Last orders at The Old Library

It was the end of an Arisaig era on 31st October, as David and Penny Buick welcomed diners into The Old Library one last time. That evening, the restaurant was filled with locals, laughter, and a deep sense of community-a fitting tribute to the couple's seven successful years at the helm. With an impressive 4.6 star average on Google and hundreds of "Excellent" reviews, the Buicks' dedication and warmth have left an indelible mark on Arisaig's dining scene.
Having long dreamed of running their own business, the pair seized the opportunity to take over The Old Library in February 2019. For Penny, Arisaig was always home. For David, it lived up to its Gaelic translation: safe place. "Arisaig has always been my safe place," he says. "I knew from about the age of three that this is where I wanted to be." The couple's time in business wasn't without its challenges. With only one season behind them, they faced the shock of the 2020 lockdown. "Our fridges were full of fresh local produce, and we were fully booked for Mothering Sunday," David recalled. "When Boris appeared on our laptop screen announcing lockdown, I could've cried. But when everyone came back, it was brilliant."

The Buicks credit the "staycation" boom of 2021-2022 for breathing life back into the business. Still, staffing remained a struggle due to the lack of local accommodation. "Since opening on 4th March this year, we've had about two and a half hours off," David admits. But he is full of praise for their loyal team: "They're not staff-they're family." Supporting other local businesses was a cornerstone of The Old Library's success. "It was really important to us to use local suppliers," says David. "It's not the cheapest, but the quality is unmatched. Businesses like Iain Stewart, Lochaber Larder and Breckenridge have been brilliant."
Over seven seasons, the restaurant welcomed a few famous faces, including Andy Murray's brother, the late Queen's solicitor, and the President of the Scottish Rugby Union. But for David and Penny, it was the returning guests and familiar faces that mattered most. "On our last night, it was packed full of locals," Penny says. "Some even told us, 'We were here on your first night, so we had to be here for your last.'"
When asked about their biggest takeaway from running the business, David jokes, "Fish and chips!" before adding more seriously: "Don't be afraid to take things on. Dreams are achievable."
After years of living and working side by side, the duo are ready for a new chapter as their lease comes to an end. "We only signed for five years but luckily managed to extend it by another two," says David. He's keen to keep busy, starting a new career in delivery driving, while Penny, hesitant to retire, will no doubt find new pursuits to keep her engaged.
Now, The Old Library is up for sale-with eager interest from potential buyers. "Without a doubt we'll miss it," says David. "It'll be difficult seeing someone else in here." Judging by the outpouring of cards, flowers, and heartfelt messages, the feeling is mutual-Arisaig will miss them just as much.
Georgia Dennis

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Hello!
First up: a HUGE thank you to all of this month's contributors for hustling to get everything to me by the deadline (some items even came in early, amazing!) - your efforts are very much appreciated.
Highlights this month: Dougie Beck brings us all the goings-on from the Royal National Mòd, Anne Widdop takes us on a cycling adventure through Italy, Rob Fairlie reviews a new biography of Canna transplant Margaret Fay Shaw, and I chat with local design duo (also linked to Canna House...) Mairi MacDonald & Mungo Orr.
The festive season is fast approaching… if you'd like to pin a message for friends, foes or family to the festive noticeboard in the December issue, fire it over.
Thank you to Georgia for help with deliveries, and to Kirsty for help with subscriber copies!
Until next time...
Ceri Perkins
editor@westword.org.uk
Morar Station Building, Morar PH40 4PB

ISLE OF CANNA

Amazingly, Storm Amy didn't have as much impact in Canna as it did elsewhere. Storm Floris dealt with a lot of the trees that would eventually come down, so Storm Amy didn't wreak so much havoc as a lot of leaves had already been blown off. Storms aside, October was relatively calm. Still, rainy days gave way to some sunshine later on and the first Aurora of the autumn dark skies was visible. We can now clearly see the Milky Way as it arches across the night sky-following the length of the island.
Jane and Margaret set about mending the rips in the polytunnel created by Storm Floris. Armed with giant polytunnel sellotape, Jane climbed a ladder while Margaret cut strips and handed them up. It ain't pretty but it will do until Spring time when we can make a proper assessment. Gerry and Murdo installed a couple of fence posts to stop the end wall drifting any further inwards but it will all need a bit of tlc.
Lambs and cows set for market have all now made the journey across the sea, much to Gerry's relief. With top prices going for Canna cows at the recent Fort William sale, the farm team and crofters are on a high, and understandably so! All their hard work and care of the animals over the year has proved outstanding.
Some islanders have had training to use the forklift so there are now more people to help out at the pier and transporting goods around the island. Next up is digger training.

There are healthy reports of lots of seal pups at Garrisdale. The seal colony along there is thriving and Garrisdale has plenty of gullies, nooks and crannies for mothers to hide their seal pups while the mothers swim and feed in the waves. If you're heading along that way, remember to keep quiet so as not to disturb the pups.
Ranger Tom has been out tackling invasive plant species this month. Trailer loads of rhododendron have been removed to allow areas of the woods to flourish with native species. The space made by removing the rhododendron will allow native saplings to grow ensuring a steady increase in the trees. Rabbit fencing is also being repaired so rabbits don't eat the saplings.
Winter beach cleans have begun again and we're targeting specific areas where we get a high volume of marine litter. After the recent storms, larger items have been washing ashore as well as marine life. There are a few dead seals lying around-the dog owner's nemesis! A few of our island dogs like to have a roll in a dead seal, much to their owners' disgust. And if you're out walking, the wind direction wafts the smell up unsuspecting nostrils. Delightful. Other recent casualties include a pilot whale and a turtle.
Now begins the steady march towards Winter. This is my favourite time of year. Nights are drawing in, being cosy becomes a top priority; the cool of the morning brings freshness to faces and sharpens the senses.
Margaret Willington

ISLE OF RUM

Here we are, almost at the end of the season. Ferry disruptions and the weather haven't helped this year, but we've made the best of it.
The stags have been noisy around the village during the rut, which is still ongoing, just, but the annual rut walk at Kilmory had to be cancelled due to storm Amy. A shame-it's a really great opportunity to see the stags in action and learn from the expert research team at Kilmory. Interestingly, data from the long running red deer study suggests that the rut is shifting earlier in the year, similar to what we're seeing with the calving season-possibly a trend relating to climate change.
Storm Amy was not as fierce as Floris for us, and we look to have got off lightly compared to the mainland with just a few trees down, the exception being sadly the caravan on croft three, which got the brunt of the wind and is no more. We retained power but the Internet was off for a good while, so an impromptu quiz night was organised at the village hall by Jennifer, and a good old fashioned offline evening was had! The quiz winners got a bottle of Askival Rum as a prize and that took care of the rest of the evening's entertainment. We had so much rain that several culverts could not handle it, and the water was ankle-deep at various points in the village and out on the NNR too. Unfortunately, no rain gauge in the village anymore to see how much there actually was…
Rum Bunkhouse has some online winter offers, check out their website for more details and also check out the new Stargazers' Corner column in the West Word, featuring every month from now with updates on what's going on and what you can see on a clear night, from your very own and very local Dark Sky Sanctuary.
Finally, a belated welcome to Bernie-who is doing some supply teaching at Rum Primary!
Fliss Fraser

ISLE OF EIGG

Autumn arrived with a fury in October, with wild seas and even wilder wind taking down several trees across the island. The most noticeable effects of Storm Amy were a whole stand of huge beech trees downed in the old Pheasantry, and a yacht coming off its mooring. In lighter storm-Amy-related news, Feis na Mara in Arisaig was an absolute hit as an acoustic candle-lit extravaganza. Some Eiggers might have got stuck for a few extra days, but the buzz from the weekend carried us through the choppy four hours on the MV Bhrusda back home.
We were lucky to see many familiar faces gather on the Isle again the next weekend for Peigi and Wes's combined 175th birthday in the Hall. Thank you to all the musicians, including Wee Maggie and Lee for their songs. It was a gorgeous celebration of life, family, and community with so much amazing food as usual.
Good food will continue, thanks to a successful funding bid from HUBUB to continue running free lunches in the Hall on Mondays through winter, and avoid food waste by connecting with Mallaig CO-OP. The plan is to freeze portions and store them in a freezer in our new community larder shed the pier. We look forward to seeing how the primary pupils decorate the space, as well as enjoying nutritious warm meals in a warm space through the colder, darker months.
The end of the October finally brought us some sun, with crisp clear mornings. The sloes are ready to be picked, along with mushrooms, hazelnuts and whatever giant marrows are hiding, forgotten about at the back of the polytunnel!
Eilidh MacGlip

ISLE OF MUCK

Hello Muck Calling... Is it really almost November already? The Island has been relatively quiet the last fortnight due to the holiday exodus. School must have been harrowing and torturous as most involved, be it pupils or teaching staff, all pretty much couldn't wait to sail away to far off destinations, such places as we only read about in glamour magazines: Barra, the Lake district and (I can't believe it either) Whitby. It's obviously not wet enough on Muck for these thrill seekers. I think they just like the danger and excitement of-Will we get off? What vessel will take us? Will it even get in and can we ever hope to return..?
That is the dilemma that Colin has had to dice with as finally his cattle managed to get off to market but now in limbo with live Tupps, waiting to get them back and as the weather took a windy turn for the worse… fingers crossed that his farm house roofing project is surviving before he gets a chance to finish it.
As the clocks go back and the nights get colder and darker that can only mean one thing... Scary Walk is upon us! At Halloween, always loads of ghoulishly frightening characters out and about and that's just on a normal day... it ramps up as the day approaches and is quite the highlight on the calendar, which as always Muck does extremely well... medics and smelling salts on standby as sometimes tooooooo well.
Lodge staff have been busy as always this time of year and the groups of guests are having their best experiences to date, the new double act Keepers Kieran and Rab are not only settling in well with their partners and families but are genuinely comical and if you can understand them they regale countless stories from their past ventures.....Beaters day is going to be interesting with them in one corner and John Alec in the other, translators welcome.
Well that's all for this month. I'll leave you with a pic of our poor Coastguard shed which was no match for Amy (not you, Amy-the Storm) and was flattened beyond repair or recognition.
See you next time, regards, Bruce
Bruce Boyd

News in Brief

• Highland Council is urging communities to apply now for its Winter Resilience Programme if they want grit bins in situ in time for freezing weather. The Council's winter resources include a fleet with over 100 gritters, footpath tractors and more than 200 staff. Gritting will take place, when required, from 6am until 9pm, Monday to Sunday, throughout the winter season-which officially began on 14th October. Chair of the Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Ken Gowans, said that the Council would do what they could "within [their] resources and policy," but stressed: "I would encourage communities to come forward and apply now for winter resilience assistance from the Council that will provide them with salt in grit bins or heaps and other equipment to take action in their local areas that are important to them."
  For more information, visit: https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20005/roads_and_pavements/107/winter_road_maintenance/3.
  Note: trunk roads are managed separately, by BEAR Scotland. You can follow gritters on the trunk road network in real time (and have a giggle at their names), using Transport Scotland's online tracker: https://www.traffic.gov.scot/gritter-tracker.
• Glenuig Inn officially passed into community ownership on 28th October, after Glenuig's Community Benefit Society hit their fundraising goal of £650,000 to buy the Inn. The funds were raised over two years, via a community share offer, crowdfunding and donations. The Inn is believed to date back to the 1700's, predating the Jacobite Rebellion. Today, the team at the helm centres environmental responsibility by using local products, shunning single-use plastics, processing all food waste and using 100% renewable energy. The Guardian recently named the Inn one of the best pubs in Scotland for an Autumn getaway.
• The Highland Cinema's 'Local Resident Discount Card' offer is now live. The card entitles residents of Lochaber to a 30% discount on all General Release cinema tickets. To receive the free discount card, register for an account with the Highland Cinema (https://tickets.highlandcinema.co.uk/register/) and then either show up in person with proof of your local address, or email proof of address to: info@highlandcinema.co.uk. Happy viewing!
• Community groups are being invited to apply for a share of a new £500,000 Highland Council Reuse and Repair Fund-to develop projects that reduce waste and support sustainable living. Suggested projects include repair cafes; community swap and reuse hubs; skill share and upcycling workshops; and community tool libraries. The minimum grant support available is £2,000 and the maximum is £50,000. There will be two funding rounds this financial year, with more to follow in 2026-27. The closing date for Round 1 applications is 1st December at 12 noon. For more details and applications forms, visit: https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/283/community_life_and_leisure/1158/highland_reuse_and_repair_fund/3
• The Highland Council is calling on all businesses to take part in a survey about the housing shortage and its impact on the Highland economy. The survey will be open for four weeks and will close on Monday 1st December. To take part, visit: https://online1.snapsurveys.com/HighlandWorkforceHousing.
• A Highland-wide Virtual Jobs Fair will run Monday 17th to Friday 21st November, and connect job seekers with employers across the region, from the comfort of their own homes. Employers will host interactive sessions to share information about full- and part-time roles, apprenticeships, and seasonal or year-round positions. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions and learn more about training opportunities. Chair of the Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Ken Gowans, said: "By hosting the event online, we're making it easier for people to attend without the need to travel. The sessions are designed to be flexible, allowing attendees to drop in and out throughout the week." Find out more at: www.worklifehighland.co.uk.

Communities to get 'first dibs' on public land for renewable energy projects

A landmark shift in Scottish Government policy will make it easier for communities to own windfarms, hydroelectric schemes and solar arrays on public land, following a pressure campaign by activists.
In the coming decades, many existing windfarms in Scotland will need to be 'repowered' (replaced with newer technology). At this point, a new operator could come in, by bidding for a new lease to repower and operate the windfarm for two decades or more. However, it is also an opportunity to move privately-owned windfarms into community hands.
On average, community-owned windfarms generate 34 times more income for the local community, per Megawatt, than privately-owned windfarms do. Owning renewables can help to keep wealth circulating locally and provide a reliable income stream for community organisations and projects.
The suite of changes to help support communities to develop or repower renewables under 50MW on public land, include: a 15-month period to apply for the renewables lease, before private companies can bid; Government funding available to support communities' applications; and a register of public land used for renewables, with dates when new leases will become available.

Mallaig Lifeboat Log

Two months running with no shouts!

News from Mallaig Harbour

It will be obvious to everyone in Mallaig that the works on the overnight ferry berth are progressing; you can see the crane from almost everywhere within the village! For one week we had two cranes, while one built the other. The crane will be in-situ until mid-December, while the piling works are being undertaken. The contractors have built a temporary platform over the Harbour to enable these piling works. The first stage of filling in the underwater 'hole' on the linkspan berth was completed over two nights on the 8th and 9th October.
To do this, we had to ask the Coruisk to vacate the berth overnight for these two nights. Unfortunately, this coincided with an issue with one of the Loch Nevis' Schottel systems, which meant that the Loch Nevis was unable to manoeuvre safely. The Master of the Coruisk deemed that there were no other safe berths in Mallaig or at Armadale, which resulted in the vessel relocating to Craignure for the first evening, and then on to Kennacraig as there were no other available berths for the second evening. This obviously caused disruption to the Mallaig-Armadale service, which was compounded by the Loch Bhrusda then having to be redeployed to the Small Isles service to cover for the Loch Nevis. We didn't take the decision lightly to ask the Coruisk to vacate the berth, but the dive inspection the week previously had uncovered an issue that had to be resolved as quickly as possible so there was no alternative. CalMac are now operating on their winter timetable, so hopefully there will be less need for disruption to ferry services as a result of the works.
Still on ferries, the AGM of the Sound of Sleat Ferry Users' Group will take place on 12th November. It will be hosted jointly by us in the Harbour Office, and by Sleat Community Trust in their offices on Skye, or you can request a link to join online. The group are still keen to have the wider views of local businesses and the community in general, so that any requests made to CalMac are backed by evidence, and represent the views of people locally. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey, if you are at all impacted by ferry operations. It can be accessed from the following link https://forms.gle/naKm14UNExXidYMX7 or search for 'Sound of Sleat Ferry Users Group' on Facebook, and the post with the link to the survey is pinned to the top of the page.

Throughout the works, we are maintaining access to the Outer Harbour for vessels, but we have obviously lost the use of the 'stub' pier, where the Loch Bhrusda would normally lie, for the duration. This has meant that, through October, the Bhrusda has been lying where the Loch Fyne would usually lie. We have had various operations going on, including smolt transfers in the Outer Harbour and a busy period for fish feed, which has resulted in some of the Aquaculture vessels having to use the inner harbour. We've had lots of comments on the fact that both the MV Settler, and her 'twin' the MV Ocean Aquila were lying alongside one another at the point of the fish pier at various times throughout the month. It is not particularly uncommon for us to have both vessels in the Harbour, but they would normally have had separate berths in the Outer Harbour so it would not be so obvious!

Photo by Paul Harrold

The Marina is now closed for the season. October has been a very quiet month, probably as a result of Storm Amy chasing all the remaining yachts south at the start of the month-although we did have a Navy vessel, HMS Biter, in over the weekend of the 18th and 19th October, and we have had a couple of visits from RNLI Lifeboats on passage. Storm Amy also caused a bit of damage to some of the pontoon moorings and chains, so some work will have to be undertaken over the winter months to resolve this.
Coast Construction Management were able to come and repair some of the other damage that was caused by the storm, having hired a long-reach cherry picker from Inverness. Unfortunately, it didn't have quite long enough of a reach to replace the canopy on the high tower light that was damaged, so we need a Plan B for this! We're hoping that we will be able to take advantage of some of the crane works going on as part of the overnight ferry berth to replace the canopy.
We were saddened this month by the passing of James Hepburn, our Harbour Master's father-in-law. James managed George Walker and Sons Fish Sales office in Mallaig for many years, at the height of fishing in Mallaig, and had many tales to tell about his time around the Harbour. Allan Henderson delivered a heartfelt eulogy at the funeral, including some lighter moments. The sympathies of all at the Harbour Authority go out to James' family.
Finally, we are looking forward to welcoming the Screen Machine between Monday 10th and Friday 14th November. Films will be screened on Tuesday 11th, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th. Obviously, RJ McLeod's compound has taken up the space that we would normally use for the Screen Machine, so we will have to put it on the main pier, down by the CalMac marshalling lanes.
Jacqueline McDonell ~ 01687 462154

On and Off the Rails

Hello, it's me again!
The afternoon sun is beaming down, and I don't know where to start! But start the column, I must. So here goes, in no particular order...

Jacobite steam train
Friday 24th October saw the last Jacobite service of the year depart Mallaig at 2:10pm, and all of the train stock and locomotives departed Fort William Tom-na-Faire depot, bound for Carnforth's Steamtown, on Sunday 26th. Just where has the time gone since Monday 7th April?! West Coast Railways have already hinted on the Jacobite website that dates will be announced for the 2026 season, and ticket booking will go live, sometime in early December.
West Coast Railway Company had a hectic schedule in the run up to Christmas, hiring out stock locomotives and staff, as well as running their own tours to Christmas markets throughout the UK, plus trips to Glasgow and Edinburgh. For more information, telephone 03339 966 692.
Meanwhile, did you catch The One Show on BBC1 on Wednesday 10th September? Carol Kirkwood presented a 10-minute review of the "Hogwarts Express" while (of course) travelling on the train to Glenfinnan. She interviewed the very professional Hege Hernes inside Glenfinnan Museum. Carol frequently hosts guests on the Jacobite (when available!) who travel with Brightwater Holidays and/or Shearings. Originally from Morar, her knowledge is impeccable.
Furthermore, on Saturday 11th October at 8pm, a new Channel 4 series entitled Great British Trian Journeys from Above kicked off. The series will have four episodes, and is narrated each week by Hugh Bonneville. Episode One followed the Jacobite-all 42 miles. The filming from a helicopter was interspersed with Jacobite Clan history. I found it so good that I watched it again on C4+1, one hour later, and again when it was repeated the following Wednesday! With pints and pints of tea!! Catch it if you can.

ScotRail
Hats off to the Mallaig rail depot staff who turn out on our behalf, not just for visitors, and give all their very best attention to travellers in what can be difficult weather and track conditions. Currently, we have two local members of staff training to become fully qualified drivers too. That will mean a pool of eight drivers, all living locally! We currently have six conductors, and potentially a new Booking Office (and so much more) person will be announced. You all go above and beyond a duty of care to ScotRail passengers. Thank you - I appreciate you all.

Line closure, 7th-17th November
As mentioned in last month's column, the line between Crianlarich and Fort William will be closed in both directions from late evening on Friday 7th November until the morning of Monday 17th November. Passengers travelling from Mallaig to Fort William can continue to do so by train, but those travelling onwards will need to board a coach from Fort William to Crianlarich, before switching back to a train for the final leg of the journey and all stations to Glasgow Queen Street. The exception is those travelling on the early train-the 07:44 out of Fort William-who will stay on the coach beyond Crianlarich and all the way to Queen Street. Take note that this early train does not run on a Sunday-either from Mallaig or Fort William, as per the current timetable.
In the opposite direction, trains will depart from Glasgow Queen Street and run as far as Crianlarich, as per the current timetable. Onward travel from Crianlarich will be by bus as far as Fort Willliam, and then again by train for all stations to Mallaig.
The Oban line will be unaffected. Guests booked on to the Caledonian Sleeper are advised to check with the company for any changes.

Caledonian Sleeper News
More good news, following the announcement that Caledonian Sleeper trains travelling between Scotland (Fort William, Inverness or Aberdeen) and London Euston will soon call at Birmingham International Station six nights a Week… I can now confirm that this service will commence on 15th January 2026! Tickets went on sale on 1st October. It's a win-win for tourists, who will be able to start their night in Birmingham and wake up to our wonderful lochs, Munros, islands etc., and our tourist industry. Hospitality providers and outdoor activities will see the benefits too. Bring it on, I say.

Midland Pullman (HST) West Highland Pullman
We welcomed the Pullman train back to Lochaber on the weekend of 24th-26th October. The train arrived late on the Friday evening after travelling from East Leigh and making pickups along the way. Guests are provided with all meals on board the service, but are left to book their own choice of accommodation in Fort William over the weekend. The October group departed Fort William at 09:05 on the Sunday morning, no doubt filled with happy memories of our area With regret, the train could not visit Mallaig this time around, due to the Royal Scotsman train "bagging" the line on the Saturday. However, the company did advise that guests could visit us on the Saturday lunchtime/afternoon ScotRail service, and I know that some guests did.
They were followed down the line on the Sunday by the departing West Coast Railway Company stock heading to Carnforth, and later the Royal Scotsman on its way to Edinburgh. A photographer's dream!

Dates for your 2026 diary

Surely you have one by now..?!
Advance information: Model Rail Scotland is moving its dates! The event will be held Friday 27th - Sunday 29th March, in Hall 3 of the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow. The Friends of the West Highland Lines will have a stand together with Glenfinnan Station Museum. The event is the premier Scottish model railway show, and an absolute must for any model railway fanatic. If you have never visited it, give it a try. Advance family tickets are the perfect way to grab a bargain-plus, they come with a free catalogue on entry and you don't have to queue to enter.
Attendees get a stamp on their arm, which allows them to leave the hall, enjoy the catering stands and return refreshed. Good fun!
Finally for this month, an important entry for the aforementioned diary (get one from the RNLI shop in Mallaig if you haven't got one yet!): On 1st April, 2026, we should celebrate the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Mallaig railway extension line. The line opened on that day in 1901-not an April fool! I have been talking to a few good and worthy people about how we could celebrate the day. I will have more information in the near(ish) future, as to what we could do to celebrate. What a day that would have been! I wouldn't mind imagining time travel to see that day...
See you on the train,
Sonia Cameron

Obituary - LORNE WATSON MACMILAN (1977 - 2025)

Taken from us far too soon following a road traffic accident that was no fault of his own on 10th August while returning to Arisaig from a weekend well spent with family in Orkney, Lorne passed on the 25th of August 2025, aged just 48. A wonderful son, a beloved brother, a loving partner, an adoring dad, a cherished uncle and a good friend to so many, Lorne's life was full of drive, humour and adventure. He was deeply rooted in Arisaig, but his life and laughter extended far beyond.
Lorne was born to Marion and Gep MacMillan on 6th January 1977, and grew up on The Croft in Arisaig. From an early age Lorne enjoyed engines and machines. And there was always something to tinker with on The Croft. There was always work to be done too: feeding cows, fencing, ploughing, seeding, making hay, picking potatoes-and Lorne was always involved. On The Croft you learned to drive as soon as your feet reached the pedals and Lorne was always a driver! He enjoyed being at his dad's side, working, learning and taking the occasional trip away in the lorry and-most importantly-tinkering with anything mechanical that had wheels and an engine. He was a true petrolhead: cars, bikes, tractors, lorries and engines of every shape and size

At Arisaig Primary and then Mallaig Secondary, Lorne was known as sociable and full of fun. Nobody was more surprised than his family when he passed his exams, but he had always shone in practical pursuits. Work was never something Lorne shied away from. At just 12 years old, he started on the milk round, woken early each day by Bill Henderson from Traigh blasting his horn. By 16, he was on the Etive Shearwater ferry, tasked with making teas and coffees for tourists by Murdo Grant. Practical, inventive and fascinated by engines, Lorne saved his earnings to buy his first boat, naming it Calima after the initials of his mum and sisters. He worked for Hugh MacKay and learned joinery as a trade. He also worked on various fishing boats too.
He passed his car driving test almost as soon as he turned 17, and his HGV test just after his 21st. From then on, the open road was his world. He worked on many big sites, driving diggers and dumpers making new roads, including the new road right here in Arisaig. Driving lorries was another string to his bow. He worked transporting shellfish across to the continent, he loved the travel, though the hours were exhausting. Often, he would arrive home on a Friday, only to launch his dinghy and head straight out to Eigg to be with Kathleen. He established his own plant operating business, which grew steadily over the next 15 years and his hard work made the business strong, he had ventured from a one man band to employer. And then, of course, there was Tigh na Mara, with the campsite he and Kathleen set up eight years ago, a venture he was rightly proud of.
Though Lorne's world was filled with work, engines and adventure, family always came first. He and Kathleen knew each other for over 30 years, and for the last 11 years, they shared their lives and built their home together at Tigh na Mara, a house Lorne helped build with his own hands. Together, they raised their son, Kal, who was the apple of Lorne's eye. He adored being a dad to Kal, Breagha and Catriona and though his patience was sometimes short in other areas of life, when it came to his family-all of us-he made himself endlessly available. He was proud, loving, and ever present in their lives.
How do you sum up a man like Lorne? He was stubborn, impatient, quick-tempered at times and never one to suffer fools gladly. But he was also hardworking, loyal, brave and endlessly funny. He had a magic laugh, a deep sense of family and a drive that meant he never stopped moving forward. He worked hard, played hard and gave himself freely. He didn't believe in debt; he saved, grafted and paid upfront. He built his life with his own two hands, whether that was his house, his business or the campsite with Kathleen. He took pride in what he created.
Lorne was a lovely man who was unable to control his fateful final chapter. A man enjoying traversing his homeland, spending time with his family, making his way home, his life taken by a tourist on the wrong side of the road. Our country is beautiful and we are blessed to live here but we are faced with a huge number of drivers who are so distracted by the scenery, checking their satnav, or by trying to spot something on their bucket list. The whole of the Highlands are affected and the number of accidents, near misses and ultimately the deaths of our loved ones... there must be a better, safer way forward. We will be campaigning for changes to the laws regarding tourists causing accidents and hiring cars without signage as this affects this area so heavily. We will appreciate any support in the future.
Lorne's life was cut tragically short, but it was a life lived at full throttle, with heart, humour, and determination. He left behind Kathleen, Kal, mum Marion and dad Gep, sisters Catherine and Lisa, niece Lexie and nephews, Stefan, Lewis, Archie and Aidan, as well as a wide circle of friends and family who will never forget him. He will be remembered in engines roaring, in laughter shared, in the stubborn grin of a man who knew his own mind, and in the love of his family. He will live on in every story told about him.
The world is a smaller place now that Big-Hearted Lorne is no longer in it, but it is a better place because he lived.
Always loved and Forever missed. Our darling boy Lorne.

Biker Down
I'm sorry, friends, that I can't be with you to celebrate today
If you're all gathered round and reading this, I've probably passed away
But if I were there, I'd tell you not to shed a tear or frown
I'd tell you just to simply say, another Biker has gone down.
If I were there, I'd tell you how my life was calm and serene,
That I loved my Kal and family and especially my Kathleen.
I loved all my drinking buddies and all my life-long friends
I'd raise a toast to all of you, "May your party never end."
If I were there, I'd tell you how I loved the open highways
How I loved the curving mountain roads, loved to ride the back-road byways.
And how I loved it "in the wind", loved it when that engine rumbled, and the biker friends who rode with me and would help me when I stumbled.
You are amongst my dearest friends, brothers and sisters of the road,
We've travelled many miles together, shared many heavy loads.
If I could be there, we'd laugh and share the memories from our past,
and this gathering would be just one more tale, another story, not our last.
But today I can't be with you, except in your hearts and memory stores
So you'll have to laugh, lift a glass to me, then let your engines roar.
Please smile and do not shed a tear, wipe away that silly frown.
I'm off upon that final ride, another Biker who has gone down.

Obituary - MARION MACMILLAN (1948 - 2025)

Our Mum, Marion, was born in Springburn in Glasgow, 23rd July 1948. The family were poor, but she had fond memories of living in the Close, and that her granny was so very kind to her. She remembered going to pick coal off the railway, on one occasion tripping and breaking her arm as she fled an approaching train. She was the eldest of seven-Marion, Eddy, Alice, Pauline, Paul, Brian and Joe. They were in Dunoon, in a children's home before they were fostered out to Barra when she was around 8 years old. Her brothers and sisters followed her there over the years. She was fiercely protective, and mothered them all. At 16, she returned to the mainland to find work in hotels in Rothsey and Oban, and later at Morar Hotel, sending money home to her brothers and sisters each week. In Morar, she became friends with Jasmine, Gep's sister. She met Gep at The Croft in 1964, when Jasmine took her out from the hotel. They were friends before marrying in 1971. They lived in Forgendenny in Perth when they were married. Mum worked in Strathallan school as a housekeeper. Gilliain and Catherine were born in Perth. They returned to Mallaig when Catherine was just a few weeks old and then moved out to The Croft when Lorne was just a year old. Lisa completed the family.
Mum loved living on The Croft. There was always something to be done: making hay, picking potatoes, looking after the cows and hens. She loved growing flowers in her garden and always said she would never leave there. She loved looking after her four children, helping with crofting and running the campsite. She loved all the visitors on the site; she could be roaring at us kids to quieten down one second but as soon as the phone rang, her posh phone voice would appear as she answered: "Hello Arisaig 200!"

Life revolved around us kids, the cows and visitors. We have many lovely memories of happy times, racing round haystacks, bonfires on the beach and games of rounders on the campsite. Many of the visitors became good friends and even god parents to some of us children. Mum did relief postman duties when dad had holidays, and even worked in the hotel some evenings. She was also present each year at the polling station. She loved playing whist and enjoyed the local whist drives in the villages. She loved picking whelks to make some extra money for Christmas. And she was especially happy at Christmastime when she used her training from her silver service days at the Morar Hotel, where she would make melba toast with curly butter, and melon balls, and shape her napkins into swans! She was never happier than when the house was full; she loved having all her nieces and nephews around her, which carried on through the generations to her great nieces and nephews. She just loved looking after everyone. She gave her heart away to everyone and the world was a better place for it.
None of us will forget the time that Mum went over to the local shop after the Flemings took it on. She filled a big bag with their brand new scoop-your-own muesli and set about feeding us kids a healthy breakfast. We sat with tears in our eyes each morning telling mum it had dog hairs and pony nuts in it. She clipped us round the ear and told us to put more sugar on it, that she had paid good money for it and it was good for us. The next week she went back to the shop looking for the muesli again only to be told that they never had muesli in a big bin but they did have Wilsons dog meal... anyway we all had lovely shiny hair for a couple weeks!!!
Mum had an absolutely great sense of humour, dressing up as local people for fundraisers, writing poems… she had a real gift for writing wee ditties! Here is one she wrote to her surgeon before she got her new knee:

Mum had such a wonderful outlook on life, she never let things get the better of her, she always picked herself up and got on with things and, in her own words, would say, come on, cheer up!! Sadly within 48 hours of Lorne's accident, whist at bedside vigil, she became unwell. She suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary herself.
She was on complete bedrest and after tests were carried out her only option was to undergo a triple heart bypass. The brave wee woman that she always was faced it head on. She was so desperate to be at Lorne's side and even spent an evening trying to escape her ward to get to him! They were reunited in the intensive care unit following her surgery.
She made some great progress in her recovery, first in Aberdeen and then in the Belford. After just 24 hours there, we collected her at 10pm at night due the ward being shut down with Covid and brought her home to The Croft. She was determined to attend Lorne's funeral, but very sadly collapsed that morning. She was very grateful for all the visits and calls she received during this time. She was attended to by her loving family during her last weeks at home whilst we tried our best to aid her recovery. She was a mother like no other, and her life was her grandchildren, but ultimately her heart was broken by the loss of Lorne. Lorne and Mum are together again in eternal peace, but our hearts will never heal.
The family at The Croft and Tigh na Mara would like to acknowledge the great outpouring of love and the continuing care we have received-all of the cards, messages and calls, as well as the wonderful meals and baking dropped off. Every message about Lorne and Marion was filled with warmth and affection and it gave us great comfort. To the Police, ambulance, SCAA, the ICU, the Cardiac units, the district nurses, doctors, Jamie and Beth at Manson and MacBeath, to the Astley Hall, and to all the family and friends that keep us upright in these dark days, we thank you from the bottom of our broken hearts.
Please keep your diary clear for 6th December. Posters will be appearing soon for a Tractor run in the village. Lorne and Kal made a trip to Orkney last December to watch the tractor run there and he was determined to get it organised in Arisaig for this year. Anne Cameron and John MacDonald (of Silversands) will be organising this in memory of both Lorne and Mum, and raising funds for the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary ICU and Cardiac Units. So please, spread the word, and if you would like to take part get in touch, get your tractors power-washed, get your wellies on, get your vehicles decorated in lights and Christmas decorations and smile in their honour and have some fun!
All the family at The Croft and Tigh na Mara

Letters to the Editor

Dear Ceri,
Feeling connected to the Small Isles and surroundings since the early nineties (I spent several months at Lawrence's farm on Muck as a young man), I adore your community paper. After reading it online for years, I've been receiving the print version for a year now, and plan to continue into the future!
Warm regards from Switzerland,
Lorenz Marti, Basel

Dear Editor (Ceri),
Inspired by the article about Loch Morar in the September edition of West Word, we cycled to the end of the tarmac road and enjoyed a picnic lunch in glorious sunshine, the hills sheltering us from the northerly wind. Some fascinating facts in the article about the fifth largest loch in Scotland.
I must have dozed off and was woken by a splash… I just manage to grab my camera and take a picture as the shape disappeared into the dark depths. Digital gives you an instant image so there is no fear of a dark room foul ups or manipulation. We spent a good half hour scanning the loch surface but to no avail. We did however find a mummified creature on the shore which looked a bit fearsome but small in relation to the monster I had witnessed. Could this have been Morag, I wonder?
We had an amazing two weeks exploring and speaking to people in the West Word area, which was immensely helped by articles in the monthly magazine. News from the islands and frog watching (Auntie Mary) on our walk-up Glen Beasdale to the waterfalls. Sightings of eagles (golden and white-tailed) albeit at a distance were almost a daily occurrence. This was capped off by sightings of four humpback whales amongst a gannet diving spectacle between Eigg and Rhum. Not so sure it was a good idea to have tide tables which resulted in shock high tide dips and nae luck fishing! We had a brilliant holiday. Trips to Knoydart and Eigg were amazing, and I feel Rum, Muck and Canna beckoning us for a future visit. Every body we met was very friendly, giving us local history, and many seemed to be related, whichever path we took! It was a pleasure to meet and chat to you at the back of Morar station behind your office.
John Marshall, Auchtermuchty
ps. Some pictures and Morag possibilities attached!

Birdwatch by Stephen MacDonald - Sightings for October 1st-25th 2025

A very stormy start to the month, with some damaging winds and heavy rain to contend with. There were several days of calm conditions, some overnight frost and hill snow.
The strong Westerly airflow brought more birds close inshore, with Storm Petrels seen close in to West Bay and the outer breakwater, Mallaig, Loch Nevis, and even to the head of Loch Ailort.

Still feeding frenzies to be seen, sometimes close to the shore and in very shallow water as witnessed at Camusdarach on several occasions. Mostly Gannets and Kittiwakes, but Cormorants, Shags, Guillemots and Razorbills also taking advantage of the food available.
Several reports of Whooper Swans flying South throughout the month; 31 over Rhue, Arisaig on the 4th, 11 over Morar and 9 over Invercaimbe on the 5th, 40+ south over Mallaig on the 11th, 6 over Portnadoran on the 17th. Four were seen resting on the sea at Loch Ailort on the 4th and 2 were on Loch nan Eala for a day mid-month. On the 25th, 2 Pink-footed Geese were seen feeding alongside the local Greylags and Canada Geese at Back of Keppoch.
Red Breasted Mergansers were seen on the Morar Estuary, Camusdarach and Loch nan Ceall. Three Goosanders were seen at Mallaig Bheag on the 18th. On the 11th a Slovenian Grebe was on Loch nan Ceall, first report of the winter. Loch nan Eala held Wigeon, Teal and Moorhens.
Most of our summer visitors have left, so 3 Swallows seen near Woodside, Morar on the 7th, and the occasional Wheatears seen on the shoreline at Traigh were likely migrants passing through.
From mid-month, the first Redwings and Fieldfares were reported from the Arisaig area. Still in very small numbers and with the Rowan berry crop so poor they may not hang around. A notable increase in the number of Blackbirds from mid-month also, many will be migrant birds.
On the 20th, a pair of Blackcaps were seen feeding on Elderberries in a Morar garden, with 3, a male and two females seen there the next day.
Numerous reports of Jays from Morar and Arisaig, taking advantage of the good crop of acorns this year.
A Kingfisher was seen on the Morar River on several occasions.
A female Hen Harrier was observed hunting near Loch nan Eala on multiple occasions from the 6th of the month.
A Goldfinch ringed as a recently-fledged juvenile on 5th June 2025 in a Morar garden, was re-trapped by a ringer at Walney Bird Observatory, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria on the 17th October, 363km SSE.