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Hebridean Waves:
Kayaking Scotland's West Coast
Ewan Gillespie
ISBN 978-0-9554273-2-9
Price £12.99 £10.00
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Sea kayaks have long been used to travel silently on the ocean fringes; indigenous Arctic peoples have been doing so with amazing skill and resilience for a long time. A competent paddler is capable of travelling great distances and in seas that would send some larger craft scurrying for shelter. In these days of climate change and greater personal awareness of our impact on the environment, kayaking must rate as one of the most environmentally friendly means of transport. The shallow draft of the kayak and its ability to land on a variety of shores, from sand to rocky ledges, opens up coastline which might otherwise be inaccessible. Coastal animals and birds are often more intrigued than alarmed by the brightly coloured kayaks; inquisitive seals play around the boats and occasionally it is possible to paddle within metres of the rocky perches of a sea eagle.
The astounding beauty of Fingal's Cave on Staffa and the malevolent darkness and power of the Corryvrekan whirlpool near Scarba are but two of the countless remarkable points on Scotland's west coast. In ever-changing waters the excitement and sheer horror of dangerous seas and foul weather challenging the skills of experienced kayakers give way to moments of peace and tranquility in calm waters. Awesome are the tiny Manx Shearwaters on Rum or the 12-metre minke whales off Eigg. But for the author, nothing can surpass the simple pleasure of setting up camp in a remote bay at the end of a long day of paddling, with good company, good food and a sunset to remember for a long time.
Ewan Gillespie, now living in the Highlands, was born in Perth in 1960 and has lived on the Isle of Arran, in Perthshire and in Edinburgh. He has paddled kayaks in such diverse places as Patagonia, Norway, Ireland and the Isle of Man. He enjoys being in wild and remote parts of Scotland and travelling further a field. Apart from sea kayaking he is an active hill runner, cross-country skier, sub-aqua diver and has recently completed a round of the Munros.