Mull of Kintyre

Moon, from my house

As a small boy, I heard Paul* and Linda wailing to the accompaniment of bagpipes and the Mull of Kintyre was permanently etched into my consciousness. I knew that the Mull was a real place somewhere up in Scotland, but in my imagination it was as remote and inaccessible as the dark side of the moon. I’d never been there and in the intervening three decades, still never have done.

The weekend after next, I launch from west Cumbria. It’s then a long crossing across the Solway Firth to Scotland, and then the next few days will see a series of shorter crossings heading west to the Mull of Galloway. I then have to cross the Firth of Clyde to the Mull of Kintyre itself; either in a series of hops via the isle of Ailsa Craig, or in one long hop right across. The Mull of Kintyre is the beginning of Scotland’s west coast, effectively my start line for the paddle to Cape Wrath; Britain’s most northwesterly point and my eventual target this summer.

I’ve been mentally rehearsing this plan for several years now. It requires perfect weather and will take me about a week in such conditions. But it blatantly isn’t going to happen, or certainly not as I’ve hoped. The wind has now blown hard for a month straight, and the odds of me getting the settled conditions I need are very unlikely indeed. Right now, the Mull of Kintyre seems as remote as the dark side of the moon.

*This was post-Beatles but pre-Ebony and Ivory, Frog Chorus and Heather Mills showdown, when Macca still had a scrap of dignity left.


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South West Sea Kayaking

South West Sea Kayaking

Previews

Please enjoy previews of 'South West Sea Kayaking' here and here.

About this blog

During 2006-8 I researched, photographed and wrote 'South West Sea Kayaking', a detailed guide to the coasts and islands of South West England; from the Bristol Channel to the Isle of Wight.

'Savage Shores: Britain's Coastal Environment' is the working title of the book currently being researched and written by my wife Heather and myself for Pesda Press. The book aims to explain the climate, geology, landforms, natural history and human history of the coastal environment to walkers, sea kayakers and others enjoying this wonderful part of Britain's natural heritage.

This blog is intended to keep you up to date with our progress and adventures in working on the book.

Pesda Press Titles

 

South West Sea KayakingSea Kayak with Gordon Brown DVD

 

Rock Trails Lakeland Rock Trails Snowdonia

 

Sea Kayak Handling Scottish Sea Kayak Trail

 

Sit-on-Top Kayak Sea Kayak Navigation

 

Welsh Sea Kayaking Sea Kayak

 

The Northern Isles Scottish Sea Kayaking

 

Oileáin English White Water

 

Scottish White Water Kayak Rolling

 

British Canoe Union Coaching Handbook BCU Canoe & Kayak Handbook

 

Kayak Surfing The Seamanship Pocketbook

 

Scottish Canoe Classics Scottish Canoe Touring

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