For the early August bank holiday weekend, the club had booked 2 rooms at the hostel in Inverie, Knoydart.
David T was the first to arrive on the peninsula. After having taken the 7:00 ferry, he went up Beinn Bhuidhe despite the very wet and windy forecast. Alison and I, arriving 3 hours later, were a bit less brave and opted for a coastal jog to Sandaig and back. Picturesque bays and beaches, lovely woodlands and head-high bracken served as a suitable distraction from the rather dreich weather. The later 2 ferries also brought Fiona M, Alan H, Helen A, Kenny, Clare, Duncan I, Alex and Julia.
Doug and Rhi were even braver than David; they kayaked across from Mallaig, being only slightly slower than the ferry!
Saturday was supposed to be the best weather day, so a lot of us had their eyes on some of the Munros. Alex, Duncan and Julia set off to do Meall Buidhe and Luinne Bheinn before heading up the slopes to Ladhar Bheinn. Duncan turned left at Pt. 849 and returned to Inverie via Sgurr Coire Choinnaichean, whilst Julia and Alex added on Ladhar Bheinn’s summit. Doug, Rhi and I also did the 3 Munros and but added on Ladhar Bheinn’s outlying Munro top. It was wet, wet, wet, but the dry spells and appearing views definitely helped with morale, and when on the descent suddenly an eagle appeared out of the cloud 20, 30m in front of us (seemingly equally surprised as us to suddenly see someone) all hardship was forgotten (at least for the next 5 minutes).
Fiona and Alison did a round of Meall Buidhe and Luinne Bheinn, when halfway along the route Fiona’s crotch started to foam – probably due to some soap residues on her waterproof trousers, but it sounds she was glad to not encounter too many people in the hills that day!
Clare also chose Luinne Bheinn as her mountain of the day.
David and Alan opted for Beinn na Caillich, Alan realising only halfway up the hill that he had been on that Corbett already a few years ago. Kenny went up Meall Goathar and was very unimpressed with the bracken forest on the descent. Helen unfortunately was battling with an injury, so after walking the “Knoydart in a Knutshell” circular, she fully immersed herself into the local Highland Games – including a boat race and a dog show.
Luckily, the hostel had a drying room which was full to the brim that evening.
The weather turned really lovely in the evening, and Helen, Rhi, Doug and I had a refreshing swimble at Inverie Bay before a social evening in the bunkhouse with everyone else. And whilst most of us were heading to bed early that night, Clare and Julia whipped out dresses and then gatecrashed the village Ceilidh.
Everyone survived retrieving their (now dry) clothes from the drying room without passing out due to the rather fruity smells inside – although it seems someone had taken Julia’s waterproof trousers by mistake. Given they were close to falling apart at their seems, it wasn’t the most heartbreaking theft, but frustrating still.
Fiona, Rhi and I headed up Sgurr Coire Choinnaichean, where we bumped into David. We didn’t choose our descent line particularly well, so had to battle with a deer fence, enormous tussocks and some more head-high bracken. Kenny, Alan and Alison opted for Knoydart in a Knutshell. Helen and Clare rented ebikes and cycled to Doune, encountering some Swiss along the way who recently had settled at Sandaig. Doug, Duncan, Julia and Alex walked to Doune via Sandaig – another big day after yesterday.
Most of us had a delicious and sociable pub meal in the Old Forge to celebrate the last night of a memorable trip.
Monday was again wet, wet, wet, so we all opted for one of the earlier ferries and returned home. Doug and Rhi enjoyed their paddle back to Inverie – with a pod of porpoises, tons of seals and a bit of a head wind for the last few km.
I hope everyone’s clothes are dry by now again, and thanks for making this such a memorable weekend!
Martha
