For 2007 dates please contact Bill on 07775 593 055

For Archaeology weeks contact Steven Birch on 01471 822 124

COST:

 £225.00 per person.

 The Rona work parties are run on similar lines to the NTS St Kilda work parties.

BUNKHOUSE

The substantial Bunkhouse located at the Big Harbour (Acarsaid Mhor) is now available. Fitted with four bunk beds , wood burning stove and cooking facilities and toilets and showers at Rona Lodge the cost is only £7.50 per person (Linen extra if required). This charming building makes an ideal night stop for canoeists or hikers.

RONA FERRY INFORMATION

MAINLAND ACCOMMODATION

For those staying on the mainland before travelling to Rona or on their return journey we recommend the following Hotel and Bed & Breakfast establishments:

Mr & Mrs R MacAskill
Ardhaven
Breakish
Tel No 01471822625


Mrs D MacPhie
Ptarmigan
Broadford
Tel No 01471822744

Email: doreen@ptarmigan-cottage.com
Web Site: http://members.aol.com/ptarmigan7

Mrs E Nicolson
Almondbank
Viewfield Rd
Portree
Tel No 01478612696

Rona Work Party One 17th- 24th May 2003 It all began at 5pm on 17th May on the pier in Portree, when Jess and I jumped aboard the Brigadoon and met Hugh - the three members of work party one united, and in the time it took to get to the Big Harbour, Rona (about an hour), it was as if we had been friends forever!
As we arrived with two holiday makers, Barry and June who would be staying in one of the holiday cottages during our stay, another group of holiday makers were then leaving, and Bill took us into Rona Lodge - whilst Barry and June started the long walk to Dry Harbour, and their holiday cottage - and showed us our rooms - all three of us being ex-St Kilda veterans, were impressed by the luxury - carpets, proper beds and duvets!		Left to right: Julie, Hugh and Jess
After our evening meal, we all sat down, and Bill discussed some of the work which we could be doing - we were a bit concerned how many of us, he thought they was! Digging run-rigs in the wood to make drainage for the path through the wood, quarrying rocks to make the footpath, moving concrete blocks(!), helping with the support for the pivotal joint for the pontoon, clearing vegetation at the temple, rebuilding a few walls, clearing out an old house of vegetation and then digging down to floor level, and that was just the plans for this week - not even to mention the plans for the future. Exciting times for all of us, being involved right at the beginning of what really is a journey of discovery and a plan for the future.
Church Cave		On the Sunday, we were allowed the day off, and Bill took us along with Choppy and Lady (Bill's dogs), off for a tour of the island, showing us the holiday cottages at Dry Harbour, and around the Dry Harbour settlement - which has the remains of 32 buildings, including the one we would be working on! Then with Choppy and Lady to guide us, we explored the island - down to Church Cave, and down to look for the temple at the south of the island - although we didn't find it on this visit! After all that walking, we were looking forward to our roast dinner awaiting back at the Lodge!
Monday arrived as a wet day (unfortunately, a sign of things to come), we went up to the quarry, where Jess and Hugh quarried rocks to be laid at footpath, and I went down into the woods to help unload the rocks as they came down - with the dogs for company! In the afternoon we worked down on the pier, filling a wooden shutter with concrete mix, and to end the day we moved concrete blocks from below the tide line - a tiring end to our first day's labour! On the Tuesday, we went back down to the woods, and between the four of us, dug out a runrig, to make drainage for the path, dug out the path, laid pipe and covered with rocks, a morning's job well done! In the afternoon, it was agreed that Peter (the ferryman) would run us down to the south of the island, to the temple with some tools - for us to clear the vegetation in the temple and the graveyard - we landed at the pier (which had a striking resemblance to a rock!), and jumped ashore (in hail!), within minutes we were drenched through - we found a friendly tree to shelter under, until the rain had subsided, before getting to work in the temple and graveyard.
The brambles and weeds, were as high as the graveyard walls - and we hacked through the debris, until it was looking fairly good - we cleared around the only grave stone in the graveyard and found parts of a sandstone, stone circle, we explored a little more, and found almost the whole circle - we photographed our find as evidence, before starting the long walk back, in the pouring rain, back home.		Jess working at "the temple"
That evening, the sun came out, and we would never have guessed the rain from earlier, we went for a walk after tea, and watched the sunset, the true meaning of peace. On the Wednesday, Bill let us get our teeth into our most exciting project, the clearing of one of the ruined houses, in the Dry Harbour settlement - the brambles were almost to the top of the walls, and within the morning, we had cleared the vegetation down to the floor.
Before work started		After clearance of vegetation
Julie and the drainage hole found		Then we started to dig - to begin with in one corner, Jess dug down to find the stone floor, only to discuss some kind of drainage, possibly water supply running into the house, there was a metal arch, and a hole in the ground with stone all around the edge, with a pipe leading from the outside, Jess also made some discoveries, of a bottle with the stopper still in, with some lotion inside, a metal circle with hooks on, and various pieces of pottery.
After tea, we went for a walk - Hugh, Jess and I up to the north of the island, and we came across the Highland Cattle for the first time, and were the first to see the newborn calf. Our walk led us through very wet, boggy ground and up to the remains of the north settlement on the island. We saw the lighthouse at the north end, before turning round and heading back whilst it was still light. On the Thursday, the first of two school parties arrived on the island, with children from a school in Portree, and their teacher. We continued work on the ruined house from yesterday, clearing the rocks, which had fell in off the walls and end chimney walls, into two piles - leaving the two fireplaces clear for exploration.
Surprisingly whilst digging out the first fireplace, no discoveries were found, except one small piece of pottery - that is until we got to the fireplace, which had a metal surround and metal back - the clay was still orange and black from the fires of years gone by - and after a lot of uncovering, a very impressive hearth stone was unearthed. At the other fireplace, at the other end of the house, we found lots of bottles, whilst digging it out, along with pottery - but unfortunately did not uncover a hearth stone like the one found in the other fireplace.		First Fireplace dug out
On the Friday it rained - our original plans to dig a trench down to floor level from fireplace to fireplace were ruined by the rain - so after tidying up the work already done, it was an early shower, followed by cleaning our finds, and cataloguing them for future reference.

We finished our week with a curry that night, and invited the builders who were working on the pontoon up for a drink.
On Saturday, the weather must have known we were leaving, as the sun came out to wave us off - we spent the morning getting ready to leave, and saying goodbye to Rona, then as Brigadoon came into view, we were all down at the pier to help the new holiday makers on, and to load up to go - after lots of goodbye's we were off - back to Portree. But, as we promised, we will be back - in September!

Written by Julie Ward 2003

Rona Work Party No 1 – 2004

Saturday 22nd – Saturday 29th May.

Personnel :- Bill Cowie (Manager/Leader)
Colin Tallboys (Construction Super.)
Jess Tallboys (Cook)
Phillip Braithwaite
Andrew Davies
Evelyn Dutton
Eveline Harvey
Hugh MacKenzie (Doctor – ret’d.)
Eric Wilkins


Six party members joined Peter Urquhart on the M.V. Brigadoon for an extremely calm crossing to Rona, following a very comfortable overnight stay (for four of us) in the Caledonian Hotel in Portree.

We were greeted, on arrival, by Bill Cowie and taken to The Lodge where we met Jess and Colin. Following soup and sandwiches, we walked to Dry Harbour – Bill transporting our luggage on the quad.trailer (how does he do it on this road?). The rest of the day was spent settling in, visiting the settlement ruins and enjoying the first of seven excellent suppers provided by Jess (how does she do it in this relatively small kitchen?). General socialising, good humour and team work in the kitchen completed a very enjoyable day and we retired to bed around 11.00pm for a good night’s rest (for most!) in the relatively luxurious accommodation (five of us having previous experience of St. Kilda work parties).

On Sunday morning, having organised breakfast and packed lunches, five members (Hugh, Evelyn, Andrew, Phillip and self) set out for the lighthouse at the north end of the island. Walking through a forest was a novelty after St. Kilda – some members considered the walking more arduous but we made the trek in 1 hr 50 mins (Bill’s estimate being 2 hrs!). After lunching in the lighthouse buildings, we visited Ian McLellan (and staff) at the Qinetiq base close by when we were treated to tea, coffee and biscuits before our return (again in 1hr 50 mins) to Dry Harbour, where Eveline had enjoyed a quiet day ‘at home’. Another enjoyable evening and excellent supper – plus more socialising with Bill, Colin and Jess – completed a superb day – the weather having remained perfect (sunshine, cool breeze and DRY!).

Monday morning found us at the settlement where preparations were made for the roof installation, to the first ruin, scheduled for Wednesday morning. Andrew went to Big Harbour to act as Colin’s assistant in construction of the timber roof frame members. Peripheral works (including digging out and re-covering of a drain and clearing a doorway to original slab level in a second building) were also executed.





On Tuesday morning Andrew again assisted Colin at Big Harbour. The rest of us followed Bill to the An Tempuil remains where we repaired a corner of the enclosure dry stone walling and built our own small cairn from residual rocks. The weather, again, was ideal, making the trip like a day off with superb views all round en route. On return to Dry Harbour we spent about an hour clearing large rocks from the beach until called in by Bill. Another evening of good fellowship and first class fare completed the day.

Wednesday morning saw the start, on site, of the main project, viz :- erection of twelve internal roof frames plus temporary ties and bracing. Two of us also spent time clearing bracken from saplings (hazel, birch and oak) previously planted by Bill. The weather was, again, ideal (warm sunshine/cool breeze) and the evening (and food, of course) thoroughly enjoyable. Who needs TV with a raconteur like Bill?

On Thursday morning all (except Jess) were led by Bill to Church Cave where we admired the rock ‘pews’, altar and font and the impressive view out to Applecross and the Torridon Mountains. On returning to the main track, three of us made the short ascent to the summit (Meall Accairseid – 125m.) and experienced 360° views to the mainland, Raasay and Skye. Phillip qualified as highest man on Rona by standing on top of the ordnance survey summit post! Continuing down the road, we lunched at The Lodge (soup, sandwiches and tea) after which we effected rubbish clearance to Big Harbour and adjacent beaches. Pulling nylon rope, plastic bags and netting out from rotting seaweed is, perhaps, not the most enjoyable of tasks!!!
Returning to Dry Harbour, at about 4.30pm, we were once again greeted by Jess with tea and cake. Later there followed another excellent supper (Mexican fare this time!) and some serious discussion of a letter in this year’s St. Kilda Mail. Apparently some people wish to prevent the intrusion of work parties and tourists on remote islands. Do they include themselves in this exclusion?

Friday morning saw the installation of six roof frame ‘tie-downs’ and general clearing up. Colin and Andrew worked into the afternoon installing two final gable frames. Packing was followed by another convivial evening with good food and drinks (including Phillip’s excellent sloe gin).

Saturday morning came all too quickly – the midges coming out in force to see us off! After the walk to Big Harbour – main luggage to be collected by Bill with the quad. and trailer – we were, once again, treated to tea, coffee and biscuits at The Lodge. We were sad to hear that one of the cows was likely to die – members of the party had helped Bill to dose and feed them during the week. We will certainly miss being greeted by Bill’s pointer (Choppy) and spaniel (Lady) who had been such great companions for much of the week.

Waved off by Bill, Colin and Jess (the latter two staying on for a few days), we watched Rona falling astern of ‘Brigadoon’ and, no doubt, felt we were leaving something of ourselves behind.

Having experienced, and thoroughly enjoyed, three St.Kilda work parties in previous years, I just wish to say that Rona was, in no way, a disappointment – similar in some ways but still very different. I very much hope that I may return, at some point, to see the development of Bill’s plans.

Our grateful thanks to Bill, whose leadership and good humour helped, so much, to make it such a rewarding experience.

Thanks, too, to Colin for his good fellowship and building expertise and, of course, to Jess for looking after us all so well (a work party’s morale and success depends on its nourishment!!).

I would also like to thank my fellow party members for being such great team players, both at work and leisure.



Eric Wilkins
2nd June 2004

Rona Work Party No 1 – 2004

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 Rona Conservation Workparty 2005