campingadventuresinscotland: 2016

Where were we: The Silver Sands of Morar
Intended destination: Morar
Date: Late Saturday 13th of August
Driver: Andy Tait in his Honda Civic (A fast one)

Unlike other trips I can't really remember when the plan was hatched or when the location was decided but I can tell you as much as I was well keen. My earliest memory was Arisaig and I've wanted to go back there for years.

As usual Andy Cowan was keen for a super early start. This year the estimated time of departure was 2 in the morning. Rather than contesting this as I normally do I just went along with it in the hope that it would never materialise. In the end we left at 4.30. An ungodly hour but far more respectable than 2AM. 2AM!! Mental. Both Andys do night-shift and are more accustomed to being up through the night than I am. I was grumpy. However, we stopped early on at McDonalds and 3 breakfast rolls and a coffee sorted me out. We all had a great breakfast. We stopped again at Fort William Morrisons where among other things I bought a litre of bluberry juice. It's hard to believe but I noticed that the sugar quantity in it was basically all the sugar I was allowed for the day! Children beware. It's not really fruit juice.

We arrived at the Silver Sands at 10am (an upside to the early start). The Silver Sands are basically a firth of the river Morar. Depending on the tide the river is either about 3 metres or a kilometer wide. When we got there it was out and we wandered along the sand looking for a spot to camp. We eventually opted for a spot about a kilometer from the car in at the trees at the back of the beach. There was barely enough room for the tent but we were nervous about being seen. As it turned out by the end of the weekend there were about 20 tents on the beach so it really wouldn't have mattered.

Once we set up and got settled there was some incredible news. We had 62 sausages in our food bags between us. We really need to start speaking to each other about food before we leave!

The spot was spectacular and all we could've hoped for. However, it was Saturday and the football was on at the pub so we headed over the bridge to the pub. It was about a mile and a half away. We had a nice time playing pool and cards and watching the football scores updating.

The walk to the pub

The weir on the way to the pub

We played some Frisbee when we got back to the tent and then I fell asleep (a downside to the early start) and the Andys climbed a hill. It was still mid afternoon. We had already done so much. When I woke up we played cards and made dinner. It looked like bitumen. It was strangely tasty tho. The main luxury I had carried except from some beers was a big comfy camping seat. We never had a foot rest but unbelievably between the three of us we fashioned one out of nothing but ingenuity.

An invisible footrest!!

The next day was spent around the campsite. Andy C went for a kip and me and Andy T climbed the hill I had missed out on the day before. I needed a wash but the tide was out. There were people within eyeshot so I wore my clothes to the edge of the water then stripped to my Ys and went in. Unfortunately, it didn't get deep very quick so I ran to get under quicker. After running for about 40 yards I dived under nearly face planting the sand as it was only about a foot deep. I realised the stramash I'd made and that more people could see me out here. So I quickly washed and dashed back in to the trees. I always feel amazing after an outdoor dip. We drank some wine and enjoyed some Seip Meier (fake Jaeger) I swear it's more potent.

Monday was a scorcher and we aced the morning and early afternoon by playing Frisbee, swimming and sunbathing. Here are some classic pictures that are up there with the best in my life. It was so warm.

That's the Harry Potter train

Best camping picture ever

We possibly over did the morning wine and Andy C fell asleep. Me and Andy T collected the rubbish and headed for the bins. On the way Andy T suggested we go to the pub as he had his wallet. I was on board. As we headed up the road we saw a sign for Mallaig. It was a lovely warm day and there was a path for the 3 miles to get there so we decided to walk. Then we decided to hitchhike and as I turned round there was a bus so I hailed it and we jumped on.We arrived in Mallaig and promptly enjoyed an ice cream and a fish supper. We then went to a pub with the plan of heading home after. We discovered there were 4 pubs so decided to go to every one. Eventually the football came on the TV so we watched it and then at a different pub a live band came on. It was after two songs of his that we decided we really should be getting back to Andy. We slipped in to one more pub on the outskirts of Mallaig. We just couldn't resist. A woman stumbled in with blood all over her and sat on a bar stool. she went right off the other side and basically upside down. But and this is a big but. STAYED ON THE SEAT. If I could go back to witness any moment in life. I'd go there and take a physicist. It definitely defied the laws!. Anyway, we left before we became like her and had a sing song before hitch hiking and swiftly getting picked up by a local who dropped us at the tent. What a lovely chap. When we got back Andy C was up and asked where we had been. We explained and realised that we really shouldn't have been gone so long.

We played some more cards and enjoyed what was left of the evening. The next day was glorious and we enjoyed a spectacular drive home. We got stuck for a while in Glencoe. It is a great place to get stuck on a day like that.

All in we had another great trip. I wonder where we will go in 2017?