Uisken, Isle of Mull

Launching from Uisken Beach where the car park is right at the beach and paddling east. Last time we paddled here there was a too much swell to leave the shelter of the bay. Today there was a brisk onshore wind but not too much swell. In one of the tiny coves we stopped and did some self rescue practice.

The tide had droppd on the return leg, forcing us to go around on the seaward side of one of the small islands. This was a little more exposed to wind and swell but still nothing major.

Total Time:	01:44:37	Elevation Gain:	9 m
Moving Time:	01:05:25	Avg Moving Speed:	2.6 mph
Total Distance:	2.86 mi	Max Speed:	4.0 mph

Fidden, Isle of Mull

Time: 02:20:36
Distance: 3.98 mi

Fidden is a bit of a mecca for paddlers and has a great camp site right on the shore. The plan was to head south down to tinkers hole but in the end we turned back short of tinkers hole as it was a little on the breezy side.

The sun broke through towards the end of the day for a brief period so we sat on an island enjoying the sun, heading back to the car before it clouded over again.

Fidden Farm Camping

Bull Hole

Time: 02:50:41
Distance: 3.84 mi

We launched from Fhionpphort and headed north towards Bull Hole, passing Dearg Phort until reaching Eilean Dubh na Ciste. As we approached Eilean Dubh na Ciste we were watched by a group of seals from the drying rocks just south of the isalnd. Careful not to disturb them we drifted past before threading our way through the rocks and onto the beach at Eilean Dubh na Ciste for lunch.



After lunch we retraced out steps back towards Fhionnphort stopping for siesta at the beach at Tor Mor quarry pier.

Bunessan Paddle

Time: 02:27:14
Distance: 3.33 mi

After parking in the small car park by Bunessan Pier we headed left along the shore before veering right across towardsRubh nam Buthan, the beach visible on the far side. The shore was followed north until Port na Traighe-maoraich where after paddling across thich seaweed we landed on the beach for lunch.



After lunch we headed south west directly across the bay first to Eilean nam Mean and then on to the largest island in the bay Eilean Ban for a brew. We sat on the beach watching seal watching us before heading back to the pier.

Durdle Door, Dorset

Time: 03:15:58
Distance: 5.32 mi

West from Lulworth Cove, via Stair Hole and Durdle Door to Bats Head. On reaching bats head we paddled through Bats Head Hole to the beach on the far side for lunch.

The return was the same way we came. Mo managed to capsize when a wave hit her side on while passing back through Durdle Door, right in front of a large audience on the beach. Harvey went in the water as well but he is not daft and headed for the nearest thing abvove water to keep dry, which just happened to be Mo's shoulders, wish I had taken a photo :-) Mo could not self rescue due to having a dog sat on her so we performed a text book assited rescue after first transferring Harvet onto my kayak.



Time: 03:15:58
Moving Time: 01:52:41
Elapsed Time: 03:15:58
Avg Speed: 1.6 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 2.8 mph
Max Speed: 7.7 mph

Wast Water, Lake District

Time: 03:17:43
Distance: 6.94 mi

Circumnavigation of Wast Water in the Lake District.

Stopping for lunch on the shore near Low Wood.

Mupe Bay with the dogs

East from Lulworth Cove to Mupe Bay with the dogs.


After a lunch stop on the beach its back the way we came.

Mupe Bay

Time:    02:52:40
Distance: 4.33 mi

East from Lulworth Cove to Mupe Bay.

After a lunch stop on the beach its back the way we came.

Jersey Kayak Adventures

Kayaking with Jersey Kayak Adventures
http://www.jerseykayakadventures.co.uk/

Sorry, no OS mapping for Jersey

Loch Laxadale

Loch Laxadale, Isle of Harris

Glengorm Paddle

Paddling in Laorin Bay on the north coast of Mull

Uisken, Isle of Mull

Wimbleball Lake

Jurassic Kayak Tours

Time: 02:01:00
Distance: 3.50 mi

The first and last time Mo and me paddle a double kayak, just as well we bought a kayak each :-)

This was a guided trip from Lulworth out to Durdle Door and back

http://www.jurassic-kayaking.com/

Sea Kayaking Cornwall

Time: 02:30:25
Distance: 4.00 mi

Our first paddle in the sea with Sea Kayaking Cornwall from Gyllyngvase, past Pendennis Point and out to Black Rock.

This was a nice first sea paddle as there were just the two of us and the guide. The day started off a bit gloomy but brightened up in the end

http://www.seakayakingcornwall.com/

Lingering Snow

Warm sunshine and blue skies made for a great day out in the Black Mountains with a bonus of lingering snow providing some amusement survival bag sledging in the valley above the Grwyne Fawr rerservoir :-)



The walk up from the car park at Blaen-y-cwm is long and gradual so is to be savoured. rarely have a I climbed an 800 meter mountain with so little effort and sweat. Unfortunately the routes highest point, Waun Fach is a horrible boggy mess and should quickly be passed by, stopping instead on the summit of Pen y Gadair Fawr which although lower than Waun Fach appears higher as you head towards it.

Redistribution…

The high winds of the last couple of days have redistributed the snow significantly in the Lakes, making the fells less white but also making progress easier, rather than slogging through deep snow the summits and ridges has been scoured. In the picture above you can see Mo and the dogs enjoying the view from Ard Crags above the Newlands Valley near Keswick.


I got to use my new Memory Map Adventurer 2800 today in anger as well and am very pleased with it. Anyone who has used Memory Map with their PDA or Smartphone will feel right at home. I will put up a review later.

Too much snow!

The plan was simple, head up Catbells then up onto Maiden Moor to High Spy, returning via Dale Head, Hindscarth and Scope End. Now I knew there would be snow but the forecast was that the tops would be wind scoured making progress  easier and thought that maybe we would need to cut the walk short by diverting down into Newlands before Dale Head. In the end we got as far as Bull Crag on Maiden Moor, the snow was shin deep but occasionally and unexpectedly knee to waist deep in places. It was just too much for our dogs, they were finding it hard going so we decided to call it a day and return to Rowling End Farm via Little Town. Click on the image above to see more pictures from the walk.

Bath Balloon Flight

A hot air balloon flight starting from Royal Victoria Park, Bath heading roughly South out towards Wellow and Hinton Charter House.

Wild Camping on Dartmoor

Backpacking and sleeping wild on Dartmoor is tremendous under clear skies. Camping for one or two nights on the open land on Dartmoor is perfectly acceptable provided that you choose your spot sensibly and don't pitch your tent on farmland, on moorland enclosed by walls, within 100 metres of a road, on flood plains or on archaeological sites.

Interactive map of where you can legally wild camp on Dartmoor
Dartmoor camping code of conduct

Dartmoor National Park Authority wild camping advice