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.
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| 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!
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| Hester getting wet feet going up Bidean nam Bian |
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| The Lost Valley |
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| A stunning Harry swimming pool below the Lost Valley |
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| Almost done with our initial climb up Bidean coming back into view |
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| Harry 'barefoot running' on Camusdarach Beach, near Mallaig |
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| Camusdarach beach - not bad eh? |
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| Camusdarach post run swim and paddle |
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| A seal in Mallaig harbour |
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| The Cuillins, Skye |
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| Pissing with rain obviously |
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| The tooeyest tea shop on earth, Skye |
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| Deer, near Uig on Lewis |
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| Barefoot running, Valtos |
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| Like a Greek statue.... |
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| Mealaisbhal, Cracabhal and Laibheal a Tuath from Breinis (not easy to say without spitting everywhere!) |
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| Harry on our Mealasbhal expedition |
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| No paths up here |
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| Dropping down to the sea with Mealasta beach in view |
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Harry lobbing at Mealasta beach
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| Bernera run, Lewis |
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| Bosta beach, Bernera (I think I'm throwing a stick for Hazzer) |
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| Reconstructed iron age house, Bosta beach |
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| Carloway run |
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| 5,000 year old stone circle at Callanish |
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| Harry, Hester and Bran at Anne's house, Bragar |
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| Hiawatha on Eoropie Beach, the Butt of Lewis |
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| Eoropie beach |
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| Harry sticking in the castle grounds, Stornaway |
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| Foyers forest run, Loch Ness |
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| Harry fungi hopping |
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| Foyers, Loch Ness |
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| Hes on the way up Ben Nevis |
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The top of the Ben! I've never seen the view from up here ever!!!!
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| 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.
Brilliant! Gives me itchy feet to get back up that way again. Those beaches are stunning.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you were lucky with the weather (I've never seen anything from the Ben though, either)
Paul
Hi Brian!
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