Intended destination: Ardenstur (near Kilmelford)
Date: August 2013
Driver: Ewan in his Focus (The Black Panther)
In recent times we have only managed one trip per year. The original plan of going all round Scotland was becoming too time consuming as it needs 5 hours of driving to get places. When you add supermarket, fuel and general stops to that we use up a large chunk of the day.
In early March of 2013 we had taken on, and defeated, Loch Arkaig near Spean Bridge in wintery conditions that plummeted to minus 5. It had been a great adventure. The summer was nearing its end and we were still fueled with enthusiasm and desire for camping so we decided we could fit in another weekend trip. No holidays would need to be taken from work and it was only a maximum of a three hour drive away. As usualAndy Cowan had done the research and the spot he had picked looked great. It was just off a quiet country road that led to nowhere in particular and was right on the shore. We had never camped beside the sea and it would be a nice change.
It was Friday lunchtime. Both Andies were on nightshift on the Thursday and would go home for a sleep whilst I went in to work to do a half day. After his night shift Andy Tait had driven me to work to save time later. It was planned that he'd pick me up at 12. Andy Tait slept in and I hung about for at least an hour before he and Andy C arrived to pick me up. They were in my car and I got in to drive. On their way to collect me Andy C had enjoyed his first can of beer. As I got in the car to drive the back door opened and Andy C leaned out and spewed in the car park of my work. I work in Johnstone High School!
Spirits remained extremely high as we stopped at the supermarket in Dumbarton for fuel and food. Andy C smashed a bottle of red wine on the way out the shop. They kindly gave us a new one. Then when we got back to the car we realised we still had the security tags on the Jaeger. Good to know the alarms work well. We would figure out how to get that off later.It hadn't been a textbook start but looking back we didn't even look on the downside and just laughed it all off. The mood was great.
I knew the road until the last bit. However, the last bit was so tight and windy that I had to go into first twice to get up a hill. I don't think that has ever happened before. I should also have mentioned that my car was feeling old. It had done 148 thousand miles and recently completed 2500 miles round France. An alarming noise was coming from the front left wheel and Andy C genuinely feared that a wheel was going to come off. I'm pretty sure I just called him a pussy and carried on.
We parked the car in a way that we reckoned wouldn't bother anyone and set about looking for a spot to get down to the shore. It looked like it was just a case of jumping a fence and finding a way through a forest. We were very, very wrong about that.
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| The excitement begins. We just had to get through those trees |
I put a lot of pics on there but I figured it saved me describing it. Basically I've never encountered the like!!
When we reached the shore we flattened the bracken and put the tent up and Andy C set up the fire on the shore. The weather was overcast but fine. We threw stones in and explored a little before making some food and heading to bed. We had actually thought all that bracken was grass but Google maps can be deceiving.
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| Lovely spot with the top of the tent peeking through at the back |
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| Jaeger with security tag |
The following day we had, as far as I'm concerned, one of the most enjoyable wild camping days of the lot. After heading along the shore over steep cliffs we got on to the road and walked along until we saw a timeshare village. We went to the pub and enjoyed some food and a couple of pints. We then spoke to a lovely woman who let us play on the tennis courts for free. After I schooled both Andies we headed on to Kilmelford and stopped at the Cuilfail Hotel. Like many rural pubs it was warm and friendly. We sat for hours playing dumble, dominoes and watching the football results coming in. We also enjoyed more food that included deserts and cheeseboards. A great time was had by all.
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| The Shower of Herring Pub |
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| Andy Cowan is nearly invisible there |
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| The Cuilfail Hotel |
We had walked around five miles to get there and saw that there was another route home through the country that was signed the Kilmelford pass. We reckoned that we had enough light and headed to the fields.We got totally lost and Andy C goosed his dodgy knee. After scrambling down hills and going completely the wrong way we found our way to the car. By this time it was pitch black and we still had the 6 foot bracken to get through. So we got some more food supplies and headed down the hill. Although it was dark our theory was just keep going down the hill and we'll get to the shore.
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| The Kilmelford Pass or somewhere within a mile or two of it |
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| Back at the car before we took on the bracken |
It started raining when we got back and we headed into the tent. I got back up to throw up my cheeseboard and returned to sleep like a log.
After tidying up on the last day we had figured an easier walk home. It was still really tough with all the kit on our backs. The bracken would've been impossible though.
We drove home after one last stop at The Cuilfail Hotel. My new favourite pub. It was a great trip and one that I recall as one of the best of all.
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