Immerse Hebrides swim trip to Coll and Tiree

 I am just back from another glorious trip with Immerse Hebrides.  This time to Coll and Tiree.  I travelled down to Oban with Norma the day before.  Norma wasn't taking the trip this time but we had very capable leaders in Tina and Greg.  I had the morning to have a stroll around Oban before meeting with some of the group at our hotel, The Scot, in the afternoon.  I walked up to the castle and was able to snap the Waverley as she left Oban.

In the afternoon I met with Catherine who had invited her friends from Guernsey, Wendy, Tracy, Srabani and Gwen.  Norma, Tina and Greg took us to Easdale for a swim in an old slate quarry.  A lovely day with the sun shining on us.  Later I met with Janet and we went for a meal in Oban.

No cars on Easdale so wheelbarrows are a used to carry stuff from the ferry

Gwen

Greg was the winner of the stone skimming competition

Our swimming pool

We all met with Judith on Saturday as she had had a very long journey in traffic from the south and didn't arrive until late.  Off on the early ferry for Coll.  Arrived at our guest house on Coll Tigh na Mara and dumped our bags.  Two swims on two beautiful beaches and we were back for dinner at the Coll hotel.

Sheep resting opposite Tigh na Mara

Lunchbreak

Catherine and Tracy

Srabani, Tracy, Wendy and Gwen

Getting in for our second swim

Catherine

Srabani and Janet

handstand fun

We repeated the same on Sunday without the ferry trip.  All too soon we had to leave our lovely guest house and host Paula who with her staff cooked some fabulous breakfasts.  Definitely somewhere to stay at if you are ever in Coll.

Janet

Tina

Judith and Janet

Wendy

Coral spotted by Judith

An early birthday celebration for Catherine

We strolled down to the pier on Monday for the ferry to Tiree.  We were staying at the Scarinish hotel which was not up to Immerse Hebrides standards.  Norma had originally booked us in another hotel which closed and we were moved to the supposedly upgraded hotel.  Unfortunately, this hotel had been closed when Norma had done her recce last year.  Luckily we were out quickly for our two swims.  

One of the plants at Tigh na Mara

Judith

The walkers Srabani, Tracy and Wendy

Greg, Judith Tina, Gwen, Wendy, Tracy and Srabani

The harbour by the hotel

On seeing people arriving the sheep left the beach in a hurry

Check the lamb trying to catch up.

The weather changed on Tuesday and we had to miss our early morning swim.  We still managed a morning swim and warmed up in the distillery.  The last swim was a jumping over waves dip - lots of fun.

We caught the late ferry back to Oban arriving late at the Scot hotel.  On Wednesday, Leanne arrived to take the minibus and me back to Stornoway.

A few in phone movement images from my new app Camera FV 5

Thanks to Tina and Greg for being such wonderful leaders and keeping us safe.  Thanks to Norma for all the organising.  Looking forward to more Immerse Hebrides trips.  

Next trip is to Berlin with David Clapp photography.