HILLS :

Maol Domhnaich : Muldoanich(153m).

Berneray : Sotan(193m)

Mingulay : Carnan(273m).

Pabbay : The Hoe(171m).

Sandray : Carn Ghaltair(207m).



DATE : 1st of July 2010.



BOAT CHARTER : Donalds, Castlebay, Barra.





INTRODUCTION :

This started in February when I had seen a notice on a web site looking for folks interested in getting together to charter a boat to visit these remote Islands and climb their Marilyn summits. In time he organised 9 of us and the 1/2 of July would be the 2 days we banked on the weather being calm enough although maybe a day or two over would be required. Cost plus getting the weather right is a big factor in getting it right. It may be ok in the morning but the speed the sea changes is a problem and the swell is not good when landing on rocky Islands. Anyone wondering where these Islands are they are the 5 uninhabited Islands south of Vatersay/Barra.



THE BISHOP ISLES :

I awoke the morning July the 1st on Barra, in my van, being rocked with wind and rain pelting off the roof. The phone had woken me and I answered without looking to hear my boss. Things couldnt of started more grim.
I made my way round to Castlebay stopping to pick up some walkers before meeting a couple of the group in the cafe at Castlebay. We were to meet with the group at 3pm to discuss future plans but it didnt look good even the Calmac was canceled.
By lunch time things were now looking up. The gale had died and the sky had cleared. The meeting at 3pm was readjusted to we leave at 3pm. A late start it seemed but at this time of year we had plenty of light we needed to be more concerned about the swell.
The plan was to do the closest Island, its small and pretty exposed for landing on. After this we would travel south all the way to the furthest Island Berneray, then work our way back. Previous trips have failed due to the weather changeing and not making the furthest but with the wind direction this would mean any change would be in the direction we returned. Smart cookies this bunch.
The initial journey from Castlebay to Maol Domhnaich didnt take long after stopping to pick up and tow the landing dinghy. The landing did seem more of a problem than the others even though in good weather(shallow rocks). We were soon up the hill and being Marilyn baggers the highest point soon became a bit of comedy.





Looking back to Barra after landing on Maol Domhnaich.





Summit of Muldoanich.



Remains of small sheiling high on the Island.



On the move South to the furthest island Bernaray



Back on the boat we were eager to get on and Donald our charter sorted out the canopy for the sides to stop the spray. Batten down the hatches was something that sprung to mind but to be honest it was not that bad.
One thing the boat is powerfull and although dated it is more than up to the job to make it fast and deal with the swell. We reached Berneray in an hour or so, its the easiest to land on due to the pier there although the days of landing anything for the lighthouse are long gone.

Berneray Landing : Old light house pier.




The Berneray sea cliffs.



Group on the summit of Sotan



Berenray was by far the most interesting Island and the ascent of Sotan was made easy due to the lighthouse track.Its interesting to see what it must of been like to be a lighthouse keeper in the 19th century. It even had a small graveyard for the families including a grave for a 2 year old who died of croup. How desperate it must of been back then being so cut off.
There was more summit queries going on with the summit west of the light house being a suspect. I made my way out there while everyone went to Sotan(summit) to experience the place by myself. I then did Sotan while everyone else went to the lighthouse. I would love to spend a night there its an amazing place, huge sea cliffs to the south and grassy meadows to the north. I walked back down the grass slopes to the small pier to meet with everyone.

At the light house.



Graveyard for lighthouse families.



Looking back to the lighthouse from Sotan.



Razerbil



Mingulay.



Returning to the boat




It was a short journey to Mingulay and landing this time was on the rocks before a walk along to the only remaining building. Looked like the old school house for the village although the village was now just sheiling ruins. The ascent was the longest and pretty rough but a fantastic view point.

Landing area at Mingulay.



Summit of Carnan



Boarding the landing dinghy



Back on board Donald was now concerned about the swell building he said it was forecast on the radio to be worse the next day and the next few days. Will we go and try Pabbay. This seemed to be Donalds way of telling us you do the lot tonight or thats it so off we went with huge swell waves chaseing up behind us to the point it looked they would drop into the back of the boat before disappearing under.

Swell builds on the way to Pabbay.




Now on reaching Pabbay the bay was rough to say the least and it looked to me a bit dicey to try for the rocks. One thing I noticed with Donald is hes very old school and no one ever sees a life jacket unless the main boats sinking probably. There was a sign on the main boat telling us they were down stairs but that was not much use when you were in sea like that 11 of us in his low dinghy.

Landing on Pabbay



Summit of The Hoe[An Tobha}.



Return to the bay via old ruins.




Swell now increasing even more.


We made it back to the main boat through Donalds skill and knowledge of the area.(hidden natural harbour) Interesting is the size of hand held outboard he uses 40hp! No half measures there.
Off we traveled again reaching Sandray at 10.20pm. Donald got us round the Island to a sheltered area and it was a flat calm sea(almost) that we stepped off onto the rocks in the last of the sun light.

Arrival at the sheltered Sandray



Dinghy returns to boat after drop off.



Vatersay is not far to the north.



The end : Summit of Carn Ghaltair.



It was good to reach journeys end and very pleasant standing up there knowing we were under no rush now. We all had a blether about the day and for one it was a special day as he now had only 6 Marilyns left in the UK!

For some a very special summit with only 6 to go!




Back on the boat we Came into Castlebay at quarter to midnight. I always thought of Castlebay as a remote looking place but that night with all its lights it looked the opposite. They are remote Islands to do and Donald told us this was his first charter out to them this year! Nice thing he told us though was its the first time all the Marilyn summits were done in one day. To be honest I would love to spend more time especially on Berneray but at a cost of £540 for the boat and getting the weather you really just have to go. Colin in our party had only the two furthest Islands to do before taking him to the last 6 in the UK I think that speaks for itself. Lucky bunch.

Late midnight return to Castlebay.