Knoydart adventure (1 - getting there)

With Anne away to Whithaugh Park with Selkirk High School, it was a perfect opportunity to accept Marjory and Roger's invitation (or maybe I invited myself!) to join them for a week in a cottage at Inverie on Knoydart.


What a wonderful journey!


Set off from Selkirk at 7am, and travelled via Peebles and Whitburn to avoid the rush hour on the Edinburgh by-pass.   Stopped at Tyndrum for coffee and scone at 10am.  Excellent views of the hills as I drove north:

Beinn Dorain and Ben Mhanach (right)












Buachaille Etive Mor (below)

Continued through Glen Coe and Fort William, then west on "the road to the isles" - newly upgraded to double track all the way to Mallaig.


Wonderful views of Skye for Morar

Reached Mallaig at 12.30, and managed to find free long stay parking round the south side of the harbour.  Had some lunch and met up with Marjory & Roger.

Mallaig was busy and hot!


We bought our boat tickets, and loaded up our gear and food on to the "Western Isles" (right) for the trip to Inverie. 


Meanwhile, we watched a seal swimming tamely in the harbour just at the end of the pier (below).  No need to spend cash on a "wildlife trip"!

At 2.15pm (approximately!), we set sail for Inverie, with the boat's rear deck stacked high with cases, rucsacs, crates and boxes! 


Perfect day for the sail - calm seas, beautiful views.  Is this really Scotland?


Approaching Inverie (below). L to R: Ladhar Bheinn, Sgurr Coire Choinnichean, Luinne Bheinn, Meall Buidhe

After heaving our belongings up on to the pier, we accepted a lift along the bumpy road to our well-appointed cottage. We were glad of the shade of the tree in the garden - rare, surely in Knoydart, to seek shade!


Once the sun was a bit lower in the sky, we ventured out of the shade for a walk along to the road end, and a view of the hills.


The evening sun sparkled off the sea as we looked out to Rum on the horizon (below):

Good forecast for tomorrow, so made up sandwiches, packed our rucsacs, and headed off for an early night ...

(posted 11/06/10)