Sub 2k Marilyns: Cruachan Min.
Date: 15/04/2018.
Distance: 3km + 5.5km.
Ascent: 110m + 360m.
Time: 1 hour + 1 hour, 50 minutes.
Weather: Sunny and breezy with a shower on Cruachan Min.
Also 73 miles of cycling on Sunday and 12 miles on Monday.

On the Sunday of the meet, I woke up a little groggy, but not feeling as bad as on some other occasions . I finally managed to get moving shortly after 10am. Many plans had crossed my mind for today. Originally I wanted to cycle up to the Ulva ferry and head over to Ulva and Geometra, but this ferry didn't run on Sundays until June apparently. Then it was a toss-up between visiting the Carsaig Arches and the Fossil Tree, and probably throwing a Marilyn in somewhere. In the end I decided to go west and visit Iona - something that had been on my to-do list for quite a while.


Cruach Ardura

The initial hill out of Craignure was a bit of a puff (it isn't big or steep, but I didn't feel great!), but after a few miles, I settled into a rhythm and enjoyed the quiet roads. Despite today's weather forecast being poor, the summits were clear and it looked nicer than yesterday. I suppose I could've easily stopped and gone up one of the higher hills, but Iona was in my sights now.


Ben More from Glen More

A rapid descent of the west side of Glen More took me to the beautiful coastal road along the shore of Loch Scridain. I was in new territory now. A tail wind eased me along with almost no effort - this didn't bode well for the return journey, although I recalled something about the wind swinging round to the west over the course of the weekend.


Ben More across Loch Scridain


Ardmeanach Peninsula

Around 2 hours and 20 minutes of lovely cycling finally brought me to Fionnphort. Although the skies had greyed over a bit, there was no dulling of the blue waters and white beaches in the Sound of Iona. Perfect . Although there are cars on Iona, you need a permit to take them on the ferry, which no-one seems to have except for the locals. So it was a nice quiet ferry over, taking 10 or so minutes.


Ferry approaching Fionnphort


From the Iona ferry


Approaching Iona

I made vague plans to cycle north once on the other side - there looked to be some nice beaches and inlets at the north end of the island, as well as the highest point - Dun I. Since traffic is a bit of a novelty on the island, every person I passed on the bike did a surprised jump out of the way . I passed the abbey and parked up the bike at the end of the road.



Iona Abbey

A short walk across the machair took me to the northern end of the island, from where I made my way to Traigh an t-Suidhe. This was a lovely bay - reminiscent of the best beaches on Harris and Barra. In fact the whole of the Iona was like one of the rockier Outer Hebrides in miniature.


North end of Iona


Treshnish Isles – Dutchman’s Cap to the left


Dun I and the approach to Traigh an t-Suidhe


Traigh an t-Suidhe

It was an easy wander from the end of Traigh an t-Suidhe to the rocks of Dun I, which is a great little hill. Even with the haze and grey skies, the views were brilliant. Unfortunately I could feel the eastern wind blasting in, which I knew I needed to cycle back into for 37 miles!


North end of Iona from Dun I


South down Iona


Looking across the Sound of Iona from Dun I


Lambs on Iona

Back at the bike, I stopped in at a small shop for coffee and a bit of cake near the abbey. There were a few spits of rain, and after wondering about whether to explore the island further, I instinctively pulled onto the ferry which was just about to leave. Good choice - the rain really hit at this point, and didn't stop the whole way back through Bunessan. Fortunately the wind didn't seem as bad as it had on the summit of Dun I, and despite the rain, the cycle was much less unpleasant than expected.

I had a quick Marilyn in mind on the way home. Cruachan Min seemed like a good quickie from the road I was on, so I parked the bike up on the verge near Ormsaig and hit the rather rough hillside. The rain had eased as I started, but I was treated to more heavy showers as I made my way across the moorland.



Ross of Mull

I went up in a series of steps, with some of the ground being OK and some being pretty rough and boggy. However once past Loch nan Learg, the going became easy over short moss and turf. The rain stopped as well, and stayed off for the rest of the day.


Ardmeanach Peninsula


West along the Ross of Mull from Cruachan Min

The views should have been great from up here - you can barely go wrong with any island or coastal hill. Unfortunately there was a lot of cloud and haze hanging around, so I wasn't able to fully appreciate it. A more direct route back to the bike had me on the road in a relatively short time.


Loch Scridain


Loch Scridain from the descent of Cruachan Min


Back down at the road

The rest of the cycle was pleasant and the sun came out again. Sitting on the shore of Loch Sgridain opposite the post office at Kinloch, I would happily have stayed there all evening. Going up Glen More into the wind was a bit slow, but other than that it was fine. Despite this being a main road, there was a 10 mile section where I didn't pass any other traffic.


Loch Scridain and Ardmeanach Peninsula


Ben More and Loch Scridain


Corra Bheinn and Cruach Choiredail

Getting back to the bunkhouse a good hour later than I thought I would definitely called for another visit to the pub .
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I had ideas for the Monday after the meet - I had deliberately booked onto a later train home to give myself a free morning. I thought about another Marilyn on Mull, or perhaps a rapid departure from the island giving me enough time to make a quick trip to Kerrera. The rain was bouncing off the roof when I woke up so I did neither. Instead I had a leisurely morning and headed for the 11am ferry with Hils, Billy and Mark. Mark was off back to his 'other' home on Lismore, and I briefly thought about having a look over there, but the logistics didn't work out.

About 20 minutes into the trip, the weather started clearing, and by the time we got to Oban it was a lovely sunny day.


South to Scarba and the Paps of Jura


South end of Lismore from the ferry


Kerrera from the ferry

I realised I had been planning too ambitiously, and filled the couple of hours before the train taking a leisurely pedal past the Kerrera ferry terminal, Pulpit Hill, Ganavan Beach, a quick lunch at Dunollie Castle, and McCaig's Tower. Then the scenic ride home again (as far as Dumbarton at least).


Sound of Kerrera


Oban from Pulpit Hill


Morven from Pulpit Hill


Dunollie Castle

Ganavan Beach

Morven from Ganavan Beach


Mull from Ganavan Beach


Mull and Kerrera from McCaig’s Tower


Oban from McCaig’s Tower


Inside McCaig’s Tower


McCaig’s Tower


Ben Lomond from the train home


Cobbler from the train home

A great meet with some good company, and enough inspiration for me to start planning some more island trips for the rest of the year .