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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