Thursday 1 December 2016

Holiday in the Highlands - Part 3 - Mallaig and Camusdarach!

 Part 3!

We finally got to Mallaig, and after parking at what felt like the other end of the entire town, had a good wander about the harbour.

Mallaig, Scottish Highlands  #mallaig #mallaigharbour #scottish highlands #scotland #scottishscenery #innerhebrides

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Mallaig, Scottish Highlands  #mallaig #mallaigharbour #scottish highlands #scotland #scottishscenery #innerhebrides

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Mallaig, Scottish Highlands  #mallaig #mallaigharbour #scottish highlands #scotland #scottishscenery #innerhebrides

Mallaig, Scottish Highlands  #mallaig #mallaigharbour #scottish highlands #scotland #scottishscenery #innerhebrides

Mallaig, Scottish Highlands  #mallaig #mallaigharbour #scottish highlands #scotland #scottishscenery #innerhebrides

Mallaig, Scottish Highlands  #mallaig #mallaigharbour #scottish highlands #scotland #scottishscenery #innerhebrides

Mallaig, Scottish Highlands  #mallaig #mallaigharbour #scottish highlands #scotland #scottishscenery #innerhebrides

Fight the system!  Mallaig, Scottish Highlands  #mallaig #mallaigharbour #scottish highlands #scotland #scottishscenery #innerhebrides
Fight the system!

At one point we noticed that a small crowd of tourists had gathered around the end of a fence and after investigating we soon realised why!

Juvenile Herring Gull, Mallaig, Scottish Highlands  #mallaig #mallaigharbour #scottish highlands #scotland #scottishscenery #innerhebrides #herringgull

This juvenile Herring Gull was just standing there while folk took photos and well, I couldn't resist!

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Juvenile Herring Gull (and Dad) Mallaig, Scottish Highlands  #mallaig #mallaigharbour #scottish highlands #scotland #scottishscenery #innerhebrides #herringgull

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He was obviously mooching for food but even though he only loved us for our crumbs, it was still so nice to get that close to a wild bird.


We soon discovered he wasn't alone, and there was a huge number of gulls in the harbour who'd let you get extremely close. They dive-bombed some of the tourists and stole their chips so they weren't exactly popular.

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  Everywhere we looked I found something else to photograph, it truly was a brilliant place for a photographer to explore for the afternoon!

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This threw us for a minute until we realised it was plastic. XD

I loved all the well-worn and flaking paint and rust on the traditional fishing boats.

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It was such a nice contrast to the big ice supplier and super modern ferry that called in at the other side of the port.

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We had some lunch (a ridiculously overpriced sandwich!) and I nipped into the local shop where to my great surprise and delight I found one of the new wave Barbie 'Made To Moves' which I hadn't even been able to find in Glasgow yet! My mum thought it was hilarious that of all the things to spend my holiday money on in such a relatively remote and traditional looking port town, I got a Barbie. XD

We then stopped for a short while at the scenic Loch Morar.

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A photo posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on



A photo posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on






A photo posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on



A photo posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on



There was a pretty loud waterfall amongst the trees but unfortunately it couldn't be seen unless you walked along the riverside, which was steep and slippery so I didn't bother.

A photo posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on



A photo posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on



A photo posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on

We fancied another beach, so the following day, after consulting the map, decided on Camusdarach, known for its starring role in the film 'Local Hero', and which, according to actor Ewan McGregor, he rates as his favourite beach in the world!

With that kind of ringing endorsement we really couldn't not go! XD






Unfortunately the weather wasn't great, so we weren't really seeing it at its best, though it thoroughly impressed me, even without the sun!














This was probably the closest we'd come to a 'busy' beach, with maybe only five other people on it, but when we'd had most of the others to ourselves so far, even that felt like too many.



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There weren't many major finds this time but loads of coralline and even some tiny cowrie shells!

A photo posted by Christine Sutcliffe (@lynkhart) on


Even the sand by itself was fascinating, with lots of swirls and lines of sediment.






The geology was pretty interesting too...









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We got some great views of Eigg, Rum and Skye in the distance too.

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Eventually it was just the three of us on the beach.









...then finally one, as my parents trekked back to the car.



I really didn't want to leave.



 On our way to our next destination we had a little look at the decidedly spooky looking Inverailort House, which has quite the interesting history! Sadly now its just a ruin.





We'll leave it there for that post, watch this space for the next one which stars steam trains, monuments and soggy scenery!



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