Broadford Day Trip to Elgol

Cycling to Elgol before breakfast offers varied scenery which is changing in different lights and often with mist clearing from the tops. Wild camping by the river used to be thrilling, but nowadays day trips with the heavier gear left at the campsite are preferable. The view from the jetty is well-known and there is plenty of marine activity to observe when the weather is suitable. On this occasion high winds prevented the boat trips to Coruisk. (Usually, the Misty Isle Boat Trips team get on so well together and look happy to be doing their various jobs.) The kiosk was manned to take orders from tourists for later days and the atmosphere was relaxed.

Brooke was away preparing for the award ceremony for trainee fisherman of the year, which she went on to win as detailed here by BBC Scotland News under the title: ‘Fisherman’ is my job – even though I’m a woman.

Eating out in Elgol is always a pleasure. Hermione serves tasty seafood near the pier and Rosario’s new cafe attached to the community centre (which was a shop) is making a most promising start. The Bistro near the approach to Elgol from Broadford serves excellent pizzas.

With the weather unfit for boat trips, it gave a chance for a few of the Misty Isle men to further prepare land passed on by Auntie May and Uncle Lachie. When we used to visit them at Rockbank we thoroughly enjoyed the goodies derived from their hens and cows. Typically, a home-made pancake would be spread with butter then crowdie and cream with a topping of raspberry jam. The byre that housed cows had lost its roof and had already been fitted with a beehive. The current task was to prepare for another four hives. During Lap 2 they told me that bees have moved in.

My time there was nostalgic, so close to the Rockbank house which Ann had sold to an Englishman some twenty years previously (but currently needs much work to renovate it). I was told that the chap had only been around for a week this year to work on it.

The wind gusts made the cycle back to Broadford tough. Wind can channel between the mountains and make it difficult to keep the bike on the road. It is a relief to get out of the wind after it has been whistling through the helmet. Perhaps this will deter efforts to make this trip on such days in future?