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The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)


Postby magicdin » Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:13 pm

Route description: Heaval, from Castlebay

Sub 2000' hills included on this walk: Beinn Sciathain (Eriskay), Sheabhal (Barra)

Date walked: 08/07/2011

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Really racked my brains to come up with a corny title for this wee trip report but just couldnae think of one :roll: :oops:


Friday 8th July
Ferry from Oban to Barra - Glorious day for the crossing
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Leaving Oban

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Mull with Duart Castle in foreground

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Ben More

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Approaching Barra

SAM_2798.JPG
Chaisteal Chiosmuil,Castlebay and Heaval


Off the ferry just after 6.30 pm and short drive over to Leinis to my B&B
Offer of a cup of tea was politely turned down as I wanted to go up Heaval
Parked at sheep fank at high point of road and set off at 7.15 pm
My relative walking inactivity in the first half of 2011 soon had my legs burning but I was happy to reach the monument in 15 minutes and the trig point in a further ten.Terrific clear evening and wonderful views
SAM_2802.JPG
Monument - Our Lady of the Isles

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View South to Mingulay,Barra Head

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North over Thartabhal to South Uist

Sat at top until 8 pm - Clouds were starting to catch the top of the other hills, Beinn Tangabhal etc.
Back to car and down to Castlebay for a pint
Welcome cup of tea and biscuits back at the B&B
Heaval was shrouded in cloud when I was ready for bed,so glad I had made the effort to go up earlier.

Saturday 9th July
Great breakfast set me up for day
SAM_2810.JPG
View from B&B - disturbed a Heron in the wee bay

A tourist today - Kisimul Castle,Vatersay,Barra Golf course,watched Heaval hill race
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Heaval from castle

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On boat back to Castlebay

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View from golf course

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Fairway to Heaven ? - "There's a feelin I get when I look to the west" - Sorry

Wee challenging course to say the least and with some interesting hazards
SAM_2838.JPG
Just take the flag away please
Are you daft sir - I'm a coo - I have hooves

SAM_2843.JPG
And they're off

The winner was up and down from Castlebay in 38 minutes ! (the record is 26 minutes 25 seconds - jings :shock:)
Really warm,summers afternoon but hills remained in clag.
Camped that night at Borve - handily just along from Isles of Barra Hotel

Sunday 10th July
Had rained during the night but comfy enough in the tent
Had time to drive up to Cille Bharra.Traigh Mhor before ferry to Eriskay
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Cille Bharra

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Traigh Mhor

Bit of a grey,raw morning
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Nearing Eriskay

I could see that my wee hill for today Beinn Sciathan was clear - only 185 metres mind you
Drove to car park at high point of road and off up the hill - not too far or long to top
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Ferry terminal from Trig Point

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Am Baile and causeway to South Uist

Of course I had to go in to "Am Politician" for a pint
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Am Politician

Not quite the building I expected
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Beinn Sciathan from Am Baile


Then it was over the causeway to South Uist
Drove out to Lochboisdale, but being a Sunday there wasn't much happening there.
Filled in the afternoon by going out to Askernish and taking a walk around the golf course.
Warm,sunny afternoon and evening.
Had thought of going up to Howmore to camp but decided to check out the Uist Bunkhouse at Daliborg.
This is being converted from the old care home - I might be getting on a bit but no quips please. :(
Not a bad deal - single room with toilet,TV,kettle - freshly decorated - £22 a night - took it for two nights

Walked out towards Thallan that evening before back to Borrodale Hotel for food and beers
SAM_2888.JPG
Wee lochan with Barra beyond

SAM_2895.JPG
Cottage ruins


TBC
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby walk aboot » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:06 pm

Nice report, magicdin, a couple of work mates were in that race and loved it :) .
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby magicdin » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:11 pm

Good on them - did they tell you that the race was being filmed for "An Island Parish" - they might be telly stars
I watched the race from the patio at the Craigard Hotel - Of course with a few pints
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby walk aboot » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:23 pm

No they didn't, but they did say the ceilidh and buffet in the evening was fantastic...I might put my name down next year, skip the walk and head straight for the sandwiches :P
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby malky_c » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:37 pm

Nice one - Barra actually looks like the ultimate destination for an on foot only visit, as it is just about small enough to walk to most places over a couple of days.
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby magicdin » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:43 pm

malky_c wrote:Nice one - Barra actually looks like the ultimate destination for an on foot only visit, as it is just about small enough to walk to most places over a couple of days.



I agree - I was on an Island Hopscotch ticket (Barra - Stornoway) but I will go back to Barra and I reckon I could spend the best part of a week there alone - walking and/or cycling - felt the same about the other islands also.
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby walk aboot » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:44 pm

walk aboot wrote:No they didn't, but they did say the ceilidh and buffet in the evening was fantastic...I might put my name down next year, skip the walk and head straight for the sandwiches :P


sorry, run, meant to say run :)
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby magicdin » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:46 pm

walk aboot wrote:
walk aboot wrote:No they didn't, but they did say the ceilidh and buffet in the evening was fantastic...I might put my name down next year, skip the walk and head straight for the sandwiches :P


sorry, run, meant to say run :)


some of them were walking :wink:
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby foggieclimber » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:53 pm

Looking forward to Part II - nice selection of photos in Part I.
The Hebrides are great! Haven't been to Barra but keen to go hopefully in 2012.
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby mountain thyme » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:20 pm

Good pics..been to Barra a few times...Great place ...didnt do a lot of walking though!!
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby magicdin » Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:20 pm

mountain thyme wrote:Good pics..been to Barra a few times...Great place ...didnt do a lot of walking though!!


Neither did I - Heaval ,and a good walk spoiled

The traverse over the central hiils looks a good walk - Heaval- Thartaval -Grianan looks fine
Beinn Tangabhal seems a good wee half day as well
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby mountainstar » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:04 pm

hi magicdin, I seem to be almost following your footsteps....reading your report in thr Castlebay hotel bar now! did the hills of Barra this morning (northbay to Castlebay, had great weather and views like you) 3 nights in S Uist previous, inc. the hostel a wildcamp by Pollachor and the bothy on the east coast, simply magic, ready for some live music soon after a great indian meal down the main street, wish you were still here?
Last edited by mountainstar on Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby mountainstar » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:04 pm

hi magicdin, I seem to be almost following your footsteps....reading your report in thr Castlebay hotel bar now! did the hills of Barra this morning (northbay to Castlebay, had great weather and views like you) 3 nights in S Uist previous, inc. the hostel a wildcamp by Pollachor and the bothy on the east coast, simply magic, ready for some live music soon after a great indian meal down the main street, wish you were still here?hi magicdin, I seem to be almost following your footsteps....reading your report in thr Castlebay hotel bar now! did the hills of Barra this morning (northbay to Castlebay, had great weather and views like you) 3 nights in S Uist previous, inc. the hostel a wildcamp by Pollachor and the bothy on the east coast, simply magic, ready for some live music soon after a great indian meal down the main street, wish you were still here?
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby mountainstar » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:18 pm

sorry, seeind double on that last reply! blaming the phone....not the beer...yet ;-)
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Re: The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (Part 1)

Postby Paul Webster » Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:17 pm

Nice... seems like we've all been to Barra lately. We met MountainStar on the ferry on Sunday, now back home wishing I was still there (far too good a day coming back on the ferry Wednesday). Still, a wee Barra section is taking shape.
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