Anyone been to Skye or Knoydart?..

I am planning a trip North of the border for the first time and have decided to either go to Skye and or Knoydart. Has anyone been ? and could you give any reccomendations as to good routes and or campsites etc. If i go into Knoydart i think i would like to walk up the Glendessarry to inverie ( over a few days) bagging a few munros on the way, the problem with this is where to leave the car, both with a view to security and, as i probably won't want to walk all the way back via the same route, are there any walkers buses or anything of that sort. If i go to Skye i would probably be looking more at day hikes returning to a campsite at night as i am on my own and don't fancy a trip home in a yellow helicopter but again any reccomendations for both wildlife walking and photography would be much appreciated.

Thanks Stewart.....

Stewart,

What time of year are you going?

Would suggest.

On the Loch Eil Road to Mallaig road/rail get of at Glenfinnan, (either see if you can leave your car at Loch Eil Outdoor Bound Center and bus/train the last bit or leave car at pub at Glenfinnan)

Glenfinnan -> Glenfinnan Lodge ( bothy at Corryhully?)
Glenfinnan Lodge -> Strachan Barracks
Strachan Barracks -> Camursory (Bothy?),
Camursory -> Inverie
Invery -> Mallaig (by Foot ferrey, ensure it is running)
Mallaig-Train back to car at Loch Eil or Glenfinnan.

Alternative, if you are going to do the Mallaig ferry to Skye leave car at Mallaig ferry terminal and get train back to Glenfinnan to start walk.

On Skye, stay way from Glen Brittle as it will be packed in July August with people and midges ...

Would suggest (if stay is short-ish)

Staying at Camansunary Bothy, track out of Kilmarie (provisions at broadford), walking Bla Beinne, and exploring the coast around to Coruisk and the less explored side of the Black Cullin. - If you have more time then back to car and go to round to Glen Brittle for a couple of days.

Thanks Tom
I'll have a good look at those routes. I should have mentioned I am going up on the 25th or 26th of June i will be there for either 5 or 7 days before travelling back. Hoping to cram as much as possible in while i'm there. Is it viable to bivvy on top of bla bheinn in order to catch sunrise illuminating the Black cullins?.

Yes, you can Bivi, there is reasonable shelter under a load of stones, it is about 4 hours up, good views of the ridge to the SW so sunrise could be good. Walk is on a lot of rock so if wet take care and keep the camera well up you back if in a ruckscak ( definately not in the base compartment)

You should be able to fit both into a 7 dayer, 5 days would be tight (simply because of boat crossings)

T

Hi Stewart,

The above was taken of the Cuillin from the Glen Brittle road as a snap shot after climbing the Inn Pinn last June. Not great, but it shows the potential on a fine June evening.

A couple of years ago I took a group of people down the road adjacent to Lock Arkaig in Knoydart to climb a couple of munros. It was February, and the opportunities to shoot red deer were the best I've ever seen. I didn't have my camera at the time, but a friends photo (taken from the minibus) shows the potential...

http://www.luhc.org.uk/photo_display.php?id=921

I like the sound of Tom's suggestion - exploring the Coruisk side of the Cuillin. Anyway, I'm sure you'll have a great trip! Take the midge repellent!

Just another thought I had today Stewart - if you're new to Skye, Gordon Stainforth's book 'The Cuillin' is full of shots taken over a year, and has a really useful section about traversing the ridge.

HTH

Thanks Pete

Nice shot by the way

Stewart.....