Nick Ray

The sea was playful and the air was warm. It was a wonderful paddle today.

Bounty from the sea. Sea kayaking trophies. Upcycling.

A break, sitting and resting, peace and tranquility, on the island of Wiay in Loch Bracadale. I’ve not been here before and I’m loving every second. Scared myself a little in one of the caves though…

Another glorious day to be on the sea.

Gorgeous here tonight.

Thirty years apart this month. Circumnavigating the Isle of Skye in 1996 was my first ever solo sea kayak journey. I paddled to Talisker Bay, here on Skye, yesterday and it brought back happy memories. It was a superb day on the sea, with eagles, red throated divers and many other birds. The sea was calm and the sun was warm.

A gorgeous morning here on the Isle of Skye. Happy Monday folks. 😊

Happiness is… Here I am in the kayak which carried around Scotland when I paddled to all the RNLI lifeboat stations in 2015. It’s the first time I’ve paddled her in 3.5 years, since she was fully refurbished.

A year ago today, I reached the westernmost point of mainland a Scotland during my Four Corners journey. I had walked on my own from the Mull of Galloway via Peterhead, ( southernmost & easternmost points respectively). It was a wild a wet day!

A happy man on his morning dog walk.

What’s the collective noun for a group of orchids? This was a colourful discovery on my walk this morning

I went exploring along the craggy coastline by my home and discovered this delightful water feature.

A pile of rock with a long history. On a prominent knoll in the hills behind our house is the intriguing Dùn Ard an t-Sabhail, marked on the Ordnance Survey map as a broch. This was once an impressive Iron Age structure, partly defensive but mainly status symbol for a family or community who lived in this land two thousand years ago. I’m fascinated by this history and look forward to finding more locations like this as I explore and poke about.

Footprints in the sand. Fiscavaig beach, Isle of Skye.

Inverness shopping day today. Not a bad view on the road out from home this morning.

This evening I went kayaking. Nothing remarkable about that I guess. It is however, the first time I’ve been out in my kayak properly in Scotland in 18 months! Being out there on the sea again, surrounded by this incredible beauty which is now my home locality, was an incredibly special moment for me. I’m back where I belong.

A night out in our new ‘back yard’. We walked from the house up onto the track leading to Talisker Bay. We pitched our tent looking down into the glen and enjoyed a wonderfully peaceful night. It’s truly gorgeous around here. I love it!

@fleurrbie Thank you Fleur. I hope you will visit one day and we can either kayak or walk together (or both). No otters yet but there eagles sightings. It’s all so exciting. I hope you’re well.

@LifeAfloat Oh Nick it’s lovely.. look at those views! Spotted any otters 🦦 yet?

I’m loving my new surroundings. Can’t quite believe this is my forever home!