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Scotland, June/July 2009

For the second week of the holiday we stayed at Shinness Lodge, a former hunting lodge overlooking Loch Shin.

Loch Shin seen from the slopes of Ben Hee.

Bob and Pat having a quick snack before continuing up Ben Hee.

The view looking north from the summit of Ben Hee: Strath More, Loch Hope and Ben Hope.

The little ferry that took us across to Handa Island.

Ruins of cottages on Handa, abandoned when the islanders had to leave during the potato famine in 1847.

Cliffs on Handa.

Handa is a bird sanctuary. Every ledge on the cliffs was crowded with nesting seabirds.

Remains of eggs taken by skuas from the nests of other birds.

Beach on Handa. The gathering clouds culminated in a torrential rainstorm that caught us in the open boat ferrying us back to the mainland.

Setting off to climb Arkle.

The ridge of Foinaven seen from the slopes of Arkle.

Bob, Jonathan, Ian, Barbara, Kate, Allan, and the summit ridge of Arkle.

Coming back from the summit along the ridge.

The Ord, near Lairg. What looks like a heap of stones is in fact the remains of a neolithic burial cairn.

Bob, Kate and Jonathan on a prehistoric stone structure at The Ord.