Trip 8 - Loch Arcaig (Witches Pool)

Where were we? Loch Akaig (Witches Pool)
Intended destination: Loch Akaig (Witches Pool)
Date: March 2013
Driver: Andy Tait's big Silver Audi

The Witches Pool

Loch Arkaig was an unscheduled trip as it had been decided that we were driving to far to go camping. You see the original plan for the World Tour of Scotland was hatched back in 2007 and included places all over Scotland. After ticking off several in a couple of years we have wandered off track a bit. We have decided that as long as the original plan is completed in our life time that'll be soon enough. So in the mean time....

It was early winter 2012 and the 3 of us had our usualget together on a Monday night at mine (Ewan's house). I was bemoaning the fact it was so long to camping but Andy Cowan said it wasn't long at all and we could go late March. This seemed a bit early but from my view we were becoming accomplished wild campers and it was less of a risk to take more risks if you know what I mean. It was decided that we would go to Loch Arkaig. This was pretty much because it is in the west of Scotland and that is clearly the best part of Scotland in our opinion.

On the drive up the weather was sunny but very cold. I'd take that over warm  rain and wind any day but I'm not sure either Andy would. The drive was still long at 4 hours. But 4 hours is manageable. By the time we got to the loch and the quiet road that runs alongside it night was drawing in. We parked in what looked like a walkers car park. It was beside a spot called The Witches Pool. Which, sounded ominous. Apparently the spot had been used in the film Rob Roy. We headed up the path to the side of the waterfall. After a few hundred yards we couldn't see any camping spots. There was a large fenced off forestry area and the demolished forest offered no flat grassy areas. As we climbed up the hill I was goosed as I was carrying all my stuff, Andy and Andy had left their stuff down the hill. Me and Andy Tait stopped and Andy Cowan walked a further 2 or 300 yards up the hill but it was to no avail. By this time it was nearly dark and we put our tent up on the only spot we could see. It was at the top of the waterfall about 100 yards from the car if that and it was a very uneven surface with tree roots protruding the grass.

The car park about 100 yards from the site

Beside the tent was a frozen waterfall

The spot looks surprisingly good. It was certainly spectacular

Anyway, the tent was up we got a fire going had some food and a few beers and all was well with the world - except it was bloody freezing. Minus 5 according to the weather forecast. I'm sure it was colder. That night I slept on and off. I was wearing 2 pairs of socks, pants, 3/4 length thermal trousers, t-shirt, 2 fleeces, hoody, waterproof jacket, warm lined trousers, waterproof trousers, gloves, deer stalker hat, 4 season sleeping bag inside a one season sleeping bag and I kept waking up cold. I don't usually get cold. Andy Tait claimed to be fine in his new Pringle thermals and sleeping bag but Andy Cowan on the other side was also cold. I got up early and got the fire going. Not long after Andy T joined me. The one big worry we always had about wild camping was being visible. In the morning due to our proximity to the car park a walker walked basically through our campsite. It was awkward for everyone. We decided not to care and got on with life.

It was an incredible day and we packed our ruck sack and headed off for a walk along the side of the loch. We played Frisbee and eventually came across an old storage container. We got the football out and played wally. If you missed you did a shot of Jaeger! Fortunately due to the weather it was ice cold and went down a treat. The more Andy T missed the more he was likely to miss!

Beside the witches pool at the start of the walk

Andy C fell down a hole retrieving the Frisbee

Frisbee fun

Conquered the walk

Note the white hills in the back

Spectacular view from the walk

As we headed on our way it quickly became obvious that Andy T was trashed. He looked as white as a ghost and seemed to be in a trance a happy trance and he knew what was going on so all good.

Not long after this we sat down for a bite to eat on a rock. Quickly Andy T decided to show off his new long johns that had kept him so cosy the night before. The sun was out and so were the long johns so I decided to crack out my German bobsleigh outfit that I had unwittingly bough in Berlin but that is another story.

Cosy and warm

The cold was good for preserving dead animals and we saw a beautifully preserved dead woodpecker as well as a pheasant.

One of the greatest things about the trip was the food prep. One Andy had prepared a huge pot of stovies and the other prepared chilli. Put that together with the new stove Andy C had drummed up at work and you get an incredible feast. Well done boys. We now know you can live with satisfaction and a smile.

As bedtime approached it was a case of just getting through the next 7 hours. We got up and walked along the other side of the loch. At one point we threw in a branch and spent ages trying to hit it. There was an awkward moment again as a man in a boat came from nowhere and his boat engine stopped about 10 metres from us. Eventually after at least 40 attempts and 10 mins his engine restarted. It's fair to say stone throwing was interrupted.

If you look at the back you can see Andy Tait's arm as he does the front crawl in the water.

The statement above wasn't true

On the way home we stopped at a chippy where a wee woman screamed at me to wake up 3 times. She was an angry woman. I'm sure I can forgive her as I looked like a zombie after a few days of not sleeping much.

As far as I'm concerned this was the second best trip so far after Ardnamurchan. The weather was a bit tough at night but absolutely spectacular as you can see in the pictures.

Here are some pictures I didn't include above