The lodge itself was overgrown with Rhododendron bushes.. very much like some occasional parts of the moors where I live (Marsden, Yorkshire). Victorian landowners had a penchant for planting these shrubs near estate houses.

Hip flasks are a discreet, practical and stylish way to carry booze on the move. Think summer adventures in the hills, toasting the mountain after an arduous climb, or sharing a dram around the campfire. Hip flasks are also great to have at hand (or hip!) for weddings or other Scottish celebrations that demand boozy toasts. Traditionalists who like to “first-foot” friends and neighbours on Hogmanay wouldn’t be without a hip flask containing fine, single malt whisky, and a wee nip is used to toast the river at the beginning of fishing season. But even so, they didn’t hang about and I was only able to watch them for a few minutes before they all disappeared over the hills. 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. Fishing. There are six lochs on Rum (Loch Papadil, Loch Coire nan Gruund, Loch MacIvor, Loch Fiachanis, Loch a’Ghillie Reamhra, and Loch Longwhich) which are open for fishing between April and October.The complexity really appeals to me - a usual whisky drinker, but additionally it is also exceptionally smooth and easy to drink. The Isle of Rum is a paradise for hill walkers and mountaineers alike. If you are here for a few hours or a few days there are walks to suit all abilities, but remember to BE PREPARED. Rum, while wonderful, can have savage weather (so have suitable clothing, footwear and navigation aids); has very rough terrain and in season midges are a considerable nuisance so please ensure thorough preparation and take suitable precautions. The first place we came across from Dibidil was the abandoned hunting lodge at papadil. Which I now know (see the link on the last post) is name associated with early celtic ecclesiastical settlements.

The weather over towards Skye was more dramatic and we could see we were missing some fairly hefty showers. Phew. This comprised of a short wander around Kinloch followed by a hill walk up Hallival and a cycle to Kilmory Bay, with extra time allocated for picnic stops and plenty of photos. Climb mountains. Rum is an underrated gem when it comes to mountain hikes thanks to the majestic Rum Cuillin’s which dominate the southern half of the island. Speaking of evidence of wildlife.. I meant to mention on the previous post that sections of the Cuillins were riddled with burrows for what I think were Manx Shearwaters.

Bothy Features

Downstairs to the right is a rough-and-ready working area. The exposed interior stonework has been whitewashed and the floor retains much of its original cobbling. To the left, an interior door leads into a communal, wood-panelled room, a little cramped owing to a low ceiling but homely nonetheless. 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. Jam is where it all began! Our Jam Bothy range of jam is created by hand in small batches using local Scottish fruit, just like our gin.

Visitors will find an incredibly varied mix of habitats when they explore Rum, all of which are a haven for animals rarely seen elsewhere in Scotland.

Bramble Bothy

Never use soap, as it leaves a residue that will spoil the taste of your next drink. HOW LONG CAN YOU STORE ALCOHOL IN A HIP FLASK? Now it has reverted to a wild wood as it were, with shrubs / trees growing through the lodge windows and doors.

Entered through a small internal lobby, the one-room apartment is effectively an independent, well-finished, and very snug little bothy in itself, with its own hearth and a sleeping platform running the length of one wall. A small stonewalled outbuilding with a window in its west end has been constructed on the north side of the apartment. Key Attractions: I was in the Lake District and found this bottle at a local shop in Pooley Bridge; they couldn’t tell much about it, but the label and spice mix read well so I risked it - and Wow!!! The spices really do hit, nothing false or overly flavoured with vanilla. It certainly feels and tastes like there is a cask aged rum in there, and with each sip you explore more of the spices inside! I agree with a previous review where the spices are a little Christmassy, and beautiful and smooth and very very more-ish!!!

Start

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. Rum is also home to over 900 red deer which have been part of the world’s longest-running study into a wild animal population since the early 1950s. This year, Scotland received a constellation of stars at the Guild of Fine Foods’ Great Taste Awards 2021.