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. 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. There’s also Tayport Distillery’s Scots Pine Gin, which was inspired by the Fife coastline, festive memories and Tentsmuir Forest. The judges said; “There's an almost menthol-freshness to the juniper and pine nose, nicely balanced by citrus and cinnamon softness”. Last year, Tayport Distillery also won the regional Golden Fork Trophy for their 1992 Raspberry Liqueur, which is made using local berries.

I, with a couple of the other guys took that route. But it still required a steady foot and a good grip in some places, so getting my phone out a la tourist just didn’t happen 🙂 The walk from the ferry jetty to Kinloch Castle only takes around ten minutes so I was hoping to have lots of time to explore the interior, but sadly it was closed, though from speaking to a local it’s hoped to open for tours in the near future. This year, Scotland received a constellation of stars at the Guild of Fine Foods’ Great Taste Awards 2021. The Ben Alder Estate came under new ownership in 2011 and its infrastructure has been greatly improved, including renovation work on the bothy, which now sports a new roof and windows. The building consists of three rooms accessed by a natty little porch.A traverse of Corbetts Beinn a’ Chumhainn (903m), and Sgòr Choinnich (929m) and Sgòr Gaibhre (955m) is another fine round. There are thriving colonies of golden eagles and sea eagles, one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of Manx shearwater, and a coastline that’s a favourite breeding ground for otters and seals.

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.Longer walks through Rum’s beautiful surroundings are possible thanks to wild camping being permitted on the island as well as access to two bothies in Guirdhil and Dibidil. Recently started getting into spiced rum - particularly those you can sip (as a whisky sort of person - a drink that can hold its own without a mixer appeals to me)! The idea was to head off from Kinloch (where the ferry comes in) and walk across the mountains of Barkeval, Hallival, Askival, Trollaval, Ainshval and Sgurr nan Gillean. They are Perth-based Chapter 7 Whisky, who won for their Chapter 7 Monologue Blended Scotch Whisky, which is aged for 26 years in a single sherry butt.

Rum ended up beating my expectations by a country mile and I’ve absolutely no hesitation in recommending it to any visitor to Scotland, whether they have a love of wildlife, hill walking, or long cycle rides. Things to Do The bothy is a simple structure of wood and stone with two small windows facing west out to sea and two skylights in the roof. From a tiny entrance, you step down into a cosy but fairly cramped space with a raised platform to the left that can sleep two, a separate bench, and a wee fireplace and grate. The stone roof is supported by a central wooden stake, with a wigwam of beams radiating from it. Key Attractions: I’m not going to give a peak by peak account of the first day, I’ll let some photos give you a sense of the place.The road to Kilmory is around 12 miles return while the road to Harris is around 15 miles return, which potentially puts either destination out of reach of walkers but is certainly possible for those on two wheels. There is a certain mystical quality associated with Maol Bhuidhe, a lonesome homestead which lies in the heart of the remote, roadless territory between Glen Carron and Glen Shiel. And once we were down at lower levels and I could stop-with-the-fear-already, the sense of remoteness, beauty and tranquillity won through. I would happily hermitage at either of the Bothies (is that the right use of the word?) for a few weeks. By the end of the 1920s, rumours about the bothy being haunted were spread by head stalker Finlay MacIntosh and novelist Ian Macpherson in an attempt to frighten away unwelcome visitors. Over the years the anecdotes were embellished, with various accounts of a poltergeist moving furniture and the mysterious heavy tramp of hob-nailed boots outside the bothy. Ghost stories tend to fire the imagination, and many who visit the bothy leave feeling slightly spooked. Don't let that put you off though - this is one of our favourite bothies, or indeed, shelters of any kind, anywhere in Scotland. Although none of the mountains on Rum are Munroes, the weather can change in the blink of an eye, so be prepared and ensure you have suitable clothing, footwear and navigation tools.

A table and a couple of chairs complete the scene. The larger right hand room has a fireplace and an ancient iron bunk-bed; it is mainly used for wood sawing and storage. Neither room has any insulation, and the bothy can get pretty cold once the stove has gone out. Upstairs is a large area used for sleeping, and a little wood-panelled room at the east end with a small window. Key Attractions: The entire island is managed by the public body Nature Scot as a National Nature Reserve, and due to the fact it’s so remote and has just 40 people living on it, Rum is one of the few places in Scotland that remains almost entirely unchanged by tourism. 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!!! History Note. The bothy originally would have been a shepherd’s cottage dating around the late 19th Century. Following the clearances (1825-28), the island was used for large-scale sheep farming, with some 10,000 sheep by about 1880, Guirdil being one of several hirsels on the island. It is not clear when the sheep were cleared and Guirdil abandoned. It may have been from 1914-18, when most of the younger men, horses and ponies left to fight in the Great War and never returned. Kylesku Hotel serves excellent fresh sea food, and organises boat trips to the bothy and waterfall.Ingredients: Chilli peppers, red peppers, sugar, cider vinegar, pectin, olive oil, garlic puree, salt 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. I should mention that getting photos on the last 2 days (we had a 4 day trip in all) was thanks to a solar charger thing I bought recently. I’ve done a kit review as it really worked out well. (see separate post).