Where were we? 2 or 3 miles off Ardmair
Intended destination: Ardmair
Date: May 2012
Driver: Andy Cowan in a bigger blue car
View from the campsite
We set off at 5am in a wee blue car. The road was clear and we were in Inverness for 10am where we enjoyed rolls and sausages. Andy kerbed his brand new car trying to find Tesco. Also, Andy Tait forgot stuff and we had to about turn about and go back after Lochwinnoch. I was annoyed. The time probably had something to do with that. It was an early start and our longest drive so far. But things were going to be great.
As we got near we drove back and forward for a while before we found a spot about 4 miles away from where we thought. We parked the car and tried to find a spot with trees. That was easier said than done. I'm pretty sure this area is still suffering from the highland clearances. We walked down a path and what looked like a jumpable stream ended up being a wadeable river. Andy Cowan and myself waded through and spent 5 minutes coaxing Andy (city boy) Tait over. We walked onwards and upwards for at least 2 hours aiming for some trees that we could see in the distance. There was an incredible amount of dear everywhere. It was marshy and due to the fact we were still poor at packing our bags were heavy. It was a far tougher trek than anything we had done before, but it was a good test to see what we could manage. We eventually found a perfect flat spot of grass about 20 metres by 20 metres jutting out from the hillside with trees to the back and sides and a waterfall beside it.
Loading up and getting ready to go like the amateurs we are
This beautiful underfoot terrain didn't last long
We set up the tent and fire as usual. Andy Cowan set up several tarps to protect us from the breeze. Although the tarps kept the wind out they kept all the smoke in.
Smoke getting kept in
An amazing place to be. I think Andy Tait is asleep
We tried to take a group picture and here is our first attempt:
Second attempt
Nailed it
Andy Cowan's new kettle was a hit until we heated up the milk in it and it never recovered
When we were set up we played frisbee. We were poor at it. We then set up a frisbee golf course that was braw fun. The next day Ewan and Andy Tait went back to the car to get more food. It was about 1 hour 10mins as a straight walk from the tent to the car. When we eventually got back Andy Cowan said he'd been lonely, which was cute.
A view from the walk down. Pretty much out over Ardmair
Frisbee golf in a great course
We had another great day pottering around and Andy Tait joined me for a waterfall shower which was invigorating. We went a walk into the unknown but it was starting to get dark and I was paranoid it was dangerous as we tried to jump between banks on the river. We listened to Chelsea winning the champions league on Andy Cowans wind up radio. Andy Cowan was already asleep and as penalties approached I decided I couldn't stay up any longer and crashed out as well.
Definitely asleep...again
Before the dangerous walk
The next day we headed into Ullapool to Scotland's best chippy or Britain's best chippy. They were round the corner from each other and either they had great chippy's in Ullapool or there is no danger of the police catching you for false advertising that far north.
I said "Andy put on your happiest face" I'm pretty sure that's his smug one
A little better
At the third attempt we found a pub with a pool table and we enjoyed a couple of hours there before heading back.
The first pub
Happy times
The next day we tidied up, as we are responsible wild campers, and headed home. We knew the best route by now and we were fairly swift. I unfortunately wrecked my brown sambas. I made a note to buy better footwear for the future.
The great thing about being so far from the car was the peace and quiet. We got incredible sun sets and a huge bird of prey regularly circled over us.
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