| The Tormentor at Kyle of Lochalsh Harbour (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
The Tormentor at Kyle of Lochalsh Harbour
Photographer Description of The Tormentor at Kyle of Lochalsh Harbour
It is always fun taking panoramas from the tops of boats. The Tormentor is a civilian ship leased to the navy. She was being repainted at the time. I am grateful to be given permission to board to take this panoramic picture. Maybe one day it will be possible to take some images from the middle of the loch...Anyway, it was good preparation for doing similar photography on the HMS Ark Royal in London later on in the year.The Tormentor at Kyle of Lochalsh Harbour - Further Information
Panorama taken from the superstructure of the 'Tormentor' moored alongside the Fishery Pier at Kyle of Lochalsh Harbour on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands.This panoramic photograph gives a good view over the waters of Loch Alsh to the Isle of Skye and the Skye Bridge. The name "Kyle" literally means an inlet of sea water, or narrow passageway of sea, hence the village is named after the kyle of the loch Alsh upon whose shores it stands. It is unusual to see the kyle so flat calm and tranquil devoid of activity, especially on such a beautiful day.
This unique perspective gives a great chance to see the small isles which lie off the northern tip of the Fishery Pier in the channel. It is around these isles that many forms of sea life congregates and flourishes. There are several boat trips running from Kyle which allow close up views of the many seals who are fond of lounging around on these wee isles especially in the summer months. Admiralty charts show that the section of water behind these isles, over towards the foot of the mountain on Skye itself, runs particularly deep. It is not uncommon for small whales, dolphins and even sharks to be sighted here. The sea bed here hosts a coral reef which is often used for both military and civilian diving training.
On the far shore is the wreck of the HMS Port Napier, a WW2 mine-laying ship which sunk on 27th November 1940 while laden with explosives. It had been tied up at Kyle Harbour carrying 550 sea mies and over 6000 explosive shells when a fire broke out. Unable to extinguish the blaze, it was heroically towed across the channel away from the village houses and safely abandoned to founder. Moments later, it exploded and parts of the ship were thrown by force of the explosion landing as far away as Kyleakin Harbour. Amazingly, none of the explosive shells detonated. The wreck was made safe and its cargo salvaged by the authorities. At low tide, parts of it's infrastructure can still be seen jutting out of the water. As an unusual wreck in the shallow waters of Loch na Beist and in a scenic location, it is quite an attraction for wreck divers of all levels of experience.
More of Kyle village can be seen here including the new RNLI lifeboat station, the large white building with tall, thin looking windows. Behind are hotels and shops at the edges of the old ferry slipway which was the heart of the village and main access point to the isles before the opening of the bridge.
However, despite the cessation of the ferry crossing, this stretch of water is no less busy, as the presence of this fine ship attests.
Travel and Getting There
Kyle Fishery Pier is visible from the A87, the main road through the village between the Skye Bridge and the main road heading east and south towards Inverness, Fort William and Glasgow.