Adventure off the North Coast of Scotland

[bullionbill]

HI keith

I might be interested!!

Bill

[BruceB]

Originally Posted by Keith Hart

I'm not sure that Rabbit Islands or Eilean nan Gaill to give them their Gaelic name were ever inhabited.

They were, there was a visit recently where they took the last living original inhabitant back to the islands and made a TV programme about it. haven't seen the programme but the visit was on the news.

[Keith Hart]

I'm not sure if Rabbit Islands were inhabited in recent history but I think that story that you refer to is of Kitty Ann MacQueen who was taken back to Eilean nan Roan by Caledonian TV in 2008: Northern Times | Features | Nostalgic return to Eilean nan Ron for Kitty

BTW I have seen the spelling as either Ron or Roan. I believe that the actual original Gaelic is Ron.

Eilean nan Gaill is I believe the original Gaelic name for Rabbit Islands and translates as Island of the Strangers, possibly reffering to the Norsemen.

Of course anyone who comes on the expedition in a RIB could take a look at these as well.

Keith (would love to learn the Gaelic) Hart

[willk]

Originally Posted by Keith Hart

BTW I have seen the spelling as either Ron or Roan. I believe that the actual original Gaelic is Ron.

Keith (would love to learn the Gaelic) Hart

Yes, it means Seal. It's a recurring name all down the coast. We have an Inishroan locally. Means the same thing. A smattering of Gaelic is useful when working along the coast, as it tends to reveal a lot about the terrain/history/culture.

[jsrmacleod]

I take it the island that Keith is referring to is Stroma, it's the only small island between Orkney and the mainland, why no one has mentioned the name beats me, I live in Wick just round the coast, would be a nice run on a good day. Mind that the tides in that area are very strong

[BruceB]

Originally Posted by Keith Hart

Of course anyone who comes on the expedition in a RIB could take a look at these as well.

Been there and even dived the wartime wreck off the outliers. The two pictures are the main islands which are pierced by large fissures, one of which you could see through the island!

[Keith Hart]

Hello jsrmacleod, sorry if I haven't made it clear, I am talking about Eilean nan Roan, just off the North Coast from Skerray and Tongue. Being based at Wick you are in an ideal location to join the expedition.

BruceB, Rabbit Islands look good, I'd read about the wreck, what condition is it in? If any RIBs joined in whilst the SIB(s) were on Eilean nan Roan they could do the other islands.

Keith Hart

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Brian

Well Keith, I think you should have chosen An Garbh-Eilean myself, because I would like to see all those pretty little aircraft flying by !

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13281991

We had a very interesting chat with the Garvie Island Range Controller on VHF during the 1997 Round Britain jaunt. He seemed rather surprised to find a load of little little boats coming past his bombing range while he had a couple of Harriers waiting to drop live thousand-pounders!

[Keith Hart]

Hello John

The range at Cape Wrath is administered by the Tain Bombing Range (RAF Tain). I have met Squadron Leader John McKeown on several occasions and have permission to take clients into the control tower at Tain when they are doing bombing runs. Also as secretary of the Balintore & Hilton Community Council I am a member of the liaison group with the bombing range at Tain, which is only a couple of miles from where I live. So I'm hoping that I can make arrangements for my Cape Wrath jaunt to photograph the bombing.

Keith Hart

[Brian]

Talking about Stroma.......well jsrmacloud was anyway, gives me an opportunity to show some more of my photies.
First is Mr. Keith openbrackets The Indominatable closebrackets Hart and his sib, getting ready for his first crossing of the Penland Firth.
Others show what happens when you "get it wrong" off the cliffs of Stroma and some others of the narrow inlets in the cliffs on the island.

[Keith Hart]

Hello Brian

Ah! What a trip that was, I was scarred to death until we got inside Scapa Flow itself! The attached picture shows my reaction of reaching the safety of Scapa Pier!

My crew member for the trip is a friend of mine, Ian who just happens to have some remotely operated drones, one fixed wing and a couple of helicopters. We plan on taking one of the helicopter drones over to the island to do some filming.

You can see him trying out the small helicopter drone here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTEwf...YogCsk3GLcB45v

It may look easy but have you ever tried to fly a helicopter? Look how stable the platform is and watch him negotiating the trees. He makes it look so easy that you don't realise how the shots are being taken. His fixed wing drone is operated with a virtual headset and I have seen films he has done with the drone up to 7 miles away from the operator.

Anyway it would make a good record of the island.

Keith (lives in hope) Hart

[willk]

Originally Posted by Brian

First is Mr. Keith openbrackets The Indominatable closebrackets Hart and his sib, getting ready for his first crossing of the Penland Firth.

Helluva painter he has on that Quicksilver!

[jsrmacleod]

Soz guys mad a comment but missed a previous message Doh!

[Tony Hill]

Sorry to deflect this thread slightly but
Does anyone have some photos of the harbour at John o Groats at LOW WATER SPRINGS?
Verbal description would also be useful.

Do the MOORED boats dry out there?

Thanks and apologies again

Tony

[Cookee]

We'll be up there in June with the rest of the Round Britain race - a time to avoid if you have an aversion to lots of big noisy powerboats or an amazing spectacle if you like that sort of thing - the Schedule is Here but we will arrive at the Kyle of Lochalsh on the 25th June, go to Thurso on the following day and arrive in Edinburgh on the 27th - Wave if you see us!

[Brian]

Tony,
John O'Groats harbour is un-attended and requires no radio-in.
It does not dry out. There is no fuel there or nearby-nearest is Thurso.
You CAN just about park to the north of the harbour, nestling in between fishing boats. Unadvisable to park anywhere else.
Avoid harbour entrance when ferry is in as this completely blocks the entrance whilst it is loading/unloading.
Avoid southern end of harbour as this has some rocks.
Small ramp to the south of the harbour for launching (free).
Toilets cost money. No food or drink available for half a mile (JOG Hotel shut when I was last there). No B&B except same half mile.

Hope this helps. Photo earlier in the thread shows KH by his sib and NO PARKING along that right-hand wall either! Ferry parks there and would be MOST UNHAPPY if you were parked there when it came in.

[Keith Hart]

At loooong last there is a development plan in process for JoG: John O'Groats Development

The hotel has been empty for years, however I'm not sure when the new one will open. I'm not sure how this will affect the harbour.

I think that the nearest fuel is in Castletown about 5 miles away.

Keith (still hopping about) Hart

[jsrmacleod]

Originally Posted by Keith Hart

At loooong last there is a development plan in process for JoG: John O'Groats Development

The hotel has been empty for years, however I'm not sure when the new one will open. I'm not sure how this will affect the harbour.

I think that the nearest fuel is in Castletown about 5 miles away.

Keith (still hopping about) Hart

Yeah Keith the hotel is demolished now I believe, dont quote me on that, I've not been up there for a while, I think there are plans to rebuild, there is another hotel walking distance from the harbour and various B&B's, fuel is an issue all over the far north now as many of the smaller villiage stations have closed due to the high prices, there is as you said Castletown which is west or Auckengill which is 4 or 5 miles south.

[Tony Hill]

As usual Ribnetters to the rescue. Many thanks for the information. We are needing to bring a boat alongside the ramp at LWS for loading so the question is water depth related and whether we would dry out if we scrounged a berth on the west side of the harbour. Ribs are 10m so draw 0.6m and we don't like drying out.
Well aware to avoid the ferry! Its a bit of an art bringing it through to the inner harbour, I watched it last year.
.

Tony

[Zodiac Spindrift]

Sounds like a good trip - I could be up for this.