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Tributes have poured in for three young athletes who lost their lives on the A830 on August 28th. Emergency services were called to the scene-a long swooping bend outside Arisaig-at around 11:15pm, where the white Ford Fiesta the boys were travelling in had left the road.
Jordan Cameron, Lewis Knox and Fergus Ward were all confirmed dead at the scene.
All three were talented sportsmen, with Jordan playing for Fort William FC's title-winning Under-18 side last season, and Lewis and Fergus both key members of Fort William Shinty Club's Under-17 squad. Both teams observed a minute's silence before their games on Saturday 30th August.
In a Facebook post, Fort William FC described Jordan as a "terrific footballer" and "a major part of the team", popular with both teammates and coaches. "The outpouring of love and support from the local community to the boys' friends and families has been nothing short of outstanding, and shows how amazing this town is when we all come together," the Club wrote. "The boys were hugely popular in the area and will be missed throughout Lochaber."
Fort William Shinty Club published a statement describing Fergus and Lewis as "an integral part of the current u17s squad", having developed with the club through the youth ranks, adding: "Both boys have deep family connections to the club… The boys will be greatly missed by their families, friends and the wider community. May they rest in peace."
Scott Steele, Head Teacher of Lochaber High School, where the teens were all former pupils, laid flowers at the makeshift memorial, created by the boys' friends, on the fencing next to Lochaber Leisure Centre. In a message sent out to pupils and staff, he wrote:
"No words can express our shock and grief, and my heart bleeds for their families, friends… Moments like this can feel overwhelming, and it is natural for young people to respond in many different ways. Please remember that no one has to go through this alone. Our Guidance team will be the first point of contact for pupils who may need someone to talk to, and they are here to listen with care and kindness. They can also help guide families towards additional support where needed."
Friends, family, teammates and members of the devastated wider community came together to remember the boys at a vigil on Thursday 11th September.
An inquiry into what caused the crash is still ongoing, and Police Scotland are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the accident, have information about what may have caused it, or have any dash cam footage taken nearby around the time it occurred to please get in touch, if they have not already done so.
Photo by Valerie Steele
Hello! (finally...)
West Word is heading to print five days late this month after a challenging few weeks on my end. It's a one (wo)man show over here, so when there are problems with chronic Internet blackouts, or transport, or family health (or all three simultaneously), then unfortunately there's zero slack in the system. Add printer errors!
I've been working around the clock to get this issue out, so I hope you can forgive it being a few days beyond schedule.
Many thanks to Carol for taxi-ing me around with the shop deliveries, and to Taz and Jules for late night mailbag pick up/early morning drop off at Arisaig Post Office!
Fun things to read this month: Meet the candidates standing in the upcoming by-election, as well as the fresh faces at our local primary schools; Storm Floris tales from around the region (and THAT lifeboat escapade); full breakdown of August's Mallaig and Morar Highland Games results; plus Henrik Chart invites us to get into the spooky spirit as he investigates the mystery of Loch Morar's Morag...
Ceri Perkins
editor@westword.org.uk
Morar Station Building, Morar PH40 4PB
As always, the Knoydart Games were held on the first Saturday in August-a fun day out for the whole family. The winner of the 2025 hill race was Ruaridh Oliver-Jones with a time of 18:53, closely followed by Joseph Shaw 19:07, Lee Craigie 21.55 - River, Seana Forbes 22:43, Aniol Puigdefabregas 23:14, George Forbes 24:16, Hugo Martin and Alistair Davis 25:14 -River and (excuse the possible wrong name due to me not being able to read the signature) Florian 27:04 -River.
Meanwhile, Knarkrun, Knoydart's Parkrun had its 6-month anniversary. If you fancy joining the team for a run, walk or jog, they meet every Saturday 9:30am at the Table.
Storm Floris had a few trees down blocking roads but thanks to Knoydart Forest Trust, it was really only a few hours of disruption.
On Saturday 9th August the local community took part in a global march to support suffering in Palestine… 29 members of the community were present from some of our oldest to some of our youngest. It was uplifting to see so many members of the community come together and, although we have a small population, we really believe in the power of all communities to effect change.
As larger marches across every city face resistance to our right to protest. It is our belief that collective action in smaller communities can be extremely impactful. The Isle of Eigg Community and Local Shop have recently announced a boycott of the purchase of Israeli products. After the march on Saturday we arrived at Long Beach where we discussed Knoydart potentially taking part in a similar boycott, either as individuals or as a community. In this context it would mean not buying or selling goods that are produced in, or have involvement with, governments that are violating human rights.
Alistair Bamforth, Connectedness: this new exhibition in the Hall celebrates 25 years of community ownership and looked at some of the wider issues in land ownership in Scotland. There was a combination of paintings, woodcuts, sculpture, film and two books of Knoydart reflecting the history of the place as well as screen prints of 18 photographs taken by local people. Live music was provided by Iona Lane and Terra Burgoyne.
There was also a visit and a talk with Amanda MacDonald Reid, a descendant of the MacDonalds that left Knoydart in a community of 560 people in 1786 and sailed to Canada on the Ship MacDonald. A really interesting evening of a family reconnecting with their Knoydart roots.
We have a few changes this year in Inverie Primary: Kai and Kodi join Primary 1 and Rossa begins Mallaig High. Good luck to all the pupils and teachers going back. Inverie primary currently has 8 pupils and with three lots of exciting pregnancy announcements, it looks like the future of Inverie primary is secure.
Good luck too to Harry who's off to university in Edinburgh in September. Costi the ranger is also heading off to study at Falmouth and Jamie is returning to uni in London after the summer at The Tearoom. We'll miss you all!
Also hitting the road, is David Matthews MBE, off on another epic charity walk for The Samaritans. Again, David will walk 6,100 miles and visit over 200 of the charity's branches in the UK and Ireland, which will take just over a year to complete. He hopes to raise awareness of the Samaritans and suicide prevention, as well as raising vital funds to help keep the phone lines open. David sets off on his journey from his home in Knoydart on 9th September and will briefly be in Mallaig before starting his walk on Skye as he heads to the first branch in Stornoway. It will take around 7 days for him to walk to Lewis. We wish him all the best and you can follow his journey on www.thelisteningwalk.com.
We're excited for a weekend of events to celebrate Pride on Knoydart with a programme of events, Friday 12th-Sunday 14th September. Check out https://linktr.ee/knoydartpride for exact times and details. The main event is the march on Saturday afternoon and it ties in with ferries if you'd like to join us. Of course there'll be a big party in the Old Forge on Saturday night, so maybe you should make a weekend out of it-you won't regret it!
Cheers for now,
Isla Miller
August was a funny old month on Canna. It promised to be the stuff of Summer dreams, but in the end the theme seemed to be taken straight out of the SAS Handbook: "Improvise. Adapt. Overcome". Something we manage to do very well in Canna if we have to. The name on everyone's lips: Storm Floris. For more on that, see pages 20-21. Not gonna lie, I could feel my eye twitching on a number of occasions as plans went awry, things had to be changed at the last minute, and the weather simply was not playing ball. Let's throw a ferry breakdown into the mix, just for good measure.
Rona and Tom got their Blackening, which, for those who don't know, is where a couple about to be married are doused in all manner of sticky or disgusting things ahead of their wedding! I think its early roots are to do with the couple having a ritual cleanse before they tie the knot; in the past, their hands and feet would be blackened-with soot presumably-before being cleansed. Now it's just a fun thing for the community to do. I've heard first hand from folk on Skye that they use old fish guts and other nasty things, but we opted for sweet treats for our two lovebirds: a mix of hot chocolate, honey, marshmallows, eggs and flour. They both took it with grace and resigned themselves to their fate!
The much-anticipated Small Isles Games was hosted on Canna on the 9th August. And in an unexpected turn of events, Canna won by a landslide! The absence of other small islanders due to severe weather might have had something to do with our historic victory… Plans for the Games took three adaptations, depending on what the latest weather was doing and what the ferry was doing. Eventually we settled on some games for those on-island already in the afternoon.
Highlights included the welly wanging, which ended with not one but two wellies on the roof of the new Lambing Shed and one very sorry visitor begging Gerry's forgiveness. Nathan won the shot put with a distance of 27.5ft. Tossing the caber was tried by a few with varied success, with one competitor slamming it so hard into the ground that the caber actually cracked and broke. We don't do things by halves here! The Tattie and Spoon race was won by a very competitive Caroline who, let's face it, loves anything to do with potatoes, even races. We also had some fun indoor games including Lobster Ring Throw, Lasso a Highland Cow and a Canna Treasure Map.
After the games, we had a BBQ in the big barn with Dod doing his usual sterling cooking effort.
The boat eventually arrived at 5.40pm with two very important sets of visitors… the ceilidh band and the wedding celebrant... all from Eigg! Phew!
Everyone trooped up to Tighard Guest House where the front lawn had been decorated with an aisle made of logs and a flower stand covered in the island's flowers. Balloons surrounded the front door and inside the bridal party were making last minute preparations. The clouds parted, the evening sun shone through and Murdo walked Rona down the aisle. Tom and Rona exchanged their vows in front of the residents and assembled games visitors. The ceremony was brief but incredibly beautiful with the bride and groom walking back up the aisle under a shower of hydrangea flower confetti. Everyone enjoyed a glass of fizz and some cake before Davy piped everyone down the hill to the Shearing Shed for the ceilidh.
Eigg Ceilidh Band, as ever, played a brilliant ceilidh and although we were small in number, we still had a good party. Our newly formed temporary One-Eyed Sheep Bar in the stable gave everyone a chance to chat, drink and catch up with friends. A brilliant day and night with everyone in good heart! Thanks to Ross, Gabe and Yogi for coming to play for us!
The rest of the month flew by in a blur of celebration and visitors, gazing up at the Perseid Meteor Shower, cataloguing the plant collection at Canna House, and harvesting the first veggies.
And so came the end of August. What a summer it's been with all our events both professionally and personally. We've managed a couple of residents' beach parties this summer; we had hoped for more but the weather gods didn't agree. I think we have all entered September looking to chill out a bit, relax into social endeavours, soak up the last of the Summer sun, and begin our preparations for the winter. Well done everybody!
Margaret Willington, with Vicki Cridland
August was a full month. The weather was mixed: blazing sunshine, heavy rain and that big blowy day when all the trees fell down-more on that on Pages 20-21. The ferry has broken down, an issue with its propulsion, which is pretty major. It was due to go away for its annual service at the end of the month anyway, so this had to be brought forward; no Lochnevis until the end of September. We have the reliable as ever MV Bhrusda for freight and vehicles and MV Larven from Western Isles for passengers. The staff at the Calmac office are doing a sterling job managing all the disruptions and we were delighted to hear that there will be an additional ferry berth in the outer harbour basin in Mallaig, which may free up time on the linkspan and provide a tiny bit of flexibility for future timetables, but who knows?
It was unfortunate that none of us could get to the Small Isles Games on Canna this year. The weather was poor and the ferry timetable, specifically amended to get all the islanders there, was sadly disrupted meaning none of us could get there. Maybe Canna will do 2.0 next year and give it another shot? We certainly missed the fun and getting together with our friends from other islands, sometimes the games is the only chance we get to catch up with them!
August is back to school time; Rum primary's complement is still six with new addition Edwin moving from Nursery to P1. At Mallaig High School, Rum has three pupils, with Eve, Ashton and Aisling leaving at the end of last term. Eve is away to Edinburgh University next month to start a degree in Biomedical sciences; Aisling is moving into the creative sphere and hairdressing, and Ashton is taking a year out to work before he starts uni next September. Congrats to all three!!
In NNR news, the reserve team plus volunteers have been busy removing redundant fencing from the woodland block in Glen Guirdil, they got rained off and midged off a few times bit the work is nearly complete. The old fencing has been bundled up ready to be airlifted out by helicopter. As the MBA have been doing work on the lovely Guirdil bothy, they'll share the helicopter lifts with the removal of old roofing material. Red throated diver and Manx Shearwater monitoring continues, and early indications are that both species have had a successful breeding season.
Stalking season has begun, the hum of Colin MacEwan's boat can be heard on a regular basis dropping off stalkers from Muck. Also being heard are the stags, roaring. Already. Which is early, and potentially a sign of an early rut, more effects of climate change I wonder.
In dark sky news, we are now back in astronomical darkness which means that the sun is more than 18 degrees below the horizon, making the sky dark enough for astronomical observations without interference from sunlight. Regular sky monitoring will resume and we're working towards setting up a dedicated dark sky sanctuary group and a dark sky festival in February. Despite the lack of dark during the summer, we are still getting visitors inspired by our dark skies coming to visit, we had a writer recently all the way from New York, she might come back to do some dark sky related writing workshops during our festival.
The brambles are out, also seemingly a bit earlier than usual, so it's jam and crumble season for a while-and a countdown to when Colin's notorious bramble whisky is ready.
Fliss Fraser
August was a busy month on Eigg. Lots of family and friends coming up, including a whole wedding party and a record number of French people, owing to a couple of documentaries about Eigg that aired on French TV-the latest actually shown as part of the evening news!
We have also seen quite a few folks from the Canadian diaspora, and it was really interesting to find out that one family descended from an islander press-ganged into the British colonial wars in the early 19th Century, who settled in Nova Scotia as a result of a prisoner's exchange! It certainly would be great to have one place on the island where such visitors can find out more about Eigg's emigration history, as they seem to arrive without much of a clue about where to discover the information they are seeking… Hopefully, should Solas Eige's revised application to the Scottish Land Fund for St Columba's Church make it this time round, this could become a reality!
In the meantime, Solas Eige and the Eigg History society joined forces to raise funds with a successful afternoon fair at the Hall, which also featured wildlife activities around moths and butterflies, with a good selection of live moths from the SWT moth traps. The screening of the selection of archive photos showing the lives of Eigg crofting people between 1930 and 1960 also proved very popular, linking to this year's exhibition in St Columba's Church, which is all about the island crofting landscape and has been well attended so far!
Weather being mostly good and at times really hot made everybody happy, with a record number of swimming, kayaking and snorkelling activities! The three resident Minke whales feeding off Maxwell Bank surrounded by leaping dolphins, rafts of shearwaters and diving gannets were a big win with our visitors travelling on the Sheerwater, their eyes shining with excitement as they recall those wonderful sights on arrival!
However, a big disappointment for all of us was the wild weather from storm Floris which scuppered islanders' plans to attend this year's Small Isles games on Canna. A few Eigg folks managed to make it for the evening ceilidh which they really enjoyed, but the chaos ensuing from travel plan disruption on a changeover day meant that many simply had to stay behind to accommodate distraught holidaymakers unable to find a place to stay anywhere on the mainland from Mallaig to Fort-William! It was especially frustrating, as a lot of work had been done with Calmac through the Community Council, to ensure the timetable changes allowed all the Small Isles residents to attend. We were all so much looking to repeating the wonderful experience we had on Canna last time around, and the whole island was ready to shut down and move to Canna for the weekend! Better luck next time, hopefully.
Otherwise, steady progress is being made on the re-roofing of Sandavore Farm and the Grianan twin houses development now have roofs and windows and are well on course for a December finishing date. School is re-opening with a new Primary 1 pupil, whilst the nursery is now closed until the one island toddler is ready to attend. And the Highland Mobile Cinema was back on Eigg for a wonderful weekend of films which delighted young and old: great to see it back in action!
Sadly, the end of the month saw more ferry disruption owing to our aging Lochnevis suffering propulsion troubles, warranting an early start to the annual changes brought by the normal refit schedule in September. Travel disruption had a serious impact on everyone, including island businesses, and we have to give sincere thanks to the Mallaig port team who did all they could to try to deal with the situation: not an easy task!
Camille Dressler
Hello Muck (finally) Calling... apologies for missing last month's deadline (first time). It was a complete blur of a period where I was spread so thin I was practically transparent. So much happening-or not, as the case may be-with our 'Lifeline' partners...
Where to begin… Co-op I guess: first there was the turning off of the online portal, so we couldn't order with our efficient 'gonna be lot better than phoning' system; then orders being cancelled whilst they became weather forecasters and made decisions not to pick and deliver, even though it makes sense to do so to ensure it was in place for next sailing, and to crown it all, Mallaig's Internet got Gremlins.
Once that settled down, then came actual ferry cancellations due to Floris, then by Lochnevis being withdrawn only for initial crisis plan to leave us hanging literally swinging in the wind.
On that note, Storm Floris passed without any real incident... we're fast learners after last year, and the only real damage was to an un-battened window... ironic really as it was a Mowi house. The only other real loses were loose debris, bags and lids... I'm sure we'll find them or have them reported as being on Eigg.
Operation Lamb Run was completed in a relatively uneventful manner over two weeks, always a source of interest for our visitors as they thunder past the door and then help out on next run. When the float arrives it's always impressive to see it reverse from Port complete with trailer, then off to Dingwall for a successful sale-although is there such a thing as satisfactory outcome for a Farmer..? Calves next, which are being weened at the moment.
As for Island events, there haven't really been a lot as we seem to have collectively needed to be off the rock for various reasons more than usual… we did fit in the ever-welcome Celidh Trail, always good to see the excellent young talent that is out there, and I saw my first ever Gaelic Waltz... it looked very technical. That's right: "looked"-stripping willows and dashing Sergeants is pretty much this Astair's limit, other than the ever-embarrassing Dad Dance to the dancefloor jig.
Our day trip numbers have remained healthy and even increased with the cancellation of Calmac trips… they seem to have piled on other charters.
Well guys, that's our snippets for this Month, see you next...
Regards,
Bruce Boyd
Armadale Castle and the 20,000-acre South Sleat Estate are both under offer, after being put up for sale in the spring by current owners the Clan Donald Lands Trust. The identity/identities of the potential buyers are not yet public.
The Sleat Community Trust, which represents residents concerned about the sales' potential impact on crofting, public access and the environment, investigated the possibility of a community buyout of the Castle and its grounds, which were on the market for £2.76 million. But in the end, the Trust deemed a buyout "not viable at this stage", largely due to the additional costs of essential repairs and refurbishment that would require an estimated £4-6 million.
In a joint statement last month, Sleat Community Council and Sleat Community Trust said that they had made their feelings about the sale clear, adding: "The lack of consultation and community engagement has been frustrating, and we want this to change with new ownership."
Regional MSP for Highlands and Islands, Ariane Burgess, has called the sale a wake-up call. "In a modern Scotland, land decisions like this must be made with the community-not behind feudal closed doors," she says. "The people of Sleat deserve a say in what happens to the land they live on and care for."
Glenuig Community Inn threw open its doors on Wednesday 6th August, and invited locals, shareholders, and supporters from near and far to come in and celebrate a significant milestone in their journey to bring the much-loved Glenuig Inn into community ownership.
Visitors tucked into a spread of salmon gravadlax, handcrafted canapés and signature celebratory cocktails. Music floated through the air all afternoon, starting with the smooth sounds of West Highland Jazz. Then came the open traditional music session!
Among the crowd was Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who sat down with the Glenuig Community Inn Benefit Society committee to chat about the future of the Inn and plans for the wider area. "There was a real buzz amongst those in attendance and it was encouraging to chat with members of the GCI committee about their plans for the Inn and the wider community," says Forbes.
The event also drew local councillors Andrew Baxter, Sarah Fanet, and Kate Willis-with Sarah Fanet even picking up an instrument and joining the trad session later in the day.
Thanks to community backing, including a Scottish Land Fund grant, the funds to buy the Inn are secured. The committee is now focused on raising a final £25,000 to help cover ongoing costs, essential maintenance, and improvements to keep the Inn thriving for years to come.
"This isn't just about saving a pub," says Committee Chair Helen MacRae. "It's about building something rooted in community spirit. The atmosphere [at this event] really showed that-people coming together, celebrating what we can achieve when we all work together, and looking ahead to what we can do next."
Recently retired CalMac Captain Iain MacKenzie has been awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service, in recognition of his exceptional service to Scotland's West Coast communities.
Captain MacKenzie retired at the end of August, after 32 years of dedicated service with CalMac. Prior to retiring, he was Master of the MV Loch Nevis, which serves the Small Isles, ensuring that vital connections for communities are maintained, often in challenging weather and operational conditions.
In addition to his professional duties, Captain MacKenzie volunteered with RNLI for more than 25 years, responding to countless emergency calls and demonstrating his commitment to maritime safety.
"Serving the islands and communities has been a privilege," says Captain MacKenzie. "The
scenery is stunning, the people are amazing, but the weather can be challenging at times!"
August 4th 2025
MARGARET WILLINGTON, CANNA
Storm Floris was a bit of a surprise! I walked home for lunch and was walking practically horizontally, nearly got blown off my feet and had to hold onto the stone wall on several occasions. As I passed one house, I saw the polytunnel looking like it was making a break for freedom; thankfully the residents managed to prevent it from ending up on top of Compass Hill!
By the time I reached home, it felt like the breath had been taken out of my lungs, such was the strength of the wind. Floris roared in shortly afterwards and quite frankly the leading edge of the storm was like being stuck inside a jet engine of a 747! Forty five minutes later and the relative calm of the eye descended before the back wall came through… less wind but much more rain.
Needless to say, some of our trees came down including a great, old wind blown Elm in Canna House Garden. That was a sad loss of such a magnificent tree! Elsewhere we lost some smaller trees. We won't go short on firewood next winter, that's for sure.
RANGER TOM, CANNA
Storm Floris blew over Canna with recorded gust of 78 knots (recorded by a brave sail boat in the bay), and she made a right mess of our flora. Canna is not a stranger to high winds, but during summer when trees are full of leaves they become like sails that can take off in the wind. There was varied damage; from lost branches to about 20 whole trees down, ripped out by the root.
Nathan (Canna House Gardener) and I spent most of August cleaning up the damage to make the woodlands and paths safe again.
Downed trees on Canna - photo by Vicki Cridland
Copper beech downed on Knoydart - photo by Finlay Greig
RANGER FLINLAY, KNOYDART
We had a few trees down, including a striking old copper beech likely planted in the Victorian era. Dead trees are a key part of Scotland's woodlands and around 40% of woodland species rely on dead wood to some extent so we are leaving the fallen trees in situ where possible.
CAMILLE DRESSLER, EIGG
Storm Floris unleashed autumnal salt burn on the whole island and ruined not only our inter-island gathering plans at the Small Isles Games, but also many gardens-where tender plants turned brown, and blooms were ripped off bushes. Bracken died overnight and the cheery purple willowherbs turned into grey sad stalks. Quite a few trees lost branches, and the red fuchsia turned a sad brown all along the path of the southern wind. Not everything was ruined however, and we now look forward to a bumper harvest of plums and apples, with an abundance of apricots, peaches and grapes in the Laig polytunnel!
Eigg waves - photo by Owain Wyn-Jones
BRUCE BOYD, MUCK
Muck escaped the worst of it, and Floris passed mostly without incident... the only casualty being the un-battened window of a Mowi house.
NEIL CAMERON, ARISAIG
Autumn in August, Springtime in September! For the plants in those areas exposed to the worst of the salty blast of Storm Floris, the damage has been considerable, with the loss of at least the windward side of their foliage entirely. In the following days the leaves continued to fall amongst the dead branches and twigs and even the hardiest of west coast plants saw damage not seen in long time. But now, many are showing green once more as foliage returns, some even flowering again for a second time… Driving up the hill from Loch nan Uamh towards Beasdale, the brown and battered oak trees stand in contrast to a lonely flowering purple rhododendron beside the road.
ARISAIG MARINE, ARISAIG
Despite Arisaig's shelter from almost every wind direction, the fierce 80mph wind gusts took their toll, leaving two yachts stranded on the shore. Thanks to the dedication, skill, and resources available to us, we were able to refloat the yachts and begin clearing up the aftermath.
Mallaig sign
MOWI house on Eigg
FLISS FRASER, RUM
The day started off ordinarily enough. It didn't seem particularly windy at 8.30am, though guests at the B&B decided, quite rightly, to spend the day reading. Busying myself with the mornings tasks, I did notice it was a bit gusty at sea… it was telling watching the three yachts who had chosen to remain moored here sway from side to side dramatically, and I did wonder if one of them in particular was going to completely fall over and not right itself. Turned out the crew of at least one of them had abandoned ship and sought refuge at the bunkhouse.
It wasn't until late morning when I checked the community WhatsApp chat that I actually became aware that this was no ordinary windy day. Accosted by pictures of fallen trees all around the village, blocking roads, I ventured outside to see if anything had fallen around me. I hadn't heard any loud noises so want expecting much so got a bit of a shock to discover a huge beech tree had fallen about 2m from my shepherds hut and, beyond that, a cluster of another three big trees and fallen across the road on top of one another. Most worrying of all, a tree that can only be described as "significant" leaning on the BT phone mast, which fortunately for me, was the only thing preventing it from falling on my house. I went back inside and stayed there.
By mid-afternoon it was a lot calmer and a joint community assessment of the damage took place. All the roads were blocked by trees, the track up to the new houses, deer larder, Mowi accommodation and Lyon Cottage was blocked by several trees-and took best part of a week to clear. Both the pretty dairy woods and bluebell woods both looked like warzones, fallen hanging trees and huge branches everywhere making them impassable. Access to the shop was via a detour through Rh?s's garden, due to another dangerously hanging tree threatening to fall on Stable and Stalkers bothies. One of the biggest trees that fell-and took longest to clear-sadly fell on Jinty's caravan. Fortunately, Tam, the occupant, was out at the time, which was also down to sheer blind luck. I think this was the only major damage to buildings and structures, which seems like a remarkably lucky escape.
We thought back to the last biggest storm and we think it was in 2011, when a few trees fell. That day was more consistently windy, whereas the gusts in this storm felt a lot more prolonged. Perhaps that's what caused so many trees to fall… Certainly, Floris inflicted the most damage we have seen in the 26 years I've been here.
We started clearing up the next day. David Mackenzie worked solidly through the day chainsawing and clearing the road while others helped to move and clear smaller branches. Lesley tried to get tree surgeons over ASAP to deal with the hanging and dangerous trees, but this proved challenging with the weather, ferry cancellations and actual deck space for a vehicle. Luckily the trees didn't move for the six days it took to get them here.
The village is permanently changed. Whilst the clear up continues and there seems to be an everlasting supply of firewood, the big bases of the trees will remain upended as a monument of the day.
KEVIN MCDONELL, MALLAIG RNLI (33 years service with RNLI)
We'd watched the weather building in the Harbour all morning, and by the time the pagers went off for a yacht that was dragging its anchor at Isleornsay, some of the yachts in the Marina here were listing fairly heavily and being pushed over...
We got a crew together, and got underway into some large seas at the back of the Harbour. Luckily for us, the direction of the wind helped us in getting up to Isleornsay. But between us leaving Mallaig and when we arrived on-scene, the yacht had dragged over 1500 metres and was starting to head out into open water. At that point, even there in relatively sheltered waters, he was still probably in 2 or 2.5 metre seas.
Our fear was that if his anchor went and he drifted into deeper water, then the weather would carry him very quickly-which could easily find him getting pushed ashore elsewhere-so the decision was made to try and take him under tow. None of this was helped by the fact that the yacht's crew were French, so communication was a bit tricky! Luckily we were able to get a tow line aboard after a few tries.
Floris from Lifeboat / Mallaig RNLI
We realised then that they had dragged their anchor through a load of creel buoys and were in a tangle; we would have had to pull all of those up and it just wasn't the weather for that. We asked them to let go their anchor, so that we could get them into safer, quieter waters, where they could shelter until the weather abated. At that point, obviously, we still thought they had their engine... then they informed us that they didn't have enough fuel.
Obviously, we'd just come out of Mallaig and knew it wasn't particularly nice. We thought maybe we'd take them to Inverie or potentially Armadale. But once we started towing them south, the weather settled slightly, so we called the Harbour to check if it would be safe to bring them in the channel.
I think there was a lot of shock and nervousness [among the French crew] so we towed them right into the back of the Harbour, and then they were able to get themselves alongside the pier.
On what was a terrible day for the time of year, I can't recollect ever going out in the channel in such big seas. At the back of the lighthouse, they were probably some of the roughest seas I've seen; once we were clear of the harbour, they were comfortably four of five metres. The whole crew performed exceptionally in difficult circumstances.
[This excerpt is sourced from an interview, and has been edited for length and clarity.]
This month we welcomed Kenny Harris as our new full-time Station Mechanic. Kenny brings not only a wealth of experience and knowledge, but also a real passion for learning new skills. He's eager to get stuck into his upcoming training and looking forward to heading out on future shouts. He's equally excited to be joining the station and becoming part of the Mallaig community - so if you see him around the village be sure to say hi!
Also in August, the crew held a Vellum ceremony to recognise the retirement of Mo Mathieson, Ross Carr and Tony Skea after a combined 44 years of service.
Mo served as LOM (Lifeboat Operations Manager) for 16 years, while Ross was DLA (Deputy Launch Authority) for 15 years. Both volunteers were presented with their Vellums along with beautiful glass ornaments of the lifeboat. On the same evening, Tony Skea was presented with his Vellum in recognition of 13 years' service as full-time Station Mechanic.
It was a fantastic occasion for crew past and present, along with family members and fundraisers, to come together and celebrate.
It's an exciting time to join the Mallaig RNLI station and we are always on the lookout for new volunteers. Whether it's joining the lifeboat crew, helping with launches, raising vital funds or supporting events - there's a role for everyone. If you think you could help, pop in to see David at the station (Monday - Friday) or give us a message on Facebook for more information.
Jessica Logan
Mallaig RNLI Lifeboat crew held a Vellum ceremony at the end of August, to recognise the retirement of Mo Mathieson, Ross Carr and Tony Skea after many years of dedicated service.
Mo served as LOM (Lifeboat Operations Manager) for 16 years, while Ross was DLA (Deputy Launch Authority) for 15 years. Both volunteers were presented with their Vellums along with beautiful glass ornaments of the lifeboat. On the same evening, Tony Skea was presented with his Vellum in recognition of 13 years' service as a full-time Station Mechanic. It was a fantastic occasion for crew past and present, along with family members and fundraisers to come together and celebrate.
1st August 2025
At 5.05pm, the Mallaig RNLI crew were tasked by HM Coastguard to respond to an ongoing incident involving the Tobermory RNLI lifeboat and Rescue 151 HM Coastguard helicopter in Arisaig. Reports suggested an alert had been received from a VHF radio, however, the crew were stood down when it was discovered the radio was faulty.
4th August 2025
As Storm Floris was taking hold, the pagers sounded at 11.49am with news from the HM Coastguard that a yacht was dragging its anchor at Isleornsay. With three persons aboard, the boat was drifting out into treacherous deeper water, facing gusts of up to F11. The yacht buoyed their anchor, likely fouled on creels, and a tow was established. The casualty vessel was taken to Loch Hourn to seek shelter and reassess, where it became clear that the yacht was unable to deploy its secondary anchor. The lifeboat then towed the vessel back to Mallaig, a passage that took several hours in the poor conditions. On arrival at the harbour, the yacht was able to start its engines and make their own way to safely tie up alongside other vessels on the pier. The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 5.10pm (but thankfully that was the last shout during the storm!).
12th August 2025
At 6.24pm, the Mallaig all-weather lifeboat was launched to assist a casualty who had sustained multiple injuries after falling from Armadale pier. Working alongside HM Coastguard and the Scottish Ambulance Service, the crew were able to carefully raise the casualty back up on to the pier and into an ambulance stretcher. Paramedics on Skye then took over responsibility for the casualty's care and the lifeboat was stood down. The crew continued with their planned evening exercise before returning to station.
16th August 2025
At 7.43pm, HM Coastguard requested assistance of the Mallaig crew for an injured casualty aboard a yacht near the Isle of Rum. The lifeboat made best speed across the 14 mile stretch of water to Loch Scresort, where the yacht was located. Two medically trained crew members boarded to assess the casualty, who had sustained a severe injury in a fall and was in considerable pain. The crew administered pain relief and made the casualty as comfortable as possible before transferring them to the lifeboat. They all then returned to Mallaig, where the Scottish Ambulance Service was waiting to provide onward care and transport the casualty to hospital. The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 9.51pm.
Most of you will have seen the announcement from Transport Scotland this month that we have been awarded the funding for the overnight ferry berth. The contract has been awarded to RJ MacLeod through the SCAPE framework, who would like to be on-site as soon as possible, so that the works can be completed while the ferries are on their winter timetable, minimising disruption. At the moment, we are hoping to start the works on 22nd September, but this might be subject to change. Inevitably, there will be some upheaval, and the works and the compound required for the contractors will mean that we are even more tight for space around the Harbour than normal for a few months. It will be great to see the works finally done, and will certainly make life a lot simpler in the Outer Harbour going forward, so hopefully Harbour users can put up with the disruption for a few months.
The announcement was made by Fiona Hyslop when she visited the Harbour on Wednesday 13th August. This coincided with me being on annual leave, so the eagle-eyed among you will notice that I am not in the photos! The plan shows where the works will take place, and we'll have more information about the start date next month.
The works will require a bit of juggling of berths in the Outer Harbour, especially while the summer timetable is still in place (until mid-October) and the Loch Fyne and the Loch Bhrusda are still on service. It felt like we just got back on track this month with the ferries that should have been running on each of the routes, and then the Lochnevis went out of service due to mechanical issues. While this will give us an extra berth to play with if she is not back on service when the works start, it does mean a lot of disruption for the Small Isles. The Lochnevis was due to go for planned maintenance in September but the enforced early start to this left the islands with a much reduced service for a few days.
The other big news this month was the arrival of Miss Marley for Milligan Transport Limited on 15th August. Built by Ardmaleish Boatyard on Bute, and named after Jamie Milligan's daughter, Miss Marley joins the Spanish John and Lyrawa Bay to provide freight services from Mallaig.
Miss Marley / Milligan Transport
August 4th saw the worst summer storm for many years. We were fortunate in the Harbour that the only 'casualty' was a French yacht, Aquarius, which had been moored at Isleornsay but had broken its mooring and dragged its anchor-meaning it had to be rescued by the RNLI Lifeboat. Some of you may have seen the videos of the Lifeboat leaving the Harbour, which were shared on Facebook locally, or the video of the rescue taken from on board the Lifeboat itself. We could hear the distress calls on the VHF in the office, and were watching the yachts on moorings in our own marina rolling, so we could understand the panic of the French crew. However, I did have my own moment of panic watching the boat leaving the Harbour after I had gone home to collect my son so he could go and crew the Lifeboat with his father!
The busy season at the Marina has continued, with 496 overnight stays in July, up around 30 on last year. Summer has passed quickly, and Provident has already left for the season, while Eda Frandsen sailed off on 6th September, heading south to Oban initially, before the onward journey to Falmouth. This coincided with our Marina Fun Day, which had been postponed from earlier in the season. We'll have a full round up of the day for next month's West Word.
As West Word goes to press, we are also hosting the naming ceremony for the FSV Scotia, on 10th September, so again, you will have to wait for next month for a full report from this. The introduction of the FSV Scotia has allowed the Harvest Station to have a period of shut-down this month, allowing for deep cleaning and maintenance to be undertaken. The volume of fish being harvested through Mallaig has remained high, it has just been done in a different way. We have also had a busy period in terms of fish feed, with over 4,700 tonnes of feed being shipped through the Feed Shed in July. This is the largest monthly volume shipped since 2019, when the Aqua Senior did most of the deliveries, supplemented by various Ferguson Shipping vessels.
We are glad to report this month that the scaffolding is finally down and the solar panels on the feed shed are operational. We have to thank Ian Bolas of Hebnet, who has stepped in and provided internet connectivity at both the feed shed and power house, so that we are able to monitor electricity production and usage.
Jacqueline McDonell
01687 462154
Hello, it's me again!
True to form, and with apologies to the West Word team, it really is a through-the-night session ahead of me before turning over the rail-related calendars. My time management has gone AWOL this past month. I guess if you want a job doing, then ask a busy person!!
The final week of August was a busy time on the line! Between every scheduled ScotRail and Jacobite train, no sooner had a section of track become available, then the space was taken up by "The Team" from Network Rail making extensive use of road-rail vehicles making sure that the lines are now clear and safe for traffic. The storm of a month ago certainly left its mark in its wake.
This occupation of the line was totally required, and indeed it caught out many a trespasser-whether at gated crossings or hiding in the track-side to take photographs (yes, really!); people nipping along the line to go fishing; or taking a shortcut (could be their last!)... The pressure these actions put on the train drivers is unconscionable, as well as completely illegal.
Speaking of which, I witnessed two travellers on foot outside Mallaig station, pretending to use the zebra crossing. When any car slowed down, they would open the passenger door to ask for a lift! Scary for the drivers, who naturally did not give them one until finally, after about ten requests, someone did. Talk about "off the rails"!
Gosh, how time flies...
The afternoon Jacobite service ends for the season on Friday, 26th September, after an eventful season where no two weeks have been the same. In early summer, West Coast Rail Company had had to contend with fire restrictions either outright prohibiting the steam engine, or forcing them to use low-steam with diesel on the rear-all of which involved different shunting arrangements at Mallaig. For the last two weeks of August, the Jacobite service was again diesel-only, this time because the locomotive 'Black 5' had to be returned to Carnforth to address issues with "leaking tubes". And to top it all, there were the times (three in total!) where the swing bridge firmly refusing to re-site itself after letting boats through.
Of course, these challenges had a knock-on effect on coaches waiting to pick up their guests and transport them to their hotels for the night-which are sometimes up to three hours away. How our restaurants in Mallaig have coped while not knowing where any train is, I do not know! It becomes a logistical nightmare.
One Sunday in August, we had a ScotRail train and the afternoon Jacobite train, both held in Mallaig at the same time because the morning Jacobite on its return journey to Fort William was held at Glenfinnan for three hours. Again, the issue of no passing loops is to blame. It only takes one issue in the system, to throw all else off. The afternoon Jacobite made it to Mallaig eventually, but only to discharge its long-stay guests while shunting the locomotive to reload and depart (and thus allowing the waiting, incoming ScotRail train to do the same). We desperately need platform extensions and passing loops for smoother journeys.
The Mallaig extension has never been more popular, but it will need the best endeavours of all of us-its stakeholders and supporters-to ensure that the magic is protected and nurtured for future generations of railway fans. For nearly five years now, the Friends of the West Highland Lines community group has been lobbying UNESCO for 'World Heritage Site' status under plans drawn up by them.
Peak rail fares axed
As of September 1st, peak train fares have been abolished across Scotland in a bid from the Scottish government to encourage more people to use ScotRail trains. The previous tiered ticketing system has often caught out travellers at peak times having to pay more. First Minister John Swinney made the announcement on social media, saying: "We're scrapping peak rail fares in Scotland for good. Under the SNP, public ownership of rail means fairer prices, making travel cheaper."
Of course, in Mallaig, we have never had peak rail fares as all but one of our trains depart outside of peak fare times. However, because of how many people read this outside of our area, it is very good news. For example, before today, a peak-time journey from Inverness to Aberdeen cost £72.10. Now it will be £39.10-a saving of 46 percent!-ideal for off-shore workers from here who bus to Inverness.
Hogwarts filming news
Following in the footsteps of ex GWR No.5972 Olton Hall, which was used exclusively in the Harry Potter films of the early 2000s, another 'Hall' locomotive has been selected for the follow-up television adaptation.
BR(W) No.6989 Wightwick Hall, currently on long-term loan to the Bluebell Railway, has been chosen for a new HBO TV series of JK Rowling's books.
This means that both the original and modified "Halls" have officially been cast as the 'Hogwarts Express' on screen. The series is expected to be broadcast next year on Netflix.
Queen Street station expansion plans
A proposal to expand Glasgow Queen Street station has been unveiled by Network Rail. Land next to the station that is currently vacant would be turned into commercial office space incorporating a new station entrance from North Hanover Street and extra room for shops inside the station itself. Network Rail said that the plan would make it easier to go from the station to the new-look George Square, currently being developed. A public consultation event will be held in the autumn to provide information about the proposal and invite comments from the local community and the travelling public. In principle, it would get my vote!
See you on the train,
Sonia Cameron
Mallaig FC took a convincing leap on their way to securing the WHAFA William Wilson League title on Friday 22nd August, by defeating Fort William FC by 7 goals to 1 in the penultimate league match of the 2025 season. As the scoreline would suggest, Mallaig FC ran out easy winners in the match played at Lochaber High School Park.
Mallaig goalscorers were Aaron Macbeth (3), Andrew Sneddon (2), Aaron McLean and Michael Doherty.
The team went on to be crowned League champions after playing out a 3-3 draw with Sleat & Strath FC in the final league match of the season, played at MacKinnon Park, Broadford on Saturday 6th September. Going into the match, Mallaig held a one point lead, meaning that either a victory or a draw in the final match of the 2025 League Campaign would suffice-and in a nerve shredding 90-minutes they got the point they required.
Goalkeeper Andrew Baker played his part by saving a penalty, and Mallaig's goalscorers were Michael Doherty (2) and Sam MacKenzie. Mallaig FC are once again League Champions-for the fourth time in the past seven years. Well done Mallaig FC!
Ross Cup
Due to ongoing maintenance work at the Mallaig Playing Field, the semi-final of the Ross Cup, between Mallaig FC and NW Skye FC took place at Lochaber High School Park, on Saturday 30th August. Prior to kick-off, a minute's silence was observed in memory of the three teenage boys from Fort William who tragically lost their lives earlier in the week.
Mallaig FC proved too strong for NW Skye FC and ran out convincing 4-1 victors to reach the final-where they will face Sleat & Strath FC on Saturday September 13th.
Goalscorers for Mallaig were Sam MacKenzie (2), Aaron MacBeth and Andrew Sneddon.
Your 2025 William Wilson League Champions: Mallaig FC!!
July saw a visit to Mallaig and Morar by members of Edinburgh's Flagstone Theatre, seeking anecdotes about Loch Morar's monster of legend, 'Morag', for their upcoming theatrical production Beastie. This event reawakened local interest in Loch Morar and its legendary 'monster', which has been a source of intrigue and fascinating stories for centuries...
Historically, there have been many reported sightings of an aquatic creature, and there are locals who claim to have seen Morag in more recent times too. Clear images of 'her' seem not to exist but the general consensus suggests she is some 9 metres long, dark brown in colour, and has three humps or wave-like structures along her length.
Sightings made by local residents from the north shore of Loch Morar in the late 1960s attracted a group of scientists from Imperial College, London. Their report contained data on the biology of Loch Morar and undisclosed evidence pointed to the existence of a ''large unidentified Species''. Sadly, their study failed to generate decent images.
A subsequent investigation took place in 1976, led by Adrian Shine and his team. Eyewitness evidence was sought and SCUBA divers assessed the loch's ecology, examining aquatic vegetation and evaluating the extent and nature food sources for endemic wildlife. They used highly technical underwater photography to capture images of underwater life and although mysterious sightings were made by the team, reliable photographic images eluded them.
In August 2013, the Daily Record ran a feature describing how a family holidaying on the north shore of Loch Morar saw a black shape in the water, some 6 metres long with "the classic three humps". They saw the creature on three occasions over two days and did take a photograph, but like others before it, the published image is difficult to interpret.
Loch Morar is Scotland's fifth largest Loch by surface area, and the deepest freshwater body in the British Isles-and its ecology is remarkable. Due to the local geology, it is nutrient-poor (oligotrophic); as a consequence it supports only low levels of phyto- and zooplankton. Studies looking at the animal life that lives in or on the bottom of Loch Morar suggest that it is impoverished. This may explain the poor variety in local species of fish, dominated by Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), brown trout (Salmo trutta), Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and freshwater eel (Anguilla anguilla)*. Although local fishermen also report catches of ferox trout (Salmo ferox).
Four of Scotland's five largest lochs (Loch Ness being the exception) develop a thermocline, a physical feature where a clear boundary exists between the warm upper layer of water (epilimnion) and the colder water below (hypolimnion). In the warmer months, Loch Morar's thermocline forms at about 17 metres depth; below which the water temperature is generally below 60C. Considering the average depth of Loch Morar is 87 metres (and the deepest point is more than 300 metres), most of the body of water is cold-and explains why most fish are found in the upper 45 metres.
There does seem to be a desire among some for the existence of a 'monster' in Loch Morar. The theory that the sightings of Scottish monsters were a form of dinosaur called a plesiosaur has long been dismissed-so what have people been seeing all these years?
Loch Morar has been largely undisturbed since the last ice-age. Creatures inhabiting the loch would have few predators and could conceivably attain record-breaking size. A likely candidate for Morag could be the freshwater eel; females are the larger of the species and can attain lengths of greater than 1.5 metres. Although, the chances of them attaining 9 meters would seem unlikely, a sizeable eel could appear much larger when observed only briefly. Ferox trout can also attain a considerable size with a length of over a metre.
As illustrated by Edinburgh's Flagstone Theatre group visit, the mystery of Loch Morar's monster is flourishing and long may it persist.
As a final note, local historian Alasdair Roberts described most eloquently the history of Loch Morar and the monster in The Tales of the Morar Highlands (2006).
Henrik Chart
*Maitland, P.S. (1981) The Ecology of Scotland's Largest Lochs: Lomond, Awe, Ness, Morar and Shiel.
Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
Readers of West Word will likely be aware that I've made the decision to stand down from the Scottish Parliament at the next election, in May 2026. Having served the constituency of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch for nearly a decade, I've come to the difficult decision that it's time to pass the baton on to someone else.
Being an MSP has been an absolute privilege, and I have given the job my all. As I considered the upcoming election and the prospects of another term in office, the impact of political service on my loved ones weighed heavily on me. Whilst I love serving the people of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, I do not want to miss out on any more of the precious early years of family life-years that pass by very quickly indeed.
The election in May next year will mark the end of my time in the Scottish Parliament but until then I will still be busy meeting constituents, representing you in parliament and taking on the important issues that you raise with me week in, week out. My team and I will remain active throughout the constituency and are looking forward to nine more months in office. We'll continue to work hard to score good wins for the community.
Work has recently begun on resurfacing Mallaig's Multi Use Games Area, which has been in desperate need of repair for years. I first heard from representatives of Mallaig FC about the condition of the pitch back in 2019. These pitches require maintenance and eventually replacement. The condition of the pitch located next to Mallaig High School was having a detrimental effect on all its users.
I initially raised this issue with the Council back in 2019 and have been pursuing it since then. It's been a long road, and I'm very pleased that funding has now been secured, and work has begun to lay a new all-weather pitch. It should be completed by October. A whole raft of clubs from the local community will get to put it to good use soon enough, and I look forward to visiting again when the project is complete. In the meantime, I understand that regular users of the pitch are aware and have made alternative plans for sports for the duration of the works.
I recently met with community representatives, the National Trust for Scotland, and VisitScotland at Glenfinnan. We had a tour of the existing car parks, and heard from the community and National Trust Scotland about how their operations have been this summer. It has undoubtedly been a challenging time.
I've visited many times over the years and have long worked with the community to find solutions to the ongoing congestion issues. Its busyness during peak season never ceases to amaze me. We walked up to the viaduct, and I saw firsthand the degraded paths, and heard how the whole site simply can't cope with the sheer volume of tourists. We gathered afterwards to discuss plans for the site going forward. It will continue to be a priority of mine, and I'll be helping as much as possible to develop solutions that facilitate tourist demand while easing congestion for locals.
Another recent visit involved attending an open day at the Glenuig Community Inn, to celebrate the community buyout of the Inn. The community has been seeking this for a few years now, and it was brilliant to learn of their success.
There was a real buzz amongst those in attendance, and it was hugely encouraging to hear about plans for the Inn and the wider community. I love seeing local people come together like this to achieve positive results that enhance community life. I experienced true Highland hospitality and was treated to some samples from their delicious menu! I would strongly recommend anyone visiting the area to drop by the Inn, and I wish those involved with this project every success moving forward.
Seeing community initiatives like this succeed is a real joy and it has been one of the highlights of my work in the last ten years. This is what politics done well looks like: joint work leading to good outcomes for our communities. If there's anything I can do to assist you and your community, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
Kate Forbes
kate.forbes.msp@parliament.scot
Angus MacDonald, MP for Inverness, Skye & West Ross-shire
The A830 death run
As I write I hear that three Lochaber lads have been killed in a car accident near Arisaig. Another awful tragedy on the A830. This small road of ours was improved from a single track road only in 2009 and, as readers know, goes from big swooping straights and curves from Mallaig to Lochailort, to the tight zigzag up the Muidhe and then the single railway bridge beyond Glenfinnan, which sees more than it's share of prangs as two cars try and squeeze through simultaneously. The 60mph speed limit is appropriate for some of the route but definitely not on all stretches.
Over the last few years, a muddy, lumpy layby has grown on the right of the road at the West end of Loch Eilt only a few metres from a very tight bend past the railtrack layby. Often you see half a dozen cars parked there. This is the best place for Harry Potter fans to see Dumbledore's grave on Eilean na Moine, apparently.
A month ago I came around the corner and right across the road was a campervan doing a 10 point turn, I braked hard, then threw myself out of the car and sprinted back along the road to wave down a couple of motor bikes that I had seen previously that would have rear-ended me. When I returned, the campervan had left, none the wiser about the potential disaster.
Last winter, I had rolled substantial rocks along that layby to stop parking; stronger people than I have moved them since. I will write to Bear Scotland and ask them to block this layby for good, but am sure that the Potterheads will park somewhere equally dangerous instead. There will be a tragic accident here, that is for certain.
A much more high profile illegal parking hotspot is Glenfinnan, where bollards and double yellow lines fail to deter those vehicles rushing to coincide their arrival with the passing of the steam train over the viaduct, and can't get in the car parks. Patient Ferguson lorries and Loch Shiel buses weave their way between open car doors and families with prams who wander along the road. I was glad to see Rick Stephens, our friendly traffic warden, dolling out tickets there this week. His patch is the whole of Lochaber; surely it would be a great money-making opportunity for Highland Council to have a full time warden at Glenfinnan from May to October?
My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those lads who have died, the A830 will claim many more lives I fear.
Angus MacDonald
angus.macdonald.mp@parliament.uk
Dear Ceri,
What a fantastic mix of films were showing at the Screen Machine in Mallaig between Monday 18th and Wednesday 20th August!
However, there was poor attendance right across the board, as the following figures show:
Jurassic World: Rebirth (12A) - 11 people
F1 The Movie (12A0 - 4 people
Lilo & Stitch (U) - 2 people
28 Years Later (15) - 8 people
Superman (12A) - 2 people
Four Letters of Love (12A) - 16 people
The Screen Machine is an 80-seat mobile cinema that takes films out to rural areas like ours where access to current films is limited, or requires a multi-hour trip by road or infrequent public transport.
If the attendance figures in Mallaig continue to be as low as they were during this latest visit, we run the very real risk of being removed from the Screen Machine's rotation going forward.
Mallaig, Morar and Arisaig locals: PLEASE make use of this special facility, which is such an asset to our area, next time it is here-before it is too late!
[Name withheld]
Dear Editor,
Anyone who lives in the entire Highland Council area (and is registered to vote) can put their name forward as a candidate for any Council Ward to become a councillor. This means that someone living in Glencoe could stand as a candidate in John O'Groats, and someone living in Skye could be the candidate in Aviemore. The Highland Council area is more than double the landmass of Northern Ireland, more than one and a half times that of Wales and is larger than several countries including Slovenia, Israel and Belgium.
That's why it's good to know where the candidates actually live. Many candidates who don't live locally will display their address as: "Lives in the Highland Council area." Whereas the local candidates are at ease with displaying their actual home address on the ballot paper.
Political parties make a big thing of wanting to have a candidate for each by-election, but often the only way this can be achieved is if they parachute one in from elsewhere. These candidates are often referred to as 'paper candidates', meaning that they're just on the ballot paper, rather than seriously expecting to get elected.
For the Caol & Mallaig Ward in May 2022 during the Full Council Election, only three nominations were received for the three vacant seats. Therefore, there was no contest and the three names were automatically elected without the need for a vote. The Conservative candidate (now councillor), had stood previously in this ward as a 'paper candidate'. However, this time, the councillor living 70 miles from Caol and over 100 miles from Mallaig was elected.
Also at the May 2022 election, Highland Council had an SNP councillor for Badenoch & Strathspey elected who lives near Strathpeffer. A Conservative councillor living in Inverness was elected for Wick and East Caithness, and a different Conservative councillor living in Wick was elected to an Inverness Ward. There was an unsuccessful attempt by a Conservative candidate living in Kinlochleven to become a councillor for Invergordon in the Cromarty Firth Ward.
A new category is being added for future elections and by-elections: 'Lives in the Ward'. This came from suggestions by Highland Councillors during a consultation by candidates for an Electoral Commission survey conducted by the Elections Team at Highland Council with councillors and candidates.
In future elections, voters will see the preferred category chosen by each candidate: 'Address in the Highland Council area', 'Address in the Ward', or the candidate's actual home address in full.
Duncan Macpherson,
Councillor (Independent) for Inverness South
A very Autumnal start to the month with some very strong damaging winds and heavy rain. The weather improved from mid month with some drier, warmer spells and lighter winds.
Wader passage dominated the reports with numerous sightings from around the area. Both Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits were seen in small numbers at Traigh and Camusdarach throughout the month.
A single Ruff was in a field at Traigh on the 20th and three were present on the shoreline there from the 25th to the 29th at least.
Small groups of Dunlin, Sanderling and Ringed Plover were regular at Traigh.
Turnstones were reported from West Bay Mallaig and Traigh.
Small flocks of Knot were seen at Traigh on several occasions, and on the 10th a single Knot was on the Morar Estuary.
Lapwing and Snipe were seen at Invercaimbe.
Good numbers of seabirds reported, with regular sightings of Great and Arctic Skua in the Sound of Sleat.
Storm Petrels reported from the Sound of Sleat and Loch nan Uamh. A Wilson's Storm Petrel was reported from Ardnamurchan Point on the 9th after prolonged Westerly winds. They breed in the Southern Hemisphere and visit the North Atlantic from June to October, but are seldom seen from land.
Still large numbers of Manx Shearwater feeding in the Sound of Sleat. On the 27th, the first grounded, newly fledged Manx Shearwater was found in Mallaig.
On the 15th an Osprey was seen feeding on Loch nan Ceall and was seen daily until the 18th. On the 26th there was another report of an Osprey from Loch nan Ceall and on the 30th, a report of one on Loch Morar.
On the 19th a Kingfisher was seen at Loch nan Eola, along with three Moorhens-two adults and a well-grown chick.
Good numbers of finches reported from garden feeders with a high proportion of juveniles present. Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Siskins seem to have done well.
Sparrowhawks were reported from several Morar gardens and Barn Owls were seen in Mallaig on several occasions.
Bar-tailed Godwit photo by S. MacDonald
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