A visit to Loch Scavaig was top of my wish list of places
to visit, as I wanted to return after climbing in the Cuillins with some
friends almost exactly 30 years ago. We were unsure if the weather conditions
were good enough to allow us to stay overnight, but at the very least we hoped
to have a look. As it turned out the wind was lighter than forecast, and we
ended up motor sailing!
Approaching the
Cuillins.
Around midday we saw a large pod of dolphins, two of which
came to play in our bow wave – magic!
One of our dolphin
visitors.
Shortly after lunch we anchored in the pool of Loch Na
Cuilce, an offshoot of Loch Scavaig just under the ridge of the Black Cuillin. The
pilot book had warned us of violent downdraughts which are capable of ‘blowing
the anchor out’. It was interesting to experience wind speeds greater at deck
level than was being registered at the mast head. The anchor held fine.
The Ridge of the
Black Cuillin.
‘NJ’ sharing the
anchorage with one other boat.
During the afternoon we watched numerous people being
ferried ashore, some from Elgol on the adjacent peninsular , and many others
from a cruise ship anchored offshore. We waited until the evening to go ashore
and explore when all the crowds were gone.
Cruise ship
anchored offshore.
We walked along the shore of Loch Coruisk which is a fresh
water Loch within the arc of the Cuillin ridge, it flows into the sea via a
twenty foot high cascade.
The outflow from Loch Coruisk.
Loch Coruisk looking towards the seaward end.
On our way back to the boat, we had a close encounter with
some red deer, getting to within twenty feet of one.
How did we get so
close!
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