Scotland
Paddling at the Dun arch. The water here is rarely calm. The arch is exposed to the open Atlantic with swell and tide moving through it. Sometimes we can paddle all the way through, but more often than not we can only poke our noses in.
Location: Dun, St Kilda
Instructors: Murty Campbell & Alison French
It’s not often the conditions at St Kilda are this calm. But when it is, then we are privileged to venture around the island and paddle beneath the soaring cliffs. Here we are almost half way round the island having just paddled through the narrow gap between Mina Stac and St Kilda. In the distance and off to the left is Boreray.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: St Kilda
If the conditions are favourable, another highlight of the St Kilda Expedition is to paddle the open crossing from Village Bay at St Kilda to Boreray and its sea stacks. These sea stacks are the some of the highest in Europe and form the nesting ground for the largest colony of gannets in the north Atlantic. We’re met by gannets circling the kayaks, so many they seem more like a swarm of insects.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: Stac Lee, Boreray
As we paddle across to Boreray and the Stacs from St Kilda, our first sign that we’re getting close is the welcome party of gannets. Thousands fill the sky and circle overhead until we leave. These sleek and powerful birds favour Boreray’s sea stacks as their nesting ground. When St Kilda was inhabited, its people hunted the birds and gathered their eggs forming the staple of their diet.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: Boreray
Leaving St Kilda is as amazing as the arrival. We’ve paddled its coastline tucked in underneath towering cliffs; poked our kayaks into the deepest and darkest of caves; and explored the island on foot to discover more about the people who once lived there. As we cruise back to Hebrides we’re once again reminded of the remoteness of these islands and how lucky we are to have had the opportunity to visit them.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: St Kilda
Having just made the 40 mile crossing from Lewis in our charter boat, we first arrive at Boreray. You could be mistaken thinking that this is wintry picture with snow lacing the island’s rocky ledges. In fact it’s guano accumulated from the thousands of birds that nest here every year.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: Boreray
Everyone is awe struck as our first introduction to these amazing islands is Boreray. Conditions are sublime and we’ve been able to make the 40 mile crossing direct from Uig on Lewis. Boreray resembles a prehistoric landscape. The sharp edges of this volcanic island haven’t been smoothed by glaciation. It’s hard to imagine that these raw and rugged islands are part of the British Isles.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: St Kilda
If you pick the time of year right (which we always aim to do!) you can experience weather and conditions which make almost anything possible. It’s a rare occurrence to be able to paddle at St Kilda without thermals and paddling cagoules! Having already completed a circumnavigation of the island the day before, we’re being ferried across to our kayaks which were left by the pier in Village Bay. Today we’re kayaking to Boreray!
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: St Kilda
Arriving back in Village Bay having just completed a circumnavigation of St Kilda. The conditions on the south-west facing side of the islands were a little lumpy with swell, as this side of island is completely exposed to the prevailing weather and swell which comes in from the Atlantic. As we paddle through the Dun Gap the group is happy, relaxed and content in the knowledge of what they have just achieved.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: St Kilda
En route to St Kilda, we cruise past Boreray and Stac an Armin. A dozen kayaks are lashed onto the deck and we’re raring to go.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: St Kilda
We’re a quarter of our way around St Kilda. Looking back we spot our charter boat dwarfed by Mina Stac and smaller still when compared to the vertical cliffs of the main island. She’s a welcome sight coming to meet us as we know that going back on board will be our only way to comfortably stop during our circumnavigation.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: St Kilda
Happy to be in our kayaks after the long crossing to St Kilda. Conditions are vey calm and everyone is excited about paddling around the island. Some yachts have also taken advantage of the break in the weather and the day trip boats will be arriving shortly. Our kayakers are smug in the knowledge we will be moored here for at least another 2 nights to soak up the atmosphere and majesty of the islands.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: St Kilda
Toby loving his kayak and making the most of his St Kilda adventure with his group of friends. The expedition suits paddlers joining the trip on their own, in couples, or in a group. The social side is an important part of the adventure: great times are had and strong friendships form.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: St Kilda
One of the highlights on a St Kilda circumnavigation is to paddle through the Soay arch. Soay is a smaller island to the north-west of St Kilda, only separated from the main island by a half kilometre channel. In the middle of the channel is the imposing Stac Shoaigh with its huge arch. Conditions are rarely calm here as the narrow channels and strong tides create some interesting water … even on good weather days. It’s an exhilarating spot and never fails to impress.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: St Kilda
The Monach Isles lie west of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. The islands are low lying and sandy. They are a national nature reserve for the undisturbed machair and their grey seal population. These are beautiful islands to paddle at and a chance for gentle walks among the marram grass and sand dunes.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: Monach Isles
The Outer Hebrides are unbeatable in sunshine! And this is the stuff of sea kayaking dreams. Stopping for lunch on the east facing side of Scarp, looking across to Hushinish on Harris.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: Scarp, Outer Hebrides
Very big smiles after an amazing Outer Hebrides Expedition. We finished the week paddling at the island of Scarp on the west coast of Harris. Shallow water, white sand and crystal clear water, a perfect end to the trip.
Instructor: Alison French & Murty Campbell
Location: Scarp, Harris.