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The forecast was rather poor and I was pleased to see anyone
at all in the rain and midges. We had seven explorers; Alexander,
Archie, Daibhidh, JJ, Lexi, Mairi and Ollie, with three helpers,
Fiona, Mairi and Simon and two dogs, Basil and Jess.
We started off at the church and we all went in to look at
the stained glass windows designed by Jemima Blackburn and
see the wooden cross from the battlefield of the First World
War. A good many explorers signed the visitors’ book
before we left.
Outside the church everyone had a look at the special house
built in the end wall for the barn owls and I was pleased
to hear that two of the expedition had seen barn owls nearby.
Then we started off on the expedition proper, stopping to
look at more types of tree than some of the explorers could
contemplate. We also found a big patch of bamboo but a search
revealed no pandas.
By the time we reached the Prince’s Well, many of the
young explorers were far ahead and clearly burning off surplus
energy. We carried on past the big house and the timber house
which had been moved on rails and crossed the field to the
iron stag, peppered with bullet holes from its use as a stalking
target. Everyone spread out a bit and a number of very small
frogs were found in the grass behind the target.
Then we walked down to the old sawmill where the saw blades
were stood against the wall and we were joined for a time
by two other dogs whose attempts to look ferocious didn’t
convince anyone. We had a look at the cobbles of the old yard
and then joined the track to the East Lodge, noting some fine
Douglas Firs by the path. We had another stop while some of
the explorers looked at the Lodge and others used the swing
to court disaster over the burn.
I was impressed by the concentration showed by the team since
we reached the Nursery Pool without anyone making plaintive
cries for Wafers; well, only one. Nonetheless the break was
welcomed by all and some sat down on the seat for a bit. All
too soon we were off again, down the path by the river, taking
in a look at more Douglas Firs and some Chanterelles growing
on the path.
When we reached the big bridge, I was able to use some talc
and a brush to show the explorers an inscription made many
years ago by a team of Royal Engineers were doing work on
the bridge. Before we left the bridge we stopped by the old
shed where coffins used to be made and I showed them the spot
where Jemima Blackburn had sat to do a paining of the blacksmith
shoeing one of the Roshven horses. Mairi said there was a
boat in the shed now.
From this point it was a matter of walking back up the main
road to the church again, with one surprise in the appearance
of a group of Ink Cap fungi growing near the gate.
Everyone got down to drawing some aspect of the expedition,
many picked out the big grand fir near the church, but I have
selected Archie’s marvellous view of Kinlochmoidart
House, a great effort for a five-year-old.
John
Dye
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