Here are a few photos from the Rum meet last weekend. It was my first visit to Rum and what a magical place it is!
Many thanks to Andy and Jean for arranging the meet and thanks to all who attended for making it such a splendid occasion.
We arrived at Mallaig for the ferry in perfect weather and had wonderful views of the mainland, Skye and the other Small Isles.
The Rum Bunkhouse is excellent and is set right on the shore in Kinloch.
After dropping our stuff at the bunkhouse, people split up to make the best of the late afternoon weather. I joined a group going up Coire Dubh and up onto Barkival.
We got down from Barkival in time to stock up with supplies (beer) from the excellent Rum Island Store and great evening was had by all.
Saturday dawned with an impressive sunrise.
On the Saturday, most people headed for the infamous ridge walk (often known as the Rum Cuillin) to do part or all of it – great effort by those who did the whole route. Myself, Tim Taylor and Garreth Llewellyn opted for the delights of the south face of Barkival and the long scramble/climb of Broad Ridge and Narnia Arrete. Great find by Tim Taylor as neither Gareth or I had any idea that this existed. Perfect rock, sustained scrambling followed by some long pitches of a wonderful knife-edged arrete. All in all, some 1000ft of ascent.
The Sunday was, well…. wet! A number of us opted for an expedition across the Island to investigate the “subterranean tunnels” marked on the OS map under the fort at the foot of Glen Shellesder, and then on to the Bothy at Guirdil. The return route was up Glen Guirdil and over the col at Bealach a’ Bhraigh Bhig. Some 14 miles in contsant rain – a lot of it on boggy ground and tussock grass. Quite a contrast from the previous day!
The subterranean tunnels turned out to be natural caves going straight through the headland. Very impressive.
The Monday was also mainly wet but had dried up by the time we boarded the ferry. The ferry was accompanied by frolicking dolphins – or so I’m told, I slept through it all!
A great meet, in great settings with great people. What else needs to be said.
(thanks to Tim and Gareth for some of the photos)
Great pictures, great report of a great meet. Thanks very much Ian, that’s my meet report done!
Andy L
Dear Andy .I remember Rum very well It was one of my qualifying meets in 1986. I think .We had a great time staying in a building near the mausoleum . I think your dad Lead the meet. ps looked like great weather.