Since the weather broke on Sunday we've been plagued by a strong southeasterly which, with temperatures as low as zero this morning, is trying, but the air is so clear and fresh it's intoxicating, particularly for anyone who takes any pleasure in a camera. The best day was Tuesday when the wind almost dropped away. We walked in the hills to the northwest of Ben Hiant, wandering up the pretty glens which the burns have carved into the landscape, stopping to look back at the big sheds at Caim and the peak of
Meall an Tarmachain. Some people, it's rumoured, went to Sanna and swam.
After a perfect day the sunset colours were caught by the dead brown vegetation on Ben Hiant's slopes to turn the mountain into an ingot of copper. It's noticeable that the winds fall away first thing in the morning and in the evening. Walking back into the house from taking the picture....
....an idle shot of the gibbous moon came out remarkably well. It's the best phase of the moon for seeing the craters which are emphasised by their shadows, while the bright side of the moon isn't so swamped with light that it drowns the dark mares, the lunar seas.
The wind was much fiercer again this morning, gusting across
Lochan na Cannaig. The crannog - if it is such - is under the area of darker bushes on the far side of the lochan. A
crannog is an island which was inhabited, perhaps fortified, and has been a feature of the Scottish scenery for many thousands of years. There is no evidence that this really is a crannog: it's an example of another historic feature which is waiting to be investigated.
The Diary was out at the Ardnamurchan Point lighthouse this morning to assist in a project which should see the three big diesel pumps which once powered the foghorn returned to their former glory. This view looks across to Bay McNeil and the bulk of
Sgurr nam Meann. As can be seen in all the photographs of the land, by this time of year the grass has died back to expose its rocky bones.
As we were leaving the SD Moorfowl rounded the point on her way to Oban. The Isle of Muck is behind her and the mountains in the distant haze are on Rum. Look carefully at the picture: there's one, just one very small cloud.
Since the weather broke on Sunday we've been plagued by a strong southeasterly which, with temperatures as low as zero this morning, is trying, but the air is so clear and fresh it's intoxicating, particularly for anyone who takes any pleasure in a camera. The best day was Tuesday when the wind almost dropped away. We walked in the hills to the northwest of Ben Hiant, wandering up the pretty glens which the burns have carved into the landscape, stopping to look back at the big sheds at Caim and the peak of Meall an Tarmachain. Some people, it's rumoured, went to Sanna and swam.
Re Lochan na Crannaig,during the time of the Covenanters, it was known as the Pulpit Loch, as services were held there, the small area with the trees was where the Minister preached his sermon, it was an ideal place to preach as it was open for lookouts of any approaching authority
ReplyDeleteThat's a fascinating story. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIs there any evidence that, before then, the island was a crannog?
Not that I know of. On the South side of the loch where campers used to pitch their tents there used to be a tree where a man was hanged, as he used to rob the drovers who were returning from the trysts, some were making their way back to the outer Islands from Bay Mc Neil from where they had started the journey South
DeleteI really hope the pump poject comes to fruition, Jon...and that they get used for their intended purpose. I remember when the sound of lighthouse foghorns was commonplace. There are a few preserved working examples, but these seem to be operated during the day, and, perhaps because of noise concerns, at reduced strength. A demonstration at night with that light flashing as that blast of sound carries out towards the islands gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteI agree - but it will take a huge amount of work to get them going again, and I'm not sure we're competent to attempt it. It would be interesting to hear from anyone who is sufficiently mechanically minded to help us.
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