1203 to 1303 in Mallaig

Mallaig was a delightful place to be marooned. I should have trusted my original research but instead listened to the hostel owner on Skye and didn't go on the ferry on the Friday night. Lo and behold there was no ferry on a Saturday and on Sundays, only one service at 4 pm. We quickly decided to stay in Mallaig but then found the hostel we had stayed in on Friday night was unavailable for the next two nights. We walked the town but found nothing but No Vacancy signs out. Eventually we booked in a B&B called Springbank Guest House which turned out to be a great choice. The breakfasts were huge and enough to last us to well after 12. On the first day we walked the Circular walk above the town but Steve's nose gave him hell. (During the night I woke up worrying about him getting gangrene in the skin graft). Spent some hours playing crib.

On Sunday we thought we were going by train to Glenfidden to view the 24 span viaduct used in the Harry Potter movies but turned out there were no trains on Sundays. We were not the only ones surprised, several locals or at least Scots, were wanting to catch the same “train” as us. Change of plans again. We decided to walk to Morar to the Silver Sand beach used in the Local Hero movie. The beach is called Camusdarrach. Walking there was easier than walking back. We had the wind in our faces on the return journey and the ubiquitous hill which was at least 3 kms long. We had all the layers on that we have brought with us but could still feel the wind blowing through the layers. Had to master several mossy and therefore slippery slopes plus stiles but made it and found a reasonably sheltered spot to eat our oat cakes and red leicester cheese (living the high life). The beach itself is very surprising given where it is and the view to the Isles of Eigg, Muck and Rum are spectacular. Snow had fallen overnight so all the hills were covered. Unfortunately photos don't do it justice and I've taken many. All told, it was about a 16 km walk so when we got back we got warm in our little B&B room and braved the elements at about 7 to struggle to a pub for a meal. Cullen Skink was on the menu so we had to try it. It's smoked haddock and potato soup with a cream base. It is delicious. It tastes like a haddock pie I make sometimes, but it would be much less mucking around.