Backpacking Loch Dochard. Day.1

 June 15th 2024.

This has been a bucket list walk for quite some time but I never got round to doing it.

The plan was made a couple of months ago but it was originally a lot longer than we actually did on this occasion. The plan was changed a number of times because of reasons I will explain in the post after the next one.

We had the car with us so had to find a good safe place to leave it. I used to leave it in the large car park across the road from the Green Wellie Stop but this land has a new owner and they have put signs out saying no overnight parking. 

So we drove to the little car park at Victoria Bridge near Inveroran. There was plenty of space. There was rain in the air and we could see showers moving across Loch Tulla as we made our way to Forest Lodge.

High Humidity meant that it wasn't good having to wear waterproofs but they were necessary.

A good track, but hard on the feet leads all the way to the Old School House (Clashgour Hut), which now is owned by Glasgow Uni I believe. For this to have been a school house is incredible and shows that there was a community here in this almost empty area.

Looking East, back towards Forest Lodge.

A sign makes it clear that there is no route through to Clashgour Farm as they are Calving but we were leaving the track anyway and taking the grassy path with the through route arrow. The path follows the bank of the Abhainn Shira. Butterflies were plentiful along the path but difficult to photograph with my camera which didn't have a view finder.

The rain made numerous appearances and closed off the views of the surrounding peaks. Such a shame.

In a short time we crossed a small bridge which then led to our first river crossing. Stepping stones were in place across the ford and luckily the tops of the stones were clear.

Sheila found the stones a bit unnerving as her balance is not great, but she made it with dry-ish feet.

At this point and looking at the map, I saw but dismissed a tall stile entering the woods. I thought the obvious ATV track would be easier. This was a mistake as it led to two more river crossings whereas if we had taken the stile route we would have had a bridge crossing. 

Once across the two rivers which were thankfully not in spate, we were back on track at the bridge. The weather was brightening up and the views of the mountains ahead lifted our spirits.

The wobbly bridge.

True to form, we spoke too soon, the clouds rolled in and before long we were walking in the rain. The views disappeared and appeared at random. Fortunately it is a good track all the way to Dochard and beyond.

When rain allowed we stopped to admire the glen with it's feeling of emptiness. It was hard to believe that we were not that far from civilisation. Long may it remain this way.

The track rises towards the watershed and it was harder than it actually looks. Our packs seemed to weigh double what we started with but soon we had a glimpse of the Loch with its surrounding peaks. The rain was sweeping across the glen and was really atmospheric. So quiet apart from a few birds.

We started to look for a suitable place to pitch the tent but it was all so soggy and overgrown with high clumps of vegetation. We passed a hut which I think is used when bringing sheep down off the hills. The poster on the wall of a missing person bringing a reality that you have to be careful out here. We never realised at the time but we camped in the same spot as the missing person. The next morning we saw a small named plaque in the ground. I have read since coming home that the guy was never found.

Splashing through ankle deep water we found a slight higher spot on a peninsula with a small beach either side. It would have to do as the options were limited.

The tent went up, water was filtered and a brew of hot chocolate was had.

We had a short wander around but it really was wet under foot. We had taken with us a pair of dry boots which you put on over the top of your "footwear" what ever it might be. I found they worked really well even though I found a flaw which once known was easily overcome.

Waterproof overboots. 

Superb for walking through pools of water or soaking grass.

I would take them again.

The sun goes down obviously, but at this time of year it hardly goes dark. It soon got to 9.30pm yet it was still very light, we were tired so we called it a day. 

About an hour later I realised my mat was deflating. I thought it was the temperature drop which had changed the air pressure in the mat. It wasn't to be however and I spent the night on my 3mm under mat, combined with the hard clumps of undergrowth I had a fitful half sleep. Until.............tomorrow.