Kilmory to Swordle

Dawn broke with a sleety drizzle which cleared to reveal a dusting of snow across the mountains on Mull. This ship, the Norwegian registered Lysfoss, came up the Sound early: she is pictured passing the entrance to Bloody Bay. Back in May 2001, Lysfoss rammed herself hard ashore on Auliston Point, on the opposite side of Loch Sunart from Kichoan, holing herself and causing some pollution. The full MAIB accident report is here but, in brief, the officer on watch fell asleep and missed his waypoint. She's a fine little ship so it's good to see her back at work.

By ten the sun was out, so we drove to the north coast. Passing through Branault we followed the pale, flitting shape of a male hen harrier as far as Kilmory, where the air lay so still that the smoke from the MacLachlan's house rose vertically into the air; and, looking north....

....the mountaintops of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides were quite clearly visible beyond Muck.

The main purpose of our walk was to visit St Columba's Cave. We then walked eastwards along the coast towards Ockle, as far as the Bay House at Swordle, one of Ardnamurchan Estate's most spectacular letting houses, sited on a lonely bay with magnificent views northwards.

In the field by the house a flock of greylag geese were feeding. With the end of the temporary ban on wildfowl shooting, they were justifiably nervous and weren't prepared to pose for the camera.

Then home to a bowl of home-made lentil soup.