Knoydart - There's a mountain to be climbed

The Sun and Wind Gods were still in our favour as we set off from Gairloch towards the Kyle of Lochalsh

We've not quite got used to sailing towards mountain ranges, but we're working on it!

It was time to sail under another bridge, this time the Skye Bridge, next to yet another example of the Stevenson Dynasty of Lighthouse Construction.

The actual span of the bridge is surprisingly small - when Bonny Prince Charlie went Over the Seas to Skye after his defeat at Culloden, he didn't have to go very far!!

We decided to double check the distance on foot, a walk up Fox Hill on Skye called - we didn't see any foxes, but it was a nice walk!

Our next stop was to be Knoydart - we had heard that people travel there from as far afield as Bexhill to go walking there, or maybe just to sit in the Remotest Pub on Mainland Britain, but whatever the reason it was good enough for us!

This time we decided to motor - the mountains were really very close as we went through the Kyle Rhea between Skye and mainland Scotland.  The scenery is truly spectacular, and we were accompanied on our trip by several seals and porpoises.  There were also huge numbers of jelly fish in the water - presumably soon to be dinner!

The wind picked up, so rather than taking a direct route to Knoydart we detoured into Loch Hourn - this was not in our passage plan, and caused consternation for our Three Wise Men - Tony Sprigings in Sussex, Dave Woolfenden in Somerset and the Night Watchman Barclay Ross in Australia:  These three are all Master Mariners, and we rest easy knowing they are watching our every tack.  We logged a late notification of Change of Passage Plan, and normal services were resumed.

Knoydart - a stretch of a few miles of single track road links these houses, there are 100 inhabitants, and the road can only be accessed by boat.  Consequently the pub, The Old Forge has earned the reputation of being the Remotest Pub in Mainland Britain.

We noticed a small hill behind the pub - we had heard that it had defeated the Bexhill Boys so decided to give it a go ourselves. 

Personally I would have called it a mountain, but up here it is known as a Corbett. 

 

Zilla considers a short cut on the way back down

The local guide told us it was too hot to climb a Munro, and the view from Sgurr Choire Choinnichean was truly fantastic. If you look closely, Etoile can be seen near the jetty, and Rhum, Eigg and Muck can be seen in the distance. After our exertions, we felt we had earned a meal in the pub - the Seafood Platter is a must for anyone visiting Knoydart.


Next Stop - Mallaig.  Apparently a brand new facility with pontoons for 45 yachts has just opened there.