October 2011 Weekend Meet: Kinloch Castle, RUM or RHUM

This was a planned four day meet but due to bad weather became a five and then a six day meet.....read on

The two groups filled the hostel at Kinloch Castle and luckily the students were booked for half board and packed lunches so we had sole use of the small self catering kitchen.

A short tour of the village was taken to buy extra supplies including drink at the PO/shop – cold beer straight from the fridge. This became a regular visit each day so that some members of our group could throw things at the dog – sorry – for the dog to fetch. Later in the week they even started taking the dog for walks.

DAY1 Saturday

Magnificent Seven trekked to village (?) of Harris along track passing rock grinding machinery, over many restored bridges , with poor views because of rain and low cloud BUT a SEA EAGLE flew off in front of us from a low crag. The photographers were too slow to get a good photo. There were many Rum ponies and many Highland cattle as we approached Harris. Johnny tried to make friends with the cattle but was frightened by their LONG horns (maybe they were frightened by his frothy waterproof trousers). At least there was a MAUSOLEUM where we could have laid him to rest if he had come to any harm.

On our return trip we took a detour up a wet and muddy stalkers path to climb a hill –FIONCHRA – wet, windy and misty at top.

Lots of evidence of past developments – ruined / unoccupied buildings, ruined dams and diverted burns.

(29.6 km and 460 m)

DAY2 Sunday

JW and GG walked to Kilmory and explored along the coast (cliffs, clefts ,tops of arches, wrecked trawlers), the beach (sand, some sun, but wind, sandstone features and a poor old dear ooops deer), the gamekeepers house and the ruins of the old village and cemetery. There were over a hundred deer in the area as this is where they are studied having the best farmland on the island. Good views of Canna and Skye, (24.2 km and 220m).

NMcB walked and paddled to Dibidal Bothy.

MMcE, CATH, CHRIS and DA went hill walking up the corrie to Hallival and Barkeval. (the ridge was impossible due to wet weather and gale force winds).

DAY 3 Monday “FERRY CANCELLED”

JW and GG walked to Dibidal Bothy along a wet,waterlogged, stream/path. Lots of ups and downs and stream crossings. Good views of Eigg over very rough seas. Great care required at river crossing just before bothy – went well upstream. Excellent well equipped bothy. Good stop for lunch. On return trip even more water and more care had to be taken on burn crossings.(18.9 km and 520m).

MMcE, CATH, CHRIS, DA and NMcB went to Kilmory. Four walked and Nick cycled. Spent a long time on the beach and enjoyed the sandstone rock formations. Also seals on the beach.

DAY 4 Tuesday “FERRY CANCELLED”

GG walked to Guirdil Bothy in strong winds. Path good but wet. Took great care with river crossing as I was on my own and the water levels were high. Another great bothy. Took cans of beer and sweets to two guys we knew that were staying in the bothy. One had had his hat blown off into the sea that morning so I gave him my spare hat as they thought they might climb Bloodstone Hill in the afternoon. While returning met CHRIS who was cycling towards Harris on Nicks bike.(21.1 km and 480m).

MMcE, CATH, CHRIS, DA walked the nature trail and other walks about the village. CATH saw an otter on the path close to the hide.

JW walked to the Otter Hide and the shielings, and continued to Rubh Port. He later walked along Loch Scresort Bay.

NMcB went hill walking up the corrie almost to the summit of Hallival but the wind was gale force so descended and continued to Barkeval.

DAY 5 Wednesday

MMcE, DA, GG and NMcB repeated JW’s walk from yesterday. (Guess which OLDIE left his specs and book in the otter hide after he had a short snooze)(6km and 60m).

NMcB then went for a sleep in the COMMUNITY HALL while the rest of us had an excellent tour of KINLOCH CASTLE. The tour was excellent and we were well entertained and educated. The electric pipe organ was superb and at the end of the tour JW” LIBERACE” performed some of his extensive and excellent repertoire on the STEINWAY piano.

The weather had improved and we had an excellent return trip to Mallaig on the small fast boat (17 knots) with great views of the Skye and Rum ridges and the islands, and then home via an excellent eating establishment.

Many thanks to the people of Rum and the staff of the castle/hostel. They worked extra hours and made sure the Bar stayed open. They also allowed the two groups who were using bothies to use the community hall as the hostel was full.

And WHO STOLE MMcE’s WINE – A PHILOSOPHER

I hope they enjoyed their parties – they clapped a lot and made a lot of noise well into the early hours.

Thanks to the BOSS man who said sorry and gave Marian a bottle of his wine. (HE also got the bill for their extra accommodation and food – it was only £2500).

A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ONE AND ALL and I hope the workers from FVMC didn’t really miss two extra days work!