Heast - 04/10/04

Today's weather is a little better than at the weekend, but still veryshowery. I take the 10.20 bus to Broadford and alight at the bottom ofthe road to Heast. This is a settlement 5 miles south of Broadford onthe shore of Loch Eishort. Six years ago, I walked up this road alittle way, but I'm now up for the whole hog. Not a terribly inspiringroute, but the approach into Heast is nice. The village is only 2 mileseast of Boreraig, but it's not possible to find a route. Right by theseashore, a fishing pier with a lot of fishboxes and the stench ofdiesel. Across the harbour lies Heast Island. I tried to walk east,parallel to the shore, which was tricky. Going west, to Boreraig was asignposted route. Unfortunately, following the heavy rain of the lastfew days, the Heast River was in spate and could not be crossed.Thwarted on both sides, I could only retrace my steps up the road.There is a nice view once you crest the highest point, at 200 m / 675ft. It ranges from the Red Cuillins in the west to Scalpay, the islandsin the Inner Sound and the hills between Kyle and Applecross. I wantedto make things interesting by cutting cross Braigh Skulamus, from gridreference NG660206. This path was fine, until it got wetter and wetter,the closer I got to Harrapool. Nipped into one of the local hotels fora bite to eat, then started to look round for a shop selling boots.There was an outdoor shop next to a veterinary surgery. Have to becareful not to go into the wrong door there. In the hotel, the barmanwas sanding and revarnishing his bar. Had a general look round thevillage before returning to the Coop. This provided me with tonight'sdinner. Went back to Kyleakin on the bus at 4. There is a restaurantacross the road from the hostel, and I went in there to check out thefood. At one point, I joined a family for dinner who were also in thehostel. Nice convivial evening. In this restaurant you serve yourself.Food good, no atmosphere. It's the King Haakon bar. Kyleakin is theKyle (Narrows) of Haakon. So no Ky-lea-kin please, it's Kyle-akin.Still noisy pipes in the hostel. It offers Internet access, a TV-room.I sit in the dining area and offer people advice on the district. Am Ia walking tourist office, or what?