Ardnamurchan Area Blogs
Blogs (web logs) provide an ideal opportunity to explore the traditions, culture and wildlife of Wild Lochaber. We have put together a collection of local blogs and provide the titles and text snippets to give a taste of each entry with direct links to the main blog entry on the host website. We hope you will find time to explore the full articles and further information on the host blog sites.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any suggestions for blogs you would like to see here.
Simon Willis
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Castle Tioram is an imposing presence on Loch Moidart and a popular destination for visitors to our area.This one one of the first lochs in which we sea kayaked, taking our rented vessels out to a lovely beach at the head of the loch. We also 'enjoyed' more than a little excitement trying to paddle...
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Through my voluntary work with Highland Openwater Swim, I'm delighted to say many people have started wild swimming. Some recent converts aim to keep swimming year-round and ask "how do I stay warm"? I usually give a couple of answers; get a good wetsuit that fits tight to the body - Liz and I...
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The Surly Dunoon Dirt Dash - what a great event!Huge congratulations to the organisers Markus Stitz and Charlie Hobbs for delivering a weekend with such an amazing atmosphere and top quality bikepacking.I'm sure both will have learnt loads and the 2020 event will be even better.But it was an honour...
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On my weekly trips to our local town of Fort William, I occasionally meet people about to cycle the Great Glen Way.As I'm local on a bike, they ask me what it's like. I had to say, "Dunno", because I'd never ridden it. A situation I had to rectify.Turns out I need another dental implant...
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I didn't realise I had a problem until I saw the video.In this story and video was trying to work out where it's best to carry weight in a bikepacking rig, front or back.The answer is probably 'the middle' but I don't have a frame pack yet. Anyway, it was watching the video of me riding away from...
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The Sonder Camino Ti gravel bike I bought in May is tempting me to ride new and unusual places. In particular I've been seeking out routes new to me and possible, anyone.I found such a route on Mull this weekend. Here is is on Komoot although read on before you rush off and ride it. It'...
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I've seen loads of different bikepacking rigs. I've used different pannier systems and different types of bar bags.But I've never really known where, given the choice, the bulk of the kit should go. Is it better at the back or the front?The answer is probably "the middle" judging by the...
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Komoot is a relatively new mapping app for hikers and cyclists. It hails from Austria/Germany, was started around 2010, and boasts 8m users worldwide. I've had an account for a while - I post my most interesting adventures on it here. So decided to test its ability to map a touring route in a...
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Bikepacking has been around for a few years now and the equipment involved has matured, so I thought I'd give it a try. Scroll down to watch the video of my ride.I didn't head off into the wilds of Scotland. For me that would be too easy, because they're my playground, like a second...
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There is an ancient Scottish belief that evil Spirits cannot cross water. That's why so many important burial places are on islands.The islands in Loch Leven, the Glencoe Islands, may be the best known. But the Island of St Finan in Loch Shiel is surely one of the most beautiful, if only for its...
The Sunart Diaries
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Wordless Wednesday posts are images from Ardnamurchan and the surrounding regions – Sunart, Morvern, Ardgour, Moidart and the Rough Bounds. No description is necessary but further details may be provided with the linked full-size image. I will try and ensure they were photographed in the same month...
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Ardnamurchan, Morvern, Sunart and the Rough Bounds are some of the most remote and least populated parts of this country. A combination of distance, limited access and the absence of Munro’s or well-known hills keeps many visitors away. Nevertheless, the area has a lot to offer and – at...
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Wordless Wednesday posts are images from Ardnamurchan and the surrounding regions – Sunart, Morvern, Ardgour, Moidart and the Rough Bounds. No description is necessary but further details may be provided with the linked full-size image. I will try and ensure they were photographed in the same month...
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The moist and mild climate of Ardnamurchan provides almost ideal conditions for the germination of plants and trees. Wherever you walk, if you look carefully, you can find miniature birch, diminutive rowans or little oak trees. Parts of the peninsula have extensive broadleaved woodland and the area...
Craigard Croft
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In February I wrote about the now annual dinner of our old guys expedition group, "Crispy Grey Squirrel at the Roadkill Cafe". The squirrels I had in the freezer have gone along with the pheasants, I inadvertently switched off the freezer while working in the workshop. Now with...
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Vive Maurice!In France's Ile-d'Oleron a tribunal and a judge have decided that Maurice the cockerel can continue to sing.Maurice has become a symbol of the resistance of country people to gentrification of rural areas by the "neoruraux" incomer retirees and second home owners from urban...
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Last week 84 % of this blog's readers lived in the USA, I know that thanks to Google, but I don't know why? you are obviously intelligent and discerning people so....I thought that you might find it useful to have a brief explanation of our current political shambles in the UK and...
Sunart Community Company
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Sunart Community Company News Would you like to help keep “Sunart a great place to live, work and visit?” – well if you would, then consider joining the Board of the community company! This is our joint mission, developed in conjunction with the Sunart Community Council and as with any local...
West Ardnamurchan Community Council
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MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT THE KILCHOAN LEARNING CENTRE, ON MONDAY 9th September 2019 AT 7PM1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIESPresentGeoff Campbell Chair (GCC)Pat MacPhail Treasurer (PM)Gill Calver (GC)Jessie Colquhoun (JC)Ian Ramon, Councillor (IR)ApologiesKevin Swift, Police Scotland (KS)...
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MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT THE KILCHOAN COMMUNITY CENTRE, ON MONDAY 15th August 2019 AT 7PM1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIESPresentGeoff Campbell Chair (GCC)Pat MacPhail Treasurer (PM)Gill Calver (GC)Jessie Colquhoun (JC)Kate Forbes (MSP)ApologiesKevin Swift, Police Scotland (KS)Ian...
