DAY 78
WEDNESDAY 8 MAY, 2013
FIREMORE TO NORTH ERRADALE – 17 MILES 8 HOURS
MORRIS, DEREK, KEITH, BILL,GEORGE MAC, ALEX AND IAN
TOTAL DISTANCE WALKED SO FAR 1108 MILES
Another good meal and a sociable evening were enjoyed in our hotel and after a good sleep and a hearty breakfast we set off in the minibus back to Firemore for the start of the days walk. Although a bit dull and overcast it was good walking weather and we made our way from the beach at Firemore towards the farm at Mellangaun then to the high point at Sron Meallan a Ghamhna where the views were fantastic. Coming back down to the loch side we picked up a path which we were able to follow to Cove before we were forced to walked on the road for a short distance.
Just north of Cove we returned to the cliff tops and walked passed a fantastic natural arch before reaching Rubha nan Sasan where we viewed the WW2 memorial stone for the Russian Arctic convoys which is sited among the remains of what was obviously a very important wartime naval defence base. Heading west round the point( on a path of sorts) we passed the island of Eilean Furadh Mor where in February 1944 the American ship SS William H Welch heading for Loch Ewe ran onto the rocks and sank. The remains of three of the unused metal lifeboats can be seen lying on the beaches along this stretch. We were able to walk close to the sea most of the way to Sron a Gheodha Dhuibh where the underfoot surface became very soft and boggy with ruts and high marsh grass making the going very difficult. Making our way inland we joined a path up the hillside to the cliff tops above Camas Mor. On the cliff tops there were several well walked paths and we followed one all the way to Rubha Reidh lighthouse. Leaving the lighthouse we turned south and initially continued along the cliff tops near the sea but after a few miles the deep man made gullies made walking extremely difficult and we opted to move to the lighthouse service road which we followed to Peterburn. We made our way back down near the sea and walked to the finish of the days walk at North Erradale. The end of walk ‘pint’ was taken in the very welcoming Melvaig Inn which driver Ian had found earlier.
Summary; A good day’s walk with much to see and ponder. One or two testing parts.
Highs; Some great views. The thought provoking WW2 Memorials.
Lows; the long road walk from the lighthouse.
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- Ready to set of again at Firemore Sands
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- Looking ahead to Mellangaun. We are heading for the high point
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- Looking back along the sands towards Firemore
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- Looking back across the bay to Firemore from the Trig point above Mellangaun
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- Looking north up the coast to the point at Rubha nan Sasan from the trig point above Mellangaun
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- Path at the sea edge round Camas Allt Eoin Thomais
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- Looking back down the coast from just north of Cove
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- Natural arch near Cove
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- Keith at the WW2 sea defence site at Rubha nan Sasan
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- The WW2 Artic convoy’s memorial at Rubha nan Sasan
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- One of the WW2 lookout towers at Rubha nan Sasan
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- Looking west from near Rubha nan Sasan
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- Remnants of the unused metal lifeboats from the ill-fates S S William H Welch
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- They have been here since 1944
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- Looking ahead to our route to Sron a Gheohda Dhuibh
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- Looking back towards Sron a Gheohda Dhuibh from the ruins near Camas Mor
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- The ruins near Camas Mor where we started the climb to the cliff tops below Meol Breac
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- Making our way up the hillside
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- The path in the heather towards the lighthouse
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- The path was muddy and undulating at parts
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- Looking down on a natural arch near Camas Mor
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- The lighthouse at Rubha Reidh
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- Looking ahead from near Rubha Reidh
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- Unfortunately we had to walk the last few miles on the minor road
ROUTE MAP – CLICK TO ENLARGE
DAY 78 ROUTE MAP