Culra Camp - Take 1 

When you don't get the Message! 

So I set out early on Thursday to explore the area and camp by the River Mashie back of The Fara. This meant I was out of signal and missed the message that everyone else had decided not to go to Culra. It also meant I failed to receive any update in the deteriorating forecast. So on Friday afternoon when I pitched up on the meadow by the Allt a'Chaoil-redhe I had no idea that I was the Culra camping meet. With no more arrivals turning up by Saturday morning, and the summits most definitely in the clag, I set out on a perambulation of Ben Alder with the intention of heading for the summit if it should clear. Everything was still clagged up as I passed the Long Leachas, so I headed up the Bealach Dubh. It hadn't cleared here either so the west ridge was by-passd at the Bealach Chumhainn, my head just below the cloud. Lunch was eaten in the sun outside Ben Alder Cottage, but by the time I reached the Bealach Breabag it was obvious nothing was going to clear today and the wind was beginning to get up.

Saturday evening was quite pleasant back down in Culra and I was visited by a heron fishing and a herd of deer bathing in the shallows of the river. However I was rudely awaken by a torrential thunder storm at 11.30pm. It was like trying to sleep inside a drum! Worse was to come and an hour later the river had become a roaring torrent threatening to overbank and wash me away. I thought it prudent to strike camp and by 1am I was tucked up in Culra bothy which although technically closed is being kept unlocked for emergencies.

Sunday morning was dreich and I had drunk all my whiskey, so I headed out early to catch the midday train at Dalwhinnie where I picked up the message that the meet was off! Oh well, I had had an excellent time all the same and am looking forward to my next visit.

Taking part: Marcus

Words: Marcus

Photo: Marcus