Adventure Blog Scotland | Water » 2007

Trip to paddle the Great Glen

October 30, 2007 on 9:48 pm | In Sea Kayaking | No Comments

Horray, I have taken the first booking for next year, some previous clients have come back and booked me to take them for a trip paddling the Great Glen in sea kayaks from Inverness to Fort William. So five days guiding for July, if only it was this easy all the time. I guess it pays to keep the clients happy …

Tim Pickering
http://www.canoehebrides.com
My regular mantra - Everyone should visit the Outer Hebrides, it is the extreme outdoor capital of Scotland. CanoeHebrides.com - Sea kayaking Expeditions BikeHebrides.com -Quality Mountain Bike Hire

Frustrating week

October 27, 2007 on 10:22 am | In Sea Kayaking, Uncategorized | No Comments

We reach the end of another week and all we seemed to have was wind and rain. We had visitors this week and it would have been better if we had been able to visit the beaches and sights.

If I have a week like this, it is OK if I am working but when you are on a mission to escape it is very frustration, this is doubled by the fact if you are self employed the old addage of ‘no work - no earn’ hurts.

There was one bonus this week I have been given a job by Scottish National Heritage as a part time mink trapper for the winter. This for me is a great excuse to get out on the hill and to the outlying islands with the addition of removing this non indigenous species.

The problem with mink is they have been predating on the ground nesting birds and in the last nine years of paddling here I have seen the birds decline. I am not so naive as to think the mink are the only cause; over fishing, climate change etc also playing a role but I have seen more mink and less birds. It will be good to be involved with what I believe is a valuable project.

Anna is out a the moment doing an interview with Radio nan Gaidheal about sea kayaking for their Outdoor programme. This is great for the business but is also fantastic for the Canoe Club which is another passion of mine.

I read this week about this with interest (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7064194.stm). I would have liked to have been there.

I think there is broader issue, as well, there are too few role models for any young people to encourage them to get out and enjoy the Scottish Wildlands. What are they watching? Where are their influences? Do we need to be making extreme videos of the things we get up to in the wilds of our beautiful country? How do we get the You Tube generation out into Scotland?

RUBBISH SURF…

October 26, 2007 on 3:42 pm | In Surfing | No Comments

Top ten surf spot here, top ten surf spot there – enough already. Here’s five of the worst surf spots in
Britain.

WHITESANDS, PEMBROKESHIRE
Whitesands - the most over-rated break in Wales. Here’s why: Most surfers would agree that you need a good swell, right swell direction, right stage of the tide, good banks and an offshore wind to create good surf. Whitesands will and often does have four of these variables in perfect conjunction, but the fifth will always be missing. So the waves are always rubbish. Like tonight, even though the swell was head high.

What’s worse is it’s my local break. Pah!

And some more rubbish surf…

BOURNEMOUTH
Bournemouth has pretty mediocre surf at present along with huge crowds every time there’s a wave. But next year it will have a new, million-pound artificial reef, creating…mediocre surf with huge crowds every time there’s a wave.The council’s head of leisure services begs to differ, saying the ‘pioneering reef project’…’will make Bournemouth one of the prime surfing destinations in the UK’. What, like Thurso East, Porthleven or the Yorkshire reefs?I think not, because unlike
Bournemouth the above spots receive regular clean, powerful swells.

Bournemouth does so only on months with a Я in them, and no end of expensive reefs will produce quality waves if there ain’t any swell in the first place.I will be happy to eat my hat about these remarks, but I believe my hat has little to fear.

BENBECULA, OUTER HEBRIDES
For all I’m aware Benbecula may have absolutely bitchin’ waves on 358 days of the year, but I know for a fact that for the other seven its rubbish, cos that’s how long I was there once, during which I didn’t see a single decent wave.And for a man who lives in Pembrokeshire, Benbecula is just too far to travel for flat conditions – if it’s flat when I’m there that makes it a rubbish surf spot as far as I’m concerned. And all the bars close on Sunday too…

FISTRAL, CORNWALL
Like most surfers I am a wave rider of average ability. And for ‘average’ surfers Fistral is liquid hell, because when there are waves it’s always as crowded as Paddington Station, and an average surfer will rarely get a decent wave in these conditions because they’ll either be dropped in on by a beginner or beaten to it by a local hotshot.Of course the hotshots think it’s great, cos Fistral does indeed get quality waves and those buggers ride most of them; and the beginners couldn’t care less cos they’re beginners and owt will do. But for the rest of us surfing Fistral is an exercise in utter frustration. Great place if you like beer, curry and a punch up though…

HOLKHAM, NORFOLK
Holkham is one of the most gorgeous beaches in Britain, about four miles long and, it seems, almost as wide, with jade green water, golden sands, pine backed dunes – and not a wave in sight. Ever. And that’s rubbish – what’s a beach as lovely as this doing having no surf? It should be made to audition for the X-Factor as punishment…

Alf Alderson
http://www.alfalderson.co.uk
Multi-award-winning freelance journalist and author of Surf UK - the definitive guide to surfing in Britain.

Storm Gathering

October 22, 2007 on 12:14 pm | In Sea Kayaking | No Comments

What a weekend. The Canoe Club have just held the second UK Storm Gathering. The opportunity for like minded sea kayakers to get together and paddle and socialise in the Outer Hebrides. Over 70 paddlers from all over the country and a few from further afield.

It was fantastic to see all the cars around Stornoway with boats on the roofs.

During the day there were trips and coaching sessions and the Hebridean weather did its best to deliver the storms. Yesterday (Sunday 21 Oct) when we came off the water at the top of Loch Seaforth my anemometer was reading 35 knots of wind, not a wonder we had been blow up the Loch.

In the evenings there were illustrated talks by some of the best sea kayakers in the business at the moments. We were treated to a preview of the video of Patrick Wintertons’ latest trip, paddling, taking in some of the Stevenson Lighthouses on the West coast starting at Barra Head. Exciting and a little bit mad?

It was great, as we used An Lanntair, the arts centre in Stornoway as a base and this allowed the use of the gallery space for art inspired by sea kayaking and some images by Hamish Gow who was the first person with his wife Ann to paddle to St Kilda. Apparently there have only been 13 people who have paddled there unsupported !

Another advantage of An Lanntair was the bar and auditorium for the talks but pull back the bleacher seating and a large area for the dance with Face the West.

So a very successful weekend and lots of people leaving saying they will be back to paddle in the Outer Hebrides.

note: I have just discovered Douglas Wilcox has posted pictures to his blog of the Storm Gathering http://seakayakphoto.blogspot.com/

Calling all female silver surfers!

October 12, 2007 on 3:34 pm | In Surfing | No Comments

Just saw this - it’s great (if you’re a woman and over 60 that is)!

Silver Surfers You’ll have heard of our SmartCityGirl packages - SmartCityGirls are women only rooms and add-on cosmetics and girly things - we now have a world first, catering to SmartSilverSurfers, whether travelling independently or in groups. We’ll discuss with you special autumn, winter and spring rates and the benefits for your over 60 years of age customers - not just a free bottle of wine with dinner, but other add-ons. Call Jamie on +44 (0)131 524 1989) or e-mail Jamie Dobbin.

Hey, imagine surfing with your pals when you’re 60 and then sharing a bottle of wine… I wish I get to do that!

Jenny Glumoff
http://www.visitscotland.com/adventure
Main activity sport climbing but love all types of climbing, surfing, mountain biking and hill walking!

A weeks work

October 11, 2007 on 8:31 pm | In Sea Kayaking | 1 Comment

How do you balance life a and work? I have been asked over the years when are you going to get a real job? Often people think because we work in the outdoors we have a life of pure pleasure, however we have to work and we do have to make money to eat and feed the children.

Over the course of the week I have been thinking about how I take the business forward from here to earn enough money and to remain true to my ethics. I hear the comment it is expensive to do outdoor activities but I have to ask how much would you pay a solicitor? I have over twenty years of experience and you trust me with your life and you are still wanting to pay me the minimum wage. Is there something wrong?

So I have come to some decisions over the the directions and once I have got it clear in my own mind and cleared it with the ‘Boss’ (Anna), I will start the marketing.

The week this week has had me travelling to Barra to run a first aid course to keep the bills paid over the winter.

Before this though we took the weekend off and headed off with the kids and Tommy and family (they live up the village). We had booked the long house (Taigh Làta) at the black house village at Gearrannan on the west coast of Lewis. These are renovated black houses which were abandoned in the 1970’s and have been renovated. There are some luxury ones and there is one large one which sleeps 16, we booked this and took it over. The kids had a great time, disappearing out into the village and coming back when they were hungry.

Gearrannan Black House Village

The Saturday saw us do the ‘tourist’ thing:

The Carloway Broch.

Callanish

Callanish Stones

Callanish

And it is good to remind yourself just why you live in a place.

Running Callanish

The Callanish visitors centre wasn’t as good as I remembered?

For me it ended all too early as I had to catch the ferry from Leverburgh to Berneray on Sunday afternoon (horray for cal Mac making it into the 20th Century Stornoway - Ullapool next?) and then on to Barra on Monday morning. It wasn’t all bad as I had the pleasure of dinner again in the Loch Boisdale Hotel and the grilled skate melted in the mouth and I sat in the bar and watched the Scotland - Argentina rugby game.

Monday morning saw me on the ferry across the Sound of Barra and watching the sun rise.

A days work delivering first aid and then the need to escape to the outdoors. Over the west side and a run up the hill to the mast and then down to the cottage on the headland . What a place it is an old coastguard house and just simply in one of the most breathtaking places. I was wondering who owned it and will need to make some enquiries as it would be great place to retreat to.

House on Headland,Barra

The next day of work is spent looking longingly out of the windows at the blue skies. The end seemed to take forever to arrive and then the mad dash to escape. Over to the beach and dive into the boat.

Blue, so much blue from horizon to horizon, white blue.

The paddling starts as an easy gentle stroll and gradually as I head south the swell began to grow. Approaching the headland a large Atlantic swell rolled under me. As you sit on the top of a wave imagine sitting in a chair on the windowsill of your the first floor and someone behind is rocking the chair, not hard but just a bit randomly, as each wave rushes under you swoop to the ground and then back up to the to the windowsill again.

Barra from a sea kayak
Sea foam
Dinner in the Castlebay Hotel after watching the sun set over the Kismul Castle sets me up for another day indoors wondering what adventures the weather will bring.

Kismul Castle, Barra

Strong winds overnight with rain bring a grey overcast day, a good one to be inside working.

So after finishing, I nipped out to see Nick and Kay at Barra Power Kiting for a quick chat and ended staying for tea and setting world to rights. They are offering great powerkiting, and buggying and they were telling me they will be doing kite surfing next year. They have also just completed their flat as outdoor friendly self catering accommodation and it looks great.

As we talked kites I was begining to regret not bringing my kites down to a kiter Barra offers kiting in any wind direction on deserted beaches and machair … and friendly people, there is only so much room in the car and space in the day

The only things I found hard about being in Barra were; the Vodaphone layby, if you want a vodaphone signal you have to drive out of Castlebay past the Isle of Barra Hotel and into the next layby, so talking to home was a bit restricted, apparently there is a signal from the other networks in Castlebay and as the lack of open wireless networks hence the long blog now !

Surfing on Lewis

October 5, 2007 on 3:20 pm | In Surfing | 2 Comments

I spent all of last week chasing the surf on Lewis. It was my first proper surfing trip and it was a great experience. I had read all about how remote the beaches are and how dangerous that currents can be - and I do agree with both of those!

So I thought I’d quickly run through the beaches I went to and give you my beginner opinion! I’ll start north east and work my way around.

TOLSTA
Very friendly, long, sandy break. We never found it in great condition though, it seems quite hard for it to get some strong bigger waves (like even 3-4 foot). Even when the east coast had off-shore winds it just wasn’t quite right. One day it had very weird under currents going on and it took me out in a strong rip. But I would go again just to get used to the waters on Lewis! It is very remote but has a toilet in the parking lot.

BACK
My favourite! Not as big a beach as Tolsta, but ceratinly not a small place. The left part (north) is great and breaks on sand and to the right it has a reef break with a very nice tube break. We were lucky to get a superb westerly wind and the tide just coming on so had a great session. Close to houses, no toilet.

BARVAS
On our first day one of the locals told us he hadn’t seen Barvas this big in like five years. So we just had to go and see for ourselves. To be honest I got intimated by just looking at it! I don’t know what qualifies for a big wave but this could not have been far of. It was like watching ‘riding giants’. So I asked Stevie what the crux was, cause there must be one, and it breaks on rock. Looked great though but I’d need to surf for another lifetime before I get in there. Not far from a village but feels very remote. No toilet.

DALBEG
Don’t even get me started on BIG WAVES. This is a very small cave like beach which seem to get an absolute massive swell. The wind was a great off-shore south-east on the day we were there and it was way too big for me. Houses nearby.

DALMORE
Looked very friendly, although quite big. I was interested untila local told us about the under currents and as he did I could see how they were stirring up sand all over! He then said, ‘ I love this place but I wouldn’t go in without a life vest today’ and then he pointed to his arm in plaster. I never got in. Very remote, no toilet.

EOROPIE
The star of the north west! Very lovely and friendly beach, close to a village and a cafe. During our week it was always very messy when we got there so I am sure I never got to see its best behaviour. Waves all over the place, very strong swell.

And finally we made a short trip to harris and it is just so beautiful, here’s an example:

Surfmobil in Harris

When we got to Harris the surf was gone -so maybe next time!

Finally I’d like to say that I will go back to the Western Isles in a heartbeat. I loved it. But I must say when we had the most superb wind and swell it was also freezing cold! I did appreciate my insulated hood and 5.3 wet suit a lot. Cheers, Jenny

Jenny Glumoff
http://www.visitscotland.com/adventure
Main activity sport climbing but love all types of climbing, surfing, mountain biking and hill walking!

Surfing

October 3, 2007 on 8:48 pm | In Kayak Surfing, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The weekend served up up an unexpected pleasure, one of lifes magic moments.

The tides were big and we had been looking at going to play on the wave which is created by a tidal overfall in Loch Seaforth on the border of Harris and Lewis. It was all going to plan until I made the school boy error of leaving one of the spray decks (which we use to stop water going into the cockpit) in the barn. Trouble was were were half way there passing Lochs when I realised, so by the time we had turned round and arrived back at the barn it was too late. There is a resticted tidal window when the rapid works.

So Graham and I were sat in wall to wall blue sky in t-shirts outside the house wondering where this left us, so I suggested we should take a spin over to the west side of the island and see if there were any waves. So a quick swap of the boats to the surf boats (they have fins and are a very different shape, more like a surf board with the the shape of a stealth bomber fibreglassed on) and we drove like mad men over to Barvas.

On the machair we began to suspect there was something happening with all the cars and vans, so when we arrived there was perfect green waves at about 6 foot. Folding ourselves in to our wets suits it was a dash to the water and several hours of perfect surfing, some of the best in the world.