Four of us had planned to kayak around Raasay +/- Rona this weekend but the Northerly cold F4 made us change our plans.
The four of us were Simon (“the gadget”) Redmond, Claire ( “the nose”) Eadie , Graham (“the handrail”) Bailey and myself Neil (everlasting Dairy Milk) Black.
After much discussion we camped at Torrin on the south side of Skye by the rusty shed ( which incidentally is no more) . Overnight sleet & snow meant a cold morning start with a brisk F3 wind behind us we headed down Loch Slapin. We stopped off at the Spar cave- an amazing piece of geology ( I would explain it’s formation but its complicated) , goes back several hundred metres up hill inside the cliff and beyond the highest point with stalactites and the other sort, is a natural swimming pool. ( if you like your swimming pools dark and cold that is). Rumour has it that a local blocked off the entrance with a wall and gate and started charging admission. That is until the Navy used the wall as target practice- impressive when you think the wall is 100m down a narrow gully. We met 9 other kayakers from the lake district plus the first of many french tourists on the Skye Way.
After reaching the bottom of the peninsula and watching some rock climbers on the amazing rock formations , we started North into Loch Scavaig and the F4 wind to Elgol. A brief coffee stop in the sun & out of the wind. We bought coffee from the van – Graham brewed his own on the wall in front of the coffee stall!
The next 6 km were into the wind & on to the bothy at Camusunary. We even stopped off to get wood ( and a whale vertebrae) en route. We landed close to the bothy and had carried three boats up to the grass in front of the bothy . We then looked to see how many other folk were there only to realise a sign on the door saying the bothy was now closed. Thankfully the new replacement bothy is only 1.5km away but a bit of a slog taking three loaded boats down to the water again!
The new bothy was great though busy- lots of french folk. Graham quickly had a fire going and no midges meant good craic with the other residents.
Sunday saw us paddling off to Loch na Culice where loch Coruisk drains to the sea- a dramatic setting with the Cuillin ridge behind sprinkled with fresh snow.
Then a short paddle across Soay sound to Soay. Having thought the island was uninhabited we were greeted by a resident burning rubbish. Lunch on a sunny hillside out of the wind . We explored the middle of the island including the defunct basking shark factory of Gavin Maxwell. We headed off back to Skye without circumnavigating the island , reckoning on the F4 wind being a bit of a slog on the exposed coastlines.
Back at the bothy we met our new residents , again lots of french speakers. Graham quickly got a fire going – and we burned any remaining bothy rubbish and Claire shared her whisky , and the Craic was yet again good !
Sunday saw us up & on the water in record time ( 9.20) for our return. A bit of a slog thsi time up Loch Slapin into the ongoing F4 wind which had been forecast to drop ( but didn’t). Again a lovely lunch spot out of the wind on the only narrow bit of sand available.
Unloaded kayaks back onto the cars and back in Broadford by 3pm.
All in all a great weekend despite the weather but the snow on the ridges highlighted the beauty of Skye. Great company and craic. Everyone added their own bit of skill to make the trip work. I think we coped well with adverse weather by choosing better location and shorter crossings.
Using the bothy was really helpful and you get instant friends ( if you have fire , chocolate and alcohol too).
Lessons to learn for me – check location of bothy before departure !
Next time we could have more folk coming
Neil Black
PS I’m hoping others will add photos