Heading back to Calgary Bay

We enjoyed a quiet night at our freedom camping spot as all the walkers’ cars left. (In case I wasn’t clear, we are not parking overnight where we are not welcome. We were asked for a donation of £10 for a Nepalese charity which we were happy to do. Only self-contained vans are allowed - the tents etc are at the other end of the bay by the public toilets.)

After a post-breakfast walk on the beach we realised the overnight clouds were lifting so we made a packed lunch and set off along the path on the north side of the bay. It went to Cailnish but unfortunately Mr C didn’t think we’d have time to get there and back before we were due at our camp site up the hill from Tobermory.

The walk was lovely, sunny and warm, and the machair was just beginning to come into flower. There were carpets of violets and daisies and yellow flowers. The flag irises by the burns are not out yet and neither are all the trees but it’ll be stunning soon. We investigated some shielings nestling in the lee of the hillside. The view over to Coll and Tiree was lovely. We met a chatty couple from Dalbeattie who knew my cousin Anne. After heading west for a while the track headed north. We kept saying we’d turn back, just after the next rise, but we didn’t till we could see Cailnish. We could also see Rhum, Eigg, Skye in the north west and far off in the distance west what I think would be Barra and Mingulay. A great walk of about 6 miles. The blip is Mr C with the beach in the background. Our van is above the beach on the left.

Then we drove the very hilly and twisty single track road back towards Tobermory. We hit a traffic jam and a hold up. 2 police cars were directing traffic and sorting out a large lorry which couldn’t get over a narrow bridge. They had to get all the traffic that had built up behind the lorry to reverse to passing places so that the lorry could reverse far enough back to a place it could turn round. It was all a lot less exciting than the scenario my imagination had led me to.

We are hoping for good weather tomorrow for our boat trip. Excited!