Magical Loch Coruisk

The locals seem to be complaining about too many folks on Skye. Well last May we added to that with a club trip up to the island.

A quick dip with the Fairies

Feeling on top of the world

 Ken and I went up a bit earlier giving us the chance to go up and see the Fairy Pools along with everyone else on Skye that day! We also had the chance to have a clamber up Blaven, quite spectacular!
 All this before the other paddlers arrived. Once they did and were all set up with their tents we had a quick evening trip out from  Kyleakin, round the corner and in to see the Leopard Man's bothy.

Next morning, well it wouldn't be a trip to Skye without a wee visit to Kylerhea. We spent the day playing there before a group of us paddled back to Kyleakin.

Our next day was one of my best trips, a trip out from Elgol. 

It's not my first trip from here, I've been a few times now. For most of the group it was their first trip. We eventually got on the water and set off along the coast, playing in the rocks as we went. One of the ladies eventually asked what the chances of seeing an otter was. My answer, pretty slim, considering there were 10 of us all chatting away. Next thing we know, a few yards out, there was an otter. It disappeared fairly quickly, however on the other side of us was another otter. I reckon they were both quite young as they didn't seem at all afraid of us. This second one climbed out with a huge fish, sat on a rock and proceeded to devour it. It was not giving up this fish for anyone, not even 10 sea kayakers, all delighted to be watching this at such close quarters.

We carried on across Loch Scavaig and into the heart of the Cuillins. We had decided to go a wee bit further, so hauled the boats out, then working together, lugged them up to Loch Coruisk, further than I seem to remember it being, possibly as I wasn't humphing a boat last time! Once up on Loch Coruisk, we paddled even further into the Cuillins. Paddling up there seemed to make it even more magical. We stopped for lunch, well almost tea! at the far end next to the crystal clear water coming down from the mountains.

 Once back at the top of the Scavaig river, we decided to float the boats back down to the sea. That was quite interesting! The wind had picked up just enough to give us a gentle swell to surf all the way back to Elgol. A rather excellent days paddling!

Lunch spot

Snack spot

Next morning was a tad drizzly, 6 of us set out from Plockton for a fairly gentle plod back down to Kyleakin before the long drive back home.