At the end of August we found ourselves heading for the Ben Alder Forest as David had agreed to assess a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Group. We left home with Ellie a little anxious as there was a yellow weather warning covering the area for the entire weekend, had it been our group, we would have cancelled, but on this occasion it was not our decision and in fact, nothing to do with me at all, I was along for the ride.
It took much longer to reach our planned destination than expected, partly due to the weather conditions. It was windy and wet. We drove a circuit of the car park on arrival, luckily there were only three or four other occupants and we all had plenty of space. I suspect Ellie had the most exposed position, but we were happy enough.
On our way
In the morning, we made our way to the start of the expedition in the rain to find the two supervisors waiting to redirect us to the nearest parking spot. We waited for them to meet us there along with the participants, a group of five girls. After David's introductory chat, they were sent on their way and we retired to Newtonmore for some supplies before heading to Dalwhinnie, trying to maintain a phone signal in case the expedition was called off, as we were convinced it would be. At Dalwhinnie, we were on the look out for a place we could safely leave Ellie as we walked in to assess their camp craft skills. We found public toilets at the village hall where they were operating a community cafe, so obviously we popped in for a bacon butty, coffee and a pot of tea (I had the tea) The cafe was being run that morning by a very chatty gentleman, full of local knowledge despite not originally being from the local area and he was able to tell us of a safe place for Ellie. We loitered for as long as we could without being rude and then took Ellie to her safe spot. We reorganised a few belongings inside our rucksacks, not daypacks this time, we were carrying more than usual, and took plenty of warm layers, sandwiches, stove and dehydrated meals in case we got waylaid and needed something hot. We donned our waterproofs and set off underneath the railway line and along the eastern end of Loch Ericht and then along the northern shore towards the Ben Alder Lodge. I'd last walked this route two years ago when we supervised my Gold group on their expedition, the conditions were similar although my group only had a day of grim weather.
At the Lodge, we headed for Loch Pattack, where we were hoping to meet the group and find out how they'd been getting on. We walked a little further than expected but soon found the supervisors surveying the ground the group intended to pitch. It was wet. We stayed and had a good chat and catch up until the group arrived and then we watched them pitch and start cooking their meals. After about two hours, we decided we needed to head back to Ellie to avoid getting caught out in the dark, although we did have headtorches with us, I just can't see so well in the dark.
Ellie was waiting for us, safe and sound and we decided to head straight for our overnight stop rather than eating first, we had an easy start the next day, in no hurry to head off, so didn't matter if dinner was late and I preferred to be stopped for the night so we didn't have to pack up again. We went back to the Creag Meagaidh car park in the hope it would be as quiet. In actual fact, it was even quieter and we had another peaceful night.
Approximately 15.6 miles and 2461 ft total ascent
We parked overnight at the Creag Meagaidh Car Park, this was the view in the morning
Heading to the start of their walk
Looking towards Loch Pattack and the hills beyond as we headed back to Ellie
Dehydrated meals as I'd anticipated a late night
In the morning the weather was still not great, so we killed as much time as we could whilst maintaining a signal, just in case we were needed, or the supervisors needed to get in touch with us with a change of plans. We had booked two nights at a campsite for a change and were able to book in to Bunroy Campsite in the afternoon. A nice, quiet little campsite, I could have lived without the piped whale music in the shower block. Still, we made full use of the facilities.
We received word that plans had had to be changed due to the flooded burns and waterlogged ground, but they were still intending to continue. We had already booked train tickets to Corrour Station to walk in and meet them, hence we'd picked this campsite, but these plans had to be changed as they were re-routing and we would now have to walk in from Inverpattack Lodge to intercept them for a catch up.
Still wet in the morning
After a lovely, quiet night, we headed back towards Loch Laggan so we could walk in to meet the group and find out how they were getting on. Sunday was by far the best day so far and we had a lovely walk in, first heading south west along the East Highland Way, then south east, intercepting them east of Coille Doir-ath. I think they'd had chance to dry out and warm up by then as they were in quite good spirits despite their adventures, having been holed up at Culra Bothy for the previous day (yes, that bothy, with the asbestos...) so we had a chat with them and the supervisors to make sure they would be able to fulfill the requirements of their expedition, David really did not want to fail them, but there are criteria to be met.
After satisfying ourselves all was well, we decided to complete a circuit rather than return on our outward route and eventually met the path we had walked on our previous visit here. We revisited Pattack Falls as we thought they may have more water than last time.
We collected Ellie and returned to the campsite for another peaceful night.
Approximately 9.78 miles and 935 feet total ascent
Interesting route choice for the East Highland Way
Foreboding
It was another wet morning and we set off knowing the girls would be only to pleased to get this expedition over and done with. And so would we to be fair. It had been a wet old few days! We set off to park near Moy Lodge alongside the supervisor's car and to have lunch whilst we waited.
In time, the supervisor who owned the car appeared, had a chat, left some gear in his car, then left again. Eventually, both supervisors appeared, chatted, put gear in the car, chatted some more, then the drowned rats appeared. We chatted, then David chatted to the girls and put them out of their misery. I have never heard a group cheer more loudly when told they'd passed.
What a weekend.
