A NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR MALLAIG BOATYARD

Mallaig Harbour Authority are delighted to announce that they have taken ownership of the area of land formerly operated as Mallaig Boatyard in the centre of the village. The land was sold to Harland and Wolff in November 2023, and was stripped for redevelopment, with plans drawn up to modernise the existing slipway. However, before these could be realised, Harland and Wolff fell into administration. Mallaig Harbour Authority submitted their notification of interest in buying the site in September 2024, and have been in negotiation with the administrators since then.
The area is central to the village, and MHA would like to bring it back into economic use for the benefit of the local area. While it is likely that the cost associated with modernising the main slipway will be prohibitive, MHA would hope to bring the smaller slipway back into use to allow for smaller boats to be worked on locally. In the short term, it is likely that the existing buildings will be demolished, and the area will be used to accommodate harbour operations displaced while improvement works are undertaken elsewhere in the Harbour. This will give the Board some time to consider the best longer term uses for the site.

JACOBITE STEAM TRAIL DERAILED

The Jacobite steam train was de-railed close to Mallaig on Sunday 14th June, with all services between Fort William and Mallaig provided by replacement bus services. While locals are used to seeing crowds of spectators lining the track side in the hopes of a glimpse of the steam train instead there were a crowd of high-vis clad staff gathered on the tracks working for several hours to manually re-rail the train.

Photos by Rev. Matthew Ross

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

I spent an afternoon in our Morar office in July and enjoyed a few visitors calling in to say hello, popping my head out to watch the (newly back on the tracks!) steam train chug past and had a lovely chat with locals Tom and Jill, which you can read more about on page 20. I am always fascinated to hear the stories of people who live in our area - as the saying goes 'everyone has a story to tell' but Tom's is certainly worth telling!
I am putting the finishing touches to this issue whilst away for a few days with my family in North Wales - a trip which was booked before I took over as Editor, but thanks to the wonders of technology I was able to bring the laptop with me and carry on working - I would very much echo the plea of Jean on page 17 about staying away from AI though - thank you to Jean for setting a quiz and generously offering a prize too and let's all stay more human and connected to each other, using tech to help support those connections rather than instead of them.
Thank you to our contributors for being so good at adhering to the rather strict deadline I am insisting on - our outsourced printing means we have a lead time of around a week between me pressing 'print' and the actual West Word arriving with our stockists so I am keen to turn around putting it together as speedily as I can to ensure our readers copies as early as possible.
I'll be out and about in the area again this month - do come and say hello if you see me and do let me know about any interesting stories - or people - I should be including in West Word.
Nic
Nic Goddard, Editor

ISLE OF CANNA

May saw the return of our annual Canna 10K Trail Run. This year we had 60 runners taking part and the weather gods were in our favour. It was a cool, misty day perfect for running and the rain held off until the last 10 minutes of the run. All the runners crossed the finish line after 1 hour 22 minutes which I think is the fastest year yet! Speaking of fastest, the first place runner came across the finish line in 38 minutes 47 seconds.
The start of the race got off to a rocky start with the front runners going the wrong way and having to double back to head along the Tarbert Road. Thankfully not too much time was lost but those at the back found themselves at the front even for a minute or two.
After the run we had the BBQ where our pal Dod and his partner Kim did an amazing job of providing a post-run feast. Our thanks to them both for year on year coming to help out.
The evening ceilidh was a great success with Lachie Robinson and his band Ape House leading the tunes. The dance floor was always full and there was a selection of new dances for people to get their heads around which caused no end of amusement. Our thanks to Ape House for coming to play for us!
And let's not forget that raffle! We have never heard such enthusiasm for a raffle before! Aileen and Jane served up the evening food which was delicious lamb curry and dahl curry with rice. Thank you to Aileen and Jane for cooking and serving it up to hungry dancers!
Thanks to the Canna Community too. Every year we work hard to make this event happen. There is a lot that goes on throughout the year to prepare for this event but the last couple of weeks are always intense. Livestock have to be moved, the bar has to be constructed, the Shearing Shed and Stable prepped for registration and the island prepped for the influx of visitors, the route is marked out, gazebos erected, food and drink organised and a hundred other small jobs carried out. Thank goodness for spreadsheets and task tracking.
Margaret Willington

ISLE OF RUM

With some sunshine, showers, light winds and average temperatures, June has been fairly average weather wise, perhaps a disappointment given the rest of the nation seemed to be bathed in 30-degree sunshine, twice. We usually get a week of two of solid sun between Easter and the end of June but not this year - hoping it will pick up. But, hey the midges aren't that bad.
Rum primary's latest project is called 'guardians of Rum' it's a sustainability project where the children learn about nature, biodiversity and the plant and animal species that live on Rum. They want to revamp how the school manages its waste, especially compost and have concerns about how much waste is generated by the whole community. The are making a leaflet which they will sell as part of their school enterprise and in return for making a personal sustainability pledge, they are making 'guardian of Rum' shields. As part of the project, ranger Rosalie was helping them make bug hotels for their gardens this month.
Rosalie is also helping the community upgrade the interpretation on the nature trail, there are already magnifying glass posts on the trail, but they are underused, so Rosalie is introducing some colour and signage to get them used more, because they are pretty cool. This circular walk is an abundance of different native trees and flowers, so she has plans afoot for a flower and tree spotting guide. The other NatureScot volunteers have been helping the community with a bit of rhododendron removal where it was encroaching onto the road in quite a big way. Thanks guys.
This year, 2026, marks the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the highland clearances from Rum. It's a poignant time and reminder that only now, 200 years later are the current community able to set down roots for permanence, something we could only achieve by becoming community landowners. We had hoped to organise some events for this year and there are still plans afoot but will probably take place next year. We do have a visit from Will Boyd- Wallace, whose ancestors came from Kilmory - he is a musician and has written a song about the experiences of his great grandparents, there will be a small event in the hall on July 11th. The plans for our new community hub will not only provide much needed spaces for a shop, café, office and other facilities but it will be a cultural locus for the community and visitors alike - we see this building as a way to mark the 200th anniversary of the clearances as a monument to the permanence of our new resident community. We are delighted to announce that with funding awarded from SSE Highland Development Fund, we are able to move the project forward to RIBA stage 4 to get detailed designs and submit to planning. We expect this process to take up to 2 years.
Looking ahead to August, we are holding a Solar Eclipse Watch Party on August 12th. Around 90% of the sun will be covered by the moon, and we'll be on the campsite from 6pm with special viewing glasses. It's the best visibility of a solar eclipse since 1999! There will be more details on the Isle of Rum website and social media from next week. News from Kilmory Glen where the red deer project staff and volunteers have been busy catching and tagging calves - they have caught 52 with 9 more that got away from them in one of the wettest calving seasons for a while, but that said, they noticed the orchids and bluebells had been truly spectacular - and there are still 6 more hinds to calve.
June birthdays include Lauren, Neil, Sylvia and Ali. A very special June birthday and a warm welcome to Rum's 44th resident and new baby girl born to Lauren and Nick on 17th June - a little sister to Aisling, Zak and (little) Fliss. I'll get ahead with July's birthdays here too which are Zak (7) Hywel (ageless) and twins Lesley and Ross (forty something)
Fliss Fraser

ISLE OF MUCK

Hello Muck Calling.....well hi there folks, its been a fairly active month here on the wee island. We are well on our way with funding and tender processes for our 2 new houses and with an £87k award from SSE Highland Development fund we hope to be underway Spring 2027 so fingers crossed, and I apologise again for calling us a community of aging 'Fogeys' on the BBC podcast.
School Week was held on Muck with children from Eigg, Rum and Duror visiting for fun packed events including the very competitive Sports day...well done to all, especially for completing the Hill Race which for just getting back seemed quite emotional for some of the young runners, but spirits soon lifted with a Pizza themed dinner at the Tearoom which went down very well. The weather wasn't the best for some of the activities, the BBQ thankfully survived until all were fed before the heavens opened and some juggling was needed for the latter days as it poured down non stop, but didn't dampen the Ceilidh which was well attended and supported with good food supplied by residents and great music by the Flight of the Aries Band. Dancing was not an optional extra...even Zoe had her annual fling about the boards.
Shearing was completed and as always was a collective community get-together over some fair weather afternoons which were few as the rest of Britain complained and reported on how hot it was and sooooo unbearable. Then came the Thunder and very dramatic Lightning...what a show, we had brief power outage and phone disruption on parts of Muck and Campers were thankfully advised to take refuge, not a night for canvas.
Well folks that's us for this episode of 'How optimistic are we Scotland fans'... see you in 4 years world!
Bruce

LATEST NEWS FROM MALLAIG RNLI STATION

The Mallaig RNLI Fundraising Group we would like to thank everyone who donated to our fundraising Gala Day on the 30th May. The final total is in, and this year there was a fantastic £19,110 raised! Special mention to Sir Cameron Mackintosh and his fellow trustees of The Mackintosh Foundation for the incredibly generous donation. We could not have achieved this without the help of the many businesses who made donations and the individuals who gave their time in the run up to and on the day itself. We are very grateful to all who contributed. The RNLI depends solely on voluntary donations and legacies and receives no government funding. It is donations that help our volunteer lifeboat crews to continue their mission in saving lives at sea.
The station also has a few thank yous this month: Firstly to the community in Elgol who presented the lifeboat crew with a cheque for £1,000 at their Gala Day; next to the whist club in Drumfern for their donation of £400; and finally to Misty Isle Boat Trips who raised £1,041. A brilliant effort all round - thank you to everyone involved.
Jessica Logan

Mallaig Lifeboat Log

The first shout of the month for RNLI Mallaig was on 8th June when the pagers sounded at 2.57pm. Reports came in of a casualty who had fallen 25 ft from the coast at the head of Loch Scavaig on a section of path known as 'the bad step'. Mallaig lifeboat launched and made best speed towards the scene. A HM Coastguard helicopter was also tasked along with Mountain Rescue. Arriving on scene at 5.50pm the helicopter had already lowered a paramedic who then winched the casualty from the scene. Mallaig lifeboat was stood down and returned to base arriving at 7.30pm.
At 12.45am on 21st June, HM Coastguard tasked the Mallaig crew with transporting the Scottish Ambulance Service to assist a casualty at Inverie. On arrival the ambulance personnel were transported to the scene to attend to the casualty and decided that evacuation to hospital was necessary. The lifeboat returned to Mallaig, arriving back on the berth at 2.40am, and the ambulance personnel and casualty were put ashore. The lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service by 3.00am.
On the 23rd June, the crew were paged at 4.46pm when a report came in that multiple persons were in the water next to an upturned vessel. The lifeboat launched and made best speed to the reported casualty location near Camusunary bothy. However, after arriving on scene, contact was made with 4 people fishing who were not in any difficulty, nor had they seen any other vessels. HM Coastguard crew landed near the bothy and located the first informant, but were satisfied it was a false alarm with good intentions. The lifeboat and crew returned to Mallaig, arriving back at base for 7.45pm. HM Coastguard requested the lifeboat crew to launch at 1.44pm on 28th June when a kayaker in difficulty at Roshven requested assistance. Working with Coastguard teams from Mallaig & Salen the individual was located and assisted to safety. The crew then headed back to the harbour to refuel and ready the boat for service again.

News from Mallaig Harbour

A bit like last month, the heatwave that has been affecting much of the rest of the UK seems to have passed us by in this corner, and fog was a bigger story for John and I, and many other members of the British Ports Association, when our attempts to get to Shetland for the Scottish Ports and Fishing Ports Meetings at the beginning of the month were thwarted at the airport by grounded flights. This was disappointing as we were looking forward to our trip to Shetland and getting to meet personnel from other ports in person, but actually ended up having to do the meeting online instead. The silver lining was a bit of extra time in the office to prepare for our AGM on the 12th June.
As usual for our AGM, I had put together some key facts about the Harbour over the last year. Turnover for the last year broke the £2million barrier. This sounds like a lot, but when you consider the costs associated with developing infrastructure at the Harbour, it actually doesn't go very far! £5.247 million of seafood was landed through the Harbour in year ending March 2026; 61,260 tonnes of salmon were harvested; 35,600 of Aquaculture feed was shipped through the Harbour, and 8.18 million smolts made their way to fish farms from Mallaig in the year.
Unsurprisingly, with all the disruption to services, passenger and vehicle numbers on ferries were down slightly, to 270,000 passengers and almost 67,000 vehicles.
Our five new pontoon fingers, installed at the start of the financial year, allowed us to increase the number of overnight stays by yachts at the marina by around 200, to 1,933.
This year, Niki Robertson and Peter Hillier had served their three-year term. Both reapplied to remain on the Board and were reappointed.

Work is almost complete on the overnight ferry berth. I know I have been saying that for a few weeks now, but we hope to be finished by 11th July. We welcomed visitors from CalMac and CMAL on Tuesday 23rd, and were able to take them on a tour of what has been done. It is very exciting to have seen the berth taking shape over the last few months, and to now see it looking like an actual berth! As I am writing this on Friday 26th June, the FSV Scotia is going into the berth for a couple of hours, behind the MV Loch Bhrusda. This is the flexibility that the new berth will give us - allowing larger vessels to berth along with the ferries in the Outer Harbour.
The Lord of the Isles has made a welcome return to service this month, on 11th June, so we now have a full complement of ferries operating from Mallaig again, albeit with reduced capacity from having the MV Loch Bhrusda rather than MV Loch Fyne. Our visitors from CalMac and CMAL were in the area to meet with the Community Council and local business owners to hear their concerns about the lack of capacity at the start of the season.
The number of yachts at the marina seems to have ramped up this month, with some larger yachts visiting. This included, Road Taken, a 24m Canadian flagged yacht, which took up the whole of the outer hammerhead for its stay. There were some super yachts cruising our local waters this month, including one which sent passengers in a helicopter to play a round of golf at Traigh, but unfortunately, we don't have the space to accommodate that size of vessel!

It feels like it has been a month of meetings this month, so we finished it off with something a bit different on Thursday 25th June. As part of RJ McLeod's Community Benefit from the overnight ferry berth, we had organised a Men's Health Session in Mallaig and Morar Community Centre. Claire Wortley from Change Mental Health gave a very relevant talk to us about mental health and wellbeing, and we were able to offer blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol testing and body fat analysis courtesy of Claire Gunner, our local NHS Highland Health Improvement Worker and Tina Johnston, our local Pharmacist. We invited local businesses and our local Men's Shed and encouraged people to mix and chat by providing lunch and some (not so healthy) goodies. It was great to have people stop and take time for their health, and good to hear the chat around the room by the end of the session.
We followed this up by a trip to Mallaig High Schools to do some practical construction exercises with the new S1s, as part of their transition week. We had two different exercises, building with Jenga blocks, or with drinking straws. The children had to make sure that their building came in on time and on budget, and to a certain specification. Both groups were very entrepreneurial - my group deciding that a well known burger chain would pay for advertising on their tower; and the other selling some Jenga blocks to buy an easier material to make a roof from!
Huge thanks to everyone who contributed to both sessions, including Emilia Zalupska, and Michael Osborne who are working for RJ McLeod on this job, and Christina McKitrick and Judi Crichton, who are the Social Value Leads for RJ McLeod.
Jacqueline McDonell

On and Off the Rails

Hello, it's me again! It was still June as I wrote this - on a relatively calm and sunny day - with "The Jacobite" steam trains now operating a twice-daily service for the first month of this shorter season past the house "in which I bide". On Sunday 14th June, just as I was watching Donald Trump's "speech of the day" and he was telling ships and boats to "start their engines" - at 3.45 pm our time - the day got busier! What happened next? I will leave Alastair Dalton, Transport Correspondent of The Scotsman newspaper, to describe (with thanks) and our Mallaig-based Reverend Matthew Ross, minister of North West Lochaber Church of Scotland, to comment on, plus Alastair MacKellaig for his photographs. Read on as the following events unfolded. Here's some extracts from The Scotsman article:
"A steam locomotive which hauls the Jacobite train has derailed in Mallaig, forcing the cancellation of all other services on the line. The incident happened while the engine was being re-positioned for the return journey to Fort William on Sunday, which blocked the line for about seven hours.
People on the scene told The Scotsman the Black Five locomotive, which was built in the 1940s, appeared to have jumped the tracks at slow speed at around 3.45 pm. They said it was manually re-railed by a team of about 15 engineers and other staff, including from Network Rail.

Photos by Alastair MacKellaig

The Rev Matthew Ross, the Mallaig-based minister of the Church of Scotland's North West Lochaber parish, posted on Facebook on Sunday: "The locomotive of The Jacobite steam train had a minor derailment at Mallaig station this afternoon. The rear wheels of the locomotive's coal and water tender appear to have derailed on the points - no other wheels are affected. No one appears to have been injured, thankfully. All train services to/from Mallaig are currently being replaced by buses and recovery crews from Network Rail are in attendance." Mr Ross said the locomotive was successfully re-railed and departed Mallaig just before 10.30pm.
The full article is available online at: https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/jacobite-steam-train-derails-in-mallaig-also-halting-scotrail-services-on-line-from-fort-william-8729541

Following on, with incredible perseverance from West Coast Railway mechanics and human ingenuity, working alongside Network Rail staff, work proceeded to rectify the derailment's coal and water tender back on to the line. Our railway line was reopened and declared safe for traffic at 10.30 pm. The locomotive and the now empty carriages returned to Fort William, arriving back at the depot on the stroke of midnight. Over the course of the next four days much repair work continued to the points and track bed, between all trains running, albeit slowly (especially with points changing).
I needed lots of mugs of tea after the days unfolded after that! It does appear that the minor derailment was handled with very capable skills, it could have been much worse and the rail replacement bus service worked well. Thanks to all involved for keeping the line closure to a minimum, and to the West Coast Railway staff. As I understand, the details of the incident have been supplied to the ORR who will now review it.

Friends of the West Highland Lines
Their thrice-yearly magazine is now available. It is the only magazine spotlighting the West Highland Lines and the wider ScotRail network, past and present, plus shipping news. The summer issue is bulging with great colour photography, A4 size, 46 pages, including celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Mallaig Extension Railway line and even a wee piece on Mallaig train conductor Trevor MacMillan (with a photo) which commends Trevor for, as the editor puts it, "He is the only one to make on board train announcements in Gaelic (and English) at his own initiative, which, as he says, helps normalise use of the language". Take a bow, Trevor.
To obtain the summer 2026 issue at £4 please telephone me on 01687 462189; I will post one out to you or stop me and buy one! You might even be tempted to take the next issue which will be published in October 2026. Let me know in advance if you require it.

Bits and bobs of interest
Following May's elections to the Scottish Parliament, former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn is the new Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Transport and Tourism. He replaces Fiona Hyslop who retired from being Transport Secretary and an MSP. I wonder if he would benefit by paying a visit to Mallaig? It might help us on all three issues. Perhaps the Road to the Isles group could approach him? Just a thought.

ScotRail and CalMac have announced a new partnership agreement aimed at creating a more integrated, customer focused transport network. Building on existing work, the partnership will strengthen joint working across areas including timetabling, integrated ticketing such as "Rail & Sail", communications, and disruption management
A shared focus on improving customer experience will see both organisations work together to reduce barriers to travel and encourage greater use of public transport. Priority areas include customer insight, coordinated timetables, enhanced ticketing, joint promotion and improved responses to disruptions and major events.
Passengers were stranded on the Isle of Mull after the CalMac ferry of the same name broke down with engine problems on 19th May 2026. To the rescue came the paddle steamer PS Waverley, which was on her annual cruise around the Inner Hebrides, picking up 42 passengers at Craignure ferry terminal. They were brought back to Oban by the PS Waverley because there was no space for them aboard MV Loch Frisa, CalMac's much smaller ferry which also plies the route. A good case of integration!
AmcoGiffen and Network Rail were delighted to be chosen to receive the "Translink Structures Award" at the 2025 National Heritage Awards on Wednesday 3rd December 2025 for their work, undertaken over a long period of time, on the preservation and restoration of Glenfinnan Viaduct to "recognise, acknowledge and reward for the public benefit, the very best in restoration conservation and continued use of our historic railway infrastructure."
To share the award with pride - on Wednesday 15th July 2026 - representatives from AmcoGiffen and Network Rail will be arriving on the lunchtime ScotRail train at Glenfinnan Station (at 12.50 pm) to accompany Tim Hedley-Jones, the Executive Director of the Railway Heritage Trust, to a plaque unveiling event at (I believe) Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Our esteemed West Word Editor - Nic Goddard - has been invited too and can hopefully photograph the event, which should be in a future edition of West Word.
The assembled invitees and a few hundred visitors no doubt will enjoy the event, and maybe even coincide the unveiling when the afternoon Jacobite steam train crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct on its way to Mallaig. It is due to depart Fort William at 12.50 pm.
See you on the train!
Sonia Cameron

OBITUARY - Hamish Scott

In the village of Arisaig stands a white-fronted house facing west, slightly apart from its neighbours. For much of his life, that house-The Old Manse-was at the centre of Hamish Scott's world. Built in the 1890s as the residence of the local Church of Scotland minister, it became the anchor for a family whose story encompassed Arctic exploration, adventure, literature and a deep attachment to the West Highlands. Although his parents' careers took the family far beyond Arisaig, it remained Hamish's spiritual home for much of his life until he reluctantly sold it some ten years ago. With his death on 20 May, another vivid, colourful and often contrarian chapter in the life of the village has drawn to a close.
Hamish was a man of the "long view," possessing an instinctive understanding of the West Coast's history, flora, and shoreline. He was a creature of the elements, foraging for wild garlic and chanterelles or gathering shellfish from the shore. He delighted in the sensory rewards of the earth: good wine, a great cook, and-perhaps most of all-the sparks of robust, intellectual argument.
To understand Hamish's independent and unconventional nature, it helps to look to the extraordinary world from which he came. He was the son of James Maurice (J.M.) Scott, the renowned Arctic explorer, author and member of the 1933 Everest expedition, and Pamela Watkins, sister of the legendary explorer Gino Watkins. For context, the 1933 Everest Expedition was the first major British attempt to climb Mount Everest after the deaths of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine on the mountain in 1924. While his parents pursued adventures in Greenland, Labrador and beyond, Hamish and his two brothers were largely raised by "Nanny". It was an upbringing that fostered fierce independence and a lifelong intellectual curiosity.
Hamish came from a remarkable family whose influence extended far beyond the Highlands. His elder brother, Jeremy Scott, became something of a chronicler of the high-society hedonism of 1960s London, later immortalising the era in his irreverent memoir Fast and Louche. Those in Arisaig who read it may recall that Jeremy's observations on village life-and some of its inhabitants-raised more than a few eyebrows at the time. Their father, J.M. Scott, was an Arctic explorer, commander of the Mountain Warfare School during the Second World War, and a prolific author of some forty books. Among them was the shipwreck adventure Sea-Wyf and Biscuit, later adapted into the 1957 film Sea Wife starring Richard Burton and Joan Collins. The family's distinguished connections extended further still. Hamish's great-uncle was Bolton Eyres-Monsell, 1st Viscount Monsell, who served as First Lord of the Admiralty during the 1930s. It was an extraordinary inheritance of explorers, writers, adventurers and public figures, all of whom left their mark in different ways, helping to shape the curious, independent and intellectually restless man Hamish became.
While brother David pursued a much quieter life as a schoolteacher. Hamish chose a different path, remaining rooted in Scotland and the Highlands. He built a successful career as a journalist, feature writer and film location scout, using his deep knowledge of the Scottish landscape to tell stories that were both authentic and insightful. His work appeared in numerous newspapers, he was a regular contributor to The Independent, as well as magazines and books, including the 2008 volume Scotland in the Discover Britain's Historic Houses series.
In 1999, after a gap of 35 years, he returned to education, enrolling at the University of Edinburgh and graduating in 2003 with a First-Class Honours degree in the History of Architecture. It was a characteristically determined achievement and reflected his lifelong passion for learning.
Arisaig remained the constant thread throughout his life. Childhood days spent exploring beaches, hills and hidden corners of the coast left an enduring mark. The Old Manse was not only a family home but Hamish's retreat, a place for solitude, writing, walking and welcoming friends for memorable Hogmanay celebrations. By then Stephanie had become part of his life, and together they entertained with warmth and generosity. Later homes in Edinburgh, East Linton and, more recently, Kingsland continued that tradition. Guests enjoyed excellent food, carefully chosen wine and evenings of conversation about architecture and antiques, literature, politics, natural history and the changing fortunes of the Highlands.
Hamish's knowledge seemed limitless. He possessed a sharp eye for detail, a mischievous wit and an ability to make even the most ordinary subject fascinating. His appreciation of beauty and design infused everything he did. Whether discussing art, architecture, antiques, landscape or wildlife, he brought the same depth of understanding and enthusiasm. His writing reflected these interests. He was not only a gifted journalist but also a novelist and storyteller, driven by a genuine love of ideas and words. One of his greatest strengths as a writer was his ability to capture the human geography of the places he loved. In a 1997 article for The Independent, he profiled Arisaig fisherman Ian MacKinnon in a piece entitled A Simple Fisherman? There's No Such Thing. Hamish dismantled the romanticised tropes of the industry, revealing the gritty, complex reality of life on the water. It was a testament to his skill: he could spend a day on a boat with a man like MacKinnon and translate that experience into a narrative that was both grounded and profoundly respectful of the craft.
For all his formidable intellect Hamish will be remembered by friends as kind, loyal and generous, always willing to offer advice, encouragement or support, often helping others navigate difficult periods in their lives with wisdom and good humour. Many will remember long fireside conversations, accompanied by a dram or two, with dogs at his feet. Selling The Old Manse was one of the most difficult decisions of his life. Although he returned to Arisaig every year thereafter, those close to him knew that he never quite felt at home anywhere else.
Hamish leaves behind his beloved wife Stephanie, his partner of 43 years, whom he married in Glenfinnan in 2003. He also leaves behind a legacy of friendship, writing and a curiosity that touched those close to him. Hamish Scott was a man of contradictions: a child of the 1960s who valued ancient traditions; a journalist with a sharp wit who knew exactly how to puncture a weak argument with a perfectly chosen phrase. But he will also be remembered for his generosity. He existed in that rare space of being a part of the Arisaig community while remaining "quietly apart" from it. With his passing, the echoes of the colourful Scott family's adventurous, eccentric and brilliant spirit will linger on in the passage of Arisaig time.
He will be greatly missed.
FB

OBITUARY - Reverend Donald Prentice

The Reverend Donald Prentice died in Aberdeen on 13th June at the age of 72. He served as locum minister at North West Lochaber Church of Scotland in 2024-2025 following the retirement of the Reverend Stewart Goudie and prior to the induction of the current minister the Reverend Matthew Ross. The funeral service took place at St Leonard's Church in Forres, Moray, on 26th June, where he had formerly served as parish minister.
After working as a civil servant and a teacher, he was ordained in 1989. His first charge as a Church of Scotland minister was Iona and Ross of Mull linked with Kilfinichen and Kilvickeon, on the Isles of Iona and Mull. In 1992 he became an Army Chaplain, including service with the King's Own Scottish Borderers and the SAS. In 2010 he became minister at Dallas linked with Forres: St Leonard's linked with Rafford. Following retirement he and his wife Alison lived in Burghead, near Elgin.
The Reverend Matthew Ross said, "I am very sorry to learn of Donald's passing; I send my condolences to Alison and their daughters. He was a great help to me as I prepared to become the new minister at North West Lochaber Church of Scotland. Donald was greatly liked in the parish and made many friends; he and his dog became familiar figures locally. He had been planning to come back to take two Sunday services in July. He also did a great deal to encourage and support the Ukrainian community locally and this has made a lasting impact. May he rest in peace and rise in glory."

ARISAIG AMERICANA FESTIVAL

The seventh Arisaig Americana Music Festival blasted off on Friday 5th June in the Astley Hall, starting a weekend of brilliant music, informal jam sessions, virtuosic talent and scandalously good humour. The perfect opening on Friday was provided by Harry Bird, accompanied in style by Gavin McGinty. Harry is a well-travelled and highly seasoned performer and him and Gavin got the festival going in great style with an open hearted and joyful performance of their own fantastic hand penned songs
Next was Robyn Smith, a singer-songwriter from Dunfermline, with guitar and harmony back-up from Lora MacLeod from Oban. Together they created a captivating multilayered sound with a storytelling style. Both are exquisite crafters of gorgeous songs and melodies. Then the Friday finale was provided by A.D. Scruffs, an Americana, Folk & Roots trio from Bristol, who combined their unique storytelling with a captivating stage presence, soaked in that old-time feeling and a rich blend of vocal harmonies.

Harry Bird and Gavin

On the Saturday, we had three workshops, two of which were led by Skip Gorman, the elder statesman of the Festival family. Skip is a hugely experienced musician having played with many of the greats of bluegrass and oldtime, and it was an exceptional privilege to have him not only attend the festival but share his wisdom in teaching both bluegrass mandolin and old time mountain ballads. Harry Bird led a harmony singing workshop, that was very well attended with lots of locals and infused with not only his talent, but his warmth and charisma.
After a successful launch last year, the festival hosted the second Young Performers Stage on the Saturday afternoon, a community focused opportunity to showcase some Highland young talent. It was a busy afternoon, and the show was bookended by three of the Saturday headliners, Sociograss, who played with virtuosic skill and humour. Playing first were Ardvreck School pupils, from Crieff. They had come to the young performers concert last year whilst on a camp trip and were so inspired that they wanted to come back and play themselves. Next, was Ardnamurchan High school, brilliantly represented by Eliza and Macy, both of whom are fabulous singers and regularly play music together. They played a beautiful original song written by Eliza, plus a cover song. Finally, there were four super talented pupils from Mallaig high school, Lola, Jocelyn, Freya and Elena, who had been working hard with their music teacher, Lauren Moir, to bring the festival a mix of Americana with a Scottish vibe. Thanks to all these young musicians, the Young Performers Stage was a resounding success.

Harry Bird singing workshop

That evening the festival had a long overdue return for Hannah Fisher & Sorren Maclean, from Mull, who last played the festival in 2022. Hannah is always an astonishing fiddle player, but she had injured a finger and so had to demonstrate her skills with her newly invented three finger style fiddle playing. And it was impeccable, alongside Sorren's magical guitar mastery and their beautiful, harmony singing.
Stereo Naked are at core double bass player Pierce Black and banjo player Julia Zech, who share a passion for taking bluegrass out of its niche and making it playful, eccentric and touching. They were joined by absolute festival favourites Theo and Pepi plus Joon on mandolin and fiddle and had the packed hall grinning, singing and hollering as they played and then finished by parading out of the back door. Finally, Edinburgh based 6-piece, Sociograss made the Astley Hall jump and bounce with their rough and rowdy sound, containing influences from the folk styles of the Appalachian Mountains, elements of old-time and early country, soulful vocal harmonies and sheer joyful virtuosity.
The weekend had a mellow wind down on the Sunday with musicians and audience gathering in the Hall to sing train songs, jam together and vow to meet up and play together soon. Without doubt, it was a tremendous weekend, and the bands and attendees all said how much they enjoyed the atmosphere, the village and the West Coast hospitality. The Festival is entirely reliant on the goodwill and support of the local community, not just in hosting the weekend but in our generous business sponsors; Duncan Muir and Sons, Father Stan, MacDonald Orr Design, Mallaig Art Gallery, Mallaig Bakehouse and Crannog, Resipole Studios, Soundbites Café and the West Highland Hotel. We are also extremely grateful to the raffle prize donations from Arisaig Marine, Fisher's Luxury Emporium, Glenfinnan Candles, John MacMillan, Mallaig Bakehouse and the West Highland Tea Company. We were supported by brilliant sound courtesy of Ross and Eoghainn and Black Box. Finally, the whole weekend would have been impossible without our wonderful volunteers, Ceri, Chris, Gail, James, Jess, Martha, Paula, Pauline and Pete.
And we are busy hatchin' plans…
Mairi, Mungo, Zoe and Aly

Images courtesy of Furbs Marketing, Jon O'Neil and Mungo and Mairi Orr

TOM MCCLEAN

There are some people who seem born not just to survive but thrive, no matter what life throws at them and what challenges they face. In fact they don't just rise to them but they look for additional ways to make their mark in the world.
Morar resident Tom McClean is one of those people. Tom and his wife Jill live just a few doors away from our West Word office so I went along for a chat and to see the two boats and the Rockall shelter which have been living in their garden shed since they were part of his record breaking adventures the day before they were taken down south to take up residence in a military museum.

Tom is a familiar face to many in the West Word area, having lived in Morar for many years and run an Adventure Centre on the shore of Loch Nevis before that. But his reputation stretches far beyond our area as a World Record Holder and adventurer. Ex SAS soldier Tom was born in Dublin and raised in an orphanage, never knowing his birth family, but he found a home in the Paras where the military regime, order and challenges gave him the motivation, support and role models to inspire him as a young man.
As a promising young soldier Tom caught the attention of Chay Blyth and John Ridgway who had rowed across the Atlantic in 1966 by announcing to them that he aimed to complete the crossing solo - a feat which had been considered impossible. A few years later in 1969 he did just that, making history on land and sea in the same year as man first stepped foot on the moon.

It took 70 days to row across the North Atlantic from Canada to Ireland and shared how no two 24 hours were the same. Standing next to the boat he had completed the epic adventure in he explained that the weather and tides dictated his sleep, eat, row, repeat pattern, with times of almost drifting in the open sea and others of frantic rowing to ensure he was heading in the right direction. His military training and keen instinct to survive whatever was thrown at him by the elements - skills which were to be put to the test many times over the decades to come.
Tom took a rest from high profile adventures after retiring from his military service to focus on the far more important tasks of falling in love with Jill, getting married, raising their sons and setting up an Adventure and Survival centre, attracting hundreds of visitors over the years who learned about survival skills under Tom's tutoledge, including many army soliders, who would have no doubt taken the same sort of inspiration from Tom as he had done from Blyth and Ridgway years earlier. But the spirit of 'Who Dares Wins' from his SAS days clearly ran deep and in 1982 Tom returned to the Atlantic for another challenge. This time he crossed the world's second biggest sea in the 'World's smallest Yacht' - a self built vessel named Giltspur, measuring a tiny 9 feet 9 inches.

Tom shared how he had been inspired by reading a book about sailing which had a handful of photographs, which shaped Tom's plans for building Giltspur. The 3000 mile trip back across the Atlantic took 54 days of solo sailing, another self taught skill. The victory was short-lived however as a French sailor snatched the record just weeks later, making the crossing in a boat just 8 inches shorter. Not to be outdone, Tom sliced two feet off Giltspur using a chainsaw and took to the waves once more to regain his record. Tom told me, "I hit a bad storm in the Bay of Biscay and lost my mast. My safety crew were telling me to give up and I was almost out of food, but I had enough water and so I carried on and did it landing in Portugal to get my record back."

Tom's 'failure is not an option' mantra continued to spur him on to ever more ambitious aims. At an age when many people may consider themselves middle aged and begin to slow down in his early 40s Tom took a 40 day break away from home to live alone, in a self built shelter, on the tiny 'uninhabitable' islet Rockhall off St Kilda to reaffirm the UK's claim to the island. The shelter was boat-ed across, Tom made a heroic landing on Rockall and then helped winch up the flat packed shelter to construct it and live alongside the gannets and other seabirds for just shy of 6 weeks.
Rockall had been claimed by various nations over the years and Tom's strong sense of patriotism led him to hatch his plan, knowing that staying on land in international waters for more than 28 days stakes a claim on the land. Tom said "I was always planning for more than 28 days - I had thought 40 days and nights might be a nice round number!" The tiny shelter was crammed with everything Tom needed for his stay. I asked what the seabirds made of having Tom as a neighbour - the closest inhabited land is some 160+ miles east at St Kilda. He said, "they seemed to get used to me and I grew used to them too!" Those of us living in the coastal West Word area may well be familiar with the noise of shrieking gulls and other seabirds but Rockall is a small space to share with the many birds who use the rock as a summer resting space and occasional breeding site in the wide open waters.
Two years later in 1987, aged 44 ,Tom learned that his solo row record had been beaten and returned Skol 1080 back to the Atlantic to row across again. Despite ferocious storm conditions he rowed across the Atlantic once more, regaining his record with an amazing 54 day crossing. That record remains in Tom's hands to this day.
The rowing boat, Giltspur and Rockall shelter have resided here in Morar since then, tucked away in the McClean's manicured garden, likely the setting for a couple of generations of children and grandchildren recreating adventures on the safety of dry land. But now, at 83, Tom has relinquished these iconic pieces to the care of a military museum, where they will no doubt be treated with the reverence and respect befitting their history.
But what of the man who called them 'home' for days and weeks on end, while crossing oceans or surviving alone, perched atop a tiny rock? 83 year old Tom stood with me in the sunshine the day before they were taken away, he shared stories and memories, stroked the familiar corners and edges like the familiar friends these pieces of engineering are and admitted that it would be a poignant moment when they were loaded on to a manitou and he waved them off.
Adventurers never stop adventuring though, and there was a glint of something in Tom's eye which made me walk back to the West Word office wondering if he wasn't just clearing space in the garden for his next big plan… I've been invited back for a cup of tea next time I am in the office and I will definitely be taking Tom and Jill up on that offer - the lemon shortbread was delicious, the conversations were fascinating and I can't wait to see what appears in their garden next!
Nic Goddard

Tom will be a special guest at the Mallaig Book Festival in November when he will appear with the MacLean Brothers, the fastest trio ever to row the Atlantic, in conversation with BBC Radio Scotland presenter Mark Stephen. More details of the Book Festival in next month's West Word.