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Multi-day possibilities include camping at the old bothy at Culra, or a station-to-station trip from Rannoch to Corrour as described in Classic Walks. The Rum Cuillin provide one of the finest but most demanding hill circuits in all Scotland; an unsurpassed combination of mountain and sea with unforgettable views. The route is extremely arduous; whilst the scrambling is mostly straightforward, careful route finding is essential - the route is also very committing with few escape options. It covers the 5 major summits on Rum, including 2 Corbetts and a Fiona. Terrain 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.
While planning my short visit to Rum I spent a good amount of time poring over my trusty OS Map (which proved invaluable during my visit – get your map here) and eventually decided on an itinerary I could comfortably fit into six hours. 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 modern hip flask has come a long way from the traditional bladderskin. Our ancestors knew a thing or two about concealing alcohol; illicit distilleries were rife in the Highlands during the 18th century, with “bladdermen” distributing coveted whisky to throughout remote villages and glens via an animal skin flask concealed in their britches. 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.So being on Rum and also seeing some of the more distant isles from various advantage points over the weekend was kind of cool. I think that was why the brash Harris mausoleum annoyed me, it cut through my romanticised revelries of celtic ancestry 🙂 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.
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. Stunning. Absolutely stunning. The island of Rum easily rivals its famous neighbour Skye for scenery, yet it’s much quieter and has a real off-the-grid atmosphere. If you really want to get away from crowds of tourists, a visit to Rum should be at the top of your list of places to go. Rum National Nature Reserve: The entire reserve is a paradise for nature lovers. It covers most of the island and is home to a vast range of wildlife from rare plants to otters, as well as red deer which are the focus of the world’s longest-running scientific study.Note: This is a demanding route, in one of Britain's most hostile environments. Deteriorating weather conditions can be seriously compromising on the summit plateau where expert navigational skills are essential. Ben Macdui is surrounded by very steep ground to the W and to the E the vertical cliffs of Coire Sputan Dearg need to be avoided on the descent. In winter, blizzards, white-outs and gale-force winds can make the summit very hazardous. These are obviously non mountaineering grade descriptions I’m using. If you read this blog you’ll know I’m not a seasoned / technical mountaineer. 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. The route took us essentially south-east to north-west of the island and across a few rivers (burns). There was quite a bit of rough moorland (which I felt at home on) and some steep cliffs that the path shadowed in places.
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