Kayaking Scotland's Slate Isles " Part 2 " Days 3 - 5 Full Circumnavigation

[@bartkroft7063]

I like this trip off you guys. Nice work to put this all together. Can't wait for the next one.👌👏😍

[@geoffburke]

@@bartkroft7063 Thank you for your comments Bart. Scotland's West Coast and the Slate Isles in particular hold some absolutely stunning sea kayaking areas, being so remote, incredible views, superb and plentiful wildlife. Challenging conditions and fast tide races sweep the complete West Coast as sea and swell are squeezed between the myriad of islands and headlands. Bart, be sure to browse more of my videos and subscribe for future uploads as I've a mountain of footage still to edit from this year's trips so far. Thanks Again and enjoy !! Regards Geoff

[@bryangoldthorpe8906]

Brilliant loved every second can’t wait until your next adventure they help inspire me to get out and get paddling myself 👍👍👍

[@geoffburke]

Thanks again Bryan, looks like I've shot myself in the foot then, with such a high bar 😂😂 The weather isn't very inspiring at present but getting the kayak ready always focuses interest in upcoming weather systems 😃😃

[@calatoruldac]

Hello my friend! 🤗 Congratulations to you and your friends on the water endurance races. Very cool! 👍

[@geoffburke]

Hi Viorel, the tidal races are fantastic fun and increase the challenges of conditions and planning. This is why it has such an attraction to many experienced Sea kayakers. Take care my friend 👍

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

Fantastic, just as epic as part 1👍👍

[@geoffburke]

@THE-RIVER-RAT Aye, I just love it when a plan comes together 😂😂 Tide races of epic proportions when the sun and moon align to produce 'Maximum Spring Tides' always a great ride!! The late 3 day were fantastic, In fact, the entire trip was brilliant considering those conditions in October. Superb paddling! Cheers George, loads more to come. 🫢👍

[@alexdobie1808]

Another top video and commentary Geoff; this area seems to be a very popular with kayakers but not a place to pull up and have a random paddle. Looking at your videos and other people's you have to do a certain amount of planning in an effort to prevent one from being swept out to sea.😲 Keep em coming though👌

[@geoffburke]

Alex, Thanks again, for the great comments, yes, because of its beauty and complexity and challenging conditions it has a great reputation, a real draw for experienced paddlers. As you say, certainly not place a place for any craft to 'just rock up' and launch for an ad hoc jaunt on the sea. Thanks again!

[@silentrabbit247]

Nice one Geoff & folks. Brought back memories of a bikepacking trip visiting Seil, Luing, Easdale, and Lunga Estate. Ground completely saturated at Lunga camp site, ended up camping in the long shed for two nights, cosy out of the wet. ( seen on your video, above the pier ) All best & Thanks.

[@geoffburke]

Hi rabbit, thanks for your comments and so pleased it brought back those memories. Yes the campsite was very wet in October with local roads & bridges washed out by extreme storms. The site is good but looks very add hock, there were other in the long shed the night we arrived. Thankfully We slept in the motorhome the night before we set off

[@mairnealachamu]

Very jealous Geoff. Fantastic trip, great video.

[@geoffburke]

Ha, ha, Thanks for your comments, yes it was a fantastic trip in an area I love. Great scenery, fast tide races and always gives lots of changing conditions which are never the same. Thanks again, please browse more of my adventures, please comment and share with friends...cheers

[@mairnealachamu]

@geoffburke I think I've seen most of your videos already Geoff. If you are ever thinking of a trip to Ireland, let me know.

[@geoffburke]

@@mairnealachamu Thanks Marine when I'd do I'll let you know 👍 I have friends around Northern Ireland, Catriona Woods currently organising the WAW 'Wild Atlantic Way' we met in Shetland

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

You're a cruel, cruel man Geoff. Such amazing scenery, history and fun, so far away. Fantastic video.

[@geoffburke]

Sorry Gadget, it would be an amazing trip for you though 😉 👍👍 Thanks again for your comments, I'll check the rest of trip footage still needing editing for the next video soon...keep watching

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

@@geoffburke I am always looking out for your videos.

[@Dfl87165]

Very inspiring! What a Mekka for sea kayakers!

[@geoffburke]

Absolutely 👍 💯% a fantastic area for experienced sea kayakers Thanks for your comments 😀 👍

[@stevenhulbert7540]

Thanks for the drone footage sir, gives a good symmetrical look at the islands and their layout. Claggen sound looked delightful when you narrate about the wildlife, the seas cutting the shapes of the rocks. i think I've seen the Claggen bridge in another video, looked very familiar, good to see it again.

[@geoffburke]

Thanks Steven. Yeah the drone is a slight throwback to my paramotoring days which included aerial photography, using my DJI Mini 3Pro gives me a brilliant stowable aerial camera to supplement my action footage. The history of Claggan Bridge is mentioned in more detail in a previous video where we Circumnavigate the island of Seil, not sure if its the one you've seen as the bridge has appeared in several of my video's. See the following link for more detail on its history. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIWvfYOtqp2cj9Usi=lu0eeutlrcReDtkH Thanks again Steven 👍

[@mikepl5926]

Nice to have tea with you, call in anytime!

[@geoffburke]

Thanks for your fine hospitality Mike, I'll certainly make the effort and catch up with you soon. 😀 👍

[@uni-bob-kayaking]

I would love to do this one day.

[@geoffburke]

Hi Bob, thank for your comments. This is an excellent area for sea kayaking, but with the right group of experienced paddlers in the right conditions, it's possible for a great number of people to enjoy! Practice, practice practice, the more time spent in the boat with the right tuition. I started paddling this area around only a year after starting, with no experience at all, over 70 + years ago 👍🤫 Regards Geoff

[@geoffburke]

Oooops sorry Bob! Make that over 50 year's ago not *70* otherwise I'd need water wings on my wheelchair 🤣🤣🙄

[@davidpoots8362]

Fantastic technical paddling, I thought we had interesting tides in Ireland, but that's off the scale.

[@geoffburke]

Thanks David, I must get myself over there to sample some of your amazing coastlines. Should have been there with Catriona's WAW last March but my back operation scuppered those plans.

[@davidpoots8362]

Just let me know and I will arrange the sunshine@@geoffburke

[@kevincasey2947]

Great adventure and video, but good God man you SCUBA dove to 65m on air?

[@geoffburke]

Ha, ha, Thanks Kevin, we were/are both BSAC scuba advanced diving instructors, well dived in as a buddy pair so knew each other very well, had a good tolerance to nitrogen narcosis, the dive site was a favourite cliff dive which we'd dived many times before so most risks had been discussed and planned but as mention very close to oxygen partial pressure toxicity. Great memories of having drift dived most of the tidal race channels in the area...Cuan Sound, Dorus Mor, Grey Dogs, Eilean Mòr (Corryvreckan) and Falls of Lora. My good diving friend from Easdale I mentioned still dive the Pinnacle in Corryvreckan!! Thank and pleased you enjoyed the video...stay tuned for more footage to come from a number of trips 😀 👍👍

[@hrmacdonald4471]

Very adventurous trip...what would happen if you get caught in a tidal whirlpool...do you and boat go under or is it something you can break free from. I'm a non-kayaker so the thought of getting caught is terrifying. Great video...stay safe!

[@geoffburke]

Thanks so much for your comments H R, yeah it's amazing the power sea and not to be taken lightly. Small turbulence and little whirlpools will trend to push the boat around sending you off course and this in turn can catch you unaware and off balance resulting in a capsize, bigger ones will completely spin the boat around on the spot, others if big enough can spin you around the vortex lip but yes if you're unlucky enough will upend the kayak taking the paddler and the boat under...how far under would is anyone's guess. Being a scuba diver also, I have experienced violent downdrafts of water in these very areas and been drawn down to depths of over 40 metres. Other main hazards produced in tideraces are very large standing waves that can break very unpredictably, crashing down on a kayak ripping the paddler from the boat. Only very experienced paddlers would sensibly venture into these waters, and only in the right conditions. Thanks Again 👍

[@stevenhulbert7540]

@@geoffburke Thanks for the detailed answer Geoff, have wondered the same thing. This is the first time I saw the tide race and watched Will come out of it, that was educational, cheers.

[@geoffburke]

@@stevenhulbert7540 Thanks Steven and I'm always here to help with any questions, if I don't know the answer I'll be truthful and admit it but will then endeavour to get you an answer 😉 😀🤞

[@vincentleger9875]

Hi. Thank you for your videos. Can you tell me what are the white hull et yellow deck kayaks ? Shore line, I think, but which model ? I can see a red deck Romany, but what is the yellow Polyethylene kayak please ? I ask that beacause I want to buy a new kayak to paddle North Brittany and West of Scotland. It's for 1 or 2 day trips. My seller in Brittany advises me a Romany, but I'd prefer a polyethylene kayak, as I'm putting it on the deck of my sailboat. Thank you. Vincent

[@geoffburke]

Hi Vincent and thanks for your comments. Both White Hull Yellow deck composit kayaks were made (company has closed now 😪😥) by "North Shore Sea Kayaks" one is a "Shoreline" and mine is an "Atlantic" the yellow polythene kayak is a Perception Essence 17 HV www.perceptionkayaks.com/eu/en/kayaks/essence-17 Agreed with a polythene kayak unless you make a proper structured fixing attached to your sailboat deck. I don't want to appear disrespectful, but... Unless you have a fair degree of kayak experience or you are planning paddling with other knowledgeable kayakers I would urge you not to paddle in the areas you mention...the North Coast of Brittany has some of the biggest tidal ranges, around 17 - 19 metres and the West of Scotland has very fast tide races as can be seen from my video's. You must obviously have knowledge of the sea from sailing so I'm not wanting to sound pompous, I'm just very safety conscious. Best Regards and let me know how you get on with your quest. 👍

[@vincentleger9875]

@@geoffburke Hi geoff. Thank you very much for your adverts. I thought North Shore still existed, because my seller has three of them in the catalogue (including the Atlantic). I will have a look at the Perception Essence 17 HV, that I dont know. As for the tidal currents in Brittany and Scotland, I know them well, because I've been a skipper for 30 years, and I've always had kayaks on board. But you're right to point out the dangers. I don't yet have enough experience to paddle as you do. For the moment, I'm paddling in sheltered waters in North Brittany, Iles of Scilly and Ireland (Kerry and Connemara). I need to make progress and to paddle with experienced people. That's why I need to change kayak. My actual kayak isn't suitable. It's a RTM Disco +, sit on.

[@geoffburke]

@@vincentleger9875 Hi Vincent and thanks for your reply. As a skipper you've obviously faced bigger seas than I but you can also understand why I point out the safety of paddling with others 👍 and you are keen to address this and have options in place...excellent If you're not a huge guy I would recommend the Atlantic if your dealer still has one, I'm obviously bias but nevertheless it is a boat that has a tremendous pedigree, and a 'go to' kayak for so many kayaking expeditions by very experienced sea kayakers. A little care with mounting on your boat deck to protect it and you are ready to go. My friend who is a big guy, loves the "Essence" but also remarks it weathercocks very easily and he has now bought a rudder system that he wants me to mount and set up for him. In my opinion if a boat requires modifications in that way it would put me off buying it and would conclude the design must be slightly flawed that could lead to further handing limitations. A boat needs to feel right and perform right to ensure it doesn't catch you out unexpectedly in adverse conditions. A hope this has clarified my original statements. Best of luck with your quest and future adventures, I envy you very much!! Best Regards Geoff

[@vincentleger9875]

@@geoffburke Thanks Geoff. I've put the Atlantic on my list of favourite kayaks. I'm not a big guy! 1m78 for 70 kg.

[@geoffburke]

@@vincentleger9875 Excellent you won't be disappointed, I will say, and should have mentioned before...try as many kayaks as you can and if possible, back to back on the same day to give a better comparison. 👍