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HILLS : Garb Eilean : Mullach Buidhe (160m). [Marilyn]
Eilean an Taighe : 125m high point of Island. [Hump]
DATE : 8th of July 2010.
WEATHER : Force 6 but mainly sunny.
SHIANT ISLESThis trip was pretty much subject to delays due to the unusual gale force winds we experienced on Harris that week. After a few days of delays we got a day that was force 6! And Seaharris (Seamus Morrison) reckoned to be feasible. The Kilda trip had been cancelled for the week but a trip to the Shiants was offered in its place. The Kilda cruises boat would therefore be with us for the day.
Kilda cruises would be joining us as the swell was to much for St Kilda.Leaving the safety of sheltered waters. Scalpay bridge.The crossing was hampered by side on big rollers but the boat is very powerful so coped well still it was just to much to tackle taking any pictures. On reaching the Isles we rounded the North tip to reach sheltered waters on the East side.
Calm enough for pictures as we move to the sheltered side.Kilda cruises following behind.Eilean an TaigheThe landing area is a spit of sand /gravel that connects the two Islands. Its reached by dinghy from the bay. Now to access the North Island and the Marilyn summit Mullach Buidhe its a steep climb from the beach. Seamus explained that although he couldn’t stop folks climbing up onto this Island he would rather everyone stayed on the southern Island. Its steep grass mixed with crags and after the rain showers it would be very slippy. This was not good news as it was the
Marilyn summit I really wanted to visit
Landing areaOn reaching the beach the ascent below Garb Eilean didn’t look much better from below. I made my way round with everyone else to the southern Island. I had wanted to do the Hump summit here as well as the bigger Northern Marilyn so I would do this one first then have a look at the Marilyn. We passed the bothy that had a couple staying the week but were going back today with Seaharris.
Bothy and route up Garbh Eilean behind.Its an easy climb and with beautiful views of the coast. I met Alison who had been on the Kilda cruises boat (Previously on the Bishop Isles charter) She was concerned that we were not doing the Marilyn summit and turned back. She shouted after me I was doing the wrong summit but I reckoned I would be doing both anyway.
Summit area of Eilean an Taighe.I I returned from the summit back to the beach interested to see where Alison was. Surprisingly she was high up on the crags. The wind was really strong through here and to be honest looked a bit dicey.
Route up Garbh Eilean. Alison high on the crags.Fearless.I decided to walk round the beach to a grass terrace I had seen on the way in. Seamus had also pointed at this as being a route although again not keen on folks attempting it. To be honest its a steep walk apart from a short scramble near the top. One problem though amongst the rocks Razerbill are nesting while in the terrace there are loads of Puffin burrows so you are a pest towards them until you pass.
Razerbill in the rocks.As luck would have it I pulled over the edge just as Alison was passing. I shouted on her but in the wind she couldnt hear.On the summit area there were a fair number of Great Skua and they were serious dive bombers. Unlike gulls these buggers would shoot along the heather, wings spread to look big and go slow as they would come straight at you.
I made it a fast visit as there were clearly nests nearby and returned.
Great Skua dive bomb.Mullach Buidhe moorland summit.From the summit looking to Harris Eilean MhuireThe terrace from above looking back to the boatsTwo boats wait in the bayPick up timeLast but not least. Check out the profile of the wee guy having a pee, head against the wall.The return boat journey went anything but smooth. We were all to stay in our seats and I got to witness the biggest waves I ever seen, at the Southern tip of the Shiants. It seemed like the boat was being dropped from a great height all the time although we were traveling very slow. Dropping down into those troughs looked some height when you were up on the crests and looking at the front of the boat where you couldnt normally see the sea it was all you could see!
Some of those waves looked like hillsides although they were tighter together in this area. I was just a little bit terrified and forgot about sea sickness although it did flow from other areas of the boat.
It did seem to be much rougher on the way back but not as bad as the Southern tip.