Eigg

Sat 13th Eigg


We headed towards the harbour in Eigg (dodging the ferry which was gaining on us) and were surprised to find another two yachts anchored already. The entrance is quite narrow with obstructions but it was low tide which was good as we could see where we could anchor easily.

When we looked around there seemed to be loads of people on the shore and the campsites had loads of tents. We rowed ashore and it was like stepping back into the seventies - hippies everywhere the only difference was that the cider most of them were drinking was cans of Magners not flagons of Scrumpy Jack. We went into the shop where we found out it was the anniversary party day of the community buy out of Eigg and even better there was a ceilidh on at night in the hall with a few bands including the 'Chair' from Orkney. We went for a wander around and our girls quickly homed on some other girls their own age. They did some rock climbing and then there mum came over looking for them. I said I would keep an eye on them as the mum wanted to 'socialise' at the pier. We went over to the beach and the lasses had a great time splashing around. The mum came over for a look about an hour later and I said I was sorry the little girls were a little wet. She said it's OK anything goes on Eigg. This turned out to be lucky because as soon as she left again Kaylee and the two other girls waded in up to their necks before I could stop them! They had really great fun with the girls who actually are from Eigg. There are only 2 kids in the nursery on Eigg and 7 at the school.

Ali and I sat on the rocks having a couple of cans to fit in whilst we watched over the kids. When we put the two girls back to their parents it turned out that their father is Scruff who was fishing with Martin Clunes on the island programme he did recently.

They were serving food at the pier so we had some to build up our strength for the ceilidh! By this time there were eight boats anchored in the harbour and motor boats coming accross from Mallaig. After getting changed we rowed ashore again to go up to the hall it is a bit further inland through the trees.

The hall had a really good atmosphere and the floor was full of dancers right from the very first song by the very first band. The eightsome reels look very complicated down here, I was glad I hadn't got up for that one! The kids were all playing outside climbing trees. One of the adults had told Alisha that the woods were full of crocodiles to stop her going wandering and it sure worked. The hall and garden got very busy indeed. The midge problem was sorted by the lighting of a big fire outside. A lady told us when we came in it was OK as there were mattresses in the corner where the kids could sleep but to be careful to get a space. Sure enough as the night went on kids were laid down by their parents and seemed to sleep soundly (pictured,) Alisha even joined them for an hour or so. I bumped into Andrew Gifford there which was a surprise as I wasn't expecting to see anyone I knew at all. He was playing the base with the Chair. One of the locals told me that there was a Shetland woman called Nora who lived on the island but she wasn't there. We had to call it a night about 12 as the lasses needed to go home (and there was the small issue of being able to row!) so we never got to see the Chair as they were only coming on at about 1am. I don't think that they are so strict about their time keeping in Eigg! It had been a great day and the lasses were happy to go to bed when we got back as were we.

Eigg Ferry Pier

Her are some pictures Ali took of the pier built by RJ McLeod a few years ago. He reckons it is a well built pier.