A Run to the Lighthouse

We took a run out to Ardnamurchan Point lighthouse this morning in real turn-of-the-year weather - bright sunshine alternating with sudden, heavy showers, and an occasional peel of thunder.

A stiff northwesterly was blowing the weather through - looking out towards the horizon you could see what was coming next.

This sort of exciting weather suits this area wonderfully.  The air is fresh and keen, the wind seems to chivvy everything along, and the sunshine, when it happens, is toasty warm.  To add to the joy of it, the heather is now in full bloom, covering parts of the countryside in carpets of purple.

The dry cargo carrier Burhoui, which we've seen before, was rounding the point southbound.  Her company, the Alderney Shipping Company, is registered the Channel Islands.  It was good to sit on one of the picnic benches and watch the gannets attacking shoals of fish.

The Lighthouse, which is run by a local charitable Trust, has a cafe, shop, exhibition rooms, and a small cottage, converted from one of the Lighthkeepers' houses, which can be rented.  The Trust is celebrating fifteen years of successful trading with a party, to take place at the lighthouse on 15th September at 6pm - details here.