This was a day when it was hardly sensible to be out - it
promised foul weather and that's what we got, but it was still
a good trip. We had ten explorers: Allan, Benjamin, JD, John
Donaldson, Kathryn, Lewis, Peter William, Robin, and Thomas
and six adults: Ann, Craig, Francis, Lou, Pamela and Philippa,
with two expedition dogs, Bruce and Crunchie.
We started from Dalnabreac where the explorers looked at the
end of the Bealach na Marbh - the old coffin route to Port
a'Bhata. Then we crossed the hill into the next glen where
we looked at two old crofts before examining the cave/lookout
at the foot of the cliff. In worsening weather we climbed
the hill, crossing a bog with butterwort and sundew growing
and through a gate to climb the steep hill to the rocking
stone. We didn't spend much time rocking the stone since it
turned wet and windy, with hail and everyone ate Tunnock's
wafers sheltering behind the stone.
Back down the hill, several explorers spent some time splashing
about at the side of the lochan before making their soggy
way to the flat hill, Cnoc Gillie Buidh. At the foot of the
hill, Kathryn found a fantastic spring spouting up from the
ground and took a photograph. Then we climbed to the top of
the hill, where many of the expedition remembered they had
rolled down it the last time they came. In spite of getting
totally clarted, many of them rolled down it again. We then
faced the long climb and walk over the hills back to Dalnabreac
and then a very welcome warm up at the Pantry.
The Picture
John Donaldson turned out an absolutely superb picture showing
all of the points which impressed him - he got very wet and
cold and badly needed the hot chocolate when he reached civilisation!
Kathryn's drawing of rolling down the hill was also very good.
Alexander also turned out a very workmanlike record of the
prominent points, also showing Morag's cows. Robin confined
his study to the cave.
John Dye
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