Before we set off for the Islay walking week excursion to the Corryvreckan Whirlpool at the northern end of Jura I had deliberately set my expectations low, knowing that the conditions would unlikely be right for a great display. Just having see the location and may be a few currents would be great. However, when we arrived we were positively surprised:

While by no means in full actions we got to see standing waves several times as the tidal current was rushing through the Gulf of Corryvreckan. At times almost the whole gulf seemed to be boiling. We also heard the roar of the standing wave, a fascinating sound on an otherwise calm and quiet day. The picture doesn’t really do it justice, but I hope it at least gives an idea of the scene.

Two visitors to the Corryvreckan whirlpool, spotted from the far northern end of Jura in April 2015. On the right the German Schnellboot (fast attack craft) P6122 ‘Puma’, the third of three boats of this class passing through that afternoon. On the left the much smaller RIB from Venture West visiting the Corryvreckan from Crinan.