Halcyon in the Hebrides

161 Pages·2012·9.781 MB·English

by  Robert Orrell

Halcyon in the Hebrides
Halcyon
Bob Orrell
Halcyon

in the
Hebrides
Bob Orrell
Whittles Publishing
Published by
Whittles Publishing Ltd.,
Dunbeath,
Caithness, KW6 6EG,
Scotland, UK
www.whittlespublishing.com
© 2012 Bob Orrell
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted,
in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, recording or otherwise
without prior permission of the publishers.
ISBN 978-184995-040-4
Printed by
For Patricia
who made the journey possible

Contents
Acknowledgements ...................................................................................... ix
1
A nuclear sea monster – Dr Jago’s dream ship .............................................. 1
2
Scotland’s Cape Horn – God’s Island ........................................................... 6
3
Neptune’s nag – Tinker’s Hole – Lochbuie’s challenge ................................ 11
4
Barra – The wicked princess – Archie sees the light .................................... 19
5
Whisky Galore – Loch Eynort – Scotland’s heroine ................................... 25
6
Wizard Pool – High on Hecla – Diesel dilemma ....................................... 33
7
Gateway to St Kilda – Taransay – The Dook’s castle ................................... 40
8
Rocket post – A seal convention – Sail problems ........................................ 48
9
Leverburgh – The Countess’s birth control – The Scarp miracle ................. 57
10
Trolls in Loch Seaforth – Is it Lewis or Harris? – The Brahan Seer ........... 66
11
The Blue Men of the Minch – Saved by a ghost – HMS Iolaire ................ 71
12
Life in a lighthouse – The Bochan – Accused of being a spy ...................... 76
13
Flannan Isles tragedy – McDrug – Crossing the Minch ............................ 91
14
Danger of eating hemlock – The pirate island – Calum’s Road .................. 97
15
The film-maker’s castle – Gavin Maxwell – Arisaig skinny dippers .......... 105
16
Ardnamurchan Point – The Officers’ Mess – Two very fine gentlemen ..... 111
17
Island railway – Jacobite-inspired witchcraft ............................................ 116
18
Corryvreckan – Gale in Loch Craignish – Crinan Canal ......................... 121
19
Neil Munro’s isolation – The Waverley – Home from the sea .................. 127
By the same author
Amulet – A Charm Restored and Sailed to the Western Isles
Blowout
Saddle Tramp in the Lake District
Saddle Tramp in the Highlands
Saddle Tramp on the Isle of Man
Over the Fells
Lakeland Monuments
Best Guide to Ravenglass
Best Guide to Cumbrian Shows
Around and About Ennerdale
The Company History of Borderway Livestock Mart, Carlisle
viii
Acknowledgements
Many anonymous local people took time to give me help and advice and tell me
interesting stories during my wanderings – and to them, my grateful thanks.
Thanks also to Captain Arthur Manson; George Rich, ex-RYA Examiner;
Stornoway Library; The Island Heritage Centre, Barra; Northern Lighthouse
Board Archives; Andrew Mumford; Captain Ronnie Holmes; Stuart Miller; and a
special thanks to Jean Thompson who kept a critical eye on the typescript.
Scottish Records very kindly gave permission for the use of lines from the song
‘The Crinan Canal’ by Alex MacKenzie from the CD Highland Journey.
Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain permission
for the use of copyright material. The publisher would be grateful if notified of any
amendments that should be incorporated in future reprints or editions of this book.
Map and boat diagram by Louis Mackay Design and Illustration Ltd.
ix