Camas nan Geall

The Ardnamurchan Community Archaeology group is putting on a guided historical walk at Camas nan Geall at 10.30 on Thursday - see post here for details - so we went over there today to wander around the site and, on a more serious note, to do a risk assessment, a requisite of all outdoor activities these days.

We walked down the track past the neolithic chambered cairn and the standing stone, and crossed the gate onto the sandy beach. This picture looks back from the east side of the bay.

We then walked round the bay, crossed the burn, and climbed up to have a look at one of the 19th century farm houses. This is the best of them, with gabled ends and mortared walls, a slate roof, a fine fireplace, and....

....lovely views from its front door across the farmland to Ardslignish Point and the distant hills of Morvern.

We then climbed higher up the hill into the broken ground to the northwest of the bay, into the area in which the original clachan was built. The bases of the later, stone-walled houses are still easily found, as well as a large animal enclosure.

There's always a magic to Camas nan Geall. This comes in part from the magnificence of its amphitheatre shape, with the bay its stage; in part because it is always so quiet and peaceful there; but also the place is pervaded by a deep sense of history. It's such a pity that so many people stop at the car park above it, look at the view for a few minutes, and then climb into their cars and hurry elsewhere.