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A grand way to enjoy the last Saturday of January 2023 by swimming over to Eilean Shiphoirt and hiking up the hill. Took me around an hour and a half from the van to the summit, this includes faffing at both sides of the loch (for those who know me, I spend too much time faffing 🤣). Anyway, I got to the summit about 12 noon and was having lunch when I noticed an eagle in the distance and by the time I got the camera on, there was 5 eagles. One actually circled above me for a while. It was an absolute magical experience. The views from up top and even as you're ascending/descending is just breathtaking. Will definitely be back again. All music on the video is by Beluga Lagoon Click here to view the YouTube Video from the outing
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I've edited out the clip of the eagle's from my Eilean Shiphoirt SwimHiking video for anyone who just wants to watch them. Click here to view the YouTube Video of the Eagles Click here for the link for the full SwimHike outing Music is by Beluga Lagoon Thanks to BestOutdoors for a mention in their online magazine article about SwimPacking/SwimCamping/SwimHiking. Click on the paragraph below to be taken to the full article: As wildswimming becomes more and more popular, those looking for the next level will find them self looking into swimpacking (Swim packing), swimcamping (swim camping) and Swimhiking (swim hiking) for their next level swim fix. Just as backpackers and bike packers take everything with them in one bag to sustain their wild adventures, swimpackers do the same. Hiking across remote areas, swimming across rivers, lochs and bays to find the perfect location for exploring and camping. This allows swimpackers to enjoy swimpacking adventures, places and experiences that very few people have. Like a 100 mile adventure up the west coast of Scotland, where no roads or lack of transport will hinder the adventure. Or deciding to swim from island to island in a large lake or off the coast. If you are a seasoned open water swimmer and you’re now inspired to try some swimpacking then read on for our full swimpacking gear guide.  Took Kellie to north lochs this morning for a swim to a bay on the ranish peninsula and a hike over to and up beinn Mhor (104m) for some amazing panoramic views. We had a picnic at the trig point while watching the activity in the minch and loch erisort. It's definitely a favourite place and we'll be back again. Click here to view the YouTube video from the outing. A stunning sandy bay between gress and tolsta is traigh sheilibhig and that's where Kellie and myself headed this morning for a play about in the wave's. Great fun and the weather wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be. Click here to view the YouTube video from the outing. I knew it was going to be a good outing after seeing 5 Evel Knievel charity biker's, a deer and a goat (can't mind the last time I saw one) on my way to start the SwimHike over in North Lochs this morning. Swimming from a shore in Poll Skut to a nearby shore only to be welcomed by half a dozen highland cow's staring at me. I made my way over to and up Beinn Mhor for breakfast at the trig point. The 360 view's are stunning from there. Definitely recommended. Then it was down to the bay at Port a'Ghlinne Muigh for a swim with the incoming tide in Loch Grimshader to land in the shore at the bottom of school hill. Once dried and changed I walked back to the van. A fantastic loop and one that Grant, Stuart and myself did around 4 years ago. Click here to view the YouTube video from the outing. Amazing SwimHike over to Cravadale from Hushinish with visiting swim friends Karen, Lisa, Jackie, Ruby, Gwen and Hildred. We swam in Loch Cravadale then again at Traigh Mheilein before hiking back to Hushinish before driving to Maraig for a dook in the fast flowing river pool which was a great laugh. Throughout the day we saw gannets diving, a seal, an eagle, jellyfish, rabbit's and (obviously) sheep. Excellent day out with excellent company. Click here for the link to the YouTube video from the outing. Fantastic SwimHike with Dave today as we headed out to gleann uladal which has some of the best scenery in Harris on either side of you all along the way. We had swims in loch uladal, loch aiseabhat and loch chliostair (it's a reservoir so we kept well away from the dam) on the way back. It's well worth a search online for the different sports that have happened out in Uladal, from a 7 hour climb, base jumping, mountain biking, running to name but a few. Sron Uladal is so breathtaking to see..Will definitely be back again. Click here for the link to the YouTube video from the outing. Superb SwimHike with Kellie this afternoon over to Seaforth island which borders Lewis and Harris. The rain, seal's, boggy ground and midge's didn't deter us from swimming over and then hiking up to the top of the hill on the island. Unfortunately my gps watch paused on the way up but we reckon it took us around 2 hours from the roadside there and about 30 minutes less going back a different route. Kellie make's the best ham, cheese and tomato sarnies, with our plan being to eat these type of sandwiches in as many different places as possible 🤣 Click here for the link to the YouTube video from the outing. A wee review of the £30 Lomo 40L dry bag rucksack after a 6 hour SwimHike in North Harris, Scotland at the weekend. I say 6 hours, it was actually more like 7.5 hours as I stopped my suunto watch a few times when sorting out kit between hikes and swims and also on Scarp. We had misty rain for most of the day, so the rucksack was getting weather from all directions during the outing and the only water that got into the rucksack was from myself (wet hands or from my head) after swimming then opening it to get a drink, snack, towel, glasses etc... As mentioned in the video, I always double bag my essential kit into a waterproof bag inside any rucksack that I use for sea or loch swimming. I'll also be glueing a pvc d-ring onto the rucksack for future SwimHikes as it'll create less stress on the carry handle which is where I had the leash looped round for towing during this trial, so I could tow the rucksack behind me. There was a fair amount of chop on all 4 swims on the outing and I have to say that I'm very impressed with the rucksack. It has a multitude of uses and I think we've just added SwimHiking to it's list. Well done Lomo. Link to the 40L dry bag rucksack on the Lomo website: https://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/walke... **Just to note, that I would not recommend this SwimHike route to anyone without being accompanied by an experienced swim guide. **Also, to note that I am not affiliated to Lomo. I buy my own gear for SwimCamping/SwimHiking and do the odd review too. Click here to be taken to the Youtube video |
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January 2023
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