DATE(S) OF TRIP:19th Dec 2004
WHERE?: Islay
PUT-INS/ LAUNCH SPOTS: Bowmore harbour. Plenty of parking
and good/safe launching in harbour. Return here although there are get
out places along the route. Not easy for access to vehicles but there
are some farm tracks down to beaches.
DISTANCE/ TIME: min: 2 Hours
LOCAL TIDES: As before for Loch Indaal. Can get low
on a spring around skerries off Gartbreck.
HAZARDS/ PROBLEMS?: Not really save for fishing boats
entering Harbour and picking creels.
ROUTE TAKEN: Bowmore harbour head south west keeping
skerries landward. then at last ones - Gartbreck, return landward, heading
towards distillery (Yeah!) and Paps. Bowmore harbour is easily see throughout
whole trip.
EVENTS/ OBSERVATIONS: Today was absolutely BRILLIANT.
There was verglas in shallower water. Absolutely still and the inquisitive
seals popped up regularly. Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebes (winter
only), Oystercatchers, Redshank and Eider Duck. A flock of Whopper Swans
accompanied us as we headed out. Wonderful.
OTHER NOTES: This is a really nice, enjoyable morning
paddle to get close to nature and experience the masses of Geese on
the farm fields close by.
CONTRIBUTED BY: Jeremy Hastings, Islay Canoe Club.
Jeremy runs Islay
Birding and offers birdwatching and bushcraft courses on Islay.
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