Not a sunny day but at least we got a dry morning, a big
group this time, with nine young explorers: Alexander, Angus,
Anna, Duncan, Fern, JJ, Lexi, Rowan and Ruaridh (although
Angus was travelling in a rucksac, he was clearly interested),
plus eight helpers, Fiona, George, Issy, Jade, John, Kathryn,
Mairi and Sharon, plus two dogs, Brambles and Bess. The dogs
got on fairly well, following what the politicians call a
full and frank exchange of views.
We gathered at Mingarry Hall and walked carefully down the
road to the old school where everyone saw the fireplace built
on the outside wall. Some of the explorers looked at the Ballachulish
slates with large pyrite crystals.
Then we returned to the road and began following the boundary
fence around the wood. Near the road it is just a low mound
remaining from an old turf dyke, but high up in the wood it
is a fine, well-built stone wall.
Most of this route is a long slog up through the trees to
the top of the wood, there were pine trees on the west, beech
trees in the middle and oak trees at the top. Since the rhododendrons
have been cut, the ground has recovered and the wood was looking
very attractive, although there were few flowers to be seen.
It took a while to get to the top dyke and even then there
was another climb to the cave, but everybody made it in fine
style. Due to a miscount, one or two of the adults went short
of a wafer this time, but all of the explorers got one except
for Angus who had a fig biscuit. I explained how the cave
(it's actually an overhang with a wall round the outside)
used to be used by the children at the school - they must
have been fit if they could make it up there during the break.
I have heard that they rolled eggs at Easter but I don't know
where that would have taken place.
Finally we got going again and made our way delicately down
the steep slope and found a good deer path taking us toward
the Mingarry Burn. We stopped to have a look at a tree with
a big ivy growing on it, and some of the explorers had a look
at a big, heavy concrete block which was lying in the wood.
Then we crossed to the fence and had a good view of the waterfall;
we could also see a section of the original track to High
Mingarry, it wasn't visible when the rhododendrons were there.
I was prepared for the long walk back through the wood when
one of my observant helpers saw the gate behind the Priest's
House and we were all able to take a short cut back to the
cars. Some members went to have a look at the church, but
I had Bess on the lead by that time so we went back to the
car.
We finished early and found the tearoom quiet and empty,
but it didn't stay quiet for long. Almost everyone attempted
a drawing this time, I have picked out Anna's view of the
cave, with some boulders nearby - one has to remember that
her viewpoint was rather lower than the rest of us.
John
Dye
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