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Tuesday 3 September 2013

Scottish holiday/invasion

A fabulous holiday with Hester and Harry with us invading north west Scotland in a meandering loop via Glencoe,  Mallaig, Sligachan on Skye, Valtos, Bragar and Stornaway on Lewis and returning via Ullapool, Loch Ness and Fort William back on the mainland. With lots of runexploring (aka running while exploring), wildlife spotting, beach combing and swimming with a good smattering of tea and cake, the odd pint of beer and several glasses/bottles of wine thrown in for good measure.

Our Scottish invasion route

Our running expeditions included going up Bidean nam Bian (1150 meters) from the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe and descending via the Lost Valley, barefoot running on Camusdarach beach near Mallaig and Valtos beach at Reef on Lewis, scooting around the foothills of the Cuillins on Skye (in the rain naturally), some proper trackless running/rock hopping up Mealaisabhal and a couple of adjacent peaks from Brenis on Lewis, various other hills, beaches and headlands on Lewis, gorgeous forested hillsides beside Loch Ness and finishing off with a blast up Ben Nevis (1,343 meters)... as you have to if you're ever nearby!  

Hester getting wet feet going up Bidean nam Bian

The Lost Valley

A stunning Harry swimming pool below the Lost Valley 

Almost done with our initial climb up Bidean coming back into view

Harry 'barefoot running' on Camusdarach Beach, near Mallaig

Camusdarach beach - not bad eh?

Camusdarach post run swim and paddle

A seal in Mallaig harbour

The Cuillins, Skye

Pissing with rain obviously

The tooeyest tea shop on earth, Skye

Deer, near Uig on Lewis

Barefoot running, Valtos

Like a Greek statue....

Mealaisbhal, Cracabhal and Laibheal a Tuath from Breinis (not easy to say without spitting everywhere!)


Harry on our Mealasbhal expedition


No paths up here

Dropping down to the sea with Mealasta beach in view

Harry lobbing at Mealasta beach

Bernera run, Lewis

Bosta beach, Bernera (I think I'm throwing a stick for Hazzer)

Reconstructed iron age house, Bosta beach

Carloway run

5,000 year old stone circle at Callanish

Harry, Hester and Bran at Anne's house, Bragar

Hiawatha on Eoropie Beach, the Butt of Lewis

Eoropie beach

Harry sticking in the castle grounds, Stornaway

Foyers forest run, Loch Ness

Harry fungi hopping

Foyers, Loch Ness

Hes on the way up Ben Nevis

The top of the Ben! I've never seen the view from up here ever!!!!

Ben Nevis route - up the zig zags and 'route one' straight back down

A completely brilliant holiday in a completely brilliant part of Scotland made all the better by the completely brilliant ship's crew of Hester and Harry. 

Top marks must also go to the pints of  Crofter's Pale Ale at the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe, the pints of Birds and Bees beer at the Gruel and Grog in Fort William, the Red Squirrel camp site at Glencoe, Sligachan camp site on Skye with the fantastic (tourettes suffering?) camp site warden and his scratty little dog, the Small & Cosy Tea House on Skye, Valtos camp site right on the beach on Lewis, Loch Croistean coffee shop near Uig, Anne's house at Bragar (sorry about Harry wanting to sleep on your sofa all the time Anne) and the Glen Nevis camp site right at the foot of Ben Nevis.





2 comments:

  1. Brilliant! Gives me itchy feet to get back up that way again. Those beaches are stunning.
    Looks like you were lucky with the weather (I've never seen anything from the Ben though, either)
    Paul

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