Rum

Hired some bikes and cycled over to Harris bay.

Rum

Paddled from Eigg to Rum.  Three quarters of the way across a head wind got up, and became increasingly strong as we neared the shore.  The last 100m was quite a struggle. After a rest on the beach, we decided to head for Kinloch, rather than go further round the coast.  As the shipping forecast suggested strongish NW winds for the next few days, we ended up spending a very pleasant 3 nights at the campsite here.

A few years ago it was difficult and expensive to stay on Rum, but the area around Kinlock is now run by the  Rum Community Trust, who are very friendly and welcoming.

Eigg

Paddled over from Gorten Sands campsite (v kayak friendly, recommended. Find them at PH39 4NS) just north of Arisaig to one of our favorite islands: Eigg. We camped on the west side, looking over gleaming white sands to our next destination: Rum.  The water wasn't anything like as warm as it looked, so we weren't tempted to join the 2 hardy swimmers who were camping a few hundred yards along the beach.

Arisaig

a few days before we set out for scotland, we realised that our friend Dave (and follower of this blog) was going to be in Arisaig at the same time as us.  He's just bought a feathercraft K2 on ebay (a fantastic bargain: virtually unused and about 25% of the price of a new one), so we met up for a a paddle together.

2 K2's do kind of monopolise the passing place on a single track road!

Oronsay

The weather was brilliant (even though the rest of the UK was being lashed with storms and flooding) The "strand" between Colonsay and Oronsay is so shallow we could cycle across at low tide!

Colonsay

After a few days cycling on the mainland, we headed over to Colonsay and Oronsay (by Calmac ferry) with our bikes for the weekend.   Both are heaven for birders, with corncrakes croking seemingly from every meadow one passes. Great place for picnics too.

Ardfern

Back for a few days at Patrick and MAs "bothy" at Ardfern, with its fabulous view over loch Craignish....