Trip to Jura and Colonsay

By R Campbell The Paddler

Dec,1967
This is a brief account of a trip undertaken by 12 of our
members during the Glasgow Fair fortnight to Jura and
Colonsey, culminating in a successful passage through the
straits of Corryvreckan to Crinan, the end of our journey.

The party led by Hamish and Anne Gow in their plywood

hulled Clyde double, consisted of John and Rosalyn
McConville, Alex and Betty Paton, Archie Pitt and Willie, all in
canvas Cloch doubles, Joe Lane and Jim Brown in canvas Clyde
singles and myself and Ian Campbell in a canvas Clyde
double, last mentioned and always last ashore at the end of
each stage. For Roslyn, Willie, Ian and myself, this was our
first sea trip by canoe and speaking for myself, I was glad to
lean on the experience of the older hands at this game.

The starting point was West Loch Tarbert, and for providing
transport for most of the canoes, gear and bodies from Duck
Bay to Tarbert, we are most grateful to Sandy who provided
his large covered van for the purpose. Hamish and Anne ,
having been on holiday during the previous week had
travelled to Tarbert by canoe, via the Firth of Clyde and Loch
Fyne.

Sunday, West Loch Tarbert: Camp site at river mouth

opposite the rough stone ramp for the Gigha ferry boat.
Weather stormy with a strong South Westerly into which we
plodded for nine gruelling miles until we reached our second
camp site on a rise just beyond the jetty of Portachoillan.

Monday, Wind still too strong to move from here into the
open Sound of Jura. Weather sunny and visibility perfect, but
white horses clearly visible outside the shelter of the loch.

Tuesday, Wind had slackened off considerably so we

moved. On reaching Kilberry, eight miles, it was considered
that the wind was right for an attempt to make well the lost
day at Portachoillan, so we headedout into the sound calling
at the island of Eileen Mor before the final hop across the
Sound to Tarbert Bay on Jura. Waves on our port quarter all
the way provided exhilarating canoeing, and since the tide
had a few hours left to ebb, we had to waltz through a tide rip
a mile or so out from Eileen Mor. We portaged immediately
to the head of Loch Tarbert on the west coast of Jura. This is
only ¾ of a mile, but one of the roughest tracks imaginable
and after 19 miles of open sea is no joke, especially as we
were then caught in a violent rainstorm just as we were
halfway across. We caught the last of the tide pouring out of
Loch Tarbert and completed the days trip some three miles
farther down the loch at one of Lord Asters hunting lodges.
Total distance that day 23 miles.

Wednesday, Weather overcast, some showers. Hill walking,

fishing and resting today.

Thursday, Weather dull at first. As we paddled down the

loch to the open sea the weather improved and we rounded
the point to head north to Shian bay in brilliant sunshine.
Atlantic swell here, pounding on the rocks created a nasty
jobble and here and there ugly rocks were exposed in the
troughs of the waves. Perfect landfall on sandy beach of
Shian Bay, living up to all expectations generated by watching
the club slide shows.Camp site at Shian river at south end of
the bay. River runs parallel to the beach at this point and an
old raised bank provides shelter from onshore winds.
Activities, bathing and beach combing. Distance ten Miles.

Friday, Weather perfect. We decided to move at 6.30 p.m.

to Scalasaig on Colonsay ten miles away. This we
accomplished in two and a half hours, a slight North westerly
in the last two miles or so caused a little delay. It so
happened that we landed near the only pub on the island and
closing time was a whole hour away, Jim and Joe remained
on Jura.

visit to Oronsay and ruined priory, dinner in the Hotel

Saturday night. Alec and Betty did a solo from Jura on
Sunday to collect the shopping! Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
Weather perfect, sunbathing, exploring, We all look forward to
the Celeidh on Tuesday night.

Tuesday, Weather good, Hamish roused us at 6.30 am. And

had us sitting in our canoes pointed in the direction of Jura at
9.00 am. Target was Corpach Bay to rendezvous with Joe and
Jim, then angle north along the coast to Northernmost bay on
Jura, named on the map,B.GI nam Muo. Vicious South easterly
wind caught us half of a mile off shore at Corpach Bay and
sent us scurrying for shelter close inshore. The rest of the
journey was physically shattering due to the wind, the jobble
from the rocks and the increasing proximity of the
Corryvreckan tide race, although almost spent in the ebb, had
left its affect in the uneasy motion of the water. It was
fortunate indeed that we landed at slack water otherwise John
and Rosalyn may have had no option but to crash through,
since their rudder had jammed and they had a difficulty
turning into the wind to make landfall. Later that evening
while marooned in our tents, we thought of the Celeidh we
had missed. Distance today 22 miles.

Wednesday. Weather cold and dull in the morning,

continuous driving rain throughout afternoon and evening.
Activities, observing the tide race from the entrance to the
bay.

Thursday, Weather clearing. We made ready for the

passage through the Corryvreckan at three hours before slack
water. Hamish and Anne went out to have a look at it while
we sat at the ready in the shelter of the bay. They came
back shortly, paddling furiously against the tide and
announced that a standing wave out there would finish
anyone who tried to get through, so we postponed our
attempt for another two hours. At the second attempt we got
through on the top of a flattish heaving mass of water, broken
occasionally by all kinds of odd wave formations which kept
popping up unexpectedly all around us. We sailed through at
a fair rate of knots and thereafter, followed the wide sweep of
the current towards the Dorus Mor and made our final landfall
at Crinan. There are a few individual tales to tell of hair
raising experiences during our early attempt at passage
through the Corryvreckan but these can only be told by the
persons concerned. Perhaps they will be told in a future issue.
Distance travelled nine miles.

Friday. Weather fair. Observed big boats coming and

going, chatted with their crews, none of whom had dared to
face the Corryvreckam