Joined in 2023 
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They just had a dram too many from the hip flask! Jokes aside, getting into the hills with a hip flask infuses summer with the spirit of adventure. Whether you’re scaling a Munro or stravaiging through the glens, you’ll be glad of a wee dram at the end of your journey. 2. Dutch courage for a Highland Fling
It’s no secret that we love a good dram. Even better if you can enjoy a fruity, fragrant liqueur by a placid loch after paddle boarding or while watching the sunset over the hills from the comfort of your campervan. The interior of Guirdil has been left as an open shell divided by a single wooden partition, while the roof space has a neatly designed sleeping platform for four, accessed by a ladder. The right hand section is the communal space, the main focus a large well-drawing hearth with an impressive stone mantlepiece and a fine set of antlers above. There are two superb routes that are a must-do for anyone on Rum with a bicycle, which are the trail from Kinloch to the Harris Mausoleum on the west of the island, and Kinloch to Kilmory on the north. Kilmory is a ten-mile return journey while Harris is sixteen miles return.
Kearvaig Bothy
Anyway a few weeks later – here I am and here’s my take on the trip up and around the Rum Cuillins.
Note: This is a demanding route, in one of Britain's most hostile environments. Deteriorating weather conditions can be seriously compromising on the summit plateau where expert navigational skills are essential. Ben Macdui is surrounded by very steep ground to the W and to the E the vertical cliffs of Coire Sputan Dearg need to be avoided on the descent. In winter, blizzards, white-outs and gale-force winds can make the summit very hazardous. The landscape breaks away into patches of woodland near Kilmory and it’s in this area where I saw the majority of the island’s famed red deer, perhaps because of the safety the nearby trees offered them. But overall I would say (for me) that it was challenging. And beautiful. And remote. And quiet. And soul-stirring. And fun. And challenging. You get the picture. That was a word that was going around my head on the top of most of the peaks. Fishing pots at Guirdil Bothy. Part of Bloodstone Hill over to the right rearing above the bothy. A map of Rum and some info on the MBA and how the bothy came to be made interesting reading. http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/ Evening on Guirdil beach, great sunset albeit a tad chilly Steve tends the seaweed fire at Guirdil Bothy. And looking pretty stern with all that responsibility too.
Terrain
Concealed in a small clearing within the extensive Eskmuirdale forest, on the northern side of the picturesque Eskdale Valley, Greensykes is a great place to escape the relentless pace of the modern world for a while, much like its near neighbour the Samye Ling Tibetan monastery located just over the hill.
From the dam, it’s possible to head further south to the Rum Cuillin’s on a well-worn mountain trail that crosses five of Rum’s six mountain peaks. However, at around 12 hours it’s a hike that will be impossible for day-trippers. Like pretty much everywhere else on the west coast of Scotland, Rum can be plagued by fierce clouds of biting midges.It feels incredible to have your product, that really is a labour of love, recognised by such prestigious awards”, says Kim Cameron, founder of the Gin Bothy and Rum Bothy. “ As a small independent producer a 3 star Great Taste Award can be a game changer as it has such credibility in the food and drink sector, opening retailer listings that we wouldn’t have had before. We were also winners in 2016 for our Gunshot gin so to also have one for our Rum is fantastic. It makes us now the most award-winning Great Taste spirit producer in Scotland, with the majority of our range holding these awards.” Which has meant quite a few evenings of work and less head space of late. But also, for the first few days after my return, I found it hard to type for any length of time. Well, for a number of reasons actually, the first being it’s one of the best places in Scotland for wildlife watching. Most notably, these included three spirits, each of which received the maximum 3 star accreditation from the 355 judges, who attended 86 days of socially-distanced judging in London and Dorset, and included food writer Xanthe Clay and Kavi Thakrar, founder of Dishoom. Location: North West Highlands - LAT/LONG 57.3722, -5.2405, NH 052 360, 261m, LR Map 25, Explorer 429
Giuirdil Bothy was, for me, the more interesting of the two Bothies. I think the location, right on the edge of a bay, and the collection of derelict / collapsed buildings next to it make it really interesting. Whether you’ve been toasting the hills or a friend’s wedding, always clean your hip flask when you get home. Simply clean with hot water and washing up liquid then air dry thoroughly.The complexity really appeals to me - a usual whisky drinker, but additionally it is also exceptionally smooth and easy to drink.
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