eBothy Blog

It’s a cracking wee shop and now it’s selling online. 9-1-4 Outdoor now has an eShop, with low postal rates to IV post codes. 9-1-4 is the place I finally found a new top after scouring the big names shops in the big cities. Thoroughly recommended. Also, if you live in the Eilean Donan/Skye/Kintail area, Patrick runs the Lochalsh Trail Club, a local hillwalking club.

What a weird topic for an outdoors blog! I just had to comment on the situation though. The latter is a result of a mini war going on in Elgol between the Bella Jane and Misty Isle Boat Trips. The original fisticuffs started over Misty Isle accusing Bella Jane of being economical with the truth over wildlife sightings. Bella Jane replied with a broadside accusing Misty Isle of being economical with the truth about being the only locally owned boat trip business in the village, conveniently forgetting Bella Jane are York and Inverness based and receiving a slap on the hand for their efforts. Now it seems the spat has spilled over onto dry land with the incumbents arguing over berthing rights, resulting in the cooncil installing CCTV! Visiting touroids now ask the locals whether it’s safe to park their cars in the village! I ask you. Elgol, crime? It might have made a curious webcam but it’s not being monitored, so I don’t know how it’s being used. Would be funny to sit with a cuppa and watch the Captain Pugwash shenanigans as the rival boats come in at the same time.

Last Saturday, myself and Dawn went for a bimble along the path from Trumpan to Waternish point, in the north of Skye. The forecast was clag on the hills and a strong east wind so the low hills of Beinn a’Ghobhainn and Beinn Bhuidhe would shelter us from the icy blast. After 3 months without rain earlier in the summer, we’d have constant heavy rain for weeks but as we set off from the old chapel at Trumpan the sun was blazing down from a clear blue sky and we were treated to the sound of a Corncrake in the meadow on the right. A rare visitor to Skye, various crofting subsidies have helped maintain the bird’s habitat in the remoter places and it’s a wonderful sound to hear.