campingadventuresinscotland: 2012

Trip 3

Intended destination: Glen Mor (not on original route)

Actual destination: 4 Miles off Aird of Kinloch / Fidden

Sub heading: When Karma Smiled on us

Driver: Andy Cowan - Small silver car....again!

It was late september 2007. The summer was coming to a close. Just time to fit in one more successful trip......or was there????

Day 1
So off we set in walking shoes and straw hats. After parking the car near the destination we took a trek across a field with all the stuff. It was treacherous! I didn't know fields could be so rubbish.

So half way i courageously stopped and waited with the stuff as the Andys ploughed forth heroically.

It was a wet damp day in a rubbish field. However, just around the corner was an oasis of perfection. So we put the tent up, enjoyed a shandy and played frisbee over the burn.

Day 2
It hadn't been the greatest night of camping but we still enjoyed it. When we got up we decided to visit Iona. We met Andy's Aunty and family and had a pleasant day walking around Iona. Going to the Abbey and the bay at the back of the ocean.

We then went back to Andy's cousin's house. Which, was incredible. It sat at the corner of the campsite over looking a beach. After this we headed to the pub where among other things we discovered Kronenbourg was stronger than Fosters.

We also played Islanders via Mainlanders at pool. We later wrestled before hitting the kip.

Day 3
We played football at the campsite, had dinner at Andy's Aunty's and headed home for a quiet night.

Fresh faced before the trip

Also fresh faced...

...but in need of a haircut... and a shave

An immense wingspan

Fresh faced and relaxed

How to ruin an excellent picture

ruined as well

Andy said "do skelly eyes, do skelly eyes" I didn't. They are some excellent skelly eyes though.

artistic bullshit

Small space in the back

Ferry from Oban to Craignure

A wee guy fishing or SUTTIN

A wee bridge on Mull

2 of the 3 Lochs

As mentioned earlier the new walking shoes. Jimmy in brown, Andy Cowan at the bottom.

On the field

One of my favourite pictures. Also, where I couragously stopped

As mentioned earlier the straw hats. Closest first Andy Tait then mine up high.

Leffe! Good times

The oasis of perfection

It gets dark quick at the end of September

Add caption

Iona to Fionnphort

The Abbey and what not

Dude on a bike in Iona

Bay at the back of the ocean

Blow hole at the back of the ocean

Baile Mor

Martyr's Bay

The hoose we stayed in at Fidden campsite

Inside the hoose

A coo in the hoose's gairden. Awesome big coo

Further into the Unknown

Trip 6 - Hopefully the Kyles Smiles

Intended destination - Camas Luinie

Actual destination - Moyle Campsite (near Glenelg)

Will we find another spot in the wilderness.....

Driver - Andy Cowan (small silver car)

You may notice that this is only the third camping blog posted and we have somehow jumped from trip 2 to trip 6. To quickly explain trip 3 we went off route and landed in Mull and trip 4 I have just sat down to do but realised Andy has the pictures and a blog with no pics is like Bert without Ernie. Trip 5 was to the Iona beach Party a glorious trip you need to stay tuned for. This trip is original trip 4 but actual trip 6. I hope you are still with me. If not just enjoy the camping fun.

So this time we made it to Moyle Campsite near Glenelg yet again we had aimed planned and missed. We have only hit 1 out of 6 and I haven't even written about it.

Anyways on with the blog....

Here is the original diary excerpt started by andy, continued by Cowbag(the beardy one) and completed by me.

The camping trip starts tonight at Jimmy's relaxing and talking about previous trips. Ah good days! Looking forward to 3 days of camping heaven, drinking, building fires and plenty of frisbee and keepy ups. (Andy Tait wrote this and then ripped it out and threw it away but I liked it so retrieved it and kept it in)

Andy Cowbag continued:

Day Wan

Got up at 6 instead of the scheduled 5. Made it out the door for 20 past. Weather very disappointing but to be expected. Torrential at some stages but it didn't "dampen" our spirits (mainly vodka). The largest trip yet, around 185 miles seemed an eternity for Jim and Tait.

I took on the rest as the 2 andy's refused every time I offered.

We didn't manage to find a spot so followed Jimmy's awesome advice and headed for the Moyle Campsite we had seen on the way into Glenelg.

We set up camp. Initially we struggled with the tent but pulled through in some style by providing the best looking tent yet.We then made something I can't read and played football with a wee guy who turned up wanting a game. Cowbag was scared of the wee guy and made us hide in the tent until he was gone. In hindsight this was a good idea.

That night we went an epic stoat where I heroically rescued the Frisbee. Andy and Andy crashed out early and I stayed up. Although they both kept shouting me as they thought I was ill (I was fine). They eventually fell asleep.

Day 2

The next day we visited Eileen Donan Castle which was hoachin with folk. After a wonder round the gift shop and some pics we strode forth to Skye and stayed for all of 5 minutes and turned and came back. We then drove to Kyle of Lochalsh for a pub lunch. We enjoyed a good square meal (few and far between when camping), a couple of games of pool and a couple of pints. We then headed to the tent and went for a lengthy stoat. Eventually we wandered into the dark forest where I was constantly scared of getting lost. However after ten minutes we chickened out and ran back to the road.

Unfortunately the diary runs out here. Which, is a shame cos the weather was glorious. This probably happened because we all refused to write it.

Oh well we'll just need to enjoy the pictures.