good Eigg timing

[litljortindan]

Having been up An Sgurr in the afternoon I was trying to time my walk to the Cleadale cliffs to catch the sunset over Rum. I thought I'd messed that up a bit by taking too much time over the former. However, after 1km walking on the road I managed to catch a lift to near Laig beach and so set off for the cliffs via the beach with plenty of time in hand.
Laig beach is a wonderful place with its white sand and grand view of Rum but I didn't linger there too long. Looped back to the road and an occupant from the house on the corner pointed out the quickest route up to the cliffs. Then I met another local along the way who had been up there and assured me it was straight forward.
I'd had an easy afternoon on An Sgurr but this steeper slope was hard work, even if it was relatively short. Great views though out of the gully over the bay to Rum.
The gully tops out at a raised beach type area beyond which is a stile that leads to a continuation that closely follows the cliff edge to the top. On the way to the top there was lots to admire -the "finger of god" pinnacle and several other dramatic gullies and cliffs providing a fine foreground to the sun lowering over the bay and Rum.
I had one or two twinges in the back on the way down so cut off north half way down, onto a gentler path that loops back round to the bottom of the steeper path.
A longish walk back along the road was broken up by a lift for part of the way from a couple who work at the café/pub and adventure centre (I think).
Next morning I filled up my water bottles from the filter tap outside the café/pub and had a seat in the shade. Then I was surprised to find myself in the middle of a choir sing-song -they'd been on the island for a week doing their thing and even continued on the ferry with a moving version of Woody Guthrie's Your Land.

DSCN9532 by John Little, on Flickr
Started off by walking on the road for 1km before catching a lift to Laig.

DSCN9533 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9539 by John Little, on Flickr
Detour to Laig beach -a wonderful place. Just before this a local gave me directions to the nearest route up the cliffs.

DSCN9541 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9542 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9546 by John Little, on Flickr
Brolly to keep the sun off.

DSCN9556 by John Little, on Flickr
Finger of god just right of centre and right of that is the route up / rightmost gully.

DSCN9557 by John Little, on Flickr
Locals are friendly.

DSCN9558 by John Little, on Flickr
Suggested route is under the clothes line.

DSCN9575 by John Little, on Flickr
They sell Sottish bluebell seeds in the Eigg shop; under threat apparently from Spanish bluebells. My wife would have loved a packet of these but wasn't sure whether to get her some. One more excuse to return though I dare say they can be bought elsewhere.

DSCN9583 by John Little, on Flickr
Took this path on the way down -it loops back to bottom of the other path at a more gentle gradient. Another local had told me about an alternative route further north but I not sure if this is what they meant. Sgorr an Fharaidh is the top at the right hand end of the visible cliff line.

DSCN9595 by John Little, on Flickr
Some tremendous views out of the ascent gully.

DSCN9597 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9603 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9607 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9615 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9633 by John Little, on Flickr
Gully tops out at a flat raised beach type area beyond which is this style.

DSCN9644 by John Little, on Flickr
Excellent grassy path cuts through the heather hereon in.

DSCN9656 by John Little, on Flickr
Finger of god -the guy who gave me a lift to Laig had never heard of it!

DSCN9657 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9661 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9663 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9671 by John Little, on Flickr
Water supply along the way -a bit of a trickle today.

DSCN9681 by John Little, on Flickr
God's finger again.

DSCN9684 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9689 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9691 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9702 by John Little, on Flickr
The top beckons.

DSCN9715 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9716 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9719 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9720 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9721 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9723 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9724 by John Little, on Flickr
South to An Sgurr from the top.

DSCN9731 by John Little, on Flickr
Camera needs a wash.

DSCN9735 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9738 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9739 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9740 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9766 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9772 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9773 by John Little, on Flickr

DSCN9774 by John Little, on Flickr

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[ere1]

Hi litljortindan! The surrounding is breathtaking. I would enjoy swimming there.

[Andymac75]

Cool film
And a very cool place .

[litljortindan]

Hi litljortindan! The surrounding is breathtaking. I would enjoy swimming there.

Yes, it is some place. Near empty beach, beautiful views and big waves.

[litljortindan]

Cool film
And a very cool place .

Cheers. Still using a flip camera but it does for me.

That mix of crag and sea makes a visit there well worthwhile.

[malky_c]

Must go to Eigg. Lovely end to the day

[litljortindan]

Must go to Eigg. Lovely end to the day

Exceeded expectations by a long way. I'd like to return to walk along the east coast and also to have a more thorough look around the Sgurr and to show my wife around -if I can secure the necessary five star accommodation.

[Alteknacker]

That's one heck of a sequence of pics there, ltj. I'm sure you must be retained as a consultant by the Eigg Tourist Board!

This would definitely be one to take the CEO to (first I need to get her to Arran...).

Like the sunbrella . I was being barbecued on the Mamores on the same day, so I can understand why it was a seriously good idea!

[litljortindan]

That's one heck of a sequence of pics there, ltj. I'm sure you must be retained as a consultant by the Eigg Tourist Board!

This would definitely be one to take the CEO to (first I need to get her to Arran...).

Like the sunbrella . I was being barbecued on the Mamores on the same day, so I can understand why it was a seriously good idea!

Thanks!
Got very warm on Eigg at times too but that brolly did help a bit. I can imagine the Mamores would be pretty demanding that day. Did about two thirds of your route there on a September day and still found that hard going.