The Wee Barra's Hebridean Over Tour (2)

[magicdin]

Monday 11th July
Goofy on Beinn Mhor

Heading for Beinn Mhor today - was feeling a bit ropey - so settled for the climb from Loch Aineort
Parked up and away bang on 9.00 am, the first part of the walk is round the beautiful little coves of Loch Aineort.
A Heron was soon put to flight, but a single basking grey seal wasn't for shifting, perhaps because of the low tide.

Loch Aineort - Low Tide

"And the islands hae ye seen em in the the wet,wet west
Wi the kelp a-clinging crisp abune the tide"

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Once round by the inlet at Sloc Dubh,rather than head for Bealach Crosgard,it looked more logical to head up towards the shoulder of Spin.Still a bit overcast but a mild morning with a wee breeze.
Plodded up slowly and just about the 350 metre level,thinking of a break,I discovered this half buried in the hillside.

Goofy Golfer Mug - someone having a laugh

Put it in the rucsac - now at home - well washed and used now.
Sitting having my break I decided it looked just as easy to head directly to the summit ridge.
A bit steeper,with a couple of boulder fields to cross - but it was fine
Headed towards the left hand side of the large rocky outcrop that I thought would be near summit.

Heading up to the ridge

And so it turned out - at ridge only minutes from the trig point

Near the top

Beinn Mhor - not a bad hill for my sixtieth Graham
Sixty ?----- sixty? ------- Hmmm --- why does that number keep rattling aboot ma heid ??
Ah - of course - now I remember -------- ach well

After a few minutes I wandered out and back to the cairn to the south.
The earlier cloud was lifting and I was now getting fine views

Looking along ridge to 608m top

Down to Loch Sheileasdail

Loch Aineort

Hecla and Beinn Corradail

Hazy view to Skye and MacLeod's Tables

Having climbed directly to the top I wanted to walk along the ridge to the 608 m top
And a fine wee ridge it is

Leaving the top

Ridge from 608m top

From the top dropped down towards Spin and then over Gneiss slabs to Loch nam Faoileann

Gneiss Slab

Warm and sunny now - and a bit bothered by clegs
However didn't take too long and soon on the path around the shore line

Fuschia

Back at the car about 1.30pm - treated myself to a coffee and cake at Kildonan Tearoom
Cracking summers day now - drove down by Machair Road to take this photo

Hecla,Beinn Corradail,Beinn Mhor

Went out to Lochboisdale and sat at front of hotel having a couple of pints in the warm sunshine.
Chatted to one of the locals - a Calmac worker.
Evening took a wee trip down to Polochar Inn (had a pint of course)

Pollachar Standing Stone and Barra

Eriskay

Back up the road - dumped the car - and along to Borrodale Hotel


Tuesday 12th July
A bit of a frustrating day
Up early to get out to Askernish Golf Course where I teed off bang on 8.30 am
Had the course to myself on a calm overcast morning
Played the first five holes no too bad - but then the swarms arrived - the FLIES
Absolute murder they were - thousands of the B*****s - could hardly see to play a shot.
By the time I had played the seventh I'd had enough- chucked it and went back down the 18th
Put a note and a donation through the clubhouse door.
Machair land of course - but it seems that after a poor spring and early summer the now good weather had brought them out big style.
Bit of a disappointment - was looking forward to playing the full course - will go back

Beach at Askernish

Drove north towards Benbecula - Breakast in cafe at Loch Bi
Over causeway to Benbecula - took a wee detour to look at campsite at Lionacleit.
Then up to climb Ruabhal, the highest point of Benbecula.
Not the most inspiring starts to the walk - you start at local rubbish dump/recycling centre.
Soon becomes a pleasant walk as you skirt past Loch Ba Una before the short climb up grassy slopes to the trig point.
Warm and sunny now with a breeze - and not troubled by insects.
A couple sitting by the trig point asked me to take their photo - they had cycled round the back of the hill.

View over Benbecula

South Uist Hills

Eabhal from Ruabhal

Benbecula is a beautiful low lying island studded with hundreds of wee lochans.
The walk up the hill was a pleasant wee amble.

Went out to the golf course - only a tenner - but again alas only played ten holes thanks to the flies and clegs.
A quick trip round Baile a'Mhanaich (didn't take long) then back south to the campsite at Lionacleit.

Luib Bhan#1

Luib Bhan#2

The Dark Island Hotel is just along the road so was visited
Nice sunset that night - but not the best of viewpoints

Sunset

[magicdin]

bumped up - been faffing about with this big style