On a day of sharp, sleety showers carried in by a stiff southwesterly breeze, we walked west from Portuairk, over the hill to Bay MacNeil. A scramble up a rough path brought us to a cairn and the old coastguard lookout which dates from the Second World War, to the days when Loch Sunart was a gathering place for Atlantic convoys and the entrance to the Sound of Mull needed 24-hour vigilance. As the sky cleared to give some wintery sunshine, we had fine views north across the Minch to the isles of Rhum, Muck and Eigg.
Then down the other side to one of our favourite spots, a secluded valley with the broken remains of a stone croft house. Whoever lived here had a natural harbour in Bay MacNeil for his fishing boat and some good ground upon which to grow crops, as well as plenty of rough land for his sheep - to say nothing of the view across the bay to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse.
Bay MacNeil is a natural cove, with a narrow entrance and, to the south, an enclosed beach which rises, then drops down to the bay. Coming out onto the sand, with another shower clearing, we were welcomed by a young otter hunting in the shallows, who brought a crab onto a rock and lay eating it and watching us - probably the first humans he'd seen in weeks.
On a day of sharp, sleety showers carried in by a stiff southwesterly breeze, we walked west from Portuairk, over the hill to Bay MacNeil. A scramble up a rough path brought us to a cairn and the old coastguard lookout which dates from the Second World War, to the days when Loch Sunart was a gathering place for Atlantic convoys and the entrance to the Sound of Mull needed 24-hour vigilance. As the sky cleared to give some wintery sunshine, we had fine views north across the Minch to the isles of Rhum, Muck and Eigg.
Then down the other side to one of our favourite spots, a secluded valley with the broken remains of a stone croft house. Whoever lived here had a natural harbour in Bay MacNeil for his fishing boat and some good ground upon which to grow crops, as well as plenty of rough land for his sheep - to say nothing of the view across the bay to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse.
Bay MacNeil is a natural cove, with a narrow entrance and, to the south, an enclosed beach which rises, then drops down to the bay. Coming out onto the sand, with another shower clearing, we were welcomed by a young otter hunting in the shallows, who brought a crab onto a rock and lay eating it and watching us - probably the first humans he'd seen in weeks.
This is our favourite walk! We visit Ardnamurchan every April and this is always one of the first walks we do. A brilliant blog - it is our daily fix when we are away! Thank you
ReplyDeleteYour words and images have inspired me to arrange a visit to the area with my cameras!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
(Would you mind me contacting you with some questions about the area?)
Trevor -
ReplyDeleteMy email address is on the blog. I'm happy to do what I can to help.
Jon