Exploring the Hebrides | Solo fishing and boating around Rum, Eigg & Skye

A couple of days afloat in my small boat exploring the fabulous cliffs and lonely beaches of Eigg, Rum, Skye and Arisaig. Sampling the fishing and soaking up sun amidst the fantastic scenery of the Scottish Hebrides.
I spend the night on Rum, boat camping aboard my 16 footer in the isolated and beautiful sheltered sandy bay of Samhnan Insir and watch the sun set and rise again over the Cuillin mountains of Skye.
I'm exploring rather than fishing, but pollack, coalfish, mackerel, wrasse and ling all put in an appearance. Plenty of food for thought for a future trip!
Music by Whitesand - Eternity
• Whitesand - Eternity (...
whitesand.band...
🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.c...

[@elawislocka4202]

Excellent video Doug...the Scottish tourist board should be paying you for these great adverts of the best country in the world....

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Haha! - Thank you, but I think there is some very stiff competition out there on KZbin! In weather like this, it's a joy to turn on the camera in such surroundings.

[@AdrianxGill]

Spectacular cinematography!

[@Corkwing-DougK]

It's a spectacular place! In calm, sunny conditions it's hard to go wrong around here - the views are great in every direction.👍

[@johnpringle4759]

Wow absolutely amazing scenery

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Cheers! - that was a terrific little cruise, in perfect weather, and I really enjoyed it. Hard to beat having a quiet beer on a warm evening whilst watching a Hebridean sunset 🙂👍

[@patwilbourne]

Fantastic video 👍🎣 Tight Lines.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks for watching - it was a beautiful part of the world to visit and I hope to get back there again. It really deserves a longer trip!

[@johnhorner769]

That breakfast sunrise was spectacular Doug. Thankyou for showing us some wonderful scenery.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Glad you enjoyed it - I was very tempted just to sit there for another hour watching the sun climb higher.

[@1983caveman]

Doug your videos get better and better mate..... They provoke me to jealousy 😂I love how you can tour such spots and not see a soul. Total class. Thanks for the video

[@Corkwing-DougK]

It's not really anything I do - it's just such a fantastically photogenic area that even I can't completely screw up the scenery. As for the rest of humanity, they just see a scruffy bloke waving a filleting knife, and scarper! I do try and plan these trips to be in quite remote areas, so you don't often meet other people. Apart from a few yachts I really didn't see anyone until I arrived back at Glenuig.

[@1983caveman]

@@Corkwing-DougK honestly Doug they are so inspiring. I've travelled a fair bit in my time and can honestly say our wee country is up there with the best. I'm hoping to get a boat myself in time and aim to do the type of trips you go on. The more remote the better in my opinion. Do you have a favorite haunt?

[@andrewhall6880]

fantastic thank you for sharing

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Many thanks - roll on summer and I might even manage a repeat! Nothing but cold north and east winds at the moment, which does nothing for the fishing or my enthusiasm!

[@richardjohnson3463]

Stunning

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Nothing quite like a Hebridean sunset 🙂 I do have one or two more trips up my sleeve but they will definitely have to wait for summer.

[@richardjohnson3463]

@@Corkwing-DougK look forward to that 👍

[@pr1tch1]

Another brilliant video Doug . Really enjoyed it. Keep them coming ! Thanks 👍

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks Stephen - I'm just back from a couple of days bog hopping up north, although I'm not sure if there's enough in it to make a decent video. We'll see!

[@thehighlandfisherman3745]

Cracking scenery. I've seen that wreck from the ferry and also had never heard of it!

[@Corkwing-DougK]

I had a look through the MAIB report and felt a little sorry for the skipper - no question he was in the wrong, but you could see a trail of small things leading to him being exhausted and just falling asleep at the wheel. I'm surprised the wreck is still in reasonable condition, although I suppose Canna and the Outer Hebrides protect it from the worst of the swells.

[@tamlyon4435]

Stunning photography Doug 👏 a trip I have to emulate 👍

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Timing is everything on these trips, as you need to line up the weather and sea state just right. I'm lucky as I take advantage of a weather window more easily than most - Ii's fantastic when it comes together though. If you haven't already had a look then search for Donny Wilcox on YT as he's done some longer trips around the west coast using just a SIB.

[@jpirie9017]

I could watch your videos all day Doug

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks - I do enjoy making them as it adds another dimension to my day. Editing can be a pain at times though - especially when you realise you've screwed up a clip and have to figure out how to fill a gap in the video. Gradually getting more organised about things!

[@timclarke1791]

Really enjoyed that stunning video stunning scenery breath taking views ..A1 Doug 🎣🎣🎣

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Glad you enjoyed it - I really like doing a longer trip like that, even if the fishing itself is rarely great.

[@paulrobinson2168]

Hi Doug a great film. Lovely weather lovely shots showing the islands and sea at their best. The drone shots of the boat in the bay really set the scene, sleeping on the boat and an early bacon breakfast must have added to the trip. All the good things together.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks Paul - I can see a return trip to that bay on Rum in the future, as it's a stunner. Hebridean sunsets and sunrises are pretty hard to beat, especially if you're out of reach of the midges!

[@izhevski09]

Outstanding clips Doug ❤ thumbs up for all this time you spent on recording, putting bits together etc. I can feel like I'm there right next to you! Excellent work Sir! Big thanks again! Keep it up! 👍

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Glad you enjoyed it - it was great fun to do. I've got another couple of trips I'd like to try this year if the weather is kind over the summer.

[@izhevski09]

@@Corkwing-DougK can't wait to see !

[@thomasfrench7212]

Hi Doug, Many Thanks for another excellent video, So looking forward to your next adventure.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Well I've got some time off this month - just need the weather to play nice!

[@alantipple3684]

Am hoping to head up your way next year, keep the videos coming they are a great watch and really show how beautiful it is 🎣🎣🎣

[@Corkwing-DougK]

It's a lot easier for me as I'm close enough to grab a weekend when the weather looks good - a bit harder when you have to plan in advance and take your chances on the day. It doesn't always have that picture postcard feel 😊

[@DavidTYork]

Stunning video (and weather) Doug, thank you for taking the time to share. I am even more excited to be heading up to Skye next week. The very first time I saw a whale was at Elgol looking out towards Rum. A pair of Minke swam all the way along that water between the islands. Amazing. David

[@Corkwing-DougK]

There were good numbers of dolphins between Rum and Skye, although I didn't see any whales. There's certainly plenty of bait fish around which should be encouraging the larger predators, so you're in with a shout! I'm sure you'll have a good break, especially as the summer crowds will be thinning out a bit by now.

[@davesmith559]

Another great looking trip,thanks

[@Corkwing-DougK]

It was great fun being out on a lovely calm sea, just going where the fancy took me. Freedom!

[@LauraDawn11]

Brilliant as always 👌

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks! I still feel very out of practice after a year of doing very little really, although it makes this sort of trip all the more enjoyable in a way.

[@chandusdevotionalthoughts]

👌👌👌👌👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😍😍😍

[@Carrera-gp9od]

Absolutely gorgeous

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thank you - Liz thinks the same😊 😊 You'd really struggle to beat the Hebrides on a calm, sunny day - we just need more of them!

[@chrisdavison2022]

I've only just found your channel, but your videos are stunning! They're making me want to do what you've done....!

[@Corkwing-DougK]

I think the key is to be flexible - I spend a lot of time over the winter poring over maps and the like to figure out possible routes and camping/fishing locations. Have several worked up and ready to go, and then just choose one that best suits the conditions. You also don't see the trips where I don't even bother to edit them into something watchable (there are a lot of these!) 😊

[@chrisdavison2022]

@Doug K Guess that's what I'll be doing this winter... Thanks again! 👍

[@thomashawk21]

That sunrise would have me stunned wouldn’t get any fishing done said it before when a grow up a want to be like you I’m a wee bit there got all fishing equipment just need the boat and a kayak

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Well that was certainly a cracking day afloat and one reason I really like the freedom you get with a boat - but I've had plenty of days like that sitting on the shoreline too. Just go to be flexible and be prepared to chase down these little windows the weather gods chuck at us from time to time!

[@jollyman7796]

wish i had that weather start of august in portpatrick great vid and the scenery is 2nd to none

[@Corkwing-DougK]

It does take a bit of organising but I'm lucky that I can decide on where to go at pretty short notice. Quite often I don't make a final choice until the night before - but that really only works for solo trips. Biting my nails watching forecasts for a multi-day session for 2 or 3 of us down in Galloway is much more stressful!

[@Adventuristic89]

Outstanding Doug 👌👌

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks - it was a great trip in a fantastic part of Scotland!

[@strikenowfishing1406]

Fantastic scenery enjoyed the trip👌

[@Corkwing-DougK]

It's hard to go wrong with a backdrop like that. It was really good fun to be running around in such beautiful weather and surroundings.

[@charliea697]

Great video. Lovely droneshots.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

The drone's a recent addition/complication so I'm still on a steep learning curve. It's fun to fly but I think I'm going to slam it into a cliff before too long!

[@charliea697]

Haha hopefully not!

[@simoncbroadley9577]

great video keep it up

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hoping to get out again soon! This trip was at the end of August but I generally prefer September/October and May/June over the summer months.

[@valentinsava6787]

Nice video Mr Doug K...

[@Corkwing-DougK]

I'm glad you liked it. More exploring than fishing this time, but I'm very happy to soak up a bit of sun and scenery!

[@michallowther4160]

Stunning as always , Doug. Thanks for keeping us going through these difficult times. By the way. ,love the music at the end. Can you say what it is. It seems to reflect the magnificent surroundings.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Glad you enjoyed it! If I use music I usually put links in the description, although I know it depends on your device whether you actually see it or not. In this case the soundtrack is composed by Whitesand and is a piece called Eternity - links are kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmbGaWaLnt2ioJo whitesand.bandcamp.com/ 🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/3GXunV3wsCpSdKp0L5tcNH

[@stevesdaysoff2759]

Hi Doug. Very good video with lots of fantastic scenery. What's the casting rate of the spinning rods you use. Really enjoyed watching. Atb Steve 👍

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Steve, Back from holiday now, so I checked and it's a Berkley Air 8 foot rod, casting 10-30g. I also use a Shimano BX Exage 270 Extra Heavy travel spinner which casts 50-100g - but this covers a lot of different ground, including acting as a pike rod and as a light beachcaster when I'm backpacking. It's not a great spinning rod, just a reasonable compromise for what I do. I don't tend to spend huge amounts on lure rods as I don't treat them very gently and their life expectancy isn't too long. Cheers, Doug

[@stevesdaysoff2759]

Thank you 👍

[@peterscott8692]

Hello Doug. Excellent video. I messaged you last year with regards a trip to Skye. Well we eventually got there. We had 2 glorious weeks from 18-8 to 4-9 . We were based in Torrin and could launch our boat in Loch Slappin. We explored many bays and open sea covering some of the areas you covered in this video including the oberon bank , all we could get there was Mackies millions of them. We ventured around to Elgol and out to Rum. Really good fishing with many different species. Although we did not catch any skate. Loads of spurs upto approx 20lb.What date were you there as we may have been in the same area at similar times. We are possible looking to be based in Fort William next summer so hoping for some decent fishing next year.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Peter - it would've been 22/23 of August, so I missed my chance to run you down 😁. Glad to hear you'd good fishing with the weather on your side, as it makes a colossal difference. Were you launching at the old fish farm slip opposite Torrin? I've never fished the Fort William end of Loch Linnhe although it sounds similar to some of the other inner sea lochs with doggies, smaller spurs and thornies being the mainstay, with codling and possibly pollack along the margins. Good chance of skate though as there are loads down towards Oban nowadays. You'd also be roughly 60 minutes towing from where I launched at Glenuig if you fancied another crack at the Oberon!

[@peterscott8692]

@@Corkwing-DougK hi launched at the out door activity centre at Torrin itself , A small concrete ramp onto the compacted shingle giving launching access at all states of the tide. We will be based at Fortwilliam , this will give us access to Mull , Loch Leven and down to Oban.

[@peterscott8692]

@@Corkwing-DougK we were fishing a trench of Loch Eishort on the 22nd . 23rd was a family day out to Elgol by car... So you probably passed infront of us.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Peter, thanks - that looks quite a handy slipway so I'll tuck it away for next year. You'll probably know this anyway, but if you're heading as far as Oban there are good numbers of skate down the west side of Kerrera and just out from Bach Island. Most 100lbs or under, but we've had fish over 200lbs as well. Numbers seem to have really bounced back in recent years so I reckon you'll find them closer to Fort William too.

[@rogertaylor7109]

Away to ullapool 1st Nov guna try a few marks on Skye as well

[@Corkwing-DougK]

I think you'll do better on Skye than at Ullapool, certainly for pollack, but good luck wherever you wet a line. There's a lot of coast to choose from!

[@rogertaylor7109]

@@Corkwing-DougK thanks mate yeah had some good days on skye last few years before this unfortunate year or so

[@DarioFerrari23]

Hi Doug, How is that slipway at Glenuig and is there parking for car and trailer? I’m up that neck of the woods quite a bit but i use Mallaigs slipway and i usualy head over to Inverie on the Knoydart peninsula.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Dario. It depends on how brave you're feeling 🙂 There is a bit of parking alongside the road and past the fisherman's huts. To reverse from the parking and onto the slip you need to sweep over the main road to get lined up - it's not a busy main road and I had no problem, but it adds a little pressure. The slip itself is very narrow and wasn't that easy with my fairly narrow trailer - you might manage a Warrior 165 but you'd have very little room for error. I'd say the slip is good roughly 4 hours either side of HW, but it ends abruptly with a vertical drop so take care. The surface was generally good but there are some voids appearing in the side walls - not too bad when I was there 18 months ago. Pretty exposed to any wind from the NW, otherwise OK. You can launch off the beach at Glenuig too, but I don't know anything about how practical this is. Are you using the slip in the centre of Mallaig, or is there another one? That looked a bit busy for my liking, especially if you had to leave the boat while you found somewhere to park. OK with two of you I guess! Cheers, Doug

[@DarioFerrari23]

@@Corkwing-DougK Its an Arran 16 i have, similar size to your own boat so Glenuig slip would probs be ok for me. Yes i’ve used the slip in the centre of Mallaig a few times now, i’m quite lucky as i have family that live there and i’m usualy with my mate so he stays with the boat and i take my trailer up to my family members house, its a good slip and can be used at all tides, might be a bit tricky if you are yourself, there is a slip that they use to bring the fishing boats out right next to the slip we use and i’ve tied upto to that before while nicking into the shops with my mate so that could be an option if you wanted to use it while you park your car and trailer

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks Dario - I'll need to take a closer look at the slip the next time I'm in Mallaig. With two of you then Glenuig should be a bit easier, although the vertical drop either side of the slip would still make me slightly queasy 🙂

[@rogertaylor7109]

Sorry 1st Oct