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

[DCampbell16B]

£2.30 hostel [Torridon]
14p
25p

[More missing photos]
● Beinn Eighe, Corrie Dubh
● Liathach
● Coire MhicFhearachair NW?
● Coire MhicFhearachair 90° right
● Coire MhicFhearachair in bad conditions. Doesn't show pinnacles.

Talked to Manchester policeman at breakfast. [On the climb up into Coire MhicFearachair] Got royally sleeted on. Very cold, high winds, rain also. Nice views, but I don't know of what. [From in the coire and on the way up, I could out over a large area, but I had no reference to understand what I was looking at.] Can see some Outer Hebrides, probably Uists, in the distance. Very cold here. Got [back to bottom] warm and balmy. Ride w/ 2 Israeli women. Evening not [unclear]. Talked to American girl from New England for a while. She was at Carn Dearg. Read "Sons of Odin" by Donald Hurry (see Glen Nevis) not great writing.

[Coire MhicFhearachair was impressive from the inside. I did not have any inclination to climb up the ridges. Most were covered in mist anyway. There was a small lochan. VeryRocky, I don't remember anything green at all, but it was getting later in the year.]

[DCampbell16B]

80p tea
£2.30 hostel [Loch Lochy]

[Here I have a drawing taken from the marker for the battle of Inverlochy. ]

Walked hostel to battlefield. Ride to Invermoriston w/ American girl and Sussex boy (living Nairn) in Mini. Ride with fisherman living east, fishing west to Fort Augustus and changed check for the weekend (banks closes Sat). Walked a ways. Ride w/ Welsh man living in Scotland to hostel. Very nice hostel. Old manor housetfarm. Nice warden. Very quiet. Beautiful inside. Warden's husband has a little Gaelic, from Invergarry. Warden from Inverness, no Gaelic, but Highland accent.

[DCampbell16B]

£2.30 hostel [Loch Lochy, or at least that is the date stamp on my membership card]
£2.53 food

Bread, Soup, Meat

● Tobar nan Ceann (inscription in English, Latin, French, Gaelic)
Inbhirgaraidh really very large, 4 foot walls. Called Creagan an Fhithich in garden, too.

[Here I have a drawing of the layout stone ruin of the castle.]
● Invergarry
● Glen Roy and Parallel Roads

Walked to Invergarry Castle and back to Hostel. At Hostel got lift to Spean Bridge w/ doctor (English) w/ practice in Stornoway on way to Oban and Mull. Pitlochry Knitwear very expensive in Spean Bridge. Walked to Roybridge and up Glen Roy (wrong side but shorter) and back to below Roybridge. Picked up by English couple and left [at] Spean Bridge, crossed road and immediately picked up by man w/ some Welsh, used to live in Glen Elg. Boring evening Hostel. Allan Campbell, Glasgow, wife and friends here (all 50-65) very loud but nice.
Tomorrow, Blair na Leine! right here in Laggan!
Either Forest Road and up Cairn Bhealach or up hill directly across for views. Corrieyarick ends Ft Augustus, but too far. Church?
Not sure what to do tomorrow, but that will work out. Don't know, but should get to Inverness ASAP. Six days left. This one open through October. [This was me trying to decide when to go back to Inverary. My plan was to stay there until they closed mid October, but also back to Inverness. I didn't note which ones closed or when except for Inverary].
I'm longing for the sea again, the West Coast, or Islands. The mountains are nice, but seem tame without surf at their feet. No seagulls call here.

[By the way, I know those mountains are not tame.]

[DCampbell16B]

£2.60 hostel [Glen Nevis]
34p candy
Sunday

Left early. Got ride to Spean Bridge w/ Glasgow couple (older), had puncture on the way. At Spean Bridge got ride w/ Christian to Ft William. Waited ~4 hours for ride south from Ft William. Tried for Oban, even Glencoe. No luck. Went to Glen Nevis. Big deal. Gaelic service 2nd Sunday of month. Did see Donald Hurry again. Comments on book Sons of Odin in back [of journal, it wasn't a very good book. I read it because I met the author.]. Supposed to discuss with him later. Played whistle by Nevis Water tonight. Weather dull today. Spatter of rain after dark. 10:00 bus to Oban tomorrow. Go to Oban or Connell Bridge? Want to see West Lorne Coast so much. Suggestion from Mrs. Ramsey [Inverary Hostel warden]? 1No Blar Leine!

[DCampbell16B]

35p sticker
£1.75 map
96p food
£3.60 bus
£2.50 bus
£1.65 bus
£2.52½ [food?]
£2.30 hostel [Inverary]
15p
20p phone

Walked to bus. Bus to Lochgilphead to(?unclear] Oban
[Missing picture]
● West Highland Line (no train [unclear] light)
Bread Tea Meat Milk Dressing? [Milk would have been BHT Milk. I don't know if it is still available in the UK. It was irradiated and did not require refrigeration, even after opening, at least for 2 or 3 days. Perfect for being out all day without refrigeration. Hostels had refrigerators for overnight. Most of them anyway.]

10:00 bus to Oban, 1:10 bus to Lochgilphead
Late bus for LGHead to Inverary. 1st [time I had seen the hostel] full because of Glasgow Holiday ending. Inverary had more visitors today than at games, just teeming with people. Not much to see coming down the west coast. Mist down. Couldn't see Barcaldine Castle or Barbreck House, or Ardshiel House because of foliage. Saw Castle Stalker and didn't get picture because was waiting for better shot and there wasn't one. Only one on bus from Kilmartin to Lochgilphead.

2 sets of Stones near Dunadd.
1 set is [herewith is an attempt to recreate a drawing in type]
_ _ _ x fallen
_ _ _ _

other is closer Bridgend. Stop at Kilmartin, flying trip across street to see stones at church. Very impressive, claymores, warriors, Celtics designs, all in a small covered chapel. Old ones on ground are just coats of arms in high relief. [Here is a crude drawing of possibly Argyll's arms]
Looked around at skirts for girls [to bring back to my sisters]. Some Campbell of Argyll, some Ancient Campbell. Call Inverness between 2-4:30 tomorrow.
Tomorrow Miss Lamont? [I didn't note what for]. Dundarave, Rob Roy's house, Castle.
Also, more meat, soap
In'ness [a phone number, which I'm not putting down.]

[DCampbell16B]

£7.74 trainers
30p
£21.00 skirt
£16.97 skirt

● Dundarave Castle [missing photo]

Saw Argyll drive out this morning from Castle.

[The following were some random notes I made. This includes rough drawings I made of the targes on display at the castle and my sister's waist sizes. Unless there is interest, I don't see a need to post the drawings.]

Inverary- dirk scabbard like bayonet scabbard.
Argyll is stalking around looking at the tourists.
Yellow and white sett worn by 6th Duke, d 1839

Got ride from Inverary Bridge to Dundarave w/ prison warden from London. Rainbow over Inverary Castle at bridge. Saw Argyll drive out in Rover at Bridge. Got picture of Dundarave, walked back to Inverary. Ate lunch at hostel. Went to Castle to late to see much before morning closing. [I had a membership in the Clan Campbell Society, which allowed me free access to the castle. I intended to make the most of it. ]

Bought trainers, too small [I had worn mine to shreds. Unfortunate waste of money]. Back at Castle tours going
Argyll prowling around armory looking almost daggers at tourists and finally went off to private section.[I don't think any of the tourists knew who he was, and it seemed like he prefered it that way] Got good drawings of targe, also looked at supposed Argyll Militia Colors. Not King's Colors. Look British Reg, w/ St Patrick's Cross. Wonder what they really are [likely Napoleonic Era Militia, of which I was not aware at the time]. Talked briefly w/ Head Guide Mrs. MacGregor. Her family has worked for the Duke's since 1839. Back at hostel not much happening. Walked into town, talked briefly with Mr. MacLean of Argyll Arms Hotel [Neil Iain MacLean!]. On way back Argyll was there in Subaru wagon [here color and plate number] talking to MacLean.
Back at hostel, pretty quiet.

[pfroyjr]

"Wow, what an incredible journey! Your connection to the Highlands and Islands sounds deep, especially with your family history and dedication to learning the pipes. It's fascinating how a mix of culture, music, and the people you met along the way shaped your path.
The story of your first flight brings back memories! The turbulence must have been intense, but that glimpse of the Shannon River must have been worth it. It's moments like that that stay with you.

[pfroyjr]

Wow, what an incredible journey! Your connection to the Highlands and Islands sounds deep, especially with your family history and dedication to learning the pipes. It's fascinating how a mix of culture, music, and the people you met along the way shaped your path.

[DCampbell16B]

82p candy [if I remember correctly I was getting a Cadbury 4oz chocolate bar pretty often, then eating the whole thing. It was one of my few extravagant treats. I still tend to overindulge in chocolate. And now the present Duke is married to a Cadbury. So apparently I was supporting the family. ;)]

● Rob Roy's house Glen Shira [missing photo]
[Here are some crude drawings of targes]

Walked up to Rob Roy's House . ~7 miles one way. Walked back. Lots of brambles out and ripe. Morning heard about John Ramsey's [Hostel Wardens husband, I think] high blood pressure (literally off scale). Decided to go back to castle. Talked extensively with Mrs. MacGregor about Nelson's Coffin, French [?] cabinet now in Metropolitan Art Museum New York. 11th Duke real bugger. [This can't be news to anyone now, as "A Very British Scandal" was made about it for British TV recently. According to Mrs. MacGregor the 10th Duke was so disgusted he put everything into an estate trust for three generations.] Trust ends with Torquil [present Duke and Chief].
Picture of Torquil, one in 18th C style uniform and one in that outfit holding the Queen's train and Charles right behind. Canadian (French) family practically demanded tour from Mrs. MacGregor. She told of her Grandfather carving stuff in Castle and also Pulpit in Church in town. Long discussion about weapons and some on flags. Also, Mrs. Ramsey told story of senile woman in town yesterday who fell asleep in the wrong room, her help, Mrs. Mac Millan, got someone to climb in window and find her. Called the doctor, who [was Indian and] wears turban. Mrs. MacMillan told the lady that this was the doctor, but the lady said "No, I don't want anything today."
Lord Colin, black sheep...
Didn't register in hostel today [I don't know why I wouldn't have]
4 in hostel tonight. John, Englishman, me and Nairn couple.

[I did have a long talk with Mrs. MacGregor that day. I think I stood the in the Armory with her for almost 3 hours. She wasn't giving tours as she was a bit under the weather. But she went on and on with me, and I took it all in. Argyll walked through at least once and saw me talking with her. I signed the guest book with all my names (I only have three, but when my mother used them...)
I don't know which day it was, either that day or the day before, but I walked in just as a tour bus had unloaded. We all were going in through what's known as Paddington Station. Argyll was standing there in jeans and an old sweater/jumper directing people. Apparently no one knew who he was, and just walked on by. I looked at him and he looked back, realizing I knew who he was. I just kept my mouth shut, as I figured he didn't want a fuss.]