1st to 3rd July
Stromness-Long Hope-Loch Laxford-Lochinver
http://www.a-trip.com/tracks/view/134775A highlight during two days’ sight-seeing and domestic bliss in Stromness, was a guided tour of the Ness Battery.
It’s a World War II battery that guarded the western entrance to Scapa Flow. Our guide, Andrew, was not just a personal guide for Anna and me, he was a delightful and self-confessed historical archaeology ‘nerd’ and all-round enthusiast for every conceivable aspect of the wars and Scapa Flow! Here’s a photo of part of the mural in an accommodation hut he showed us. It’s one of “the best preserved examples of wartime artwork”.
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| Mural in accommodation hut, Ness Battery |
As part of Andrew’s research, he’d like to be sure of where is depicted in the photo below. It’s a painting by the same artist as painted the mural. Any suggestions of where it is, please?
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| Where is this? |
Anna left on the ferry back to Scottish mainland next day. The ferry, the ‘Hamnavoe’ makes light work of the Pentland Firth, back and forth to Scrabster up to four times a day. (With a vast subsidy; I was told £18,000 a day!).
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| 'Hamnavoe' leaving Stromness |
Single-handed for a spell, I sailed a few miles south to Long Hope at the bottom of Scapa Flow, and when the promised south easterly wind arrived next morning, headed off to Cape Wrath. It’s quite a long way but after an early kick up the pants from Merry Men of Mey, the happy name for a race in the Pentland Firth (which has to be timed right!) and speeds up to 11 knots, I covered the 82 miles round Cape Wrath and down to Loch Laxford in about 14 hours – well reefed all the way. Truly exhilarating!
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| Near full speed |
The entire way, there was only one ship to be seen, not going much faster than me and wallowing in the swell (which ‘Misty’ wasn’t). But the sea and landscapes of northern Scotland are awe-inspiring. Fifty shades of grey do not begin to cover the infinite hues of grey that form the constant backdrop.
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| Company in the Pentland Firth |
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| Lots of shades of grey |
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| Approaching Cape Wrath |
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| Passing close to Cape Wrath |
After a very wet peaceful night in Loch Laxford, I sailed yesterday gently south in sunshine to Lochinver. It’s getting warmer. The clothes are coming off! Down to three layers from the Shetland five. There’s a near gale blowing now but there’s a few days’ grace till meeting youngest son somewhere near Skye.
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| Approaching Lochinver |
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