WALKING ON RUM AND THE SMALL ISLES
by
Peter Edwards
2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA, LA7 7PY
About the Author
Peter Edwards grew up in Sussex and nurtured a love of walking and mountain biking amid the ‘blunt, bow-headed, whale-backed’ hills of the South Downs. He has undertaken numerous walking and cycling expeditions in Europe and beyond and is particularly drawn to wild and remote landscapes. He lives in Glasgow with his wife, Fiona. Peter also writes about his walking and cycling trips on his blog at www.writesofway.com.
Other Cicerone guides by the author
Walking on Jura, Islay and Colonsay
Mountain Biking on the South Downs
© Peter Edwards 2012
First edition 2012
ISBN: 978 1 85284 662 6
Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my father-in-law, Alex ‘Alasdair Beag’ Rintoul, a proud Scotsman who loves his country – ‘good gear comes in wee bulk'!
Acknowledgements
Thanks to all the team at Cicerone for transforming my words and pictures into a rather fine wee guidebook! While researching the routes for this guide I have enjoyed the excellent company of Kirsten Abingdon, Rich Baldwin, Sarah Blann, James Boulter (www.backpackingbongos.wordpress.com), Andy and Jen Dodd, Andy Godfrey, Giulia Hetherington, Clare Meadows, Fiona Rintoul and Dùghall Mòr nan Eilean. Thanks to Morar-based mountain leader, Peter Khambatta (www.adventurenevis.com) for several pictures. Thanks to Alex Munro and Bob McFarlane of www.blueskyscotland.blogspot.com for pictures and an inspirational eye on Scotland’s great outdoors.
Thanks to Jura-based photographer, Konrad Borkowski for the red deer pictures (www.konradborkowski.com). On the isle of Rum, I was greatly assisted by Linda Hjoelund of Scottish National Heritage and all the staff at Kinloch Castle, especially Georgie McMillan and Rebecca Watson. Thanks also to Dave ‘Chainsaw’ Beaton for loaning me his binoculars. On Canna, a big thank you to Stewart Connor, the island’s National Trust for Scotland warden and his partner, Julie McCabe, who rescued us when our tent was blown into the sea. Special thanks are due to my wife, The Lovely Fiona, for her support, encouragement and great good sense.
Advice to readers
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. If we know of any, there will be an Updates tab on this book’s page on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.
Front cover: Dùn Mòr sea stack, Sanday, looking across the Sound of Canna to the hills of Rum
CONTENTS
Maps, route finding and access
Walk 1 A round of the Rum Cuillin
Walk 3 Around the coast of Rum
Walk 6 Around Rum’s western hills
Walk 7 Kinloch to Kilmory Bay or Harris
Walk 9 Around the coast and cliffs of north Eigg
Walk 10 Around the coast of Canna