Walter
I've done the letdown to Macrahanish many times. Also done the sector from Islay on days when you had to do it low level as to do it IFR meant you'd never get in due to the high MDA (caused by the Mull I expect)
For sure you see all sorts of wx out there and the hill only being IMC with VFR conditions near to it is not unusual. Like that on the day in question was it?
VFR into IMC into the ground.
Tandem. No charge to you.