Eigg on Face; Taking it remote again in June 2011

[Simply Paul]

After much head-scratching and looking into a long list of potential Scottish island and mainland locations for my next extreme event - following on from St Kilda in 2007 (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=c26dd1c2-3e9c-4cb7-a240-47f957490d10), St Agnes IOS in 2008 (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=894da0b7-9b42-4a33-969b-9d9efcff1d21), Unst in the Shetlands in 2009 (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=5ec6ec57-9ad6-43a4-876f-746b3663136a) and a tidal island off the coast of Jersey in the Channel Islands in June 2010 (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=15d6eedf-075e-4cac-9dd1-0678bc745edb) - I think it's the right time to return this series of events to their origin; an off-the-beaten-track location that offers visitors a very special experience... Basically I've run out of N/S/W geographical extremes to visit for now (but stay tuned- I'm working on something else rather cool! No, it's not Lowestoft) but this is an extremely dramatic and interesting location on a little-visited island in the inner Hebrides. At the time of writing there's not even a cache on it! I'd hope to leave a cache behind with local support when I visit Eigg to climb the 1,200ft An Sgurr in June 2011.

I'll link to the event from this thread in late December, when I'm able to have the page listed. In the meantime, here's a photo to whet your appetite - The event will be held (so long as the weather means it's safe to reach) at the trig point at the 'prow' of the rock, at 393m above sea-level, which is where we'll be starting from:

https://img.geocaching.com/cache/log/a9fff400-091f-481c-b21f-035a163fdb4f.jpg

Eigg has some other treats in store; the famous 'Singing Sands', the 'Massacre' and 'Catherdal' caves and if I can arrange it with people with suitible skills and equipment, something like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JggTvqu63cQ&NR)! I also plan to camp on the island and visit Rum and Muck too...

More news here as and when I have it. I hope you'll be keen to join me somewhere amazing :)

[RuberyBlue]

I'm very tempted, keep me in the loop.

RB

[Simply Paul]

Following up on last week's Eiggy announcement, I have news of further Highland Adventures planned for June 2011:

https://img.geocaching.com/cache/log/aa24f03d-9b05-464e-9b0b-2a00788e942e.jpg

Pub events; a mainstay of caching meets. Where better to compliment my 'Britain's Fifth Most Remote Event Cache (Eigg)' event than one in mainland UK's most remote pub, The Old Forge (http://www.theoldforge.co.uk/), Inverie, Knoydart. There's even a cache near by (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=bd9e762c-be76-424a-b5a0-30aa0dd93015). Earlier in the day I intend to climb the localish (Metric) Munro, the 1010m (3346ft) Ladhar Bheinn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladhar_Bheinn), which is a hearty 22Km/13mile round route walk away - I may take a shorter route if I find a good description of one. I'll only attempt this walk/climb if the weather is settled enough- safety first! You'd be welcome to join me for the day but it's not the event. I'm only doing the walk to build up a thirst :beer: (Diet coke in my case)

More news, as and when...

[Simply Paul]

Having pondered nevryan's suggestion on the other forum, I've checked my schedule for my Scotland trip and decided there's time to have 'a day out' on Ben Nevis. Thus I'm going to arrange a CITO event at the top; anyone who's been up there will know it's not the cleanest of spots so gloves and sturdy rubbish bags will add an extra dimension to the climb and geomeet. The date is yet to be set, but the last half of June or very early July 2011 is in the frame at the moment. More info on this event, as well as the Eigg and Knoydart pub ones, to follow when I have it :)

[Simply Paul]

(Ben) More? You are spoiling us Mr Simply!

https://img.geocaching.com/cache/log/94f6d2f4-7b9a-429a-b411-9b0ec536117b.jpg

In addition to a CITO meet to tidy-up the 'roof of Britain' atop Ben Nevis, a pub meet in mainland Britain's most remote hostelry and a climb to the top of Eigg (for 'cracking' views?) already announced for summer 2011, I'm going to add a meet at the top of Ben More, not far from the UK's oldest remaining (1st set in Scotland but the archived GC4E (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC4E&Submit6=Go) in England was the 1st in Britain or the UK) geocache while I'm doing my own Highland (cache) Clearances:

GCF0 Scotland's First (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=8cc05584-3662-4aa9-9e2d-7eb5545dc18e) - It's quite a way off the beaten track and with just 57 finds in almost 10 years (set December 15th 2000 - the only live UK cache from 2000), finders will be members of a pretty exclusive club. Date TBC but it'll be in the latter half of June 2011 or very early July. It's on a Munro for baggers of 3000ft hills and at 1174m, it's a Metric Munro too. In fact, Ben More (http://walking.visitscotland.com/munros/lomondtay/ben_more) is the highest mountain south of Strath Tay.

I hope you agree it's shaping up to be quite a fortnight of geocaching experiences. Fingers crossed for good weather :socool:

Edit: I've just spotted Scotsbob (https://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=d6d24ef9-ed7a-497f-aab3-b90763252008&wid=dc500db2-b6a7-48d0-9b28-4e8e0ed9554c&ds=2) is holding an event on December 15th this year to celebrate the cache's 10th birthday: GC2BXRY 10 year anniversary of Scotland's First (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=dc500db2-b6a7-48d0-9b28-4e8e0ed9554c). As someone who went to Goldpot's excellent GC253NT GC4E England’s First! (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=989b2bf4-21ee-4e46-b6ad-780517adf164) 10th anniversary meet for the now archived GC4E England's First! (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC4E&Submit6=Go) (Actually Britain's first cache, I think) I'd love to attend but I doubt I'll get up to Scotland for it. :(

[Simply Paul]

I've discovered an amazing Scottish film location which is usually closed to the public may be open at some point in June 2011 - I'll post more info if I can confirm this is the case. It'd make a wonderful addition to any trip to the West Coast! :)

[Simply Paul]

Further to the above, and as mentioned on this thread 'at the other place' (https://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=261967), the location I've been looking at is Castle Stalker, as seen at the end of Monty Python and the Holy Grail as Castle Aaaagghhghghh! I've learned it's open between 30th May - 3rd June and 11th July - 15th July 2011 (amongst other, earlier and later dates). Neither of these periods are particularly good for my travel plans but it's just possible I'll be able to stay in Scotland a 3rd week and make the July 11th opening a cache event. More info when I have it...

[flipflopnick]

July 11 in the diary. Will we be using a motor boat from Arisaig? Have camped in a simple camp site north of village. Called Pete's camping. Probably 5 Star camping and caravan site now. Possibly near 56.92917°N, 5.85865°W

[Simply Paul]

Sorry to say I doubt I'll be able to stay in Scotland that late. Due to a big trade fair I cover for a magazine which is usually on the first or second weekend of July (date TBC for 2011), I think I'll be back down south before July the 11th - however, that doesn't stop someone else organising an event! It's certainly a location I'd love to visit. Perhaps for my next trip up, expected in 2013... :)

[Simply Paul]

Summer 2011 SP Remote Cache Event News!

Now that I've seen a CalMac timetable for trips out to the Small Isles (http://www.calmac.co.uk/timetables/summer-timetables.htm?id=summer-small-isles--mallaig-eigg-muck-rum-canna.png) (I hope to visit them all), along with the dates of the ETO Show revealed on a wall planner (June 26-27), I've enough information to work out a whirlwind schedule for a few days in the Highlands. My plans for June are:

Wed 15?/ Thu 16th - Drive up from Bucks, perhaps stopping in the NW of England on the way (car share available).
Fri 17th- AM caching on the west coast. PM ferry from Mallaig (mainland) to Canna. Set cache there? (zero atm).
Sat 18th- AM ferry from Canna to Muck. Set cache there? (zero atm). PM ferry from Muck to Rum.
Sun 19th- No ferries run on Sundays. Caching on Rum (7 atm) by bike & enjoying the wilderness.
Mon 20th- AM caching (perhaps placing). PM ferry from Rum to Eigg. 5th REMOTE EVENT & perhaps placing.
Tue 21st- AM Exploring Eigg. PM ferry from Eigg back to Malliag. Evening caching on the west coast. MAX DAYLIGHT!
Wed 22nd- AM ferry to Knoydart for THE OLD FORGE PUB EVENT. PM climbing local Munro & caching (3 atm).
Thu 23rd- Ferry from Knoydart (Iverie) to Mallaig, caching on Moidart, heading to Fort William.
Fri 24th- CITO EVENT on BEN NEVIS, caching in the area, driving south, more caching...
Sat 25th- BEN MORE/OLDEST UK CACHE EVENT, then heading south (car share still available).
Sun 26/Mon 27th - Trade show in Birmingham. (I could drop any car-sharer/es at a train station for them to get home on Saturday night).

I plan to take a bicycle across to the Small Isles as this is free, plus a tent, but they all have B&Bs or bunkhouses; drop me a line if you're interested in getting a group booking together. Any caches left behind will be with both landowner approval (this tends to be easy when one person owns the whole island!) and with a maintenance plan in place. The islands all have Trigpoints for baggers and the Eigg one, where my event will be held, is also a past YOSM site and thus loggable. The post-pub Knoydart walk will visit another TP, at 1010m, and Ben More and Ben Nevis have their own TPs, of course.

I'll add links to the above events (only ones up to the 22nd are in the waiting list at the moment due to the 6-month prelisting rule) when I can. In the meantime, feel free to comment, ask questions and generally get excited about a selection of what should be fun events (weather depending!) in some of the most beautiful places the UK (heck; the world!) has to offer :cheers:

[Simply Paul]

GC2EWR8 Britain's Fifth Most Remote Event Cache (Eigg) (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC2EWR8) has been listed for Monday, June 20th, 2011! I'm still waiting on the others but will add links as soon as I'm able.

Plus, I've just discovered that tonight Three Men in a Boat (Dara O'Briain, Griff Rhyss Jones & Rory McGrath) visit the Knoydart pub- The Old Forge. Catch it on BBC2 from 8pm tonight; Thursday Dec 30th. And on iPlayer for a while thereafter.

[Simply Paul]

Three Men Go to Scotland (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xmwl9/Three_Men_Go_to_Scotland_Episode_2/) Episode 2 - Available until 8:59PM Thu, 6 Jan 2011. The visit to the pub was short but sweet and the whole programme does give an idea of what the area offers cachers in the way of magnificent land and seascapes.

[Simply Paul]

Three Men Go to Scotland (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xmwl9/Three_Men_Go_to_Scotland_Episode_2/) Episode 2 got repeated last night. It's now available until 12:29AM, Monday, 17th Jan 2011. :socool:

[Simply Paul]

Latest news:

Plans continue to move ahead. I've had a reply from Stewart, the NTS's Property Manager for the remote Isle of Canna. He's aware of the game and keen to help me bring caching to the island by helping me site it and maintain the box.

I've also heard from Georgie of the out-of-this-world looking Kinloch Castle (http://www.isleofrum.com/kinlochcastle-bu.html) on Rum, my last stop before Eigg:

"We currently have all room types available for Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th of June. I'll give you a list of the rooms available and prices - just keep in mind if you want the dorm rooms to yourselves, you will need to pay for all the beds.

3 x Oak Room Doubles - £55 per room per night
2 x Hostel Doubles - £45 per room per night
2 x Twin Dorm rooms - £45 per room per night
William Bass Room - 5 single beds £90 per room per night
1 x 5 bed dorm
1 x 6 bed dorm
1 x 7 bed dorm
2 x 8 bed dorms

Let us know what your numbers are and the room types and we can book you in. We take a deposit of the first nights stay to confirm the booking - this is payable by card or cheque made out to Kinloch Castle. We could provisionally book you in and hold the rooms for 2 weeks if this makes it easier for you to plan"

Would anyone interested in staying at the castle - Do take a look at the link - drop me an email please :)

[Simply Paul]

A little bump for this to share some photos from my planned trip:

https://img.geocaching.com/cache/log/8c0fe153-b2c6-4ca2-9481-ac1fc4a609a4.jpg
Ag Sgurr on Eigg- location for my 5th Remote event

https://img.geocaching.com/cache/log/597b82fc-d73b-4f0e-afe2-0bd2ccdde3f0.jpg
Kinloch Castle on Rum

https://img.geocaching.com/cache/log/7f269a3d-0d4a-4711-b26b-bd40b03d783a.jpg
Castle ruins on the Isle of Canna

https://img.geocaching.com/cache/log/ea777810-e33f-4662-ac99-0845088f5d7b.jpg
A view of Knoydart

https://img.geocaching.com/cache/log/4cc1a2cf-cccb-4c5b-b0d2-b48d0d22ecd5.jpg
Ben Nevis

[Simply Paul]

Quick update

As you may know, I'm hoping to place caches on all the Small Isles (off the west coast of Scotland, just south of Skye) when I'm in the area for my Remote Event on Eigg (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC2EWR8) in June. At the moment, of the four inhabited islands only Rum has got caches yet. I've already had the ok from the National Trust for Scotland to hide one on Canna with the help of their ranger there - see above. I've also received the following from Ruth MacEwen (the MacEwen's own Muck):

"Re: Geocaching on Muck?

Dear Paul,

I have emailed the Isle of Muck community, and the MacEwen family about you hiding a cache on Muck. There doesn't seem to be a problem with this. A number of people hadn't really heard about geocaching, but they realise the fun visitors could have in using their GPS and are up for the new activity.

You are welcome to place the cache wherever you wish whilst you are here.

I can arrange for someone to meet you from the ferry closer to the time (if you would like to talk about the island), otherwise we will just let you have your walk and hopefully enjoy what Muck has to offer.

Best wishes
Ruth MacEwen"

So that's two green lights! I'm still waiting to hear back from Eigg (more complex as there are more landowners there) and Rum. I do love how caching can 'take you somewhere you might not otherwise have a reason to visit' - and that goes for placing as well as finding (with permission & a maintainance plan in place) :)

[Simply Paul]

GC2F03P - Meet at The Old Forge (Inverie, Knoydart) (http://coord.info/GC2F03P) for Wednesday the 22nd of June 2011 has been approved; thank you Deceangi! Come visit mainland's Britain's most remote pub, reachable only by boat or after a two day walk across the country's last real wilderness. More event news to follow in the next few days I hope :cheers:

Edit: GC2FPD9 - Top of the World* CITO Event (http://coord.info/GC2FPD9) on Friday the 24th of June 2011 has been approved too; thank you again Deceangi! A chance to leave the highest point of the UK and Britain slightly tidier than you found it with a CITO meet on top of Ben Nevis. It'd be great if you could join me. Bring bags and gloves :)

[Simply Paul]

And the fourth (and final, unless something amazing presents itself) of my Scottish summer events has been approved; thank you Royal Oak! GC2FVMA - (Ben) More? I'm Spoiling You! (http://coord.info/GC2FVMA ) is on Saturday, June the 25th, 2011. Ben More is a metric Munro and the highest mountain south of Strath Tay. It's also home to Britain's oldest cache; the last one hidden in 2000 which is still live in the UK. We'll pass this bit of caching history on the way to the top for the cache meet at 1174m. I hope you can join me for a meet with a view (weather willing!) :)

[Simply Paul]

An extra cache on the Knoydart peninsula was released today: GC2PJZG A (very) long way for a drink! (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=95cf6d88-bfd2-4381-8373-df940032a6fe) by pete37038. It's close (513ft) to my own GC2F03P Meet at The Old Forge (Inverie, Knoydart) (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=ee278dd0-202a-40ce-ad5e-7b394d664039) event set for Wednesday the 22nd of June, 2011. So with a Metric Munro to climb :eek:, a pub to have an event in :beer:, and now a whole four physical caches within a mere eight miles :):):):), what's holding you back? :ph34r:

[Simply Paul]

Less than three months to go til these events, so here's the current status:

Wed 15?/ Thu 16th - Drive up from Bucks, perhaps stopping in the NW of England on the way (car share still available).

Fri 17th- AM caching on the west coast. PM ferry from Mallaig (http://www.calmac.co.uk/timetables/summer-timetables.htm?id=summer-small-isles--mallaig-eigg-muck-rum-canna.png) (mainland) to Canna. Set cache there with help from the NTS warden (zero atm).

Sat 18th- AM ferry from Canna to Muck. Set cache there with the support of the island's owners (zero atm). PM ferry from Muck to Rum.

Sun 19th- No ferries run on Sundays. Caching on Rum (7 atm) by bike & enjoying the wilderness. After several exchanges of email, I still don't know whether I'm staying in the castle or not, but I'll have my tent with me anyway.

Mon 20th- AM caching (perhaps placing - still waiting to hear from the Rum folks). PM ferry from Rum to Eigg. GC2EWR8 - 5th REMOTE EVENT (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=3de82c82-4d55-4533-8a4f-726ff805e12a) & perhaps placing - also waiting to hear back from the Eigg community. I'll chase them up before the event. No news on the abseiling either but I'm still working on it...

Tue 21st- AM Exploring Eigg. PM ferry from Eigg back to Malliag. Evening caching on the west coast. MAX DAYLIGHT!

Wed 22nd- AM ferry from Malliag to Knoydart for GC2F03P - THE OLD FORGE PUB EVENT (http://coord.info/GC2F03P). PM climbing local (metric) Munro & caching (4 within 8 miles of the pub atm). If I get 10+ cachers at this event, we'll qualify for 10% off any food orders (not drink) thanks to Jackie at The Old Forge. My mate (and occassional cacher) Phil is tagging along, but I hope it'll be more than just the two of us here at Mainland Britain's most remote Pub :)

Thu 23rd- Ferry back from Knoydart (Iverie) to Mallaig, caching on Moidart, heading to Fort William.

Fri 24th- GC2FPD9 - CITO EVENT on BEN NEVIS (https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC2FPD9), caching in the area, driving south, more caching...

Sat 25th- GC2FVMA - BEN MORE/OLDEST UK CACHE EVENT (http://coord.info/GC2FVMA), then heading south to Birmingham (car share still available).

Sun 26/Mon 27th- Trade show in Birmingham. (I could drop any car-sharer/es at a train station for them to get home on Saturday night).

Feel free to ask for any extra info :)

[Predictable Bob]

:(

Gutted that we can't do this one - Jackie's work gets in the way ... :mad:

We lived on Benbecula for 3 years in the early 80's and I actually spent a fortnight working on St Kilda and would love to visit again - shame I'm 4 years too late !

:(

[Simply Paul]

I'll have some more island events in Scotland in 2013 PB. At least, that's the plan. Having visited Lewis and Harris in 2007, maybe I'll get to the south islands of the Outer Hebrides then.

Meanwhile, in 2011, just over a month til this expedition- bump :)

[Simply Paul]

Not that this needed a bump but...

I've spoken to the SNH chap on Rum about hiding a cache there (he knows about the existing ones on the island, left by a German visitor in 2006) and have a green light, along with a list of areas to avoid due to nesting birds. I plan to do some maintenance on the old caches on the island too. This only leaves Eigg itself to get permission to leave a cache on, along with a local guardian. I'm still working on it. Canna (NTS) and Muck (MacEwens) have both said ok and they're happy to help with maintenance, if required.

Hotels are booked, two bikes will fit on my car's back seat and the weather *will be fine* :cheers:

[Simply Paul]

Final bump for these four events before I pack up and head north. The weather seems to be settling down... :)

Extra info for the Knoydart crossing:

Knoydart-ferry.co.uk have £11 single/£20 return crossings from Mallaig to Inverie at 10.15am, departing Inverie at 11am. They also have a 2.15 sailing from Mallaig which leaves Inverie at 3pm.

Knoydartferry.com have £10 each way (free for bikes) crossings on the same route, leaving the mainland at 11.30am on Wednesday, with a return sailing at 5pm on Thursday, on top of their usual timetable (see website)

Or you can always walk in from Kinloch Hourn, but it'll take a couple of days...

Looking forward to meeting a few new brave souls, either on Eigg, Knoydart, up Ben Nevis or on Ben More.

[Miyagawa]

You know if you could ever arrange an event on Sealand, then I'd be very interested. :)

[Simply Paul]

You know if you could ever arrange an event on Sealand, then I'd be very interested. :)Funny you should mention that. I was watching How To Start Your Own Country with Danny Wallace only the other day... :)
I'm working on ideas for summer 2012, but helping organise the Geolympix (http://www.geolympix.com) might keep me busy around July... I'll post Remote plans as soon as things are fixed. Sealand would be very cool though. Redsands Fort too - there are quite a few off-shore locations I'd love to visit.