Last summer, Heather and I spent a few weeks exploring the wild and wonderful Orkney Isles by sea kayak. Our trip did not cover much distance due to persistent poor weather, but this actually allowed us to explore the area in depth. This vast area of islands is located off the northern tip of Scotland [...]
Archive for the ‘Open crossings’ Category
Orkneyinga Saga 3 comments
East Coast of Scotland Finished (nearly) 2 comments
The above snap was taken as I left Lunan Bay last week. The folk who took the pic had kindly fed, housed and entertained me on the previous night. Just before arriving at that spot, I’d met a large pod of dolphins. Must go back to Lunan Bay sometime … I ran out of time [...]
Portland Fog Leave a comment
Our weekend consisted of a two day paddle in the vicinity of the Isles of Portland and Purbeck. Even though this is our usual stomping ground, you can always create a new adventure, with a bit of imagination … On Saturday a couple of us paddled near Old Harry, but in the evening seven of us [...]
Atlantic Dawn 3 comments
The alarm went at 4.30 am, and I found myself awaking on the tarmac of the car park of Sennen Cove. It was light, but the sun hadn’t risen yet. I’d enjoyed just a few hours of sleep. Indeed, due to some fairly full-on times at work, I hadn’t slept for more than 5-6 hours in [...]
South West (Wales) Sea Kayaking 5 7 comments
We returned to the mainland on Sunday evening having paddled relatively few miles, we’d kept on stopping to say hello to the puffins! On Monday morning, deteriorating weather and work commitments had driven away most of the folk pictured above, just leaving Chris Wheeler, Heather and I. We were keen to visit Skokholm Island; via a [...]
Winter Wight 6 comments
Note: Dog lovers are best advised to skip this post… I’ve just returned from a very enjoyable and very exhausting jaunt around the Isle of Wight, 85 miles in just over 60 hours. I had a few days spare (school half term, and no water in the rivers) and the forecast looked good. My boat [...]
North by North West 10 comments
Below is an article that I wrote about my 2008 summer jaunt. It was earlier published in Canoe Kayak UK magazine. I hope that it’s an enjoyable read … North by North West Last summer, I paddled from Cumbria in England to Scotland’s north-east extremity, John O’Groats. This journey was nearly 600 miles long (557 actually, [...]
Breaking the Curse of Lundy (4) Leave a comment
All that remained on Sunday morning, was the paddle back to the mainland. The sea and weather conditions were ‘manageable’, with the only obstacles being the occasional porpoise. Over a weekend that was simply perfect in every way, we broke the Curse. We’ll be back.
Breaking the Curse of Lundy (1) Leave a comment
I have been lucky enough to paddle to the glorious island of Lundy twice. However, both of my trips have seen the weather turn bad when I’ve arrived; meaning that it wasn’t safe to cross the tides back to the mainland of north Devon. Both times I’ve had to return – rather ignominiously - with my [...]
John O’Groats 11 comments
The photo above shows me at Sandwood Bay, a few miles short of Cape Wrath – Britain’s north west extremity. I waited there for three nights until the wind and surf settled enough to go around the Cape itself. I’m back home having completed my trip at Dunscanby Head, the far north east corner of [...]
Nearly but not quite 3 comments
After 19 paddling days and about 450 miles covered, I’m now camped within sight of Cape Wrath – splendid! Most importantly, I’m still having fun and managing to endure my own company. However I have to take a little time out to call in at work before I resume paddling; so here I am back [...]
Cumbria to Cape Wrath Leave a comment
Well, I’m still alive and well, but currently pinned ashore by strong winds at Machrinhanish. The good news is that (by playing join-the-dots with a series of headlands) I’ve actually made it out past the Mull of Kintyre to the true west coast of Scotland. It’s everything I hoped it would be, and more. I [...]
Mull of Kintyre Leave a comment
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 [...]
Willard 3 comments
I’m hoping to head off on this years’ Big Trip soon. But not soon enough. Starting six weeks from now in the last week of July, I have six weeks in which to attempt to complete the entire West Coast of Scotland in one go, solo. This paddle is part of my rather prolonged paddle around [...]
A first Scilly crossing, 2005 Leave a comment
“Mark, I just bought a second hand Nordkapp and fancy giving sea kayaking a try this weekend.” “This Shell garage should stock everything we need.” “I left the map at home. No worries, I can figure out a compass bearing from the road atlas.” “Um … the GPS is saying that the Isles of Scilly [...]
Ennui 8 comments
In 1997 I first paddled around the south west, and on subsequent occasions I have picked up the mantle of that trip and continued around the UK coast in stages; I hope to have completed the UK for my 40th birthday! Anyway, in 2005 I paddled the Irish Sea coast of Wales and England. I’d hoped [...]
Scillonian III 1 comment
There are two ways to get your kayak to the Isles of Scilly. I’ve tried them both. One way is to paddle there, a biggish but not extreme open crossing. The other way is to take the ferry. The Scillonian III makes the crossing from Penzance most days of the week. It’s popularly known as [...]
Night Watch Leave a comment
On a warm summer night last year, John Gilmour and I made the crossing of Bournemouth Bay from Swanage to the Needles Lighthouse on the Isle of Wight, about 18 miles. It was too dark to read our compasses (we only found this out after setting off, oops) but some guesstimated navigation saw us through [...]
Nor any drop to drink 4 comments
The crossing from Land’s End (the south west tip of Britain) to the Isles of Scilly is nearly 30 miles, heading straight out into the open Atlantic. You cross strong tides at the start, and then two busy shipping lanes. If you are going to attempt this, then choose really solid companions. On this day I was [...]
Launching Out… Leave a comment
This year I am researching, writing and photographing a Sea Kayaking guide to South West England, from the Bristol Channel to the Isle of Wight. This is a pretty exciting undertaking. I have paddled all of this wonderful coast before, but I plan to revisit it all during 2007. Such a chore! I intend to [...]
