29th April – 2nd May 2011

Apart from the staunch monarchists, who remained at home, putting up bunting and raising a glass to the royal couple, most of the 22 strong party who made it to Harris descended upon the Rockview Bunkhouse in Tarbert on the Friday, happy that the state sponsored nuptials allowed an extra day on the island. With such a large group and over four days, it would be hard to fit in everyone’s agenda; luckily most people  didn’t bother to write much/anything.

Friday was a half day for most after the road and ferry trip. Maggie Paterson and Graeme Gunn, at Sol’s request, walked out to the lighthouse at Scalpay. Alan Duncan,  Bob Macdonald and Val and Neil Kemp, making for a similar trip, but by bike.

Illona Morrice, Dan Moysey and Ali Erginsoy went lolligagging over to the beach, Ali petrifying the sea-life and local children with his fancy dress attempts at watersport chic.

Ella Grant and Drumond Beattie, being the hardy souls they are, went up the small hill behind Tarbert, Giolabhal Glas.

Of course while all this fun was being had, some of us were witnessing constitutional history in the making, as our employers wouldn’t let us have the day off because two posh kids were getting wed.

Saturday dawned as truly stunning as Friday had been and the MMC were over North Harris like a rash.

Drummond, Ella, Ros, Corinne, and Val did the An Clisearn horseshoe and I think  Sheila, Imke, Graeme and Joe did the same thing the other way round, but they didn’t tell me.

Illona, Dan and Ali were tempted to emulate Dave Macleod’s recently televised climb at Sron Ulladale, but went instead for the almost as challenging HVS Eureka. Bonkers.

Alan and Bob cycled and walked, taking in the fabulous round of Cleiseabhal Oireabhal, Ulabhal and Sron Ulladale and enjoying the blistering weather and stunning views out as far as St Kildare, though not the headwinds buffeting their venerable velocipedes. Maggie, Graeme and Sol took a similar route and were treated to a David Attenborough plethora of wildlife sightings, including the magnificent sea eagle (or so they say. Probably a herring gull).

The late arrivals dumped their bags and entered the fray. Sandra Doull, fuelled by some isotonic Irish sports drink, pedalled off mapless into the heart of the island while Fiona Duncan and Jake Lee took the local bus and clambered up An Clisearn, Fiona sadly dropping her watch somewhere. So if anyone’s ever there again…

That night many retired to the Harris Inn and were treated to some real ale, some fabulous food and a perfect evening.

In amongst all of this, Andrew Lawson ascended eight Marilyns – Feiriosbhal, Bleabhal, Beinn Dhubh, Sleiteachal Mhor, Cearnabhal, Liuthaid, Sgaoth Aird and Forsnabhal. I’m not too sure what a ‘Marilyn’ is, but looking at this list through sassenach eyes, it may refer to a random selection of vowels and consonants. Thanks to Andy for the stunning photographs he has posted. (Can’t imagine he has time to take any pictures with all those hills).

Kim and Aggie, aka Corinne Ferguson and Ros Wright, on discovering there was no room service available on the Sabbath, decided against slumming it with us and went off to a barbecue somewhere. It has been noted.

And yet, this being the May weekend – an extended one at that, we were far from finished.

Suffering though many were from the first cases of Hebridean sunstroke for 75 years, we were off again like a herd of turtles.

More hills, some of which were done previously by other members, were climbed in perfect conditions. Hardy souls scrambled on beautifully grippy gneiss. Mountain bikers careered up and flew down hair-raising tracks. The more sedate cyclists pedalled to walks and pedalled back. Apart from Fiona, who, in her inimitable style got a lift up the steepest climb of the day. (This did however mean that she missed out on the sloe gin stop enjoyed by her companions) And there was still time for visits to the pristine beaches of Harris.

The final perfection, to what was a truly memorable day, was the fact that some of those Godless folk in Tarbert challenged the wrath of the Almighty and served us some cold drinks. I don’t think He really minded.

If anyone’s bothered reading this far, you’ll have worked out that we’ve got to Monday and home time. However, with late afternoon ferries and weather that the Scottish Tourist Board dream about, there was still plenty of time for sightseeing, cycling and beaches. Yours truly even went out and caught a couple of (not-very-big-at-all) brown trout.

As usual we left our accommodation far cleaner than when we arrived and as ever there were some stalwarts of domestic tasks: Sandra has been asked back by the owners. I do have an as-yet unpublished document of recalcitrant back-sliders when it comes to tidying up, but that shall remain classified until wikileaks get a sniff of it

All in all, it was a glorious weekend. North Harris will always be magical, but the stupendous weather and lack of midges made it quite perfect.

Jake Lee

(From June, please address all correspondence to Jake to c/o San Pedro Prison, La Paz, Bolivia)

For more photos from this meet, click here