Rum

Rum, once known as the "forbidden island" as for various reasons over the centuries, visitors have been discouraged.  In ancient times it was kept as a hunting preserve and the more recently in the 19th century, it was bought by a Lancashire family - the Bulloughs who preserved it for their sole use.  Now thank heavens it belongs to the Nation and is looked after by Scottish Natural Heritage.

The walk across the island can be done on the track which George Bullough used as a race course in earlier years.  it end up at Glen Harris on the south coast which was the original early centre of habitation. 

It was here the Bulloughs chose as their final resting place and their mausoleum remains to this day

The cliffs are often shrouded in mist - Rum seems to attract the worst weather of all the Small Isles.  However on the southern coast the sandstone ledges provide nesting sites for the few kittiwakes that remain.

But after all the coverage by the BBC program Autumn Watch I suppose Rum is most familiar for its deer.  This could be one of the champions on the TV - taken at the very place where they filmed but at a rather quieter time!