On a mid-December day, we journeyed deep into the fabled Black Cuillin of the Isle of Skye…by sea kayak. The Cuillin is an alpine range with saw-toothed arêtes and peaks that rise dramatically out the sea to pierce the sky.
It is a land created by fire, and carved by glacial ice. The spirits of Highland, Irish, and Viking warriors, fairies, and modern day mountaineers ooze from this remote and unforgiving land of 60 million year-old basalt and gabbro.
And so Kate, Kevin, Joan, and I began our self-propelled journey across the sea, from Elgol, to these magical mountains, and to Loch Coruisk, a hidden fresh-water loch secreted away in a deep and vast amphitheater. The place was described by Sir Walter Scott, in 1814, with these words…
“Rarely human eye has known
A scene so stern as that dread lake,
With its dark ledge of barren stone...”
One of the best paddles in Scotland Duncan - looking forward to the continuation (hopefully including a short portage?!)
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Hi Ian, yes you had told us that last year and we knew it was a "must do" while we're jere this time. Thankfully, the opportunity came up on Saturday. You were SO right! :)
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