A trip to Edinburgh had lost us one trip so it was four weeks
since the Strontian walk. After a week of very hot weather
we got an overcast morning with a few spots of rain at the
beginning - at least it wasn't too hot. Only three explorers
came: Amy, David John and Robert.
First we drove to the top of the causeway road and took a
short walk to the corn kiln at Kylesmore while we waited to
see if anyone else would meet us. Coming back we unlocked
the gate and drove down to the shore where we left the car
and walked along the beach. Amy drew everyone's attention
to a zone by the sea where the beach was hissing and bubbles
were coming out.
About a hundred metres further on we reached the old lead
mine, which John and the boys were able to get well into,
since the dry weather had reduced its water level.
Continuing along the shore we found a strange little stone
house with a screen wall preventing light from the doorway
being seen to the east. John thought this could have been
an old house used by a smuggler.
A little further on we came to the Customs Man's house at
Aultigil where everyone looked at the fireplaces and John
told them how the place was built where it could be overlooked
by a local man on Shona Bheag who would signal his friends
when the Inspector went out.
After a short rest we continued along the cliff path and climbed
the stile to reach the house once occupied by the MacDougal
brothers. After another rest we continued to look at the old
graveyard at Egnaig with its small children's graves and then
we went on into the village itself but we only got as far
as the big tree (which the three explorers could just reach
round). Everyone was getting a bit tired by this time and
we headed back to the car in easy stages once more.John Dye
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