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On the edge of Cullipool there is Luing’s one and only shop – a very handy post office and general stores. The current owners are keen to sell at the moment – as a going concern so if you fancy having a shop here, it is on the market. We had need for very little, but we bought stamps and also a couple of souvenir postcards.
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The one on the left is clear enough. It is Toberonochy, a place we had yet to visit. On the right is the old mill at Achafolla, right in the middle of the island. Also unseen by us and that remained so, even though we must have gone past it.
We left the Cullipool area and headed over to the east coast at Ardinamir bay. Our book of Scottish Islands had tales to tell of this place. So thanks to Hamish Haswell Smith, the author for this little snippet that encouraged us to the bay. Here’s one of the things he wrote.
Until 1991 its popularity owed much to Irene McLachlin who lived alone in her croft beside it -with her cat. McElvie. She kept the leading mark freshly painted and should a yachtsman hit a rock she would offer friendly advice in a voice which could be heard on the mainland. As an honorary member of the Clyde Cruising Club she had a register of every visiting yacht since the 1940s and prided herself on never forgetting a name. Irene spent many happy hours sitting at the open window admiring the West Coast Drizzle. McElvie. a very big cat with pink eyes. always occupied the single armchair.
Well,
one had to go and feel the presence of McElvie, the big cat with pink eyes
occupying the arm chair.
This is the safe anchorage for yachts at Ardinamir and across the bay is the tidal island of Torsa. It was low tide so we could have walked there. You can see the one house on the island whose population count in the 220 of Luing. We saw a family walking on that side so one assumes they were the occupants. Zooming in, we rather think there may be two houses now. So maybe the Torsa population has increased.
Here we look out through the narrow opening. Hamish Haswell Smith – clearly a yachtsman – comments on the difficulty of the entrance. And this must have been the view seen by Irene McClachlin for the mist covered hill is the mainland of Scotland.
This must have been her cottage on Luing
More of the view across to Torsa with the mainland beyond.
We picnicked and headed back to the middle of the island, near the fire station.
From the high point we had a good view over the fire station with Cullipool to the right and further islands off shore. The hills in the background are on Mull.
It was still cloudy, but the visibility was improving all the time.
A cairn had been built, signed by builders perhaps.
A seat at this viewpoint commemorates another MacLachlin.
We were going to head south so onward and downward.
