Easdale

Tuesday 7^th June we left the car at the B and B in Seil and walked the short cut to the village of Ellenabeich where the ferry leaves for Easdale. At a little white hut there are 2 buttons to switch, that sets off the summoning lights for the boat waiting on Easdale. It is a small open topped motor boat that took less than 5 minutes to cross. After the blazing sun of yesterday, the grey start was a bit of a relief. Then a light rain began to fall but not enough to keep the midges away though we have known much worse.

It is as if the whole tiny island is one big quarry. Banks of slate scree define the landscape. As we got off the boat we noticed wheelbarrows all over the place near the docking area. This island doesn’t have cars- they keep them in the village over the water but they need something to transport their goods and what better than a wheelbarrow. It is around 9.45 and there is hardly a soul about. Maybe many of the old slaters cottages are now holiday lets.

The museum and Puffer Inn are open at 11 but we had walked all around the island by 10.15.- about a mile. There was nowhere to wait except the ferry waiting area which did have books to look at.

The old quarries had filled with water to make swimming pools of different depths and one of a particularly turquoise blue had 2 men in wet suits tomb-stoning. The ferryman said this pool is shallow enough to make it warmer than the others but we wondered what chemical might be present to change its colour.

 

 

The island is certainly unusual and the flowers were lovely especially the birds foot trefoil and heather sprouting close to the ground between the slate. Birds were nesting in the crevices in the slate walls.

An inspiring book called Island. Diary of a year on Easdale by Garth and Vicky Waite. led me to bring paper and pencils in the hope of making a few sketches. I had been looking forward to the beauty and tranquillity here but the weather wasn’t the sort for lingering.

The Puffer restaurant is open in the evening.