Rum Report May 16th to 18th 2025

Who says the sun never shines in Scotland?

The Club’s 2025 Spring weekend was the much delayed trip to the Isle of Rum, postponed initially from 2020 when we were still in the grips of the Covid outbreak.

What a weekend it turned out to be!

A total of 27 members and guests took the ferry from Mallaig to Kinloch on Rum, with most of the party (more of parties later!), having the exclusive use of the excellent Rum Bunkhouse, while other stayed nearby in “pods”, camping, and even a “shepherd’s hut”. The weather was stunning with cloudless blue skies when the various groups set off on the Saturday morning and, if anything, it felt a bit warm for a big day on the hill, but this did not deter the hardier of the groups with the Corbetts of Askival and Ainshval being the main targets, whilst others climbed the subsidiary peaks of Hallival and Barkeval, all reflecting their original Norse names. Special mention to Ken for tackling the whole of the Rum Cuillin ridge on his own, a feat which I am sure he wouldn’t want to repeat any time soon. There was also a less strenuous walk along the coast to Dibidil bothy and back.

The person who climbed Hallival with the soles of their boots hanging off shall remain nameless, although the boot First Aid which was carried out prior to the climb, to say nothing of the socks over the boots, did the trick!

The day was complete with a communal meal for all in the bunkhouse organised by Evelyn and Lesley, and assisted by others, the pies provided being imported from overseas – well, the mainland!

The Sunday dawned with more warm dry weather and the two main groups set off together heading west across the island, with their paths diverging a few kilometres west of Kinloch, one group heading towards Kilmory Bay for some wild swimming and paddling, and the other on to Bloodstone Hill.

Kilmory Bay is the main area used over the past few decades to study red deer, and will be familiar to those who have watched Autumnwatch, whilst Bloodstone Hill is known for the rare semi-precious stone bloodstone also known as heliotrope. Unfortunately for the treasure hunters the main area for finding the bloodstones was on Guirdil beach which meant a climb down precipitous cliffs, which no-one was keen to tackle. Not only were the groups treated to sights of the main residents of Rum, red deer, but also both golden and white-tailed eagles, for which the island is famous.

It was fitting at the end of the final full day on the island to have a Rum party, complete with fairy lights, local rum and much else besides, but thankfully no dancing on the tables!

Monday was very much a day of rest before catching the ferry back to Mallaig, but not for all………..

Norman and Jinty were not finished, and set off on a five day circumnavigation of the island, still blessed with fine weather, and having arranged for Isle of Eigg beer to be stashed in strategic locations. Another memorable trip.

Back on the mainland some of the group headed for home whilst others who could not attend Rum joined the group, using Arisaig as the base. Whilst some had already enjoyed a cruise on the paddle steamer the MV Waverley to lochs Hourn and Nevis; the Tuesday was spent by others “Corbett bashing” or, in the case of Kerry, Sandra, Anne and Evelyn tackling the Munro Gulvain, as part of Kerry and Sandra’s May Munro Challenge for the “Change Mental Health Campaign”.

A meal was arranged by Jean in the Arisaig hotel for that evening and the final day, for most, was another excellent day taking the MV Shearwater from Arisaig to the Isle of Eigg, where some climbed An Sgurr whilst others went in search of the Isle of Eigg brewery and its contents.

A perfect trip!