Date: Tuesday 1st May 2018
Company: Just myself
Distance: 7.7km Ascent: 240m
Time: 1Hr 55Mins
The MetOffice forecast for today was for nine consecutive hours of heavy rain between 11:00 and 20:00. I therefore set off walking by 06:30 in an attempt to get up and off the hill before the forecast rain.
Click here to see a map of the route undertaken
I walked circa one kilometre along the road before taking the vehicle track up the hill that leads to the transmitter.
Looking towards Beinn Tart a' Mhill from parking spot:
Although Beinn Tart a' Mhill was by far the least interesting hill undertaken on Islay, it was the best for wildlife. I saw numerous birds including lapwing, a buzzard, a cuckoo and a snipe. I also saw a dead calf, a dead cow and a dead lamb all left to rot on the hill!
On the track leading to Beinn Tart a' Mhill:
Looking back:
The good track made for fast progress as far as the transmitter.
Views once above the trees:
On reaching the summit transmitter, I again questioned the sense in doing fairly dull, low Marilyns. On the plus side, it was a fairly good hill as far as wildlife was concerned.
Transmitter:
Looking towards the summit trig point from the transmitter:
On passing the dead cow, I wandered if it had lost the will to live ascending fairly dull, transmitter-topped Marilyns. Seriously though, it was a bit strange to come across a dead cow, a dead calf and a dead lamb on the same small hill.
Dead cow:
On reaching the summit I took a few photos before returning to the van via the same route.
At the summit of Beinn Tart a' Mhill:
During the walk out it started to rain. The rain had arrived at least two hours earlier than forecast.
Heading back:
Instead of spending the rest of the day sitting about in the van, I visited Bruichladdich Distillery for their distillery tour.
Mash Tun, Bruichladdich Distillery:
Whisky and gin stills, Bruichladdich Distillery:
Whisky still, Bruichladdich Distillery:
I then caught the Jura ferry across to Jura which is extortionately-priced : <1km crossing at a cost of £45! Road-equivalent tarriff should extend to Jura. It was however great to revisit the Jura Hotel bar from where I have just written up this report
.Jura Hotel bar:
