Holiday to Mingulay^

[Zoe Newsam]

That's superb, Mark. You've really managed to conjour the feeling of the place. Only one tiny thing- it might be worth mentioning the large clapotis & exploding waves to be encountered, even on a calm day beneath the cliffs on Mingulay & Berneray. Because of the unparalleled 'fetch' around here it rarely becomes properly calm...

What a magical, captivating place... Excellent stuff.

Oh, and I've a couple of pics of the decorated stone on Pabbay, if you wanted to use them.

BTW, this paragraph really made me chuckle:

The nauseatingly cute Puffin, everybody’s favourite sea bird…spotting your first pair of puffins on the paddle south is always exciting. Very soon after, the novelty has worn off and the skies are so thick with the little blighters that you can literally swat them out of the air with a random swing of the paddle. Some numbers follow, spare a thought for the fellow who had to count them; the Isles support 10 000 puffins, 45 000 razorbills, 60 000 guillemots. Take a clothes peg.

:0)

[Mark R]

Thanks Zoe, will do.

Anyone who hasn't been there read this? Does it make sense to the uninitiated?

Cheers,

[Owen]

I've not been there yet; but I am planning to hopefully next summer.

I thought it was good and useful, some interesting little facts. Filed it away for further reference.

[Douglas Wilcox]

Hello Mark, this is a really cracking piece of writing, well done. I can't wait to see the complete article with photos.

You also ask for general comments, so here is a small point about a single paragraph.

You include a description of Berneray, which must be one of the most inaccessible spots in Britain. May I ask if you got there on a previous trip? I ask this because I am also writing a similar article at the moment and am not sure whether to include an island we did not actually reach, despite several attempts. I was wondering about the ethics of doing so in a "touring guide". (I have heard others criticise what I thought was the really excellent "Scottish sea kayaking" book, as its authors had only paddled some of the voyages once!)

Douglas

[Mark R]

We didn't go to Berneray, but I have garnered info from several sources...all of the available books on the island and paddlers who've been there. Even so I have been conservative and sparse in the info I've given, sticking to obvious facts rather than subjective judgements based on experience. Likewise with the west coast of Mingulay, which I have gawped at from above, but not paddled around.

I think this is fair game, within the parameters I've suggested...what do you think?

[CaileanMac]

MarkR,

Finally got around to reading your Bishop Isles guide tonight. Well written in your 'style' and it certainly will inspire people to venture to the edge of the world. As to sticking to facts and not subjective comments - game on in my opinion. Have never made it beyond Vatersay myself, so I look forward to the day when I get an opportunity to finally paddle around the Bishop Isles :-)

Douglas - A guidebook or touring guide author can't be expected to have paddled every inch of the coastline they are describing with the authority of having paddling many hundreds of times (even then they might miss something out or not have experienced it). Boils back down to the risk averse society we are increasing becoming, as people do like 'cornflake' packet experiences and aren't prepared to accept the huge variety of variables and risks (both positive and negative) inherent in sea paddling. It's a bit like licorice allsorts - you can't have the nice bits without having the not so nice bits ;-)

CaileanMac

[Mark R]

Thanks for your useful thoughts Cailean and others, finishing off the article now.

'Cornflake packet experience' - not entirely sure what that's all about...?

[CaptainSensible]

Cornflakes = ready-to-eat/pre-fabricated foodstuff = no imagination/adventure/experimentation required (or desired).

[CaileanMac]

MarkR,

Captain Sensible has kind of hit it on the head - A 'cornflake packet' experience is an experience which is 'boxed up' and you know what your getting because it tells you so. Some guidebooks (thinking mountaineering) can be like this which in turn in my opinion removes the 'adventure'. However it's next to impossible to have sea kayaking 'cornflake packet' experiences but that's what some people want - e.g. commerical sea kayak trips listing a day 1 we will do this, day 2 we will do this, etc or a guidebook entry describing every last detail so nothing is a suprise. Some people don't want to do the hard bit of coming up with a trip idea and working out the logisitics/tidal planning (even the on the hoof stuff).

CaileanMac