Expedition returns for a beautiful evening sea kayaking
The team are back at the Adventure School tonight after a busy, challenging and stunning couple of days. The decision to stay in on Sunday night proved a good one with strong winds and heavy rain observed from the comfort of the living room.
We breakfasted earlier than usual on Monday morning with a view to getting out on expedition in good time and making up some of the two or so hours that we might have walked on Sunday evening had the weather been better.
The team then set off from a drop off point at the small croft of Carbreck, to walk cross-country to Sandwood Bay. Cloud was low and their was still a stiff breeze and squally showers blowing through that eased gradually through the day. The wild land that we were crossing is particularly remote and our route would take us some 15 to 16km across undulating ground without any paths, just open moorland and craggy hillsides.
Once we were into a rhythm we hit a good pace, weaving a little to cross the small burns that trace their way to the sea. We reached the small bothy at Strath Cailleach for a brew at about 3.30pm and then on to Sandwood by 5pm, making camp in a sheltered grassy bowl just above the northern end of the beach. By then the cloud had cleared completely and we had a beautiful evening in one most stunning settings along the west coast.
This morning we crossed the mile-long beach and took a line along the clifftops to finish our expedition at the small settlement of Sheigra at midday.
Homemade soup, bread and Spanish omelette for lunch back at the Adventure School before taking to sea kayaks, making the most of the stunning weather.
We paddled together across Loch Laxford to a small pebbly beach to cook up our supper on trangia stoves, before returning to the Adventure School shortly after 8pm.
The boys have been fantastic throughout a demanding couple of days and will sleep well tonight. The have seen some of the most stunning places that the west coast has to offer.
A belt of strong winds coming through tomorrow will affect our plans a little, but calmer weather due again on Thursday.
