Knoydart Easter 2024 Day 4

 2nd April

The weather stayed good, a few gusts overnight but the rain mostly kept away. Some interesting people at the bothy/campsite.

Looking back to Barrisdale 

The walk back to Kinloch Hourn was as delightful, and tough, as ever. Only a few spits of rain.

Redundant gate

Amazing place

Just the 22 miles of single track road to negotiate, all part of the experience.

Road? climbing up from Kinloch Hourn 

The weather got worse as I went east and by the time I reached Inverness it was chucking it down.

A fantastic little trip. Looking forward to the next one already.

You can click on any picture to enlarge it 

Knoydart Easter 2024 Day 3

 1st April

A strong easterly wind picked up overnight, blowing straight down the glen. It was rather like sleeping in a wind tunnel 

Clouds building over the hills

I had thought about walking the high ridge over Beinn Bhuide but by the time I reached the pass at Mam Meadail the wind was very strong and discretion being the better part of valour I headed down Gleann Medail with thoughts of lunch in Inverie and no regrets.

Gleann Meadail 

Completely different weather at the bottom of the glen, sheltered from the wind and the clouds stayed over the easterly hills.

Allt Gleann Meadail

Into Inverie and The Old Forge, bank holiday Monday, very expensive and a long wait for food.

The café 

There is however an excellent little cafe just down the road. Great food, good value and used by the local people.

A local

Walked over the Mam Barrisdale in the afternoon.

Spring had arrived in Inverie 

Even up the hill a bit

The weather stayed good up through Gleann and Dubh-Locain.

View east from Mam Barrisdale 

I met a cyclist carrying his bike up from Barrisdale, I suppose some people can get pleasure from anything.

First glimpse of Loch Hourn

Camped at Barrisdale again, at least I have a shorter walk out tomorrow.

18 miles, 1400m ascent.

Knoydart Easter 2024. Day 2

 31st March

Cold but dry with little wind as I set off on the wrong track from Barridale! Soon corrected by crossing the river, I was going to get wet feet today anyway.

River Barrisdale 

Up Glen Barrisdale to the north ridge of Slat Bheinn.

Slat Bheinn on the right 

A steep and rocky climb to a glorious viewpoint at the top.

View to the next top from Slat Bheinn 

 Finding the way down through the rocks was nearly slower than going up, the area is not called "The rough bounds of Knoydart" for nothing.

Find you way down through that lot!

I hadn't intended to climb any Munro's on this trip but Sgurr a' Choire-bheithe was in the way so up to 3000ft I had to go, very steep and rocky as well with some small snow patches.

Views from Sgurr a' Choire-bheithe 

I was treated to the sight of three Golden Eagles flying overhead, presumably an adult pair and last year's offspring.

I did point my phone in the general direction and got a nice picture of the clouds.

The dark spot is a Golden Eagle 🦅

Nice clouds but no Eagles 

The descent to Mam Unndulain was even more awkward than the last one.

Another rocky descent 

Down to the River Carnach to find a dry bit before the boggy ground at Carnach.

Sgurr na Ciche 

A beautiful evening until the sun vanished behind the hills.

10 miles, 1300 meters very steep ascent.

Knoydart. Easter 2024. Day 1

 Saturday 30/03/24

A good weather forecast for a few days at Easter tempted me over to the west coast, so after the indoor model flying session on Saturday morning I headed off.

A view west from the road

100 miles later, including the last 22 on a deteriorating single track road I was at Kinloch Hourn in the late afternoon sunshine

Looking east up Loch Hourn

It was a glorious walk to Barrisdale on the path that swoops up and down the hills beside Inner Loch Hourn.

Loch Hourn 

Arrived at Barrisdale as the sun set, just in time to get the tent up as darkness fell.

7 miles, 650 meters ascent

Home again

 15th September

A grey morning for the short walk to Scarborough station and the train to
York.

Grand Hotel Scarborough 

The trains were all good until Edinburgh but then slow so arrived late at Inverness.

Newcastle railway station 

Waited for the bus then, and waited...and waited...... and then they cancelled it **#!?

There were some buses, but not going the right way.

The next bus was 45 minutes later so I had missed the last bus to Burghead!

Lots of time to look at the view from the bus

The bus I did get was the new 10A which takes the longest route that anyone could possibly devise and by the time it got to Elgin it was dark and pouring with rain. A taxi home to Burghead then, where it hadn't rained at all.

The walk was great, the journey there and back less so!

Scarborough to Filey

 14th September

Colder in the morning turning into another beautiful sunny day.

Started today's walk with Jack, Jasmine and dogs as far as Osgodby.

After a very short bit of road it was down through the trees toward the sea again.

The path then followed the cliff top high above the seals basking on the low tide rocks below.

If you enlarge the picture (by clicking on it) you may just see a group of seals on the rock near the centre.

Filey Brigg 

Out to the headland of Filey Brigg where the Cleveland Way ends.

Filey beach

Decided to be lazy and not walk back to Scarborough so wandered into Filey and caught the bus after a look around the town.

Filey sailing club boat park

 Back to Scarborough for a tour of the town.

The Grand Hotel 

The Harbour entrance 

8.5 miles walked

400 meters ascent  

Whitby to Scarborough

 13th September

A beautiful sunny morning and and the temperature was reasonable, stayed good all day.

Scarborough from the hostel window 

Breakfast at the Hostel then back to the coast path.

Coastal erosion 

Another great day with fantastic views and quite a lot of up and down to keep it interesting.

Robin Hood's Bay is really interesting with its steep, narrow streets leading down to the sea with no real harbour.

Robin Hood's Bay

Very full of tourists but the old Post Office Café had space and a nice pot of tea.

YHA Boggle Hole, near Robin Hood's Bay

There are no other places on the coast path until Scarborough, just lots of lovvely cliffs.

And steep, deep gully's between cliffs

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And more cliffs, then a little National Trust tea shop at Ravenscar (didn't take a picture)

 

and more cliffs

then Scarborough North Bay where the Cleveland Way follows the marine drive around the headland below the castle.

Scarborough Castle 

The Harbour on the south side is where all the 'amusements' are.

But it is also a 'proper' harbour.

I stopped at the King Richard the Third pub and arranged to meet Jack and Jasmine who were putting up with me for the night.

Scarborough South Bay

21.5 miles walked

1300 meters ascent