It was a relaxing start to the week for all as we sailed out of Mallaig leaving our cares and worries behind.

Ok - Fran nearly missed the ferry but it was relaxing once she caught her breath… then it got a little choppy and below deck was the preferred option for some. Others braved the elements above.

We called in at Eigg with its impressive Sgurr (hill) and then onto Muck before heading up the south coast of Rum to Canna - catching a glimpse of our bothy and Bloodstone Hill.

We saw porpoise and one woman spotted a Minke whale on our trip before we finally called in at Rum.

The Landrover from the castle met us on our arrival and took the luggage away whilst we strolled along the shores of Loch Scresort to our accommodation- the servants' quarters of the castle.

A clearish day dawned and the eager group set off on the first day up the hill.

We headed up Coire Dubh following the watercourse and spotting plants that enjoy the wetter climes such as butterwort and orchid.

Early lunch was had at the top of Coire Dubh before we headed off the beaten track to the top of Barkeval passing primrose and moss campion and thrift.

The rocky nature of the terrain on Barkeval reflects the volcanic origins of the range.

We gained the top of Barkeval with ease and surveyed our 360-degree views before eating lunch.

By this time there was a biting wind and we were glad to get moving again.

We then headed towards the base of Hallival, passing the bealach (saddle) then after a rest, we started to descend and agreed to venture unto an unknown track. .

This brought us out on the Dibidil path, which we would revisit next day. So ended a satisfying first day with a taste of what Rum has to offer rounded off with some piping hot food (or was it a cold buffet?) from the castle staff.

Up bright and breezy and raring to go the walking women were off to tackle some of the Rum Cullin in what cool conditions - there was even snow on the mainland hills…

We stopped for a break close to the bealach with fabby views across to the Skye Cullins.

Then we contoured around Atlantic Corrie with views to Harris before we headed up the bealach on the other side for lunch.

Suitably refreshed we headed off to tackle Trollvall - leaving our rucksacks behind as this is a bit of a scramble.

The weather was threatening to change so a few dashed to the top whilst the others sat on rocks admiring the view. We then headed down Glen Dibidil where rain got us for a short time.

A break by the river close to Dibidil Bothy gave us a chance to recharge our batteries before the short hop around the corner back to Kinloch.

The corners were many according to some, and there were a few moans that there was the occasional up that Fran had forgotten about…

However we had some lovely affects with rainbows at sea and all the weathers including hail and shine.

Food - which we made just in time - was well appreciated after our long day out.

Another day dawned and we decided to head for the bothy. We very efficiently sorted out the food and the other things needed for the trip, and were ready to go by mid-morning.

We were soon overlooking the route to Kilmory (the centre of the unique Rum longitudinal deer study) and enjoying a lunch break with a bit of shelter from the wind.

Sun came out - even the sea eagles were out - though in the distance.

We then headed up over to Glen Shellesder keeping an eye open for deer.

We stopped for a break when we arrived at the coast after our donder down the glen, and enjoyed magnificent views across to Canna.

It was a stunning place for a break, resting in the sun before following the track over the stream and above the coastline to the bothy at Guirdil Bay. Deer awaited us there.

We soon got organised - with a variety of top quality cuisine on the go, expertly cooked by the campers.

Then attention was turned to tending a roaring fire fuelled by the logs we'd carried in and what we combed from the beach.

The bothy is set in a stunning location next to the sea, and is very comfortable by bothy standards with a separate room upstairs for sleeping.

A fair day dawned and we were up and ready to go quite promptly.

We crossed the stream to start the walk up to Bloodstone hill and took a pretty direct route by which time we were ready for a break.

Great views from the top of Bloodstone Hill - and we decided to wander above the cliff tops before heading across to the Orval ridge.

Lunch was essential before ascending again. Thanks to our porters we had stove and kettle for a welcome brew!

Refreshed we headed up the hill across the boulders to the cairn and fabulous views.

We felt a bit like the characters from sound of music as we walked along the ridge…

The Rum Cullin Ridge was clear and intimidating to view. Golden Plover dotted about.

We enjoyed a lovely high-level walk along the tops before breaking again for a cuppa. Then we descended to the bealach and a couple of women who had not quite used up their energies tackled Fionochra to complete the horseshoe.

The rest took the direct route back to the bothy. We found firewood on the way to heat up the bothy for the night.

Soon we were all back at the bothy to see that we had a visitor - fortunately in a tent… Next we moved on to cooking our delicious menus and while we tended our stoves the bay filled up with kayaks.

An invasion was on - a 'stag party' descended on us, but fortunately they too had tents and though we all shared the bothy in the evening we were able to sleep in relative peace after watching a lovely sunset.

Time to head back to the castle. We headed back up to the bealach with the mist swirling about us.

We then descended towards the main track through the island to Harris and began the final stretch back to the castle after a lunch break in the wilds.

Prince Charles popped in to see us when we got back to the castle.

However, most us took the opportunity to have a welcome treat of afternoon tea instead.... before tackling cleaning the pots and pans from the bothy stay!

The offer of a trip to see the shearwaters at night was taken up despite the lure of wine and the comfort of a dry castle. By 10pm we were walking again - ascending Coire Dubh in the last of the light - as we headed up the mist was swirling around us and the darkness descended.

After rustling about and getting comfortable - we sat in silence to listen to the noise of the shearwaters heading to their burrows. Some flew close by and it felt eerie in the strange atmospheric 'other world'.

We then started to carefully descend and realized we had some burrows at our feet. We stood and felt and listened to the birds making a racket - the ground seemed to tremble as they sent out their strange sounds to each other.

Think they were probably moaning about sore heads as we stood on their homes… we then continued to descend in the mist and darkness to the point we had left the track. Keeping close together we emerged from the mist and picked up the main track back to the castle. We arrived back in the small hours of the morning.

Unbelievably EVERYONE made breakfast despite the limited hours of sleep. We then packed up and got ready for a gentle walk.

A lovely track along the south side of Loch Scresort took us past an ancient fish trap and some black houses (old style crofting houses) to where a colony of gulls is breeding.

We snacked on the way before heading back to the castle.

We were back in time for an interesting hour touring the castle before catching the ferry to Mallaig.

Most of us disappeared down to the café on the boat and enjoyed eating and reminiscing about our week of ventures and swapping addresses etc before we arrived back on the mainland - tired but happy that we'd had a good week.