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First time on Raasay. Had intended to go to Dun Caan from the south but ended up just walking to the escarpment to the west and making a circular walk by continuing north west.
We crossed on the first ferry but it was already quite warm by 9am and I had loaded up with as much water as I thought I could carry without inducing back pain -3.5l. My wife pointed out that we'd also have a few opportunities to get more water from the burn that we'd be following for 3km on the way up but still I preferred to set off with more than I needed and that would prove to be a wise decision I think.
Had a very pleasant 3km walk along the road up to the start of the mine track with good views back to the two Cuillins. Half a km along the track north from the mine buildings saw us onto the steepish start of the Dun Caan path. Not sure how we managed this but we ended up on a boggy "shortcut" hugging the fencline that cut off a loop of the burn and it was obvious that plenty of others had done likewise. I doubt that it is of any real benefit though; were glad to get back onto the path proper after that interlude. It was very warm now and I was having to drink more than planned. Filled a bottle from the burn to try to keep carrying enough for "any eventuality". Then came our, or my, route error. I was using an OS map from the nineties which indicates only a route over the escarpment top rather than the lochside path which would've been easier for an ascent of Dun Caan. Just assumed this would be a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other plus there were lots of horse flies swarming at the foot of the escarpment and the only obvious path was indeed the one going up so up we went, not least to get away from the flies. Incidentally, the map had also caused momentary confusion when we got off the ferry as it indicates the old ferry route.
Got to the descent point for Dun Caan and decided on the spot just to leave it for another day. I was quite low on water now, knew that Jill wouldn't really enjoy the down and back up on a scree path and she was really enjoying the day after the previous night's battle of Geodh a' Mhadaidh. So descent it was. Will return for Dun Caan some time though.
As it was we were able to enjoy fine views of Dun Caan itself, the mainland beyond and, especially, Ben Tianavaig and neighbours to the north west as we strolled along the escarpment top.
The descent north west was very easy and we had a surprisingly enjoyable road walk back to the ferry with the Cuillin again providing a grand backdrop.
DSCN8998 by
John Little, on Flickr
My contemplation of the sea is disturbed by the ferrymen asking if I'm getting on or what, much to my wife's amusement
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John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
Decent path but we managed to lose it at one point and ended up on a soggy shortcut
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John Little, on Flickr
Handy burn for the hard of hydration
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John Little, on Flickr
Quite a magnificent little turret
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John Little, on Flickr
Our time-warp map takes us left and up when we should have looked down and right, into the keds
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John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
Loch na Mna
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John Little, on Flickr
Fine views of Tianavaig
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John Little, on Flickr
Our furthest north -doubled back from here to the descent path along the edge of the lochan top right
DSCN9026 by
John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
End of the escarpment
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John Little, on Flickr
A view of my April destination -Sithean a' Bhealaich Chumhaing
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John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
Tianaviag, Sithean and the Storr
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John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
One of only two climbs on the road walk back to the ferry
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John Little, on Flickr
Easy road walking when you see this ahead
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John Little, on Flickr
Lamb ready to confront
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John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
Sithean and Storr again
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John Little, on Flickr
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John Little, on Flickr
Back into the woodland before the ferry
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John Little, on Flickr
And onto the shoreline
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John Little, on Flickr
Last view of Tianavaig
DSCN9085 by
John Little, on Flickr
The ferry awaits