Category Archives: Islands

Early days Arran

Posted on May 2, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Travelling from my hometown in Ayr we holidayed in the nearby Arran the boat over was always like coming to another world! We were a big family of 5 kids ( i was the youngest) that feeling of being on … Continue reading →

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Skye New Year 1963.

Posted on December 30, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Many yeas ago I had a long chat with Hamish in Glencoe.He allowed me to tape it, it was a few years before he became ill. Hamish had a wonderful memory and he told me of his early days in … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Clothing, Equipment, Friends, Islands, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Thank you all for the support after my piece on the effects of Lockerbie. The healing process continues.

Posted on November 18, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I had so many wonderful kind replies from my piece on Lockerbie. Some from those who lost loved ones on the tragedy. They came from all over and I could not get my head around the thoughts of many. None … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Family, Friends, Health, Islands, Lockerbie, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

A windy wander to The Old Man of Hoy.

Posted on September 29, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

This was our last day in Orkney we were up early to get the ferry. I was feeling not great and the weather forecast was poor with very high winds. The wee ferry was fine and we took the car … Continue reading →

Posted in Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Islands, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Views Political?, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Orkney a visit to Yesnaby . Sea stacks and memories.

Posted on September 28, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

This was one of the places in Orkney I wanted to revisited. When your younger you race about in places like this. They become another tick in a list. You are chasing tides and have so many other things on … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Gear, Islands, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Orkney – The Stones of Stenness

Posted on September 27, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Today we wanted to be away early the weather would change and also miss the Cruise ships buses and the crowds.The Stones of Stenness are part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, a series of important domestic … Continue reading →

Posted in Enviroment, Friends, Islands, People, Plants, Recomended books and Guides, Views Political?, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

More on my visit to Orkney Birsay a very special tidal island .

Posted on September 26, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Birsay was probably a Pictish power centre, and the village itself is likely the site of the first Orcadian bishopric (diocese) and seat of the earldom of Orkney. The words ‘brough’ and ‘birsay’ both come from the Old Norse ‘borg’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Islands, People, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 1 Comment

Stunning day in the West just what I needed.

Posted on August 5, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I have been over in the West visiting my friend and have had two superb days. Yesterday we got the best of the weather and had a lovely afternoon on a secluded beach. The sun was out there was an … Continue reading →

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After the Call out in Rum. Midges, party in the Post Office.

Posted on July 24, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I got a great reply from one of the troops about the Call out in Rum. We had a long weekend on Skye when we were told that a Walker had fallen on one of the Rum Peaks. Many of … Continue reading →

Posted in Corbetts and other hills, Friends, Islands, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

1997 – Island of Rum callout. A big walk in and out from Atlantic Corrie

Posted on July 24, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

1997  – Another  Rum Callout . A brief report The Mountain Rescue Weekend Training Exercise was planned for Skye; even though the weather was poor we had a good weekend on the wet rock in Corrie Lagan. Skye is hard work … Continue reading →

Posted in Corbetts, Islands, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Rock Climbing, Weather, Wildlife | 2 Comments