 | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > Defendering in NW Scotland |
 
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665   
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Last week, we headed up to NW Scotland, on a Mountain Biking & Sea Kayak adventure.
Following Muddybigdog's post - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic30518.html? - I thought I would share some of the experience. Route here: https://goo.gl/maps/luce3 We left Aviemore on Monday, Defender loaded with Bikes & Kayaks, and headed up to Ullapool. Once above Ullapool, the scenery just gets awesome. The lovely Ardmair beach, and then into Inverpolly. We stopped to take a look at the iconic Stac Pollaidh (aka Stac Polly):  Click image to enlarge Reminded me that I had climbed this with friends via "Western Buttress Edge Route" (Severe) back in June 2007 And then onwards to our hotel for the next 2 nights (about a mile South of the village of Scourie): Click image to enlarge Which has a stunning views of Badcall Bay from the dining room (and our bedroom): Click image to enlarge The main reason for visiting here is the chance of Sea Kayaking round Handa Island. The Scottish Wildlife Trust says:
Most people start out for Handa from Tarbet (around 3 miles N of Scourie). Tarbet is a small bay (see Kayaks on Defender): Click image to enlarge Looking over: Click image to enlarge The beautiful road out of Tarbet: Click image to enlarge Map of Handa:
Handa Island can be tough for small boats, because the West side is exposed to the Atlantic. However we were very lucky with the weather on the crossing (MrsK in her green kayak): Click image to enlarge We put ashore for a leg stretch on one of the sandy beaches on the SE corner of Handa - I think ours were the only footprints on the sand  :
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Then onwards to explore the sea cliffs on the West side: Click image to enlarge And managed to find some flat rocks to haul out at the NW end of the island for another leg stretch: Click image to enlarge Whilst exploring the rocks above, the fisherman appeared, collecting his lobsters from the creels. He came close to check we were OK (we had seen him earlier whilst launching at Tarbet, and he had kindly told us he would be out and using VHF channel 10 if we needed help). The lobsters are sold at the caf�/restaurant next to the pier in Tarbet, So after arriving back on the mainland, we had a lobster lunch...one of the lobsters caught that morning...you don't get fresher than that!!! After some further exploration of the Scourie area by Defender and Mountain Bike, we left the Edrachilles Hotel, and headed South to Kylesku, and then on the narrow (single track) coast road (B869). This section of road passes some incredible beaches: Click image to enlarge This one at Clashnessie really caught my eye (see Defender on L of pic): Click image to enlarge And on to Achmelvich, where we have visited a few times before: Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge An unusual Defender (127/130?) in the car park at Achmelvich: Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge There's a nice campsite here, where we had hoped to get something to eat, but the site's shop and take-away is only open 2 days a week  We had to wait till Lochinver for lunch.
And the famous Lochinver Pie Shop was worth the wait 
Click image to enlarge Heading back towards Aviemore, we stopped on the banks of Loch Assynt, for a look around Ardvreck Castle: Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge This Defender had been following us for a while, we had seen it in a few other car parks and laybys through the day. It was UK-registered but with a French family. I can't remember the wording on the tyre cover, but it may have been rented: Click image to enlarge And home via Bonar Bridge... We did 346 miles on the route, but mostly slow miles along tight single-track roads, and with the kayaks on the roof. Filling-up near Aviemore, I calculated 29mpg... Awesome trip! One to be remembered. Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) Last edited by MartinK on 12th Nov 2019 6:45am. Edited 1 time in total |
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1st Sep 2014 7:39am |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10381
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Thanks for posting up Martin, we should be up there in the next month or so.
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1st Sep 2014 5:12pm |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665
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GREENI - if you pass nearby, let me know
Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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1st Sep 2014 7:24pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10381
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Sure thing
 . I just showed the missus your photo's and she loved them. Inspiring, as always. |
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1st Sep 2014 7:36pm |
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| Tiger Member Since: 06 Jul 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 2265 
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Brilliant mini adventure, very jealous.
Ps http://scotlandoverland.com |
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1st Sep 2014 7:37pm |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665
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Tiger - looks like that link is indeed the Defender rental company
Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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2nd Sep 2014 9:08am |
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| CFB Member Since: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire Posts: 803
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What a stunning place, in bright sun it looks almost tropical
Andy |
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2nd Sep 2014 9:13am |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665
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Tiger - SOT's are OK for short journeys, and for recreational "playing about",and some people love them for fishing. However, they're less capable for voyages and open water.
SOT's can be safer on inshore flat water, because you don't really need sea kayak rescue skills (like rolling, rescue etc). However for longer voyages (like circumnavigating Handa) I would definitely suggest a sea kayak for speed and security. Longer slimmer boats are faster. Plus the V of the hull affects the ability when waves/wind are side-on. You also should really have the safety kit, clothing etc... Happy to help. I'm a member of Lothian Sea Kayak Club where we practice, train etc in skills... Joining a club would be a good start, as many clubs have kit you can borrow (LSKC has a shipping container with kayaks inside, you can borrow for £10/day complete with paddles, buoyancy aids etc)... LSKC has (and I am sure clubs local to you will be the same) a number of qualified coaches and leaders who are happy to give their time to train new members to the club (usually free, but you may give a small donation to the club's coffers). If you're in N Wales, this guy - http://www.summittosea.co.uk/ - is a top chap - we bought MrsK's kayak there. He gave us a free coaching session, and the chance to test a few different boats before we bought the P&H Scorpio LV (LV = Low Volume for smaller adults) from him...He occasionally has factory 2nds at good prices  Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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2nd Sep 2014 3:44pm |
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| leonski Member Since: 14 Dec 2009 Location: Northumberland Posts: 205 
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Hi Martin,
We were up in Lochinver and up to Durness at the end of August. It can only be described as one of the most beautiful place I have have been and I have done a fair bit of traveling. I have been recommending it to all our friends since we returned, which I shouldn't be doing as it was the lack of people that added to its appeal! We managed almost a 1000 seamless/overloaded miles in just under a week...(note to self, buy a 110) Click image to enlarge We were all gutted to return to blighty as even rural northumberland seemed busy! Cheers, Leon Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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18th Sep 2014 7:57pm |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665
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Leonski - I recognize that 1st pic!!!! Just South of our hotel (Eddrachilles) and just N of Kylesku. A stunning place
Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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19th Sep 2014 10:36am |
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