I organised a RIB trip from Campbeltown for a group of 22 island and prominent hill-baggers to visit Sanda Island south of Kintyre. The RIB trip was a bit slower than normal due to the sea coditions which meant a bit of a rollercoaster ride there and back. Many of the group got rather wet and gained mouthfuls of salt water. We were there to bag the island summit at 123 meters which is a HuMP, a hundred meter prominence, a P123.
At the southern tip of the island there is a lighthouse built in 1850 by Alan Stevenson. When seen from the sea to the south, the natural arch, and the lighthouse on the rock can look like a ship, hence its name "The Ship" on marine charts. To me it looks like an elephant from the north. We were very lucky today as the lighthouse was occupied by techs maintaining the lighthouse.
In the 2001 census, Sanda was one of four Scottish islands with a population of one person. However, since then there has been some development, and the island subsequently had a population of 3. In August 2008 the island was put up for sale by the husband and wife owners as a result of their separation at a price of £3.2 million, and in January 2009 they announced that a sole caretaker would be resident until spring viewings re-commenced. The island finally sold to Swiss businessman Michi Meier for the lower price of £2.5 million.
Some of us had a light lunch in the retaurant, run by Maneul Czech, the chef. Some just had a drink from the well stocked bar.
Martin Richarsdon won the prize for the wetest passenger, closely followed by the Ewing family and Michael Taylor, the skipper of the RIB. Michael had to change his gear before heading back for the second boatful. Michael RIB can be hired via Campbeltown Tourist Information Centre.