{"id":3905,"date":"2020-04-27T11:02:04","date_gmt":"2020-04-27T10:02:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/?p=3905"},"modified":"2022-04-13T15:41:25","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T14:41:25","slug":"muckle-flugga-or-bust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/muckle-flugga-or-bust\/","title":{"rendered":"Muckle Flugga or Bust! \u2013 paddling to the top of Britain"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>by Mark Rainsley<\/h4>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79319457_2576485405760524_8253970752479428608_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3927\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79319457_2576485405760524_8253970752479428608_o.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"598\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79319457_2576485405760524_8253970752479428608_o.jpg 598w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79319457_2576485405760524_8253970752479428608_o-187x300.jpg 187w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 598px) 100vw, 598px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_19 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-6\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/muckle-flugga-or-bust\/#Why\" title=\"Why?\">Why?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-6\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/muckle-flugga-or-bust\/#Start_finish\" title=\"Start\/ finish:\">Start\/ finish:<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-6\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/muckle-flugga-or-bust\/#Mileage\" title=\"Mileage:\">Mileage:<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-6\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/muckle-flugga-or-bust\/#The_journey\" title=\"The journey:\">The journey:<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-6\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/muckle-flugga-or-bust\/#Camping\" title=\"Camping:\">Camping:<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-6\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/muckle-flugga-or-bust\/#Variations\" title=\"Variations:\">Variations:<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-6\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/muckle-flugga-or-bust\/#Further_info\" title=\"Further info:\">Further info:<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-6\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/muckle-flugga-or-bust\/#Trips\" title=\"Trips:\">Trips:<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-6\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/muckle-flugga-or-bust\/#Rough_Notes\" title=\"Rough Notes\">Rough Notes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h6><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why\"><\/span>Why?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>Because: Joining up the Orkney Islands and Shetland Island archipelagos, Britain\u2019s outmost and northernmost communities. Spectacular coastal scenery, abundant marine wildlife \u2013 especially seabirds and cetaceans. The chance to reach the very top of Britain, Muckle Flugga Lighthouse and Out Stack rock.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79851193_2576498389092559_9094921337536774144_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3923\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79851193_2576498389092559_9094921337536774144_o.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79851193_2576498389092559_9094921337536774144_o.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79851193_2576498389092559_9094921337536774144_o-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h6><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Start_finish\"><\/span>Start\/ finish:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>Various launch possibilities on the UK mainland, the most obvious being John O\u2019Groats harbour, where we launched. Other possibilities include St Margaret\u2019s Hope and Thurso. Finish at Burrafirth on the island of Unst.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79080614_2576496832426048_649975426881421312_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3930\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79080614_2576496832426048_649975426881421312_o-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79080614_2576496832426048_649975426881421312_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79080614_2576496832426048_649975426881421312_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79080614_2576496832426048_649975426881421312_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79080614_2576496832426048_649975426881421312_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79080614_2576496832426048_649975426881421312_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79178748_2576492642426467_1441997907711492096_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3924\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79178748_2576492642426467_1441997907711492096_o-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79178748_2576492642426467_1441997907711492096_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79178748_2576492642426467_1441997907711492096_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79178748_2576492642426467_1441997907711492096_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79178748_2576492642426467_1441997907711492096_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79178748_2576492642426467_1441997907711492096_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h6><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mileage\"><\/span>Mileage:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>Minimum distance maybe 350km, we went c450km in 2019.<\/p>\n<h6><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_journey\"><\/span>The journey:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>Possibly the most epic UK sea kayak journey you can make, short of paddling around the UK or making huge one-off crossings? Answers on a postcard if you know better\u2026<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78237745_2576494322426299_4961199126852141056_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3920\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78237745_2576494322426299_4961199126852141056_o-1024x669.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78237745_2576494322426299_4961199126852141056_o-1024x669.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78237745_2576494322426299_4961199126852141056_o-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78237745_2576494322426299_4961199126852141056_o-768x501.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78237745_2576494322426299_4961199126852141056_o-1536x1003.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78237745_2576494322426299_4961199126852141056_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands consistent of hundreds of isles with huge areas of epic cliffs. The shortest route north tends to the eastern side of these islands (with more shelter from the prevailing weather and swell), but still takes in plenty of impressive scenery! The much longer route following the western (more exposed) side of the islands traverses truly spectacular cliffs. We took a compromise route and went west of Orkney and east of Shetland, purely dictated on the hoof by weather and tides at the time.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78415631_2576496969092701_4530582780882452480_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3919\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78415631_2576496969092701_4530582780882452480_o-1024x673.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"345\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78415631_2576496969092701_4530582780882452480_o-1024x673.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78415631_2576496969092701_4530582780882452480_o-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78415631_2576496969092701_4530582780882452480_o-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78415631_2576496969092701_4530582780882452480_o-1536x1009.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78415631_2576496969092701_4530582780882452480_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There are a number of serious open crossings where tides are extremely strong across your path; the Pentland Firth, the Westray Firth\/ Stronsay Firth (midway through the Orkney Islands), the North Ronaldsay Firth, the flows between Orkney and Shetland (largely uncharted!), Yell Sound, Bluemull Sound, the top of Unst.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78234739_2576501575758907_6831851722940350464_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3932\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78234739_2576501575758907_6831851722940350464_o-1024x675.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78234739_2576501575758907_6831851722940350464_o-1024x675.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78234739_2576501575758907_6831851722940350464_o-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78234739_2576501575758907_6831851722940350464_o-768x506.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78234739_2576501575758907_6831851722940350464_o-1536x1012.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78234739_2576501575758907_6831851722940350464_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The crux of the trip (obvious from the map) is the crossings from Orkney (North Ronaldsay) to Shetland (Sumburgh Head), via Fair Isle. Both crossings are at least 44km, across powerful cross tides. Both begin and end in huge tide races. Despite some thorough planning, we missed Fair Isle on our planned bearing (kicked off-course by astonishingly powerful flows), and eventually paddled over 70km! The second crossing is more straightforward for a number of factors; however, we were more than happy to reduce risk and save time (waiting for the right weather) by taking the tiny ferry for this leg. Note that there is no ferry (or flights etc) between the top of Orkney and south of Shetland, paddling is the only option.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78468942_2576486119093786_2461548157947871232_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3918\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78468942_2576486119093786_2461548157947871232_o-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78468942_2576486119093786_2461548157947871232_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78468942_2576486119093786_2461548157947871232_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78468942_2576486119093786_2461548157947871232_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78468942_2576486119093786_2461548157947871232_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78468942_2576486119093786_2461548157947871232_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The logistics of returning to a vehicle at John O\u2019Groats are tricky and will need at least a couple of days; we managed it through a lift, an overnight ferry to Aberdeen, a flight and some buses.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79265155_2576491879093210_6922036505623920640_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3922\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79265155_2576491879093210_6922036505623920640_o-1024x728.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79265155_2576491879093210_6922036505623920640_o-1024x728.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79265155_2576491879093210_6922036505623920640_o-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79265155_2576491879093210_6922036505623920640_o-768x546.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79265155_2576491879093210_6922036505623920640_o-1536x1092.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/79265155_2576491879093210_6922036505623920640_o.jpg 1843w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h6><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Camping\"><\/span>Camping:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>No issue anywhere. Plenty of options for beautiful camp spots.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78928738_2576505765758488_7690072045077397504_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3917\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78928738_2576505765758488_7690072045077397504_o-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78928738_2576505765758488_7690072045077397504_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78928738_2576505765758488_7690072045077397504_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78928738_2576505765758488_7690072045077397504_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78928738_2576505765758488_7690072045077397504_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78928738_2576505765758488_7690072045077397504_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h6><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Variations\"><\/span>Variations:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>As noted above, the big choice is between the east and west coasts of both archipelagos. If you get to the top of Orkney and the weather is not appropriate for the crossings to Shetland, then heading back south by a different route is hardly a hardship; this is what my wife Heather and I did when we attempted this journey in 2009.<\/p>\n<h6><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Further_info\"><\/span>Further info:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>\u2018Northern Isles Sea Kayaking\u2019 by Tom Smith and Chris Jex, Pesda Press.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h6><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78605821_2576491342426597_6829562767364587520_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3936\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78605821_2576491342426597_6829562767364587520_o.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"686\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78605821_2576491342426597_6829562767364587520_o.jpg 686w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78605821_2576491342426597_6829562767364587520_o-214x300.jpg 214w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 686px) 100vw, 686px\" \/><\/a><\/h6>\n<h6><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Trips\"><\/span>Trips:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>2019 \u2013 Mark Rainsley and Lizzie Garnett. Double kayak, took the ferry from Fair Isle to Shetland Mainland. 13 days of paddling with three off-the-water days en route.<\/p>\n<h5>Others?<\/h5>\n<p>I only know of Patrick Winterton and Sean Morley completing the journey to the top (Sean Morley then came back again!); there must be many others. Justine Curgenven completed the trip as far as Shetland.<\/p>\n<h6><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rough_Notes\"><\/span>Rough Notes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>My rough notes, posted directly after\u2026<\/p>\n<h5 style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">A few numbers from our trip between John O&#8217;Groats and Muckle Flugga&#8230;<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>2 paddlers (1 male, 1 female)<\/li>\n<li>1 double kayak<\/li>\n<li>4 mph on a good day<\/li>\n<li>16 days from start to completion<\/li>\n<li>13 paddling days (from 1.5 to 10.5 hours on the water)<\/li>\n<li>3 lazy off-the-water days<\/li>\n<li>Countless noodles eaten<\/li>\n<li>1 gale<\/li>\n<li>5 broken tent poles (out of 5)<\/li>\n<li>280+ miles covered<\/li>\n<li>253+ miles paddled<\/li>\n<li>5 serious-ish open crossings made<\/li>\n<li>1 ferry trip of 27 miles &#8211; Fair Isle to Shetland<\/li>\n<li>Shortest day &#8211; c5 miles<\/li>\n<li>Longest day &#8211; c44 miles (open crossing from North Ronaldsay to Fair Isle, made interesting\/ lengthy by crazy tides)<\/li>\n<li>1 large oil tanker<\/li>\n<li>4+ otter encounters<\/li>\n<li>1-2 minke whales<\/li>\n<li>1 pod of Rissos dolphins<\/li>\n<li>c6 porpoises<\/li>\n<li>Countless puffins, on every day &#8230;ditto, gannets, skuas, seals etc.<br \/>\nFour ferries, one flight, one lift, two van journeys, one taxi, three buses, four flatbed trucks and one hire car required to get back home to Southern England.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78274264_2576493902426341_1108688392339587072_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3937\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78274264_2576493902426341_1108688392339587072_o-1024x666.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78274264_2576493902426341_1108688392339587072_o-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78274264_2576493902426341_1108688392339587072_o-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78274264_2576493902426341_1108688392339587072_o-768x499.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78274264_2576493902426341_1108688392339587072_o-1536x999.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78274264_2576493902426341_1108688392339587072_o.jpg 2022w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78595474_2576499359092462_215555951795634176_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3926\" src=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78595474_2576499359092462_215555951795634176_o-1024x666.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78595474_2576499359092462_215555951795634176_o-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78595474_2576499359092462_215555951795634176_o-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78595474_2576499359092462_215555951795634176_o-768x499.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78595474_2576499359092462_215555951795634176_o-1536x998.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/78595474_2576499359092462_215555951795634176_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>All images courtesy of\u00a0 Mark Rainsley &#8211; more of Mark&#8217;s &#8216;Muckle Flugga or Bust!&#8217; images &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pg\/markrainsleyadventures\/photos\/?tab=album&amp;album_id=2576484299093968\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Mark Rainsley Contents Why?Start\/ finish:Mileage:The journey:Camping:Variations:Further info:Trips:Rough Notes Why? Because: Joining up the Orkney Islands and Shetland Island archipelagos, Britain\u2019s outmost and northernmost communities. Spectacular coastal scenery, abundant marine wildlife \u2013 especially seabirds and cetaceans. The chance to reach the very top of Britain, Muckle Flugga Lighthouse and Out Stack rock. Start\/ finish: Various &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/muckle-flugga-or-bust\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Muckle Flugga or Bust! \u2013 paddling to the top of Britain&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4161,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-paddling-guides"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3905"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4162,"href":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3905\/revisions\/4162"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}