out and about - 2016
18 January 2016 .............. A recent trip to Oban
I recently had a trip up to Oban, and after a bitterly cold night, and shortly after sunrise, I walked up to the radio tower on Drum Mor - the very cold air was very clear and gave great visibility in every direction.
This is looking across Kerrera to the north end of Mull, with the snow covered mountains catching the low angle sun.
Looking northwards across Oban Bay and the top end of Kerrera towards Morvern - actually more accurately, it is Kingairloch - and the two Corbetts Fuar Bheinn and Creach Bheinn.
Ben Cruachan was looking magnificent with its covering of snow. I am not sure, but I think that beyond it you are seeing Ben Lui.
Looking across to the boatyard / marina on Kerrera.
Another view of Kerrera and the mountains on Mull, this time with the lone tree that grows on the hill - it is amazing it survives there.
Looking over the top of Oban, with odd bits of it highlighted by the low angle sun.
Just as I was about to go back down, a Cal Mac ferry came out of Oban - not sure where it is going - maybe Mull, maybe Coll and Tiree, maybe Barra, or maybe Colonsay - Oban is a big hub for Cal Mac ferries, a lot of islands are serviced from Oban.
If you are ever boating in Oban Bay it is essential to know that the normal rules of rights of way don`t apply in Oban Bay. In Oban Bay, Cal Mac ferries have the absolute right of way over all other boats - including kayaks and sailing boats.
Cal Mac ferries have very loud horns !!!
A couple of days later, and another cold but clear day with good visibility - and this time I am at Ganavan.
I love Ganavan, it has the most amazing views of the Firth of Lorne, Mull, the Sound of Mull, Lismore, and Kingairloch. This is looking across to the north end of Mull.
Up on the hill just to the north of Ganavan, and even more fabulous views - this is looking roughly south past Kerrera and Oban Bay, and down to one of the many headlands that live down the east side of Mull.
I had hoped to spend an hour or two walking up over the line of hills between Ganavan and Dunstaffnage, however the ground was so wet that within a very short time my boots were getting so wet it just wasn`t worth going on.
So I headed back to Oban, it was a shame because it was just beautiful up there.
I headed back up to the radio tower where I knew it would be dry underfoot - it was dry - but it was a sheet of ice most of the way up the track. The ice wasn`t there on my last trip up to the radio tower, so there must have been some rain or sleet falling in the days inbetween my trips.
Not quite such good visibility as my last time there, but a good view across to Mull all the same - I think that it is Ben More that is hiding away in the cloud.
I first climbed Ben More in 1983, and started from the roadside beside Loch Na Keal - which is literally at sea level.
Looking up and across to Kingairloch again, and the two Corbetts are clear of the cloud.
Time to say goodbye to Oban, and just as I was leaving, a bit of a good sunset appeared across Oban Bay.
website design by ron-t
website hosting by freevirtualservers.com
© 2024 Ron Turner
