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My Christmas escape started, as have so many of my walks and adventures, in Oban. When I arrived, there was hardly a cloud in the sky, everything was still, and Mull (where I would head in time for Christmas Day) looked perfect in the winter sun. Little did I know the weather would change so dramatically when I got to Craignure
With the little time I had until the Craignure ferry, I thought I'd take a little trip across to Kerrera - an island I'd never been to, despite my frequent trips to Oban. I walked the couple of miles to Gallanach, and caught the mid-morning ferry across to the island.
Mull from Oban by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Waiting for the ferry at Gallanach by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
I had a little under two hours to have a little walk around, and hopefully climb the only Sub2000 on the island, Carn Breugach. From the ferry, the track rises immediately past a chapel (or school?) and a couple of farms, with lovely views across to Mull on one side, distant Morvern to the North, and the mighty snow-capped Munros inland. The views were crystal clear, the ground underfoot deliciously crunchy, and the walking easy and pleasant.
Grazing on Kerrera by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Carn Breugach in the distance by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Kerrera by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
The track rounds Creag Bahn, after which I joined a fresh little path with follows a burn up Gleann n Curra. All very pleasant, until the path ended and I found myself on a surprisingly rough 'plateau' of frozen-topped bog, rough heather, and awkward way finding. Despite the very modest summit of Carn Breach being almost just in front of me, it took quite a rough hike to get up it, at which point I started to worry about missing the ferry back to Gallanach, so didn't stop to enjoy the view or indeed have a break
I almost ran from Carn Breugach, and wondered how a gentle Kerrera stroll had suddenly become so tough
Having made up some time, I paused briefly at Creag Bahn, then followed the fence quite steeply back down to Balliemore, and headed on the main track back towards the ferry.
A frosty Gleann na Curra by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
View from Creag Bhàn by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
The ferry was making for the off when I came into view, and so with much waving of my hands, and a disturbingly fast sprint down the hill to the jetty, I sped onto the little deck like a madman, presented my ticket, and off we went back to the mainland. As I caught my breath on the 5-minute crossing, I admired Kerrera once more, and set my mind to Christmas Day on the Isle of Mull.
Dùn Uabairtich from the Kerrera ferry by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
The Sound of Kerrera by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
