Bunree Caravan Club Site, Onich, Fort William

26 August 2017:- I spent another night scratching and as wakeful as the one before and hoped this was not to be a pattern of the next year; something many women of this particular age endure. I suspect it has more to do with camping in midge infested areas.

But despite an imperfect night’s sleep, the bright sunshine of the morning could only be greeted with joy. Chris reckons we have had only four days of fine weather whilst travelling in Scotland, and while I suspect he is technically right, we have enjoyed many fine interludes along the way. What a delight to pack up in dry conditions, drive down through such picturesque countryside with excellent  visibility and set up here again in still good weather.

Initially our route was the reverse of that which we had taken three days previously, back across the Skye Bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh, climbing up Glen Shiel and along the northern shore of Loch Cluanie, and then we struck into new territory; south up and over elevated countryside on the A87 past Loch Loyne and Loch Garry, much of the steep hillsides having been milled for timber, then descending to Invergarry, and crossing Loch Oich, which is effectively part of the Caledonian Canal from Inverness through to Fort William. By now the traffic was pretty much nose to tail, keeping up a fair pace along Loch Lochy, a lovely drive, soon within view of the Nevis Range, Scotland’s highest ski area. Here are about fourteen mountains, ranging from Ben Nevis at 1,343 metres ASL to the diminutive Ben Na Gucaig at 615 metres ASL. Soon we were travelling through the outskirts of Fort William, obviously undergoing expansion with much construction work going on, much of it hampering traffic progress.

At the south end of the town, we lost most of the traffic and continued on south along lovely Loch Linnhe, stopping for lunch just a couple of miles short of our destination.

We were not the first arrivals here at the camp, but did still have a fair choice of sites, all of which have lovely views down to the shore, covered with rocks and beaded seaweed.

I did suggest to Chris we set out on a short excursion once I had the washing hung, but it was clear he was happier to settle in front of the television and indulge in some armchair sport. I cooked up a big batch of bolognaise sauce for the freezer, and apart from a wander down to the loch shore, I lounged about for a second day of inactivity despite the glorious weather outside. Our fellow campers who had chosen to hang about for the afternoon were mostly sitting out in minimal clothing soaking up the sunshine, apparently not at all concerned about skin cancer. But then I am sure I have said that before. While we do have television and cellphone contact here, we are still without internet; the Scots really do get a raw deal as regards modern technology.