Tuesday

The day was spent exploring the area. Wind and rain has been a constant factor in not paddling today, only to continue tomorrow. Ringing home I find they are basking in blue skies and sunshine.
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Scalpay

Scalpay in the distance
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Lower Breakish Skye

Arrived on Skye this afternoon, wind blowing. Setting off from Lower Breakish in the morning, through Kyle Rhea and onto Armadale. All dependent on weather.
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paddle on Ullswater Lake District

 wanted to have a few days in the lakes so  loaded the Kayaks and did some paddling on Ullswater between the heavy rain had some nice paddling

 Norfork Island above north end of Ullswater

 Lunch stop

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Morning paddle along the cliffs

Scarborough from the sea

Looking Back

Looking back to Elgol from Loch Scavaig earlier this year

Early Morning Paddle NE Coast

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0830 Monday morning Scarborough south bay out for a quiet morning paddle
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My Return Paddle

Due to the weather and being called back into work, my return to finishmy paddle has now been put back again to the end of September.
I will finish it this year  (I hope)  looking up at the weather gods

Return to finish Skye paddle

Finally managed to get some time off work to finish my solo circumnavigation of Skye. The date for the return will be the 5th August, just keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will let me pass this time.
Depending on the wind direction the two possible routes are Uig to Lower Breakish, or Lower Breakish to Uig.
fingers crossed
Follow the blog for updates and on twitter, also live tracking with Spot

Happy paddling to all

NE Paddle

Some heavy showers

North East Paddle

North East Coast Paddle

A short paddle along part of the North East Coast line. A nice start warm and sunny then caught in a heavy showers. 

Part Two

In the next two to three weeks, I'm looking at finishing the other half  of my paddle around Skye, if you have been following you will know the expedition was put on hold due to the weather and a bad case of synovitus in my right wrist.

Other the last couple of weeks with a break from paddling the wrist feels much better. So tomorrow I'm off to the north east coast namely Scarborough to have a test paddle over a few miles to see how the wrist holds up. If everything goes to plan I shall have to get down on one knee and ask my very kind bosses for more time off to go play.

keeping watching this space for the conclusion of my paddle round the Isle of Skye.
 

Day One & Three Camp Sites

North of Eilean Flodigarry

East Coast of Skye

As you paddle north along the east coast of Skye there are some incredible lines of cliffs, the picture below is the waterfall at Kilt rock. Then you get to see pinnicles just free standing a needle thrusting skywards. 

 Lunch on day three was at a little beach just round the corner from Staffin bay, nice and sheltered as Staffin bay can get quite wild in  W/SW wind as it was this day.

The journey continues

Looking into Brochel in the picture below. This is the start of the famous Calum's Road  1 3/4  mile stretch of  road built over many years by Calum Macleod, with a pick, shovel and a wheelbarrow.  Grit and determination by one man not to let his community die.   

 Heading to the north end of Raasay and the small channel that leads from the east side of Raasay to the west.

Day two camp in the bay of Beareraig on the east side of Skye looking north, after crossing from Raasay and getting caught in a nasty wee squall

Few pictures from the journey so far

The winds were a constant factor from the start of the paddle, in between the squalls and showers the Isle of Skye showed some amazing coastline.  The picture above is the east coast of Raasay with Dun Caan up in the mist.
The picture below is taken from a pebble beach next to Brochel looking south at the squalls over Broadford/lower Breakish 

 The same pebble beach next to Brochel where I had my lunch stop taken in the spectacular  views

Exped on hold

Due to the deterioration of the weather and with it getting worse throughout the week, and a right wrist that has a painful bout of synovitus. I've decided and common sense prevails to come back and conclude the trip at a later date. In Uig at the moment wet windy misty. Thanks to everybody that's been following watch this space for the completion. There has been some wonderful sights so far from Breakish along the east coast of Raasay then up to Balmacqueen and round the north east tip of Skye to Uig when the weather has allowed me to view them. Will post some photos on my return home.
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Day three camp

Camped in a lovely bay at balmaqueen. Managed to cross Staffin bay the wind funnels so much
Passing the bay on the way to balmaqueen the cliffs with arches and caves amazing the forces of nature. Will post pics later day 4 having rest day a painful bout of tino syno vitus
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Day three lunch stop

A small beach at Staffin for lunch. Just waiting to see if the wind drops to cross Staffin bay. It funnels the wind straight out into the bay. Some nice arches an the way up this morning will post the pics when I get home
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Day two

Set off from the north end of Scalpay and paddled up the east side of Raasay. Stopped at Brochel for lunch. Then proceeded up through the channel to the west coast of Raasay. Then paddled straight across to the east side of skye which was day two camp
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Camp

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Departing

Set off this afternoon at 1350 after numerous plans from lower Breakish Stornaway Coast guard giving F5/6 very lumpy white horses north of Broadford bay. Headed towards Guillamon Island then on and around the east. Coast of Scalpay. Once in the lee very pleasent paddling. Pulled into a bay north of Scalpay. Early start tomorrow up the east coast of Rassay. Thanks to Gordon & Morag for their invaluable advice
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Arrived on Skye

Arrived on Skye after an 8 hour drive. Strong wind warnings in force. Settling down tomorrow F4 southerly. Setting off from Broadford across to Scalpay and up the east side of Raasay to Brochel. Just at the CO-OP for my provisions. More later from on the water
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Pre pack check

Spending this afternoon packing the good trusty Cetus with all the kit, making sure there is plenty of room for my huge load of food. Three days and counting getting really excited and nervous at the same time. Hope the weather will be kind
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Follow my progress live

Click on the link below to follow my progress as I paddle round the Isle of Skye
Using the SPOT satalite receiver

All being well I shall be setting off from south Skye to finish my solo paddle

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Last Minute Prep

With just over a week to go before I depart from the beach at Armadale on the Isle of Skye on my solo circumnavigation of the Island, its getting the last minute bits and bobs sorted.

Foods from de-hydrated to fresh, water containers, dry bags, packing of kit which part of the boat its best located, I should keep it how I always pack but im prone to change things around.

Im looking at driving up on Tuesday the 10th May and setting off first thing on Wednesday 11th May on the ebb tide.

Really excited to get going, and to take in the exceptional sites im going to encounter on my paddle around the coastline.

if your around Skye in the next few weeks come and join me for a paddle. I shall be leaving Armadale and paddling in a clockwise direction.

Video

Scarborough Video

few more pics

Scarborough to Filey Brigg

Awoke this morning to a good forecast, the sun was out light wind sea state smooth/slight. So off to Scarborough and a paddle from south bay to Filey Brigg and back.

Arrived just before low tide so a bit of a carry down to the waters edge, but high tide on the return paddled to just a few metres from the car, so hardly any carry. check out some photos from today.