Friday, August 13, 2021
On this windy, showery day I saw my first returning turnstone at Ardmair (although not really "returning" if it's a juvenile, which I think it is).....
.....and watched at least nine gannets fishing in the bay.
I drove off when I saw a couple go down onto the beach with shopping bags and start to load them with pebbles. I get so angry when I see this but I'm not getting involved again. On three occasions I've protested about this activity; on two, I provoked angry responses and on none did I succeed in getting them to leave the pebbles. I've lost count of the people I've seen doing it. Ardmair used to have a beautiful beach, but it's gradually disappearing.
Yesterday: We got up at six-thirty, intending to go up Ben Wyvis. A sore hip and stuffed sinuses told me I shouldn't attempt it; but, unwilling to give up the advantage of an early start, I suggested a trip up to Stoer. Even pre-Covid part of this drive could be a pain in the neck, along a single-track road more winding and undulating than the road to Achnahaird. Greger drove my car and, thanks to the early hour, we met very little traffic. The car park at the lighthouse was busy but not full, and we set off across the cliffs to Stoer Point. We love the huge skies and the sense of space here. This is looking over the point towards the islands of Handa to the right, and distant Am Balg to the left.
Two or three climbers had just reached the top of the 60-metre Old Man of Stoer. I watched with a little bit of envy, tempered with realism. It must be exhilarating to stand on the top of that crazy sandstone pillar - but also slightly scary!
We walked up to the trig point, although we've been there before. The FB no. is S6097. It's a lovely location, with the sea on both sides and a freshwater loch in between.
We enjoyed our walk, but although we scanned and scanned with bins we saw no whales and very few birds. Perhaps one day soon we can actually get onto the ferry for a "pelagic" to Stornoway; we've tried twice but on both occasions the ferry was booked for several days ahead, and we didn't fancy taking a chance on the good weather continuing. Still, given the number of holidaymakers in Ullapool at the moment, I won't hold my breath.
