The tiny island of Easdale has been propelled into world consciousness by a bunch of old tossers and stone skimming cheats.
Who have been disqualified for flattening out their slates so that they are more circular.
Tossers have been playing with their slates at the World Stone Skimming Championships for 42 years now.
With the regulations smoothed down over the years.
With the now 400 tossers expected to use only Inner Hebridean Easdale slates.
And less than three inches in diameter.
Only opportunistic competitors have been caught out using machines.
To smooth down their stones and been thrown out.
Watch out for the stones
Now, of course, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
And I stand guilty too of stone throwing shenanigans.
When skimming with Son and Heir at the Meeting of the Waters in Avoca.
In my old stomping ground of County Wicklow in Ireland.
And in my competitiveness put some welly into one throw, a doubler, or double figures.
My pride at my pebble reaching the other side of the bank 39ft away was alas dulled.
By the fact that it jumped at the last minute.
And luckily enough the lad who was about to get said stone in the eye.
Well, he ducked at just the right time, to save me Wicklow Gaol time.
A lifetime of tossing
Now living on big islands, in Britain and Ireland, I have grown up skimming stones.
When cousins would come visiting from Ireland and America.
And my New Yorker peer Eddie who would compete over anything would claim dozens of skims.m
And delight in beating my efforts, all off the iconic Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond, near Glasgow.
It is little surprise then that Scotland’s shorelines have become home to the World Skimming Championships.
With the event the brainchild of Bertie Baker following a conversation in the island pub.
The Stone Age
Our friends at the Scottish tourism board Visit Scotland naturally are happy.
To share what a dividend the championships are to Easdale, all showcased here by photographer Kirsty Mclellan.
The Argyll and Bute island, populated by just 60 outside of the skimming worlds, boasts a museum.
Where visitors can stock up on souvenir stones.
While, of course, island boozer The Puffer does a roaring trade.
And the Oyster Bar and Restaurant also sees a big spike in business.
An islands stay
Last year’s survey showed most visitors stayed for two-three nights.
With more than 50 per cent staying in hotels or B&Bs.
Some 40 per cent stayed in Oban on the mainland.
And another 40 per cent bedded down on the Isle of Easdale, Luing and Seil.
So pencil in Easdale to your Scottish trip in September particularly if, like me. you’re an old tosser.
