6 Mar 20: Loch Barcasaig - Step It Up

A record number (14)  of very damp walkers braved the elements today.

We walked through almost continuous rain, down to the beach at Loch Bharcasaig.

The rain eased, and finally ceased as we made our way back to our cars at Orbost Farm.

Everyone beat a hasty retreat to the Dunvegan Hotel for coffee and cakes and an interesting discussion about what other outings we would like to participate in.

 Despite the weather, everyone seemed to enjoy the afternoon. Thank you Charlie once again for organising

As well as the largest turnout so far, this was arguably our wettest walk in the Step it Up history.   This was not a shower, this was hail, with a bit of rain, yet Ray still managed brilliant photos and we all still managed brilliant blether, oblivious of the elements.

8 Jan 20: Sligachan waterfall walk

6 hardy souls took a lovely walk up the waterfalls towards Scurr nan Gillean.

In between heavy hail showers

we walked up for an hour

with blue skies and clear mountains

 

and great vistas across to Dun Caan and up to the Storr.

Jess doing her good "I'm very hungry" look to get a ham sandwich from Sheila.

A quick snack stop and then a walk back down

with heavy hail on our backs for about 5 mins.  Considering the gales and torrential rain we have endured recently a 5 minute hailstorm on the way back down Glen Sligachan was a very minor inconvenience, but glad our back was to it, or it could have been very painful.

Still arrived back dry at Slig after about 7k, but sadly no opportunity to warm up with a coffee in either the bar or the hotel as they are closed until mid-February, but the warmth of friends and good banter kept the chill off.

Link to walks: These cover parts of both walks (omitting the mountains!!) https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/ambasteir.shtml, https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/maps/map3_8sk.shtml https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/bruachnafrithe.shtml

11 Dec 19: Walk at Kyleakin

South Walk - A Kyleakin circuit incorporating Kyleakin, Caisteal Maol, The Obb and the Anavig Trail to Cnoc a'Mhadaidh Ruaidh
Route maps and descriptions: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/caistealmaol.shtml
and
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/cnoc-a-mhadaidh-ruaidh.shtml

An exhilarating walk at Kyleakin in between the very heavy hail showers followed by thunder and lightning.

We decided to do the the Anavig Trail to Cnoc a'Mhadaidh Ruaidh and did the red route which has great views now that they have cleared the pines.

Pernettya Mucronata / Gaultheria Muconata 

The landscape is a bit rough as expected but the path is very good.

Had a lovely sighting of a juvenile Sea Eagle as we walked round the hill.

We then walked back via the Obb

and reached the car just in time to avoid the only rain and hail that we saw all the time we were out.

Caisteal Maol