Trip to Scotland 1983: Four and half months in the Highlands and Islands

[DCampbell16B]

£1.20 Blair Castle
£1.17 lunch
£1.00 supper and breakfast: 2 apples, orange, 2 crisps, 4 rolls, choc ice
85p tea
26p tip
[I'm not transferring all purchases. Some I can't read my writing, some don't make sense, and some are most uninteresting]

More in papers about Scots Guards in fight.

Broke camp and packed in about 45 min, taking it easy. Very light rain this morning. Weather reports not good. May try to catch ride after Struan.
Castle is ½ to ¾ mile from A9. Had I known, I'd have left pack in the village. 1 blister left foot, front on inside ball of foot. Poked with needle and wore extra pair of socks. A nuisance, but not really painful yet.

YOU IDIOT! You sent $1000 travelers checks in .. sporran to Crianlarich!

Blair Castle has impressive collection.

Walked to past Struan, picked up on B847 by couple and daughter (father from Glasgow) and put right in Kinnloch Rannoch. [He was very quiet, wife and daughter quite outgoing. They said they were Brummies as if that explained it]

Tea at Dunalister Hotel. Can sit here and watch Schihallion. Scones still warm. Even extra hot water to dilute dregs if pot.
Michael Douglas [?]- two more experienced "walkers" talked a while with me, particularly social gospel. Probably see them on the morning bus, 7:45. Gave them each a roll. Gave me ⅓ banana. Weather threatening. Schihallion has disappeared and reappeared.

Been a short shower, now over. Very impressive drive down by Beinn a'Cheallaich. No tree cover, very large.

Campbell east end of Loch Rannoch. Fly only.
Played pipes on the shore of Loch Rannoch.


Beautiful country, desolate, depressed, dangerous even, but beautiful.

[I remember playing for a while on the shore. When I quit there was cheering from what must have been a hotel or gathering or something further up the north shore.

That night was one of the two worst I remember. It was so pleasant I only set up the fly and climbed into the sleeping bag. A tourist family was walking by on the road above me, only saw me at the last moment and waved. I just grinned stupidly and waved back.

I should have set up the tent. All night the midges were at my face, despite any repellent. And it was hot, but I couldn't get out of the bag without getting covered with the wee things.]