My first time paddling on or near Mull’s coast and what a place it is. We headed over on a late ferry from Oban, on the day of various sporting events, including the Oban Sea Kayak Race, so there was quite a buzz in the town to enjoy before our departure. Great views from the ferry at sunset, but our late crossing meant we finally got to Calgary Bay very late, and with people already bedded down, we were as quiet as we could be. Next morning we had a very early start, so again quiet as mice striking camp, then the short drive to other end of beach where we could get ready without disturbing anyone.
What a day! Our best conditions for paddling in a long time. Flat calm, sunshine, but not too hot. Big open spaces and lots of islands and mountains (on Mull) to view. Porpoises, birds, seals, even gorgeous jelly fish and anemones.
By 9am, we had covered 15km and were rewarded ourselves with a quick coffee stop on Staffa before crossing to Dutchman’s Cap, the southern most of the Treshnish Isles. Lunch further up this chain of islands before continuing back to Calagry Bay and quite a different scene. What had been an empty beach on our launch was now teeming with people doing what people do at beaches on warm, sunny days. Great – I took inspiration from others and finished off the day with a swim.
The long drive down Mull’s east coast had us arrive in Fionnphort with rumbling tums, so eating was the priority before getting settled at the campsite at Fidden Farm – one of the best I’ve stayed at.
Three evenings enjoyed there with great sunsets and starry nights, but we were only spared winds for our day on Staffa, and they were back in full force for our remaining journeys round Erraid, (somewhere I have wanted to visit for a long time), Iona and the north coast of the Ross of Mull.