Leaving Oban it is time to go inland again, along the shores of Lock Linnhe for 25 miles to Corran. There a regular ferry crosses the Linnhe to the Ardnamurchan peninsular.
If you like isolation then this is it. If you like peace and tranquility in a truly rugged setting then this is it. If you like single track roads with passing places often descending to narrow single track roads with even fewer passing places then welcome to Valhalla.
Arriving from the Corran ferry and going clockwise I first turned left to go to Fishnish and the Mull ferry. I did not want to go to Mull, just to get views of it. Most of the way there all I had views of were rolling mists, the ferry was not running anyway due to storm force winds, Mull was invisible. The severe weather warning for torrential rain and high winds was living up to it's promise.
The only way is up, and up is West, across the peninsular to Ardnamurchan point, the Lighthouse and the most Westerly point of the United Kingdom mainland.
After 35 miles of mostly single track twisting road, what would have been hell had their been traffic (but fortunately no one else was daft enough to be on the road) open sea was finally reached at Glenborrodale. There is an RSPB visitor centre there but it was closed, all the birds evidently having been grounded by the winds, but it is worth a stop in normal climatic conditions.
A very wet Glenborrodale, Mull to the left.
A few miles further on and Ardlinish bay is reached. Lovely views and a viewpoint pointing out all the distant features.
However between me and the viewpoint was something resembling a squelching bog and the distant viewpoints were too distant to be visible through the driving rain.
It just keeps getting wetter!!
Finally Ardnamurchan point was reached.
The lighthouse was closed, possibly due to fears of it being blown away in the high winds 😮
However finally reaching this point was worth it. This is where the Atlantic ocean first meets the UK mainland. A wild and isolated spot. Jagged rocks being pounded by waves, Albert being pounded by wind and me being pounded by driving sleet and rain. DEspite all that it was worth it.
Now Albert, get me out of here!!
Ardnamurchan point on a wild, wild day. More water falling out of the sky than arriving by sea.
It was now time to head Northwards, to Mallaig and the Skye ferry.
A brief stop on the way at Glenuig, a popular shark and Dolphin watching area. None to be seen. THey were not daft enough to surface.
Glenuig, Mallaig to the right.
Finally we reached the main Fort William - Mallaig road. I started to turn left towards Mallaig.No point. Every sign said "Disruption due to high winds" ... ferry cancelled to you and me. Instead I turned right, towards Fort William and a long 80 mile inland treck to Kyle and the Lochalsh Bridge to Skye.
Arriving at Kyle tired, windblown and having snow to contend with as well as wind, sleet, rain and hail I was looking forward to reaching Skye, my campsite and the pub nearly next door. It was just not my day. Bridge closed to High winds. Oh well, very nice harbour car park at Kyle and a Chinese a mere 5 minutes walk away.
After overnighting in Kyle harbour car park. Skye in the background, my destination.