Cuan Sound 29/30 Aug 2015 

Another wet and windy forecast for a Club weekend away! With heavy rain falling as we met at the Atlantic Bridge at Clachan we decided to head for the pub first!  There was little improvement in the weather as we set off into the relative shelter of Seil Sound. With the wind against us thoughts of exploring further evaporated and we headed for Cuan Sound to get the last of the favourable tidal stream at about 3pm. We zipped through the sound but were alarmed by the “wall of waves” appearing to block the exit. Fortunately by staying close to the shore we were able to avoid this and paddled round to Easdale for our camp. Sunday was forecast to be the better day but it was still very overcast and windy. We set out from Easdale into the wind and a big swell heading for Belnahua. Here Ken and Liz waited on the island whilst the others - Oliver, Naomi, Gillian and Brian paddled on to explore further. On their return we all sped back to Easdale with a following wind and tide. Once again a very interesting and enjoyable weekend, in spite of the weather.

 Weekend trip, 19th & 20th September, Ulva, Little Colonsay, Staffa & Gometra

2nd time lucky, weather looked like we'd have a chance to get out to fingals cave on Staffa, albeit with an ominous wind due on day two.

Trusting the well known accuracy of west coast weather forecasts, a group of 8 paddlers, Oliver, Naomi, Peter, Steve, Mal, Colin, Ken & a first trip for Spencer 'where's he gone?' Noble.

A leisurely 6am start saw us on the ferry from Lochaline at 8.45, we made it to our put in at Ulva ferry and chatted for quite a while. Around 10.20 we realised we should probably get in our freshly packed boats and try and cover some ground.

The first couple of hours passed uneventfully with light air and calm water, we pushed on noticing less wildlife than usual, only a couple of seals and a brief otter spotting. Lunch on Little Colonsay and Spencer made his first disappearance, turning up to hastily eat his lunch while we were getting ready to set off.

We headed out round Little Colonsay looking at the ominous crossing ahead- it seemed way further than I expected on the map as the island ahead was hidden by a light haze you only normally get on a 2 hour plus crossing. Then we rounded little colonsay proper and realised that staffa was about where it was supposed to be.

A new course and a gentle building headwind saw us on staffa after about an hour, those later to arrive piled straight round to fingals cave experiencing some fairly lump water and a couple of speedboats, Spencer appeared above Oliver walking in the cave and proceeded to leap into the water, one of probably not many people to swim in Fingals cave.

After an explore we all landed to explore Staffa, including the group photo below (Spencer missing in the first we took...) and had a bit more food as a fewmore in the group took on the rough water to get to the cave - obviously it had calmed down as we reached slack water - typical.

We then crossed direct to Gometra, and arriving amidst a huge seal colony (at least 50) decided to push on round the island, hoping to get ahead of tomorrows forecast. Some interesting rock hopping and rock not quite hopping led round 'yet another headland' to where we finally camped in Acairseid Mhor. A couple of sea eagles a stag and group of hinds (red) made up for the lack of wildlife at the start of the day. A pretty good camp saw us up in the morning as Spencer ran off into the hills, trying to catch up with Ken, who was cooking his breakfast outside his tent.

The last day was fairly uneventful, with some good rock gardens to pick through and only the occasional strong wind, back in plenty of time for the ferry and enjoyed a sendoff from an Otter playing around as we packed up at Ulva ferry. Not bad.