Kinloid to Kilhoan via Lochailort, Glenuig and Acharacle

Leaving earlyish from Kinloid and heading for Kilhoan would allow for stops at both the Lochailort Inn (although too early for breakfast) and The Tioram Cafe. It was good to meet Barry, manager of the inn, this time with his wife and young daughter making up a happy-looking family. New to me further along the road was the community Glenuig Inn for coffee in a cafetiere, soup and a sandwich. Here I bought an Ordnance Survey map of much of Ardnamurchan and was trying to find the bothy and its locality that I had been shown the day before. I explained to the four other diners in the room that the map was sprawled out over the table to accomplish this. A lady (living in Sussex) said that she had The Scottish Bothy Bible, which she recommended and I bought on my return. Perhaps more people are interested in and used bothies more than I thought, or was this a coincidence?

On the road to Acharacle, Kitty Rose Dyer has started an honesty box at the foot of her garden with tempting bread and scones. Her willingness to half a loaf for me and then to cut it into slices (doorsteps on request) will be remembered.

After so many food stops en route my food requirement at The Tioram Cafe was rather lower than last year, when it could amount to more than a normal meal.

Getting close to the campsite in Kilchoan there was a gathering with a barn set up with floor chippings for standing and dancing on and straw bales for seats. Fires burned outside to heat food, and music and alcohol added to the atmosphere. I was talking to Ali, son of Susan who’s birthday was being celebrated, when both Jacqui and Johnny (see early on Day 5) individually encouraged me to join the party. The atmosphere was irresistible and my TT status was suspended on return from setting up the tent. Johnnie ensured that hot food would line my stomach.

“Happy Birthday” played on the pipes by Colin “Coco” MacAlpine was a novelty but fortunately more usual pipe tunes (learned in only two years) prevailed. There was a good mixture of disco music from DJ Jim with dancing interspersed with singing. For me a rendition of “Kilchoan” by John-Alec was a memorable highlight.

Returning to my tent after 1:30 in the pitch black without a torch or substitute was challenging, and a single fall when yards from the tent was a minor mishap.