Second night at Morvich

 

Tonight is night 2/2021 living in my caravan, and is my second night at Morvich C&MC site in Kintail in the Highlands. 

Lovely night last night. Not often see herds of red deer on a dog walk!

Interesting piece of history I recalled about this site. I think Morvich consisted of a small farm back in the 1840's, possibly the building at the entrance to the site was the original farmhouse. It is now the house and office of the National Trust Ranger for Kintail. This house was the subject of a parliamentary enquiry back in the 1840's as it was the scene of death by starvation of some of it's residents during the Scottish Famine when, like Ireland, the potato crop failed and tenants were not given support from landowners. Interesting read here

I slept like a log, a perfect nights sleep despite the showers and the drip on the roof due to an overhanging tree! Took the dogs along by the river around 0630, and after breakfast, in between the showers, I put up the awning and put all the kit in it. The hot water system, the toilet, and my big plastic bucket/shower tray.

then we headed out for our first walk at Ard Hill. This is a walk I've done many times due to its location across the road from Reraig Campsite in Balmacara. I've stayed there many time.

I wasn't in this area at all last year, the last being in 2019. At that time, Ard Hill had not long been established as a public walk with way marked trails when a group of travellers took over the entire small carpark and trashed the place. They left or were removed and left heaps of the usual building and gardening waste, heaps and heaps of winkle shells (?), and worst of all, the remains of a burnt out caravan. The Forestry Commission locked the gate, and I thought that was going to be the end of it for Ard Hill. However, the FC done a great job. They removed all the junk, put in a height barrier and opened it up again. It is a great little walk.

The restored carpark.

The walk rises with nice views of Balmacara. The far right is the shinty ground for Kinlochshiel, and next door to that is the (still closed?) Reraig Campsite.

The Skye Bridge to the west.

And Balmacara Bay.

The view east towards Kirkton (the old shinty ground for Kinlochshiel), and Authertyre.

Lovely to see and smell the broom.

From there, we headed 4 miles along the road to Kyle of Lochalsh and stopped in at the co-op. It was remarkably quiet. It's normally mobbed whenever I've visited here, with it being the only supermarket between Broadford and Fort William?

Briefly stopped at Dornie Village hall for a picture of the castle, Eilean Donan.

The old ferry slipway, and the Drone Bridge.

Looking east along Loch Duich.

After lunch, headed out for another walk I enjoy. It's in the Ratagan Forest, above the village and recent forestry work has cleared it to provide a very airy walk.

The track follows the base of the treelike, and contours around the hillside.

Looking back at the car.

Stunning views across to the Five Sisters.

Looking west along Loch Duich, with Eilean Donan in the distance.

Absolutely stunning views. West along the loch...

And east along the Loch.

And like the proverbial 'pig in sh*t'!!!