it gives.   On this trip we brought a pair of light weight walking poles to support it, but if we were somewhere with more trees, we'd probably leave the walking poles at home and just find some dead branches to use.

Critically important for Scotland, it now includes a zipped inner made of  midge proof netting, with a sewn in groundsheet.

On a calm evening, the midge protection is vital!

Theres a front "porch" that can be rolled down to increase protection from rain or dew.  For this trip we'd created some additional "awnings" (one is visible in grey in the lower photo) that can be attached to the sides to increase protection from rain or wind if needed.

 

We use paddles, (or nearby trees, or fallen branches or even bikes) to create a "skyhook" to hold up the rear.

If we want to cook in showery conditions, we sometime also add a paddle at the front to lift up the porch and create a nice sheltered area for cooking.

 

It works really well, unless the winds are strong (>Force 4) from the front, at which point one needs to turn it round or re-pitch somewhere more sheltered.

The fabric came from our favourite supplier, Extreme Textil in Germany. Sadly, because of Brexit, theres now a 160Eu minimum order value for shipments to the UK, and we know of no UK stockists.

Equipment

 A few things that make life comfortable and hygenic.

Washing up

We really like our folding washing up bowl (OK yes, we really do take the kitchen sink with us!) and a little mini-washing up kit. This consists of a small bottle of washing up liquid, a scourer and a third of a sponge in a net bag.

Going to the loo...

 When wild camping, dealing with "waste" is critically important. 

We have evolved a system with a "poo pack" this consists of a titanium trowel, a small roll of loo paper in a snappy bag, a bottle of hand sanitiser and some snappy bags for disposing of loo paper if we're somwhere where it won't degrade in the hole we dig. Scottish Sea Kayaking advise taking all loo paper home with you.  It's all wrapped up in a snappy bag.

We also like our "his n' hers" containers ... When its raining or midgy outside, it can be very nice not to have to leave the tent!

Point of Sleat

 In calm conditions, we paddled across the sound of Sleat and then along the coast to camp at the lovely beach of Camas Daraich

We met Roddy (a keen fisherman) and Marianne from Denmark there, and they took some pictures of us setting off

Malaig

 After a night in the Loch Shiel Hotel, we headed up to Malaig to start the next stage of the trip.

With a forecast of an extended period of good weather, our aim was to paddle from Malaig to Rum, via Skye, and then if possible to continue to Eigg (by kayak or CalMac ferry) to join their celebrations of 25 years of community ownership on 11 June

Lots of sorting out by the roadside in Arisaig....

 

before launching at Mallaig harbour

Loch Teacuis

 We explored Loch Teacuis.

The tidal stream is strong in the narrows, so we couldn't stay long, but had a nice lunch and collected some firewood and water from the Island of Carna

Oronsay, Loch Sunart

 Couple of nights camping on Oronsay. Nice place, but important to bring you own water.

We were camped just below the deserted village (to see our "basha" look carefully at the peninsula in the middle of the photo below).   

It must have been an incredibly tough living here. Sad too, because presumably the inhabitants had been evicted from their homes and farms in Ardnamurcen in the clearances  We were probably using the slipway they'd created.

Salen Ferry, Loch Sunart

 With force 4+ winds forecast from the North, we decided to start by paddling on the more sheltered Loch Sunart, from near Salen Ferry to spend a couple of nights on the island of Oronsay

There are limited launching points on the western end of Loch Sunart, but the picnic area about 2km to the west of Salen Ferry is a popular Kayak lauching spot, and a nice place to assemble the K2

 

Beinglas Campsite

 We started our 2022 trip to scotland today, breaking the journey at the lovely Beinglas Farm Campsite, just north of Loch Lomand. 

We'll stop here again!