Expedition 298 - 2nd November 2013
From the White Gate

 


This was one of the really cold expeditions, after which all the drookit explorers had to be rushed home to baths and warm clothes, but it worked out well for all that. We had seven explorers, Archie, Calum, Isabella, Jamie, Ollie, Roslyn and Zack, with three helpers, Adam, John Dove and Simon, plus four dogs, Basil, Cody (the fastest thing on three legs), Ellie and Fizz.

We started from the White Gate, on the road to Dorlin and first we looked at the old spring which was restored by a team from Acharacle School in 1998, although now it looks like a natural feature of the landscape. I explained how the children had done all the work on the spring and showed them a list of the names; they have all grown up now and many have moved away from the district.

Then we had a look at the old quarry which was operated by Paddy Heron during the war, to produce stone for upgrading the Dorlin Road. It took a bit of time to fine a way up since a fallen tree had blocked the usual route, but we eventually got in and had a good look around.

Then it was back to the road and the long climb up the hill to Scardoish, stopping to see the rock overhang where there used to be a peregrine falcon nest. At the top of the hill we went to look at the fish hatchery and I explained that it used to be a sawmill until it was wrecked by a falling tree; we looked around but there were no old saw blades to be seen.

We carried on to the old estate garden, leaving the road to see the giant redwood and feel its soft bark. The explorers found wires on the wall, which were once used for supporting a vine. Back to the road and down to the ruined glasshouse where the explorers saw the old stove which once kept it hot enough for tropical plants.
Now that the rhododendrons have been cut, it was possible to use the old 'back route' through the trees to Dorlin House and we came out at the gate near the Castle.

This was a good point for a wafer break and the two oldest members stayed in the shelter of the bushes while the sturdy explorers went to run around on the beach, since the tide was very low.

I called them all back to the road and by this time the rain had got much harder and the wind became very cold. Soon they were just trudging on, well buttoned up, not many made the detour to look at the old ice pool. I had hoped that the walk back along the river would be sheltered but it just got colder and wetter all the time. Not that the explorers complained, but all of them were pretty glad to reach the cars.

Unfortunately this was another expedition when there were no photographs, it was too dark and wet to use the camera, and only John Dove and myself made it to the Loch Shiel Hotel, so we didn’t get any drawings either.John Dye






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