Ellenabeich and Easedale Island

Ellenabeich turned out to be a lovely location - it is at the southern end of the peninsula on the island of Seil with Easdale Island just off the tip. We ended up staying here for 4 nights as it was such a friendly and relaxing place. We had wanted to see the Corryvreckan Whirlpool but didn't realise trips were organised from here - by the same family that owned the motorhome stopover. We immediately booked on a trip the following evening - they only go out on Spring tides as this is the best time to see it and we happened to be there during one. 

Ellenabeich is within a conservation area so completely unspoilt.

From Ellenabeich there is a regular ferry to the old slate mining island of Easdale. The slate seam (which includes 3 other little islands  - called the Slate Islands) used to be a major provider worldwide and the centre of the slate mining industry in Scotland for nearly 3 centuries. The mining stopped on Easdale Island when the mines were flooded by a gigantic storm in 1881. So now there are big pools everywhere - people swim in some of the shallower ones.

The World Stone Skimming Championships will take place on the island this September, in one of the flooded mines!

Purdy enjoying her new sleeping bag!

We had a lovely hike around the hills behind Ellenabeich, up to Dun Mor and beyond.

Easdale Island viewed from Dun Mor

The Corryvreckan Whirlpool

We were excited and dressed up ready to leave at 1930 on a sunny evening with a flat calm sea - are were really in Scotland? The trip was organised on a Spring tide when the tide was going out. 

The company had two purpose kitted out RIBs, each with two 300HP Yamaha outboards. Both were out this evening, which made for some good pics.

On the way we say a local Sea Eagle nesting on the Isle of Scarba, which was nice to see - we hope to have a closer look at some of these enormous birds elsewhere on our travels.

The Corryvrecken Whirlpool is not one big whirlpool but lots of small ones. The surface of the sea is randomly bumpy with areas of smooth which is where water is being forced from the sea bed. These vary in size and turn into whirlpools. The captain got us spinning in them; luckily you don't get pulled down the plughole! Difficult to get a good photo though.

It was a beautiful evening to be out at sea

The next day we had a hot day in Scotland (a bit too hot for our hike) and a quick dip was needed!

We loved our time here - the park up, the pubs and the people. We might call in again to catch up with Lydia, who is one of the tour guides and call in The Puffer - the pub/cafe on the island where we had an absolutely lovely meal. We might also see Josh again - he will be working on a farm in Shetland when we are there.