I have been meaning to get back to continuing with this blog for sometime, but until now it obviously has never happened.
Better late than never, here is my return…

Friday 15th August saw me and a few others head out for a day trip to Isle Martin.
If Isle Martin sounds familiar to some of you, well it is the one which I saw on a daily basis when I lived at Ardmair.
And Friday 15th saw me return to Ardmair and set sail for Isle Martin…

There were five of us and we arrived at Ardmair Bay to meet our Captain and his Isle Martin Ferry ‘Auk’.
When we had left home, the clouds were breaking and blue sky and sunshine were poking through.
When we arrived at Ardmair, it was grey, misty and wet! Typical good ole Scottish Weather.
This however did not dampen our spirits.
Hoods up, leggings on, we boarded The Auk.
(Actually, when I say ‘Leggings on’, there was one person of course who had forgotten theirs, yes Dear Reader, it was I).
It is a short 10minute crossing to Isle Martin, not quite a mile, but with so much to see around you you’ll wish it could go on for a little while longer.
And John (Captain of the Auk) has a wealth of knowledge to share with you and as you near the Isle pier, he points out the few buildings on the island.

These buildings were our first port of call (As it was still raining).
We visited the Old Mill House & Information Point, the Macleod House and the Art Exhibition!
Then the New School and the Isle Martin Micro Museum were you take a step back in time and imagine what life use to be like. It was fascinating, but we wish we had more time booked that day to take everything in.

Hoods back up, it was time to explore the Isle.
We took the trail up from the Croft House and just as we neared the edge of the Trees, the rain cleared.
It was an easy walk to reach what is called the Back Beach.
I held back and just stood and soaked it all in, priceless.
There was a short path to the left and it took you to the well designed Shelter Bench and the perfect place to break out the pack up and exchange pleasantries with a Dutchman.

Due to me stopping to take photographs on every other step, I would find myself walking alone and just taking every moment in. Grey the day may have been, but it was truly stunning.
I then began to climb uphill and make my way to the Seawatch Point.
Here I watched some Seabirds and unearthed the 300mm I had in my backpack (I was shooting with the Olympus OM-1 mk ii today).
There were some Common Shags on the rocks further up the coast and in the sea breeze I managed to photograph them. Not much else at that point, but given the time of day and weather this was not surprising.
But I got a great view of Rhue Point Lighthouse and some boats passing by and the Summer Isles.
It looked and felt quite Autumnal, but for me that was fine, just perfect walking.

Heading back from the Seawatch Point, you have a choice of trail to take. Sadly not enough time to make the summit, loch and Dun Canna viewpoint, but I decided on a lower hill trail which would take me back down to the houses.
And … I got lost! How I managed this, I just do not know, there are markers along the trails, but somehow, I just could not locate the one I needed!
I looked at my watch and a moment of panic hit me; I was not going to make it back in time for the return Ferry!!
I texted my husband Alistair…

“Up the hill. On me own. It’s a bit boggy. I’m a little bit lost”.

He swiftly responded with …

“How on earth can you be lost, it is only a small island. Only You!”

He then sent another message … (Please read in a sarcastic mans voice)…

P.S. I best call search and rescue!

I put me phone back in me pocket, deciding he needed no more messages from me to humour himself with!

And then I just stood for another moment and my heart skipped a beat, there just across the water to the mainland was my old home at Ardmair.
I decided to message Alistair again and tell him that I could see the place where we first met in person.
“Great” he lovingly replied (Again, insert sarcasm).
I turned round and retraced my steps back downhill to the trail I started off on.

I was going as fast as I could to make the pier in time, but it is fair to say that, after some time off, I certainly wasn’t that fit anymore!
I make it to the houses and home straight and could see The Auk approaching the Isle and the rest of my fellow travellers waiting on the pier.
Captain John & The Auk and I reached the pier at the same time.
It was time to say farewell to the wonderful Isle Martin.
We lifejacket up and I hand my backpack & camera to John.
I get one foot in The Auk, with the other still on the pier and then…
I felt the boat move and just for the slightest moment I was doing the splits over the water of Loch Kanaird!
Amongst the laughter my fellow explorers pulled on the ropes to bring the Auk back in.
And before I knew it we were sailing back to the mainland, with chatter of when we were going to return and to enjoy the bit of sunshine which was just beginning to light up the odd patch of land of the surrounding hills and there was the mist lifting off my old neighbour Ben More Coigach.

I had taken a step back in time today and in more ways than one and it was just a fantastic day.

There are so many photos I could show, yes, even from a misty day like ours was, but I do not want to spoil things for future visitors.

I saw the following words written on a leaflet in the information centre;
We are sure a visit to Isle Martin will captivate and inspire you

And I can say it certainly will and I hope you come away with the memories we did.

Karen x

P.S. It’s good to be back