New Year's Eve

The weather looked a little more patchy today, but we decided to go ahead with the Minx's plan for us to visit the Isle of Raasay, not least because we bought the ferry tickets, yesterday.

We drove up to Sconser this morning and caught the ferry just after ten o'clock. Despite the choppiness of the water, it was a smooth crossing, taking maybe twenty minutes. 

On the far side, we found the shop to buy a few bits for breakfast and then set off to explore the island by car, taking the single track road out to Brochel Castle (see Extra) and Calum's Road:

Since 1982 the road north has extended for two miles beyond Brochel, largely thanks to the efforts of one man, Calum MacLeod. He almost single-handedly built what is now known as "Calum's Road" between the mid 1960s and the mid 1970s, at which point it was possible for Calum MacLeod to drive along it in his Land Rover: though he never drove south of Brochel as he never gained his driving licence. In 1982 the road was finally adopted by the council and finished off with tarmac, allowing it to be driven by the rest of us.


(https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/raasay/calumsroad/)

The whole road - not just Calum's section - is extraordinary: it has clearly been largely re-tarmac'd recently although some stretches, without rhyme or reason, are still in terrible condition. I think it must have taken us the best part of two hours to drive there and back, and the scenery was breathtaking, although the weather began to turn on the way back. 

The ferry guys were taking lunch when we arrived at the jetty, but we were happy enough waiting in the car, reading our books, and departing around two-thirty.

The sea was clearly rougher now, and while the crossing was still smooth enough, our first attempt at docking didn't go so well, the captain retreating until the swell passed, and then taking another go. This time it was successful!

It's possible that it was one of the potholes on Raasay, but maybe it was just coincidence; either way we found we had a puncture on the way to doing a little shopping in Broadford. No drama, mind: the AA had it sorted in no time (well, about an hour).

And so here we find ourselves, back at The Cottar, with food, drink, and an open fire, and I'm signing off for 2024. I hope you have all had a fine Christmas and all the best for 2025!