Once on the island however the misery was quickly forgotten in brilliant sunshine. A good track leads from the jetty to the lighthouse but we left it to claim the marginally higher but unmarked summit of Sotan first. Thence along the cliffs to the lighthouse which has the remains of a dun beyond, giving dizzy views down the cliffs and out into the Atlantic. Northwards was a splendid panoramic view of the largest island of the group, Mingulay.
Thumbnails of Berneray - Please click on a picture to see a full sized version:
The wind was dropping and the sun kept shining as we rejoined the boat for the short hop to Mingulay where landing was on the rocks on the south side of Mingulay Bay. There is a habitable house here which was being used as a holiday cottage. Some of the more energetic members of our party made their way onto the most southerly hill Hecla and eventually completed the full horseshoe over Macphee's Hill. With limited time on the island we headed straight for the highest summit Carnan. Then we headed northwards for a glimpse of the impressive cliffs of Bagh na h-Aoineig before heading back down to the boat.
Thumbnails of Mingulay - Please click on a picture to see a full sized version:
Next day the weather was a bit calmer but less sunny and the peak bagging party had the boat to themselves. We headed for the awkward island of Muldoanich, just 153m high and the lowest top in the Marilyn list. The boatman described it as 'a barren rock with not a lot going for it' and as we approached it was easy to agree with him. We circled round clockwise below steep cliffs onto the sheltered eastern side of the island and into a tiny inlet. The first party were landed at the very rocky northern side of the inlet and could eventually be seen on the steep slopes above. To my relief the boatman then located an alternative landing spot requiring only a traverse on steep slippery grass to gain the flatter ground above followed by an easy rock step to attain the summit plateau where the advance party were already seen on the summit.
Thumbnails of Muldoanich - Please click on a picture to see a full sized version:
Safely back on the boat we made a beeline for Pabbay. Fortunately it was a bit calmer than yesterday but I was pleased we were not heading right down to Berneray again. We landed in the sheltered Bagh Ban. The going was very rough and boggy at first but higher up we were walking mainly on big slabs at an easy angle. Beyond an intermediate top the higher hill called The Hoe appeared and more slabs led to a beautiful summit with rock pools.
Thumbnails of Pabbay - Please click on a picture to see a full sized version:
The last island was Sandray where once again we landed in Bagh Ban (White Bay I think because of the beautiful sandy beach). A steep hill lies between this bay and the highest top Cairn Galtar. Some went straight over it and some skirted below to converge on top of the hill which like Pabbay has a summit of rock slabs and pools, the difference here being that the sun had come out so many pictures were taken in celebration of the completion of these five beautiful and elusive summits. Many thanks to Rob for arranging the trip.
Thumbnails of Sandray - Please click on a picture to see a full sized version:
.. and 2 shots next morning as we left Castlebay
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