18-20 th July : Peanmeanach

On Friday 18 th July nine members met just west of Alisary on the road to Glenuig and paddled the 4km over to Peanmeanach bothy which was originally built as the schoolhouse for the teacher serving the thriving community living at Peanmeanach back in the day. After a quick lunch some members opted for a walk over to the old school in Glasnacardoch just west of Peanmeanach. Others chose to paddle round Eilean nan Gobhar (Goat Island) in the stiffening breeze.

As evening approached the wind died as forecast and the midge and the clegs came out in force. Everyone was very glad of the shelter afforded by the Bothy and a very convivial evening was spent round the fire as plans were hatched for the next day. As predicted the sea was glassy calm the following morning as the group set out to paddle over to Glenuig then on past Samalaman Island and Rubha Ghead a Leighe to the sandy beach south of Smirisary where they had lunch. One hardy soul went for a swim while some others searched for cowrie shells on the tide line. Some were content to sit admiring the view and the profusion of wildflowers growing among the grass at the back of the beach.

On the return journey it was decided to stop for a leg stretch on Samalaman Island’s coral beach. However, the stench from an unidentified carcass which had washed up on the island soon drove them back on to the water! As they paddled behind Goat Island a shout went up “dolphins!” and they turned as one to see a pod of six to eight common dolphins breaching and splashing. One of the group paddled up to the dolphins who played around his boat for some time before swimming off towards the mouth of the loch. Buzzing with excitement the group paddled back to the bothy to share stories and photos of the encounter.

The next morning after cleaning and locking up the Bothy the group paddled west along the north shore of the loch past the beautiful white Singing Sands beach before passing behind Eilean a Chaolais and Goat Island and over to the sandy beach east of Cooper’s Knowe for lunch. Once back at the takeout the paddlers went their separate ways with promises of photo sharing and tick counts…..no prizes were offered but one member subsequently reported over twenty! A bad year for the “beasties”.

Approx distance paddled: Friday 4km/9km
Saturday 18km
Sunday 8km

Paddlers : Sheila, Joan, Bill & Elvire, Iain, Lee & Zoe, Arthur & Gill