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Walking on Rum and the Small Isles
Rum, Eigg, Muck, Canna, Coll and Tiree
ISBN
9781852846626
Availability
Published
Published
12 Jun 2012
Edition
First
Pages
192
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.40cm
Weight
260g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
This guidebook to walking and backpacking on Rum, Eigg, Muck, Canna, Coll and Tiree includes a tough 55km backpack around the coast of Rum, a circuit of the Rum Cuillin and an ascent of An Sgurr (Eigg). The 16 routes across all these Western Isles of Scotland are suitable for a range of abilities exploring coasts, mountains and wilderness.
Seasons
spring, early summer and early autumn are the best times as the weather is mildest and the midges are in abeyance; high summer is the busiest season and midges can be a nightmare on Rum; winter days are short and storms are frequent, but the solitary grandeur of the islands in winter weather is ample reward for the well-prepared walker.Centres
Kinloch, Dibidil, Guirdil (Rum); Galmisdale, Cleadale (Eigg); Port Mòr (Muck); A'Chill (Canna); Arinagour (Coll); Scarinish, Balephetrish, Hynish (Tiree)Difficulty
routes range from the challenging to the relatively undemanding; weather can change suddenly in the Hebrides - be prepared for wet, wild and windy conditions.Must See
the Rum Cuillin, Kinloch Castle, Kilmory bay; An Sgurr and Cleadale on Eigg; Canna's cliffs and rock stacks; verdant landscape and sparkling shores of Muck; white sand bays and flower-carpeted machair of Coll and Tiree; wildlife, geological features and ancient monuments; stunning coastal landscapesISBN
9781852846626
Availability
Published
Published
12 Jun 2012
Edition
First
Pages
192
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.40cm
Weight
260g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
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Overview
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A guidebook to 15 day walks and 1 multi-day trek on the Isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck, Canna, Coll and Tiree. Exploring the beautiful scenery of the Western Isles, the routes are suitable for walkers of all abilities.
The day walks range in length from 9 to 27km (5–17 miles) and include a challenging round of Rum Cuillin. A 3-day trek around the coast of Rum covering 40km (25 miles) is also described.
- 1:50,000 OS maps included for each walk
- Detailed information on public transport to and around the islands
- Highlights include an ascent of An Sgurr
- Information included on local history, geology and wildlife
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Table of Contents
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CONTENTS
Overview map
Map Key
Introduction
When to go
Getting there
Ferries and flights
Maps, route finding and access
Safety and emergencies
What to take
Using this guide
Rum
Walk 1 A round of the Rum Cuillin
Walk 2 The Dibidil Horseshoe
Walk 3 Around the coast of Rum
Walk 4 Kinloch to Guirdil
Walk 5 The Guirdil Horseshoe
Walk 6 Around Rum’s western hills
Walk 7 Kinloch to Kilmory Bay or Harris
Eigg
Walk 8 An Sgùrr and Grulin
Walk 9 Around the coast and cliffs of north Eigg
Canna
Walk 10 Around the coast of Canna
Walk 11 Around Sanday
Muck
Walk 12 Around the coast of Muck
Coll
Walk 13 Coll’s western tip
Walk 14 Ben Hogh and the Breachacha castles
Tiree
Walk 15 Tiree’s east coast
Walk 16 Tiree’s west coast and three highest points
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Accommodation
Appendix C Further reading
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Maps
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It is essential that you have the appropriate maps for the walks described in this guidebook. There are few waymarks, signposts or paths of any kind, making accurate route finding all the more important. A degree of navigational proficiency is indispensable.
This guide incorporates Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 mapping with highlighted routes. These should be used in conjunction with OS Explorer 1:25,000 maps because of their greater topographic detail. Do not rely solely on the maps in this guidebook as it is essential that you are able to ascertain your position in the wider context, should you need to abandon your walk and make for the nearest road or habitation. The walks described in this guidebook are covered by the following Ordnance Survey maps:
- OS Explorer 1:25,000 sheet 397 Rum, Eigg, Muck, Canna and Sanday
- OS Explorer 1:25,000 sheet 372 Coll and Tiree
- OS Landranger 1:50,000 sheet 39 Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna
- OS Landranger 1:50,000 sheet 46 Coll and Tiree
A compass is indispensable and a ‘wristwatch’ altimeter is also very useful for navigation, especially on the hills of Rum. It’s not quite so easy to get lost when walking along the island coastlines, but it is important that you know exactly where you are, especially in poor weather/visibility and if for any reason you need to head inland from the coast.
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Updates
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June 2018
Updates
p68 and p88
The footbridge across the Kilmory River was washed away in 2017 and as yet the Isle of Rum National Nature Reserve have not responded to enquiries as to if and when a replacement will be installed. Depending on the tide it is possible to cross the outflow of the river where it crosses the beach. Unless the river is running high it is also possible to cross using a sill in the bank though great care should be exercised.
p41 It has been reported that the route as described in the first paragraph of Walk 1 A Round of the Rum Cuillin has become difficult to follow. The following is a suggested alternative:
Walk a short distance north of Kinloch Castle to the junction by the bridge that leads to the community hall. Turn left here and continue for 150 metres before turning left at a metal gate. Follow the track past the old castle garden walls to the generator and continue along the Allt Slugan to the edge of the woodland before emerging onto rising open ground.
p43 'at around 650m, follow the path off the ridge as it skirts around Askival’s east flank' Reader, Michael Smith reports that 'the path we found was higher (as measured by GPS rather than contour on the map) at 694m. Before the substantial old cairn is reached indicating the right turn to go up to the ridge, there are several tempting but inferior ways up'.
November 2014The Rum Bunkhouse, managed by the Isle of Rum Community Trust, is now open (autumn 2014) and has accommodation for up to 20 people in four mixed dorms and one twin room. There are two fully equipped kitchens and a lounge with a wood burning stove and sofas.
For further information and bookings, email bunkhouse@isleofrum.com
April 2013
p38
Kinloch Castle hostel will be closed definitively from the end of May 2013. Funding for the construction of a new bunkhouse has just been announced (April 2013) and in the interim temporary, self-catering hostel accommodation next to the castle will be available from 8 June 2013. For more details contact:
phone: 01687 462037
email: kinlochcastle@snh.gov.uk
By Peter Edwards
Since moving to Scotland from the south of England in 2006, Peter has developed a passion for the Hebrides. He lives at Rhenigidale on the Isle of Harris with his wife, Fiona, and their Labradors, Dougal and Mara.
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