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Our first day on Tiree. Although a sunny but cool day, I’m wearing a jacket with hood up to prevent the thin area getting more damage from the sun after 3 days on Coll. Starting from the recommended parking area, we proceed across the track through the field with Loch Barrapol on our right and a real cyclist speeding along the track towards us. Strange how she decides which side of me to walk beside by how close the sheep or cows are to us. Hmmm.
Didn’t see any point in visiting the bird hide today as there wasn’t anything to see on the loch at that particular moment. Continuing up the west side of the loch, we turn left at a fence past some ruins until we come to a track that leads us to the north end of the lovely Tràigh nan Gilean (beach of the jaws).
Crossing over the beach and inspecting the rock pools for life (nothing), we walk up onto the grassy bank to proceed as far as we can round the bay.
Rock in this area shows just how savage and eroding the sea has been over the eons.
Trying to keep to the shoreline for as long as possible to avoid disturbing nesting seabirds, eventually, at NL9363 4115, the terrain decrees we can go no farther along the shore and squeeze through a gap in the rocks and under a massive boulder wedged tight between the 2 faces.
Good life insurance required.
From here, it is a steady, direct climb up the grass covered gully to the top with great views behind us of the beach with Sandaig and Beinn Hough in the distance.
Following the fence line along the top of and away from the cliff edge, we come to a point where we have no option but to cross over the fence where a wooden section allows easy passage to the land side of the fence. Amazing that it’s 10 miles to Skerryvore lighthouse.
By this time, breakfast on the ferry seemed such a long time ago so we devour the few scoobies we had brought with us. Farther along, we start the descent down the grassy slope to the ruins of Patrick’s Temple, across a pebble section then onto Balephuil Bay for a leisurely stroll along the sandy beach watching the waders probe for their lunch before heading inland to the parking area.
At the roadside in the area between Mannal and Heylipol, look for the post boxes from bygone days which are still in use, but are closed off for a few weeks in springtime to prevent birds nesting in them.
