Date: Friday 7th June 2013
Distance: 5.5km
Ascent: 150m
Up just after dawn in our tent by the sea – a cloudy and cool. Gathered up the tent and headed to Castlebay to check a forecast – improving day.
We’d climbed Sheabhal on Thursday with perfect conditions – we decided to spend the day nearer sea level prior to our 1830 ferry.
As the clouds cleared we wandered up the glen east of Borgh looking at the wildlife.
The peewits were in full defence mode – some chicks hiding most likely:
Lady’s Smock Flowers and Garden Tiger caterpillar:
We wanted to go and find a rocky, quiet shore so, after inspecting the map, we chose the headland SE of Bruarnis.
Found a parking space near a barn at NF 722 020 and started out on a little track which ran south towards some transmitters.
Bruarnis:
As we crossed the little hill and started down towards the coast we started up an adolescent Sea Eagle which had been sitting there:
It flew off east being mobbed by ravens.
The headland has a view NE to Uist:
A cuckoo was roving the area – close enough on a still day to hear the burbling laugh sound that they make between their more famous vocalisations:
Found a seat with a view to sit and watch the world go by:
We were circumnavigating Rum on this trip – I think we got a full 360:
As we sat we noticed our young Sea Eagle being driven off by an adult bird which then circled for a while:
Further entertained by an otter fishing the coast.
Took to our feet and wandered on. The area seemed to have been burned earlier in the year but the flowers were still rising.
Orchid:
There were only a few areas of shallows – the coast seemed to drop deep very quickly:
Thrift and Sgurr nan Gillean:
After another seat at another quiet spot we wandered back to head for Castlebay. The Eriskay ferry was running back and forth all day:
Beinn Mhor to the NE:
We spotted the adult eagle sitting on a hill with a trig point – gives a sense of scale:
Sound of Barra:
Sundew:
SW to Sheabhal:
…and so onto the Calmac ferry (Clansman) and the last hop of the outer isles trip. With a tinge of regret to be leaving.
Castlebay:
Stood out on deck for the return gaining shifting views of the diminishing Outer Hebrides plus Coll, Tiree, Mull, Small Isles and Skye.
Barra:
Receding islands:
Rum:
Eigg:
Rum with the Skye Cuillin behind:
As S Uist recedes the hills start to look more like individual islands:
Small Isles and Ardnamurchan Point:
As we entered the Sound of Mull at about 2200 our sunset was just blocked by Ardnamurchan:
With good light we saw a very large number of porpoises/dolphins in the Sound as the light of sunset waned a bit.
Got into Oban at 2345 to fall into a pre-booked bed for a good night’s sleep. What a phenomenal week!
Busy Doing Nothing 