The Great Stack of Handa - Sea kayaking Scotland.

Imagine a compartment,or file in your brain that is like a Passport,alongside your memory say.Then my "Passport" has recently been stamped,twice - in red indellible ink.The first says HANDA ISLAND.The second says THE GREAT STACK OF HANDA.It's probably accompanied by something Scottish - a symbol of a Thistle,or a Stags Head,or maybe a Deep Fried Mars Bar,or a Midge!But stamped it is,and it will always be there until Dementia.The Great Stack of Handa is situated on the North West extremity of the Island,were the cliffs seem to reach their zenith,both in height and appearance.Turn the corner and head along the North coast and within 50 metres or so you will come across an awesome,narrow crevasse.This is seperates the Stack from the Island.Entering here is totally irresistable,whether in a Kayak or any other small boat(But not a Yacht with a fin keel eh!)Upon entering you are immediatly struck by the amazing rock architecture,scale and splendour,if you arrive earlier in the season than I did,then the bird life is spectacular as well.I was last here in Aug '99 and the bird life was much more prolific - golf brolly required for shelter from shat! This time it was low water,I'm guessing last time it was high water,because I don't remember that first cave I paddled into,and circled the Stack in a propellered boat without danger of grounding the prop.The Stack itself is rather surpisingly,penetrated by 2 easily navigable tunnels,the westerly tunnel could be done in a small powerboat 15- 20ft with enough depth of water,the other would be a very tight squeeze for all but the smallest boat - Kayak,no problem.At high water though Im not so sure.The Stack itself was reputedly first landed on by a M.r. Donald MacDonald! yes it's true,the bit about him opening a famous restaraunt wasn't,but the bit about Public Schoolboys launching themselves through the windows is! The height of the Stack is 115metres! some idea of scale can be judged by observing some of the birds less than halfway up the cliffs - awesome.If you have never been this far up North then,you really are missing out.It's a hell of a journey for me.I live near Warrington which is often marketed to business as "The Nations central location!" and there is a lot of truth in that,but if you live South of Birmingham,you have one trek and a half! Spoke to one Lady at Balnakeil on the very North coast,and she was from Kent! I think if you take the plunge and go,and get some good weather,you will never regret it.The music was again all my own work Fender Strat. Roland Microcube amp. all mixed in the Boss Br 600 thingy - Pracataaaan!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• yt:stretch=16:9
• The Great Stack of Handa
• Handa Island
• Kittiwake
• Seabirds
• Sea Kayaking
• Sea Stack
• Sea Cave
• Scotland U.K.
• Rockpool
• Kayak.

[onlywhenpissed]

@GBPaddling Seen em buddy. Did a mileage check straight after. 1000 miles round trip at least. Might have to get me a job to finance this one.

[GBPaddling]

@onlywhenpissed Certainly for the fuel bill ha ha. This is a definite sleep in the van job, for the most part, but it is unforgettable. Digs are available, but there isn't much habitation, and it would be expensive, but it's all worth it, You only live once, and one day, You won't be physically able to do all this.........So do it whilst You can.

[onlywhenpissed]

2012 revisit?

[GBPaddling]

@onlywhenpissed Matt, this is a 'Must Do' along with Bass Rock, St Abbs, The Stacks, Ramsey Island, Skye, e.t.c. it is just compulsary. This was probably my best day in a Sea Kayak, it is hard to say for sure, but watch the "Handa Island", "Great Stack of Handa", and "Scotland - Sea Kayak Heaven".......and it's all the same trip,on the same day, it was awesome.

[iviewthetube]

Great pictures!

I was trying to find this place on Google Earth. What is the lat/long of this place.

[GBPaddling]

@iviewthetube 58 23' 16.24" N 5 11' 49.43" W It is just near Scourie, which is North of Ullapool. Check out the photos, there are some crackers. Also, check out my other video "Scotland Sea Kayak Heaven" it is of a cave on the return from Handa, it is really special.

[TheMerlinianWhite]

Did you see the grey alien that poked its head out covered in seaweed to fool you? Just by that grey rock?

[iviewthetube]

@GBPaddling

Thanks a bunch. Your videos are like the next best thing to being there.

[iviewthetube]

@iviewthetube .=?

[GBPaddling]

@BUDDIEBOY66 Don't go getting the idea my ability is good,I'm actually quite poor,inspiration indeed for anyone fancying a go - If I can do it,you will also be able, give it a go and see!!