Outer Hebrides Sea Kayaking

Apologies for my recent absence… I mentioned in my last post that I’d be spending the summer working as a sea kayak guide up here in the wonderful Outer Hebrides. I have a busy schedule, the meat of which is a series of 6 day wild camping trips around the various islands that make up the archipelago. I do have some days off but often as not they can be filled with day trips from our base here in Castlebay on Barra.. I did bring my surf kayak up here with me however, with some wild and empty west coast breaks to take advantage of it would have been rude not to do so :-)

Anyway.. I’m working for Clearwater Paddling <link>. If you would like to do some paddling up here point your browser at the website, www.clearwaterpaddling.com, and have a look at what is on offer. We work hard to make sure you’ll have a good time…  camping on remote white beaches and rugged headlands, spotting seals, basking sharks, dolphins, otters.. not to mention the wonderful birdlife… and despite the fact that the camping is wild the food will be fantastic ;-)

It is hard work once all the cooking, gear sorting and behind the scenes stuff is taken into account but it feels a real privilege to be able to work up here, I’ve been made wonderfully welcome and feel very much a member of an extended island family.

Here are a few pics from a trip up around North Uist and the Sound of Harris and another camped among the islands around the north-east end of Barra. More to follow as and when..

setting up camp somewhere on North Uist

super high springs brought the novelty of paddling straight up onto grass on one of the many small islands off NE Barra
a fine if somewhat drizzly view from the summit of the same island
foraging mussels for dinner
spent a stormbound 36 hours.. I do enjoy a good storm in my tent
cool caves and clefts on North Uist
wonderful early morning stormy light on North Uist
more of the same
tarp kitchen for when it rains
the empty coast of North Uist
more of.. :-)
a terrific campsite.. sea on the right, fresh water loch on the left :-)
partner in crime, Ben.
another "empty beach on uninhabited island" campsite
appropriate refreshments
despite midsummer being more than a month ago it is still light well past 10pm
glassy calm in the Sound of Harris
Sound of Harris

another terrific beach in the Sound of Harris

west coast beaches on Barra are rammed in August.....
a mellow evening with a fun little wave, on sets bigger than it looks in the photo
for the few nights when I'm not on the water this is home, shared with new friends and behind the beach.. so nice waking up to nothing but the sound of surf and sheep... :-)

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