8 of us met at Sconser pier for this trip. Northerly winds were forecast but deemed of low enough strength for the trip to take place. we headed up the west coast as the forecast suggested a NNE wind. The ferry car park was busy so having unloaded boats we moved cars to fill the lay bay on the main road. Blue skies and moderate winds saw us having a lunch stop at Inver before jumping back on the water and slogging north to camp in Loch Arnish. Initial possible sites were rejected in favour of a lovely site on the south side at NG 580482.
Day 2 saw a calm start and a clear passage through the narrows between Raasay & Eilean Fladday and across the bay to the hidden gap between the top of Raasay and Eilean Tigh. Leaving 4 of the group at he beach nearest the bothy, 4 of us ( Richard , Sue , Graham & myself) paddled up the east coast of Rona to the church. Some pfaffing ensued to moor the boats on the water & secure the lines to appropriate rock fastenings ensuring the plastic boat ( mine) was against the rocks. we explored the church cave but denied Graham ( LSKC treasurer) the opportunity to take up a collection. We returned to the boats , unpicked the cats cradle of ropes and returned to the rest of the group near the bothy. A leisurely paddle down the coast with a gentle Northerly breeze brought us to Brochel castle- an a mazing medieval construction perched perilously on a rocky outcrop. Green swards of grass would have meant excellent camping but opting for a shorter paddle on the final day we opted to move 3km down the coast to South Screapadal NG 583442. A not ideal landing & carrying heavy boats over small boulders wasn’t great. The camp ground was about 25m uphill but flat , midge free in the breeze and with its own shed ( a former MOD hut with barbed wire surround and broken gate ( not us , honest Guv !)
So the shed became kitchen and night club ( Cathie’s idea). It was a bit chilly & we didn’t have a fire but the craic was good – oh & we had a visit from some local young people who had camped on the shore . One of them was a staff member from Raasay house so filled us in on the Channel 4 SAS show filmed there. Sadly from Cathie’s point of view none of the ‘young people’ had brought any Buckfast!.
We continued to abuse MOD property by using their marker pole as a clothes dryer.
Sunday morning was a beautiful flat calm day and we meandered our way down to Hallaig and the waterfall along this stunningly beautiful coast. Cultural reference to Sorley McLeans poem here from Martin. (only the best trips have this cultural quality!).
We all showered under the waterfall before heading round to Eyre for lunch and some signs of civilisation.
Last few km had a brief glimpse of an otter then 3 km of broadside F4 northerly back to Sconser slipway. By the way several sightings of Sea Eagles during this trip
Thanks again to Richard for helping lead this trip and also to Cathie , Martin , Sue, Graham, newbie Morag and Catherine