Poolewe Camping and Cavaran Site               3rd -5th May 2003

Following the absolutely wonderful weather for most of the Spring, it had been gradually deteriorating during the 10 days before the May holiday weekend.  Forecast for the weekend was not good and some less hardy members had become too used to the sunshine - so the turnout on the Friday evening for the holiday weekend was only 14 (although 2 more arrived on Sunday - bringing reports of 2 more just down the road at Lochcarron).

Departure from Glasgow in rain did nothing to allay our fears and absolute downpours around Inverness did not help. As we arrived at the very well - appointed campsite in Poolewe in a deluge, it was so bad that we were offered the use of a small shed with a table and benches for the Club and a kind lady in a caravan took pity and came over with 2 cups of coffee for us while we were pitching our tent!   Others arrived , pitched and made full use of the shed for cooking and chatting while the rain abated a little.

Imagine the surprise all round when we awoke to bright warm early-morning sunshine.  Henry P and Dave Watson left around 8 for the very snowy An Teallach and Chris H and Dave C left a bit later for Sail Mhor.  Backpacker groups, who had made plans in sunny Lairg a fortnight earlier, were quickly organised.  Roger D, Ann D, Alison McL and Ian McN set off for Ruagh Stac Mor and A' Mhaighdean and Arthur W and Gill C went for Corbetts, Beinn Lair and Beinn Airidh Charr.  Harrold T, Connie T and Suzanne U completed the nearest Marilyn.  Everyone had a mostly sunny day with excellent views until about tea-time when back came the rain.  By now our brave team of 4 were descending A' Mhaighdean direct  by Roger's Route (described as 'a piece of cake' by the leader, although there seemed to be some debate about that) in an attempt to reach a suitable camping place near Carn More as quickly as possible in the deteriorating conditions. Meanwhile the group of 2 camped near Beallach Mheinnidh.  (H was horrrified to hear that they had missed out the summit of Beinn Mheinnidh!)  Back at the campsite, the wind came up strongly from the SE and some went off to view Inverewe Gardens which were being specially floodlit for a few nights. Rain and gales prevailed overnight.

Sunday morning brought sunshine and gales - but Arthur's tent had collapsed and had to be repitched and the flysheet repaired with Henry's red tape!  For those at base, Sunday was declared a coastal walk day.  H and C started from Mellon Udrigle and all the others set off from Melvaig.  Again the weather broke in the late afternoon when most had returned and they were joined by Dave Webster and Isabel F who had been bagging 4 Munros at Achnashellach.  The Melvaig party had a prolonged, wet and peat-boggy ending to their day (followed by a meal out to cheer them up) while all the others went to the pub.

Monday - another dry and sunny morning, toast for some at the Webstermobile, and then all were away - some undecided - some to do a wee Marilyn on the way home.

Were we lucky!?  Just shows , doesn't it , that you can't believe those forecasters!