Saturday, September 16, 2006

Charlie's first bothy trip.

It has been a week but here's what happened. Grandad was through about 3pm for our long journey back across to the West, near the Skye Bridge. The bothy we were destined for was Suardalan. Here's Grandad in a brief photo op with Phoenix just before we set off.
The journey took a little longer than planned and with the nights fair drawing in, we decided to stop at a shally. The journey had taken it's toll and Charlie who had been sick and was crashed out in the back seat.
As soon as we arrived Charlie woke up and was as bright as a button (we probably could have chanced the night walk into the bothy) instead we went for a meal and a pint then had an early night.
The next morning we were up bright and early, Charlie finally did the toilet after a 18 hour strike, surprisingly managing not to pee the bed the night before.
Off we went and about an hour later we were there, we could see the bothy from the road. We pulled in, got our boots on and made our way over a wee hill before Charlie took her seat on my shoulders next it was threw some marsh squelch squelch, across the river splish splash, threw the herd off cows moo moo and across the plain to the bothy. It only took about 20 minutes, an ideal bothy for young children.
It was an empty bothy even bigger than Steioneag, 3 rooms at ground level and 2 rooms up the ladder. We unpacked and got set up before having some scran. Charlie was loving it, running about outside next to the cows.
Our plan to go across to Skye was scuppered by the night in the shally so instead we headed back down to the car and made our way into the village for a pint in the pub and a dram in the field.

The weather was fantastic all weekend. Charlie, top off scrambling over rocks up in the hills.
The cows seemed fascinated with our little halfling which suited Charlie who was loving their company.
Mooooo....
This was the room we nested in, clean and tidy with wood and a bag of coal sitting. Top Marks...
Nosey parker up the ladders checking out our digs.
Grandad getting the dinner on, notice how peaty the water is - it looks like pish.
Another adventurous climb at the pub, before the top came off.

This is from the drive up, the clouds were rolling across the mountains so gracefully, it looked amazing.


Charlie kitted out in her new pink welly boots sitting on the dry-stone dyke just outside the bothy.
Here we are down by our pishy peaty water supply, no drinking straight out off this stream. There were some cool little waterfalls and it was very rocky so you could scramble right up the stream but nothing to write home about.

Some of the peaks from the bothy.


And it was hometime after tidying up Grandad and Charlie make their way as I get in a few last photos.
Bye bye Suardalan.
This is next to where we parked the car, it is more of the ACF (ancient caledonian forest) although the picture turned out crap because of the long grass which hides the petrified stumps.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Alright Kris Its finnie long time no hear!, beautiful pictures. Young Charlie is sproutin up fast. Hope all is well give us a bell mate need to arrange a visit soon.