SKYE & LOCHABER GUIDING

 

Below Ben Nevis's North Face

The last 4 days I've been guiding 15 folk from various countries ranging from China, USA & Canada. The walking was mainly easy graded. We explored Skye and Lochaber using public transport. Managing 15 folk with public transport, accommodation and meals is time consuming and logistics of getting them to start points and and happily fed is a challenge. The guiding bit is easy. But Mark & I kept them happy 😊 . Here's some highlights from the last 4 days.

Interesting waterproofs 

Fox Hill, Skye

Castle Moy, Kyleakin,  Skye

On Tuesday we took the train from Aviemore to Kyle of Lochalsh. Time only for a short walk up Fox Hill & Castle Moy near Kyleakin before getting back to the hotel and a evening meal.

Boreraig 

Coastal walking

Grand views of Bla Bheinn

On Wednesday it was a nice, dry day on Skye with our multi-national group. Today's walk on the coast, passing Boreraig & Suishnish, is one of the classic low level strolls in the south part of the island. These once populated settlements right up to the 1850's are a sad reminder of The Clearances, a dark period in Highland history. The beach walk was full of wildlife including Curlew, Willow Warbler, Skylark, Cuckoo, Shag, Oystercatcher, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat and Grey Heron. My group seemed more obsessed with photographing sheep. Sheep - still a problem after 150 yrs!

A fab day, good banter and laughs. My group learned a bit more of Scottish history and wildlife. As for sheep, well........

Not a midge in sight!

Leaving Skye

A quick trip to Knoydart 

Knoydart shop

The remotest pub in the UK

Great weather for the ferry

Leaving Knoydart 

Seaside flowers 

Mallaig Harbour

On Thursday 30th June it was a lovely day on the West Coast. Day 3 with our group on their easy walking tour of the Highlands. Today was 1 bus, 2 ferries and 1 train. From Skye we travelled back to the mainland at Mallaig. Time for chips and a stroll. In the afternoon a trip out to Inverie on Knoydart for another short stroll and a beer at the most remote pub in the UK, The Old Forge. For some of the group more time at the beer garden than the walk. Finished off with the wonderful train journey from Mallaig to Fort William. A glorious early evening with no Harry Potter nonsense enroute 😉

Tomorrow is a big walk!

The Pony Track

Allt a' Mhuillin

Oh no, sheep again!

Atmosphere 

North Face Ben Nevis

On Friday we decided on a big day up Ben Nevis after all that sitting around on public transport yesterday. We walked up a quiet Pony Track from Glen Nevis to Lochan Meall an t-suidhe. After lunch we descended to the CIC Hut. A day of drizzly spells which were only short lived. A few bright spells on the way down the Allt a' Mhuillin. Amazingly we had no encounters with the midges. 

A top 4 days with these guys. This whistle stop tour of the Highlands is a good taster to the wonderful and diverse scenery Scotland has to offer. Thanks to Mark who assisted with the logistics, taxis and guiding. 

This week I was guiding for Walkabout Scotland.