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2024 Outer Hebrides Day 14 Loch Siophort by Keith

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2024 Outer Hebrides – Fuzzy Water

Day 14 Thursday 29th Aug – Loch Siophort by Keith

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We opted for an early start at 8:00am to try and avoid the stronger winds forecast later that day. We drove over the top of the mountains of Haris heading for Loch Siophort. The first get-in at Lochedge Lodge was now fenced off as new building works were due to start. Plan B was to head for the slipway observed on Google Earth at Eilean-Anabuich. This was a busy fish farm operation and there was nowhere to park, let alone unload and launch.

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Despite the rain, the small beach made for an ideal launching place.

Plan C it was, to head to the youth Hostel at Rhenigidale. This was the end of the road (and a long-distance footpath over the hills from our cottage). Despite the rain, the small beach made for an ideal launching place, and we were soon unloaded and sorted on the stoney beach. There were a few large and square-looking caves at the entrance to the Loch. We paddled out into the Minch and then rounded the corner into Loch Siophort. This was a steep-sided Loch not dissimilar to a Norwegian Fjord.

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There were a few large and square-looking caves at the entrance to the Loch.

We spotted an Eagle high above us as we paddled up the left-hand side of the Loch keeping a watchful eye on the weather, just in case the strong winds arrived sooner than predicted.

At a small island just before a fish farm, we spotted an otter. He quickly dived around to the other side of the rocky island. After paddling past the seemingly quiet fish farm, we turned west into Loch Mharaig we encountered the gusty headwinds, and it was clear that we were not going to venture much further. We hauled out on a relatively sheltered beach and had elevenses. It was still raining.

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Elevenses.

We retraced our steps and paddled back into the Fjord. We took a little time to investigate some of the old anchors used to fix the cages of the fish farm.

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The old anchors were used to fix the cages of the fish farm.

There was a house with what looked like rails down to a dock. There was no road and was the site of a few minutes of discussion on what they were and how they worked. We paddled back around the corner to Rhenigidale. Time to head back to the comfort of our holiday cottage. The drive back was as exciting as the drive there.

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A house with what looked like rails down to a dock.
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