Sat 2nd -Mon 4th May

About twenty people attended the Rum weekend meet, eleven of whom stayed at Kinloch Castle and the remainder camped at the nearby campsite (err…patch of slightly boggy grass).  Despite a bit of rain on Saturday afternoon and some more on Sunday, the weather was otherwise very pleasant and a lot got done.

For most, the weekend commenced on Friday night with a few lemonades at Mallaig, followed by a “good” night’s sleep in the car park.

We arrived on Rum on Saturday morning and everyone promptly dispersed in various directions.  Illona Morrice, Dan Moysey, Graeme Henderson and Imke Meynecke headed off to explore some caves on the northwest coast of the island.

Bob MacDonald, Fiona Duncan, Graeme Morrison, Jake Lee, Margret Paterson, Graeme Gunn, Paul & Jo Chappell and Andy Brooks all headed to Harris in various groups.  Bob’s group “…read the girlie mags before inspecting the mausoleum”.  Sarah De Rees, John McGowan and Richard Knack did almost the whole of the Rum Cuillin Ridge, despite the deteriorating weather (which was attributed to wearing sunglasses).  In keeping with tradition, for most the day ended in the bar (or the dog house for some!).

Fran spent Saturday night on the top of a mountain doing some “extreme bird watching”.  She was helping to ring Shearwaters.  These amazing sea birds nest in burrows at the top of the mountains.  They return to their mountain top homes each night and can be caught by hand (just!).

Graeme Bartlett spent Saturday night in a bothy and then roughed it at Kinloch campsite on Sunday.

Sunday was the best day in terms of weather.  Jo & Paul Chappell, Illona Morrice, Graeme Morrison, Jake Lee, Dan Moysey, Imke Meynecke and Graeme Henderson did the Rum Cuillin.  A long, but (on reflection) very satisfying day, with some great scrambling.  Bob MacDonald and Fiona Duncan went to Guirdil Bothy for some sunbathing.  Another party went to Harris.

Monday was mainly spent pottering around Kinloch in occasional showers.  There was a bit of an impromptu ceilidh in the hall, but only Bob Mac Donald and Sarah De Rees were brave enough to dance.  Jake Lee and Rob Murray both went fishing: Rob caught a few and Jake caught one minnow (aka “a whale”).

I’m sure that a lot more went on, but my memory is fading fast and some of the route notes were a little sparse.  Apologies to anyone who has not had a mention.  The only downsides to the weekend were the fact that the group was split between the campsite and the bunkhouse and that the bunkhouse kitchen was a bit small.  However, that should not detract from the overall conclusion that this was a successful weekend meet and I think most of us will look forward to returning sometime.

Dan Moysey