River Aline

An interesting and magical day. I had always wanted to visit Kiel Church in Lochaline mainly because of its connection to St Kilda. In 1930 the last 36 residents of St Kilda were evacuated to the mainland, most disembarking in Lochaline. Those who stayed are buried in the churchyard including Donald Gillies, whose grave I found, a relative by marriage to a friend in Argyll. Graveyard looking out on to the Sound of Mull, extra.
My next stop was Aoineadh Mhor, a previously thriving community of 15 families, all called Cameron, until they were evicted by Christina Stewart so she could introduce sheep to the land. It was a shortish 4 mile circular walk following Mary’s Path and James’s Path, named after the evictees James Cameron who carried his mother and Mary Cameron who wrote an account of the eviction. It is one of the best preserved Clearances villages. It was a poignant place for a picnic lunch.
The single track roads here are empty and I had the place to myself as I drove as far as I could towards Loch Teacuis, and then walked down to the water as far as the old school house. Plenty of waders but no otters. Later, after I’ve eaten I plan to return to the bridge over the River Aline where they have been spotted most evenings, allegedly.