Two carloads of campers arrived 20 minutes apart just as darkness was falling on Friday night. Most tents were pitched despite wind and fading light. Journeys north had been long, due to an accident between FortWilliam and Spean Bridge. We had been diverted via Banavie and the B8004 - a narrow, mainly single-track road which became the main road north & south for vehicles (ranging from motor –bikes and cars to fire engines, works vans and singe- and double-decker buses). Amazingly, traffic in both directions was extremely considerate, manoeuvring in groups of 3-4 vehicles from passing place to passing-place... and we all got through.

Back to the campsite.........

Everyone turned in for the night more-or-less immediately, the gallant offering to tent- share for reasons of expediency.

Morning dawned and soon after breakfast, Lorna, on her first Glenmore Club meet, received a phone message which meant that, due to a family emergency, she had to return home immediately.

Everyone was most concerned for her – but she insisted that she would journey back alone so as not to spoil anyone’s holiday weekend. Later that day, we heard that she had got home safely and that the emergency was under control. We were all pleased to hear that and hope to see Lorna again at a future club meet.

Meantime, this left the logistical problem of having 5 campers and their gear and one Vauxhall Astra. Contingency plans for how to get everyone and everything back to Glasgow at the end of the weekend, were made: the car would be stacked up with gear and driven home by Caroline (the only person present not eligible for a bus pass) and a passenger – while 3 others would travel by bus: we ascertained that there were 3 buses per day.

About this time the house-dwellers dropped in to the campsite and we caught up with each other’s news and, importantly, swapped phone numbers. They were on their way to Sgurr Mhic Choinich.

The weather forecast was not good: cold, showery and windy – so we decided the Cuillin ridge was not an option for us. Instead we set off along Glen Sligachan with the idea of ascending the Marilyn, Ruadh Stac (493m) – which 4/5 of us did: Suzanne came as far as the lower slopes and then wended her way back to base on her own. Evidently she knew something that the rest of us did not: the weather was about to close in for the next few hours. The route up the hill was a mixture of grass, scree and rock and views of nearby hills – Bla Bheinn, Garbh-bhein, Marsco ("just think, it is not Tesco", Ian had said earlier to Suzanne, who was trying to memorise all the hill names ), and to the West – Sgurr na Stri and lochs na Creitheach and Scavaig. The walk back was wet,wet, wet – no let up. Stepping stones on the many burn crossings were mostly covered. It is on days like this that you realise your boots require repairing (why did I ignore that loose stitching?); your jacket, reproofing etc .

A hot shower goes a long was to restoring comfort. A hot meal helps too – but cooking one in a tent is such a guddle! The Sligachan Hotel was visited by a delegation from our group – more comfort and normality!

Next day, after a wet & windy night there was a dry spell when the Astra was transformed into a Chinese laundry – jackets, socks, vests, trousers, rucksacks etc hanging from anywhere possible – open doors, boot, windows, bonnet. Most of the previous day’s gear got some sort of airing. A hair drier in the ladies’toilet block was also commandeered for clothes-drying. We set out on the day’s walk reasonably dryly clad. Hill of choice was another Marilyn – Ben Lee (445m). The proposed route was to walk along Loch Sligachan shores and return via this hill. In the event another high river prevented this approach and we decided just to walk about a mile up the Portree road to a bridge and tackle the hill from there. This worked out well: the road verge was broad enough and grassy. Much of the day was spent in sunshine. One heavy squall of hail lasted only long enough for the donning of waterproof trousers.

On returning to the campsite, we all immediately struck camp. The house-dwellers had, earlier that day, phoned with an offer of help with transporting the transportless (David and Ian)back to Glasgow. Gordon, who was one of the house-dwellers, with great public-spiritedness made the trip from Sleat to collect the two of them and they joined the other party at Mary’s house in Sleat. Our car load opted to drive straight home, arriving in Glasgow at midnight.

It was a good weekend – but I’m thinking of booking into a hostel for the next camping meet!

Participants were: David Foster, Ian McNab, Suzanne Ullmann, Alan Stevens, Caroline Thompson and Lorna.