There are two kinds of camping sites. Those that try your resolve, and those that nourish you. The Blackburn Bothy was definitely the nourishing kind.
I woke this morning to the sun benignly streaming into my tent, gently waking me from a deep sleep. I’m feeling good, both mentally and physically. Fit, strong, resilient.
It’s a very short walk into town this morning. I’m heading into the famed Loch Ness. Stuff of legend, fable and fantasy. It’s a quick hike over the hills before I spot Fort Augustus and the Loch in the distance. I can see the town, a crumbling old castle, and surprisingly a very modern pink one, all offset by the winking blue of the loch itself.
I arrive in time to have a lovely long lunch in the sunshine, catching up on writing and planning the next few days. I’ve been going back and forth in my mind about whether to continue on the Scottish National Trail, or take a small detour along the Affric Kintail trail. In the end, I decide to stick to the route I am following. Either way, I’ll experience the last last couple of days of the Affric Kintail and the described long forestry walks of the first couple of days were enough to put me off it. We’ll see if I regret that decision later.
After lunch, I take the time to watch yachts being lifted and up and down a series of gates and visit the famed place itself. The loch is surprisingly large, giving off a vast, inexorable feeling. It is cold, despite the sunshine, with the wind whipping through the air and causing ripples on the dark waters.
Later, I sit at the bar and chat to another fellow. He tells me the story of his relatives, who are officially recorded as being one of only 30 potential sightings of Morag – a second (and possibly related) monster that lives in the deepest lake in Scotland (Loch Morar – 310m deep). There is absolutely no trace of mirth in his tone as he tells me this. He is dead serious.
I’m not sure if I believe the story quite as much as his Scottish soul does, but I do love it. His relatives had to hit Morag with an oar apparently, or they may have met their demise in the deep…..What an image.
This article was originally published on The Trek which can be found here
Can’t believe that stunning blue sky! Seems like Oz got all the cloud and rain! Love the way the sunbeams stream down in some of these photos. And the Legend of Morag….
So good to hear of you relaxing into all the vibes of trail and Scotland xx