GLENUIG COMMUNITY INN SHARE OFFER LAUNCHING SOON!

The Glenuig Community Inn Committee's efforts to ensure community ownership of Inn are progressing well, and their community share offer is launching very soon - by the time you read this, it will likely already be live! The opportunity to buy and own shares offers you a unique opportunity to secure and shape the future of the Inn for our community and visitors alike.
They will also be launching a crowdfunding campaign over the next few weeks. In the meantime, plans are also underway to take over the management of the Inn in the coming weeks. This step is a significant move towards creating a community-run hub, while they continue to fundraise for the final purchase. The support and interest shown so far have been very encouraging, demonstrating the shared commitment to making this project a success.
The Glenuig Community Inn committee was established to bring community ownership of the Inn to life, ensuring it remains a vibrant hub at the heart of the community alongside the Hall, Shop, and History Centre.
The Community Inn share offer includes two options:
Type A - Community Members: For individuals living in the Glenuig area. The minimum investment is £25, ensuring local residents have a strong voice in the Inn's future.
Type B - Supporter Members: For individuals or organisations outside the local area. The minimum investment is £2,000, allowing supporters from further afield to contribute to this initiative.

To find out more about the share offer and how you can participate, visit www.glenuigcommunityinn.org. For the latest updates, follow the Inn on Instagram and Facebook @glenuigcommunityinn.
If you have questions, please email us at: glenuigcommunityinn@gmail.com

ARISAIG'S CHARLIE IS YOUNGEST BOXER IN LOCHABER

The saying "great things come in small packages" was never more true than with 10 year old Charlie Varley from Arisaig, who has just been officially licensed by Boxing Scotland and has also become one of the youngest ever carded boxers at Lochaber Phoenix Boxing Club SCIO.
A member of the Corpach based Club since he was old enough to start training just over a year ago, Charlie has proven to be an absolute powerhouse, learning the skills and moves needed for the ring and to compete in just over a year.
Weighing just 30kg and at 4 feet 3 inches in height he is a diminutive figure in the gym, even amongst others in his own age group, far less the senior boxers when they arrive to start their own sparring sessions. However his abilities and staying power belie his build when sparring with slightly older, experienced members, also showing an unquestionable level of fitness and staying power.
Charlie's father, Pete, was a member of the Club many years ago before moving away from the area, but rejoined training sessions when he returned and has now also become a Coach.
He said: "Charlie has always been keen on boxing and wanted to come with me to the Club from a very early age. Once he was old enough there was no stopping him, he joined the Junior sessions and was so enthusiastic in working with the coaches and other members".
Attending three nights a week, he quickly learned the exercises and listened intently to guidance from the coaches which has resulted in his official registration and recognition. Head Coach, Aidan Donnelly said: "Charlie is a great example of dedication and natural talent which he has developed to a very high level. He is a total powerhouse, always ready to listen, so keen to learn then put it into practice.

"There was never any doubt that he would become a 'Carded' boxer, meeting all the requirements of Boxing Scotland with a high standard of skill and safety in the sport. Congratulations to him for achieving this is in a relatively short time." Being fully licensed, Charlie is now eligible to compete at 'Schoolboy' category against boxers of the same age, with closely matched weight and skills, at National and Club levels. With the Lochaber Phoenix Home Show coming up on 29th March he may well be able to demonstrate his talents to a local audience, should a suitable opponent be found. The Club would also welcome a sponsor for Charlie to help meet costs of new equipment and travel top competitions. For £150 the sponsor will get coverage on social media, a framed and signed picture of Charlie to display in their premises, and a discount on attending Club events.
Please email iainpics@googlemail.com for more information.
Iain Ferguson

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

We're very pleased to say that West Word made the shortlist for the Community Newspaper of the Year award in the Highlands & Islands Media Awards again this year! The Press Ball took place on 7th February. We didn't win unfortunately, but it was a fun night! Congratulations to Lewis paper Fios for taking the prize.
The concluding article in the series on Calum I Maclean's diaries will now be in next month's issue - Andrew is putting the finishing touches to it and needs to confirm a few details before we can publish it.
Thanks for all the photos you've been sending in recently - keep them coming! News, snippets, congratulations, World Wide West Words - we want to see them all!
Thanks again to Simon for helping out with the printing this month.
Kirsty Bloom
editor@westword.org.uk

KNOYDART

Knoydart's annual Burns Supper took place last month - see back cover for photo!
It's now safe for Knoydart locals to roam freely without the worry that Iain Wilson is gonny ask them to do a speech or turn at the Burns Supper. As you can see it was a great turn out and a highlight of the year for many.
At the time of writing your regular correspondent Heather "hasn't popped yet". Wee Ellie excitedly tells us the baby could arrive any day now! We all can't wait to meet Knoydart's youngest resident.
We've gone to the dogs, literally. The butchery team have launched a really tasty hot dog infused with Knoydart Brewery Porter. Also within the last month Terra, Trish and Corinna have all re-homed rescue dogs. Watch out for the dog show at this year's games!
If you enjoy wildlife and the outdoors as well as the Knoydart scenery, Daniel Woods has launched a YouTube channel called Wild Woody, Knoydart. Deer stalking, fishing and a bit of Woody's banter all feature.
The UK government has announced it will slash the Shared Rural Network programme with the number of mobile phone masts from 260 to 60. They had intended to build two 4G masts in Knoydart but it looks this is not going ahead.
The Old Forge will be holding a celebration at the end of March (date and more details next month) to celebrate three years of community ownership. Now that's something to raise a glass to!
Cheers!
Isla Miller

ISLE OF CANNA

Last year January seemed to take 150 years but this year, it has flown by at an alarming rate! It's been a non-stop rainy and windy start to 2025; the ground is absolutely sodden and slipping in the mud is a daily occurrence. Bring on a drier, sunnier February!
We remained largely unscathed by Storm Eowyn, thankfully, partly due to a fairly neutral tide but there were water devils (small ones) spiralling across the bay and the swell out towards Tarbert was particularly impressive. With the storms comes the marine plastic with large items being washed up on Canna shores. We will have to do a sweep of the island to clear it all away.
The farm has been training the hogs to feed from troughs. The sheep are brought into the big barn for a time before being moved out to the fields with the troughs. All going well. The teenagers (cows) did some CREEL maintenance supervision for Jane and I while we were sorting out one of the wind turbines. They were very curious but not very helpful!

Our new Visitor Hub is now complete and it is looking incredibly smart. We are looking forward to our visitors using the facilities this coming season and beyond. Thank you to Speyside Builders for their work on building the hub.
Canna House is pretty much done. Simpsons are here doing some final snagging and once that is complete, we will be moving towards the official opening of the house for the public to visit and take a tour.
We have now got planning for our three new community houses. We have been working closely with Catoe & Brown and Community Housing Trust to take this project forward and we are incredibly grateful for all their hard work.
The days are getting marginally longer and the snowdrops have started to appear in the woods. It hasn't been that cold and the bulbs in the garden have already stuck their heads above ground; daffodils, tulips and bluebells all making a break for the light!
Margaret Willington

ISLE OF RUM

Our first event of the year was the launch of Rùm as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. We gathered on Saturday 18th January, supported by experienced astronomers Steve Gray and James Green from the Cosmos Planetarium and learnt about the night sky. With the aid of their immersive mobile planetarium, which is totally awesome, we got a virtual tour of the night sky, a guided tour of the moon landing and loads of amazing information about galaxy formation, black holes and distant stars and light. There were VR headsets to try too to explore the galaxy from the micro to the macro, we are all amateur astronomers and physicists now! Some of us (me and the kids) dressed up in space suits too, which all added to the fun and when the clouds parted, we headed outside to view our dark sky heritage . . . we got to see Jupiter and its Galilean moons and the Andromeda galaxy and some constellations we weren't familiar with. I'm sure everyone is aware that there is a planetary alignment going on and you can see most of the planets on a clear night. It was a fabulous evening all wrapped up with yummy food and community hospitality. To cover the event, we were fortunate enough to have a journalist and photographer from the New York Times on the island: their article on Rùm will be published next month. Cosmos Planetarium will be back throughout the year for more events!
And then the following week it was Burns Night. The kids at Rùm Primary made the haggis; they're getting good at it now as they have been making it for a few years. Rhys did his usual Ode to the Mouse - we should know this off by heart by now. New resident Coinneach did the toast to the lassies and his partner Elle, the reply… the chat was of the women knitting and crafting and the men being generally disorganised. Sounds about right.
Back at Rùm primary, when they aren't making haggis, the kids have an amazing new project to start. With some grant funding, they have got a hydroponics system, all the way from Canada, which they intend to start growing some fruit and vegetables this year. Spinach, lettuce, strawberries, herbs and cucumber are on the list. They'll be sharing their learning with other local schools online. Check out the Rùm primary website, here: isleofrumprimary.wordpress.com
If you can't wait for a monthly West Word update from Rùm, you're in luck. New resident and our visitor services manager Elle Duffy is brushing up her journalism skills with a weekly column in the Scottish Herald. If you want to find out more of the goings on from a small Scottish island, then this is the article for you. Read it in the Saturday Herald or Sunday, online. We're hugely excited, Elle is also on Insta and Tiktok as @lifeonrum.
Preparation for the coming summer season is underway with painting and maintenance being carried out at local businesses to get ship shape. We are also having an open day on Tuesday 25th March when we welcome mainland tourism operators and local businesses to come and find out more of what Rùm has to offer to visitors, and there is plenty. We do these events every couple of years as it really helps mainland accommodation providers spread the word to their guests about visits to Rùm.
Fliss Fraser

ISLE OF EIGG

We've had plenty sun, and even some daffodils in bloom, and work has started at long last on the two new houses at Grianan, but despite these glimmers of spring, January has been a very difficult month on Eigg with the loss of family and friends from the island and across the water.
Just as the festive season ended, John 'Bird' Chester was laid to rest in Kildonnan graveyard in a moving ceremony which gathered the whole island to pay homage. Described by Ben Cormack in John's book, The Birds of Eigg, as 'a man with an unrivalled understanding of the way Eigg works when the humans aren't looking', he was central to the development of Eigg as a wildlife haven. Stories and memories were shared at the well-attended wake held at Galmisdale Bay café. We all marvelled that a rainbow and a Sea Eagle had appeared at his grave digging and burial.
Following the sadness of parting with such an old friend and pillar of the Eigg community, we were devastated to hear of the passing of Ruairidh Carmichael from Glenuig, a good friend of the island, who was genuinely loved and cared about on Eigg. Many in our community travelled to Glenuig to pay homage to such a lovable character and their respect to his family in their grief at his untimely passing.
On their return to Eigg, the mourners together with the rest of the island community were stunned by the news that Niamh Jobson had passed away suddenly on 17th January - just a few days short of her 23rd birthday - in Hong Kong, where she had gone to celebrate with her family, the place where she was born and had so many happy memories. People converged at the pier where they huddled and hugged in a palpable feeling of deep shared grief.
As a community, we are truly heartbroken by the loss of a young, beautiful, talented and immensely brave young woman who despite the illness she courageously fought for the last five years with the help of her incredibly supportive family and friends, managed to make her mark on the world through her love of music. Her loss is hard to put into words, but we share our deepest condolences with all those who knew her, and especially her parents, Jackie and Jonny, her brother Finn and her sister Betsy-Mae.
Eilidh MacGilp

ISLE OF MUCK

Hello, Muck Calling . . . well absolutely not a lot to report this time round, it's just a constant merry go round of medical appointments, MOT'S and sharp intakes of breath as we think on things that we can improve on for the new season. We are in the process of having a brand spanking shiny singing and dancing new Muck website to bring us into the modern era which hopefully will inform and help our visitors to navigate our wee Island.
The new season and summer timetable seems to be coming at an alarming rate: before we know it the 28th March will be upon us, followed hotly by Lambing. I just hope that we have an extended spell of dry weather as the ground is extremely soft and cuts up easy . . . too easy! and we just hope the Lochnevis is up to the task after its service and gremlins ironed out.
Well folks short and sweet I'm afraid. No news is good news except as a community we would like to offer our condolences and wishes to the family of Ian Coates who sadly passed away, such a gentle giant of a man and will be missed.
Bruce Boyd

Having a Ball

This month, me and my mum (Kirsty, the editor!) had the opportunity to attend the annual Highlands and Islands Media Awards and Press Ball (HIMAPB), held in Inverness. West Word was on the shortlist for one award - Community Newspaper of the Year. Unfortunately we did not win this year, however the event was a great opportunity despite this and we were able to meet many different people from newspapers all across the Highlands.
For example, we were sat at a table for dinner with a group of journalists from The Orcadian newspaper - Orkney's largest paper. It was very interesting to hear all about their paper and the logistics of printing it in Glasgow, yet still managing to put it out the next day! We found out about their increasing ferry services which are benefiting the islands greatly, and what happens when the ferry can't make it with the paper because of the weather - namely, lots of messages out to their readers!
The event was introduced by the chair of the HIMAPB, who broke the ice by telling everyone lots of funny jokes and puns about the world and journalists in general. We had sore stomachs from laughing before we'd even eaten! After this talk, they began presenting the awards, which started with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award. This was given to Jackie O'Brien, a great journalist with many years of experience. One clip in particular that they showed of her gave me and Kirsty a good laugh - Jackie was seen on Gogglebox, as they watched her report on the traffic problems in Glenfinnan. The people on Gogglebox had some interesting opinions on the situation, and they decided that her standing there as a reporter was the reason the road was blocked!

Dinner was an amazing three course meal, prepared and served very efficiently by the lovely staff at the Kingsmills Hotel. It was my first meal of its kind, with things like cheese fondue and onion tartin tartlet, and a good one to start with! We were stuffed by the end of it - but of course there was a ceilidh still to be had. The band played a good mix of songs, both traditional and pop, and we managed to fit a few dances in before the end of the night. I am yet to be swayed from my opinion that Lochaber people ceilidh the best out of everyone, though!
Just as we were leaving we were lucky to bump into two people, the first being the previous chair of the HIMAPB, Gordon Fyfe. He was telling us of all his fond memories of West Word and the community it serves, and remembered the last editor Ann well. He also talked about the Eigg buyout back in 1997, and how much it meant to him that the community was able to make the purchase. The second person we met was Angus MacDonald, our MP, who we had a good chat with about all things newspapers and the local area. My bus ride to school every day felt very trivial compared to his Sleeper commute to London every week!
A great night was had by all who attended, and we left, stuffed with good food and chat, at midnight, for a long drive back in the dark. To top it off, I had work at six the next morning! But it was worth it to meet all of the wonderful people who were part of the event, despite not getting anything for West Word in the end.
Lucy Bloom

Create and Explore on the Isle of Eigg

The Isle of Eigg has been the subject for many photographers, musicians and artists over the years. Its ethereal scenery - white beaches, rugged cliffs and misty mountains - inspire and intrigue. It's also the home of many artists and craftspeople who use local natural materials - homegrown willow, wool and plant-based ink and dyes to name a few.
Keen to share the island's wild beauty and the joys of creativity with others, botanical printmaker and guide, Laurie King, has launched a new series of retreats on the island in 2025. Along with basket makers Catherine and Pascal, she hosts the first one in May. Laurie's expertise in foraging and printmaking compliments Catherine and Pascal's in basketry. Guests will be invited to explore the island through willow weaving, walking, foraging, and printmaking. Catherine and Pascal grow their own willow on their croft, while Laurie gathers plants growing wild, as well as planting her own garden, for her art. They all work with the colours, patterns and beauty of nature on Eigg.
In September, Jemma Gunning, a professional artist and printmaker from Bristol will join Laurie to host a long weekend of drawing, walking, foraging and printmaking. Guests will be encouraged to rediscover their creative spirit and will leave with a collection of unique artworks and a renewed sense of connection to nature. Jemma is known for her incredibly lithographs and intaglio processes to portray changing landscapes. Her work can be found in public and private collections such as the V&A, Ashmolean, and RWA.
Included in the retreats are four nights of accommodation in the Glebe Barn, three delicious meals a day cooked by a local chef, all tuition and materials. They are all about nourishing the creative spirit through immersion in an incredible landscape and learning to use natural materials.
Retreat dates:
Weave, Gather & Make: 18th-22nd May
Forage, Walk, Draw & Print: 18th-22nd September
For more information visit: https://laurieking.org/retreats

Mallaig Lifeboat Log

9th January 2025
The RNLI Mallaig lifeboat crew were tasked to their first shout of 2025 on 9th January to an on shore casualty down Loch Nevis. The pagers sounded at 09:53am and the boat launched at 10:08am, into bright sunny skies but arriving on scene at 10:45 in blizzard conditions. Around the same time the HM Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 151, arrived from Inverness. The casualty had fallen and been taken to a nearby estate office to receive first aid. Rescue 151 requested the assistance of the lifeboat crew to help transfer the casualty to the helicopter for their onward journey to hospital. The lifeboat was stood down, returned to Mallaig and ready for service at 12:35pm.
Jessica Logan

News from Mallaig Harbour

As I am writing this, the Sprat pump is due to be dismantled for another year. Landings of Sprats continued into the last week of January, although again the quality was mixed. Looking at the landings for the last calendar year, the trend is still improving after 2020 and 2021 which were blighted by covid and Brexit, and the value of fish landed in 2024 was actually slightly up on 2018. Let's hope that the trend continues!

John MacPhie is settling in well as Deputy Harbour Master, and has already proved his worth by sourcing a second-hand Yokohama fender to replace one damaged during storm Eowyn on 24th January, and getting it delivered and installed the same week! John accompanied myself, and Board Members David MacDonald and Peter Hillier to the Parliamentary Reception hosted by the British Ports Association and the UK Chamber of Shipping at Holyrood on 14th January. This was a great opportunity to meet others in the industry, and hear about the opportunities and challenges. It also gave John the opportunity for a tour round the chamber and to try out the First Minister's chair for size!
Our Harbour Master, Pimmy, turned 75 this month so we had the customary cake, and the photo shows John presenting Pimmy with the cake. Audrey was able to look back and find photos from Pimmy's 60th, 65th and 70th birthday, so we shared these on social media, which resulted in lots of good wishes being sent for Pimmy.

We have managed to make progress with some of our smaller projects this month. We have signed a contract for the installation of solar panels on the feed shed. These will primarily feed electricity around the Harbour, but will include some battery storage so that we can manage demand. We also received the Marine Licence for the extension to the pontoons, so this work will take place in March. We met with the contractor who will demolish the Ice Plant this month, and they are aiming to start work at the end of February. The works will take a minimum of three weeks, and there will be some disruption around the area, as they will need space to work and space to lay down the materials from the building etc.
Some of you may be aware that we have been in discussion to buy Unit 15, which Andy Race has operated for many years as a fish processing factory. Andy has retired and was unable to sell on the business, but I'm pleased to say that Mallaig Harbour Authority has now bought the building. We intend to renovate the building, making it a bit more energy efficient, and potentially to sub-divide it so that more than one business can operate from the building. It's a big space, and we would like to see local businesses benefitting from it, so you will see elsewhere in West Word that we are inviting expressions of interest from anyone who would like to be considered as a potential tenant for the space. Realistically, it will take us several months to get the works done, so we are probably looking at space being available from September of this year, but any expressions of interest received will help inform what we do with the building.
The Loch Nevis has now returned to service, and we are awaiting the publication of the summer timetables for the Mallaig routes. The Mallaig-Armadale route in particular is causing some consternation as it is likely that we will start the summer timetable in March with a single vessel, as the Coruisk will be required elsewhere. There was a lot of discussion last year about the timetable when the Coruisk is not in service in Mallaig, and the fact that the Loch Fyne was not timetabled to sail until mid-morning. It looks like a similar timetable is going to be published for this summer season, which will make commuting between Mallaig and Skye impossible. I have mentioned before the suggestion of a Ferry Users Group locally, and we have been in discussion with the Chamber of Commerce about the establishment of such a group. The Chamber of Commerce have widened their reach to include Skye and Lochalsh, Wester Ross and North Argyll, and have rebranded as West Highland Chamber of Commerce, so it makes sense to involve them in any such group, as they represent the interests of businesses at either end of the Skye and Small Isles routes. As soon as we have a date for a meeting, I will publicise it on our Facebook page.
Those of you who are observant will have noticed a new vessel in the Harbour this month. The Terschelling has been moored up at Airor for a number of years, before being purchased by Jarren and Johanna, who run The Polarship GMBH. They are taking Terschelling to Troon to dry dock, and, when work is completed, it will be sailed to Greenland to run Arctic Expeditions. Terschelling was built in the Netherlands in 1963, originally to serve as a buoy layer and lightship tender for the Dutch Coastguard. It is being renovated to provide six en-suite cabins and a spacious saloon for guests.
Lastly, a wee reminder that we have formalised the process for allocating funds to community groups and projects. The first deadline for applying for funds is 14th March, to be decided at our meeting on 11th April, and you can find all the details on our Facebook page.
Jacqueline McDonell 01687 462154

On and Off the Rails

Hello! It's me again - be careful what you wish for before you put pen to paper!
No sooner had I delivered my January 2025 West Word copy announcing that the first touring train to Mallaig would be on Saturday 25th January - the 'Winter West Highland Pullman' - when 'Storm Eowyn' decided otherwise. Network Rail, quite rightly, acted on the yellow, then amber, then red storm warnings from the Met Office for that weekend and all rail services between England and Scotland were cancelled. Next day ScotRail followed with the closure of all routes for safety reasons on the evening of Thursday 23rd January.
As the last train of the evening came into Mallaig I listened to the clacking of the wheels on the track and heard three carriages come past the house. Strange, I thought, and went back to sleep. The next day I discovered that a Class 153 Highland Explorer carriage had been deployed onto the Mallaig set, as the Oban line where it should have been was closed down earlier with fallen trees. It then sat in Mallaig until Sunday 26th January, But before it left we witnessed a track inspection Rail Freight Class 66 diesel, which normally is used on the Caledonian Sleeper, traversing the line, section by section, for any storm damage - which there was! Chainsaws sorted that out! Once the debris was cleared, the Class 66 departed from Mallaig, section-by-section towards Fort William.
Then came the news that on Sunday 26th January Storm Herminia was going to visit! The Mallaig transmitter for TV and radio signal had ceased to work - but was restored to full power at 3pm on Saturday 25th January, and the power stayed on throughout, as did the phone lines. The BBC announced that Storm Eowyn was declared to be the strongest storm in 10 years in Mallaig. Personally I thought that more damage occurred during the 1998 storm, which was equal to 2025 in terms of wind speed.
Eventually after the storms subsided, the Winter West Highland Pullman which was due to visit us from St Albans was offered a re-routed date for Saturday 29th March into Mallaig which was accepted. Generously all of the fresh food and fresh flowers from the January trip was allocated to a local Hospice. But before then we have visits by the Winter West Highland Pullman to Mallaig from Watford on Saturday 22nd February and from Swansea on Saturday 22nd March. I believe all of the planned tours are sold out - and all three should be able to use The Jacobite pathing times giving guests longer in Mallaig.

Integrated Transport Site for Inverness?
As a regular public transport user and advocate for joined up systems of transport I am not the only person in our area who has championed the need for trains and buses to be coordinated on one site in Inverness city centre.
Pre-Covid, the opportunities and challenges of such a proposal were being considered. The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HiTrans) manager Neil MacRae has now said, "As part of ongoing work on the Inverness Station Masterplan, Hitrans has appointed Austin-Smith:Lord to undertake feasibility work into the potential relocation of Inverness bus station and the reconstruction of the Rose Street car park.
"Co-locating bus and rail stations has been a long-term aspiration for Inverness. It will help to regenerate the centre of the city, complementing the riverside castle developments. As we move towards a low-carbon future we are seeking to establish a modern transport hub fitting of its position as the gateway to the Highlands and Islands."
With money from Transport Scotland, Network Rail has bought numerous nearby sites in Inverness. These include the former Royal Mail sorting office on Strothers Lane and the buildings housing TK Maxx and Sports Direct. Parking and active travel will be key considerations for the new interchange.
The prospect of shifting the current bus station in Farraline Park and the Rose Street multi-storey car park opens up the possibility of creating a new green or civic space there. There is also the potential to introduce improvements at the Spectrum Centre and a new mixed use block that will include flats at the current bus station site.
What happens next? The project features in Highland Council's Inverness Strategy, which outlines its goals in years to come. The Strategy list the entire project as "in the pipeline". That suggests a predicted completion date of between 2025 and 2030. However, no fixed dates for completion have been offered by any of the partners involved (yet!)
A council spokeswoman said: "It is hoped that the Station Masterplan project can identify a range of short, medium and longer term options for the station and the vital role it plays in the city centre and for the wider region." Could such a project be on the cards for Fort William? Over to you, Fort William!
Many coach party package holidays now operate all year round. As I look out the window today, Tuesday 4th February - three "Lochs and Glens" coaches are lined up in Mallaig's West Bay carpark waiting to pick up their customers from the ScotRail lunchtime train. It just proves my point: how many cars/camper vans does that take off the road?
Welcome to Scotland, integrated tour holiday users - haste ye back, enjoy your hotel hospitality. One day we may yet see a covered domed roof to protect you from the elements as you alight from your train onto the platforms, as was the case when the railway line was built! Even a railway turntable, as was then. Don't get me started on that one, we were so close once!!
One thing that has been returned to Mallaig - but not at the railway station, just three minutes away though - is a luggage storage facility. Open seven days a week from 7am until 7pm with prices starting at £5. Various sizes of lockers. What's not to like? When leaving Mallaig Railway Station, cross over the zebra crossing in front of you, turn left for just a few yards, go around the corner and next to the Lifeboat Shop you will see a huge sign on the wall inviting you to deposit your luggage safely.

ScotRail fare increase
Oh my days! Black Friday announcement in late January. Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport has just announced, "From April 1, 2025, all ScotRail fares will increase by 3.8%. We know that any increase is unwelcome for passengers, therefore we have kept the rise as low as possible to maintain the attractiveness and affordability of rail as a travel option. We continue to look at ways to encourage greater rail use and that is why we are continuing our 20% discounts on season tickets until September 2025 as planned and expanding the availability of Flexipass. ScotRail also continue to develop fares initiatives which can help attract more passengers, while offering savings and added value to existing rail users." (Nothing on the ScotRail website yet!!) The fare increase was instigated by Transport Scotland, and comes after the ScotRail railway service increased fares by 8.7% in April 2024.
From my point of view the only benefit on our branch line - and available at Mallaig Booking Office - for local rail users has been the introduction of a weekly season ticket which can be combined with a Highland Railcard discount which as I see it will be valid until September 2025!
With household budgets being stretched to the limits it, as I see it, shouldn't have to be more expensive for locals to get to work by train rather than car or by bus. That way it would make sense to use public transport by train to commute, visit hospital for appointments, visit relatives in local areas - and to go from and to Mallaig in the evening for a meal out, entertainment, or leisure facilities. (Even if - after four years now with no catering facilities on the branch line! I do keep trying to bang on about it.) And not very warm trains (or even just with the chill off!) It should be that rail travel locally is an affordable choice. That way it would encourage locals to leave their cars at home and hop on a train (or bus) and benefit from conversation, safety - and do the best thing for the planet!
I rest my case - and I'll see you on the train.
Sonia Cameron

Birdwatch January 2025 by Stephen MacDonald

A mixed bag weather wise: the first 12 days had a wintry feel with lying snow and frost, but the next 12 were unseasonably mild with strong winds and rain at times. During the last week temperatures returned to near normal values with night frosts and hill snow.
The freezing weather at the beginning of the month was most likely the reason for the increase in the reports of Woodcock and Snipe in the area. A Little Egret seen on the 9th by Traigh boatshed may also have been a cold weather movement from further east where it was much colder. Several Little Egrets were reported around Lochaber and Skye about the same time.
Whooper Swans were present on Loch nan Eala when it was ice free. Slavonian Grebes were reported from Loch nan Ceall and the west end of Loch Morar at Red Sand Bay.
Goosanders were again seen on the Morar Estuary and the river upstream of the hydro dam. Two Moorhens were seen on Loch nan Eala and a single Shelduck at Loch nan Ceall on the 31st was the first returning bird of the year. Up to 70 Canada Geese were seen at Traigh and Back of Keppoch on several occasions.
Wintering Greenshank were on the Morar Estuary; Purple Sandpipers and Turnstones were reported from West Bay, Mallaig. Golden Plover and Lapwing were seen at Traigh during the colder weather at the beginning of the month. A Water Rail was seen in a garden at Rhubana View, Morar on the 26th and 27th, emerging from a ditch and feeding below bird feeders. Jays were reported from Loch Ailort, Arisaig and Morar, with several reports from the latter area of birds feeding in gardens.
A single Lesser Redpoll in a Morar garden on the 25th was the first report of the year.
A female Chaffinch caught by a ringer in Morar on the 26th December 2024 was found to have been ringed at the Calf of Man bird observatory on the 15th October 2023. The bird is most likely a migrant from Scandinavia that winters in Britain.