Day 5
Tuesday 15th May - Gleann a' Chlachain to Glen Lyon (Nr. Meggernie)
photo © Jean Turner
To enjoy Scottish weather, one has to delight in its unpredictability. Evening had been wet and dreich. The night turned wintry, with hoar frost coating everything. The morning was a delight: brilliant sunshine warmed us, as we found our way eased by a good track extending much further than the map suggested, almost to the head of the burn. We were puzzled to see toad spawn, on a 2-ft.high dry rock.
Only near the top did we have to strike out across fairly easy terrain to the Bealach Ghlas Leathaid. Quite soon after, we reached the start of the excellent system of Land Rover tracks in Glen Lochay. Shining mica reflected the sun as we skirted above the glen on a high track to join the (now tarmac) road across via Lochan Leirg nan Lunn to Glen Lyon. Howard had identified a beautiful pitch down near the river, before the main glen. The temptation to join him, settling down in the late afternoon sunshine, almost overcame my resistance, but I really needed to put in another three hours' walking to keep within hoping distance of my schedule.
At least the tarmac trudge was relieved by the lush green glen scenery, the only adrenaline being provided by walking close to roving herds of cattle in suspicious calf-protecting mood. I decided against the loop road though Gallin to view Meggernie Castle: it was also tarmac, and very low-lying, and at the other end appeared very private, with associated loud barking of dogs. The higher view was much better, and shortly afterwards I found what appeared to be a designated picnic area by a river - probably not intended for camping, but I pitched after 8 p.m. and was gone before 8 a.m., and was careful to leave no trace.
