Sallachy
Sunday 20th - Sunday 27th September
by Sandie
The club rented Sallchy house near Lairg for the annual summer trip.
Sunday: The advance party set out sharp to provision the Lodge, allocate rooms and cook dinner for the green party, due to arrive at 20.15 with the Wick express (sic). House splendid and beautiful, tartan Victoriana and roll-top baths. There was competition among the singles over the best room (turret and flatscreen) which Clare won, and the bonus was to share with Guy. After a delicious cold collation, hostess Chantal issued Standing Orders for the week and we fell into bed.
Monday: The week’s forecast was gales but the day dawned warm and still. We split into the walkers, up for Ben Hee; the cyclists, riding the gentle triangle of the river Oykel and Shinness; and the casuals, headed for sand, sea and surf at Tongue. Unhappily the weather was also split- the walkers returned sodden whilst the rest basked in sunny intervals. An excellent dinner laid on by Alan’s team (soup, curry and crumble) banished the blues. Sue won at scrabble.
Tuesday: The wind was up, so Munros went on hold. Some softies drove east down Loch Fleet (a nature reserve crammed with Waders) to Embo beach where sunshine, golden sand and crystal sea beckoned. An omission to bring swimsuits did not stop the girls plunging in to revel in the best beach outside Corsica. After a coastal walk to Dornoch and tea, the party faced a 7 mile trudge back to the car. So the girls hid the chaps and thumbed it (we assume now clothed – Ed) and right away scored a Mancunian local, who shuttled them to the buggy, so all got back for cocktail hour. The walkers meantime had fought gales to claim Ben Griam Mhor and Ben Griam Beg; and the families had delighted in the salmon leaping at the Falls of Shin. Sue won at scrabble.
Wednesday: A windy day (“It’s the Equinox!” said Mary) did not stop an expedition up Morvern, rewarded by views all the way to the north coast. Those minding their complexions strolled up Loch Shin from the Lodge and checked out slipway access for canoes (none). So home for tea and scones in the conservatory, and first aid on a sprained ankle sustained shifting a crate of wine. Dinner again great. Scrabble banned to keep the peace.
Thursday: Time for shopping - a trip to Lairg to check out the tartan centre (ladies’ suit £500 for the Miss Marple look); and one to Tain for fresh fish and a look at the cathedral- an impressive place. (Tain was once a pilgrimage destination visited many times by James IV.) Fun train journey to Tain enlivened on the return by encountering a tipsy man determined to disclose to us the entire content of his mind without pausing for breath between Tain and Lairg, where we fortunately got off. Ross and Alan had sensibly cycled to Bonar Bridge.
Friday: Chantal and Chris went to Dunrobin Castle on Thursday and the rest of us followed suit on Friday by car and bike (gorgeous cycle back through Strath Fleet). The Duke of Sutherland wanted a Chateau look-alike so using “applique” he turned his existing house and grounds into a wee corner of France. We loved the gardens (warmed by the last of the Gulf Stream) and the falconry display, observing the peregrine falcon, the fastest creature on earth, snatch a titbit on the wing. Sun very welcome.
Saturday: Last chance to bag a Corbett, so it was Ben Leoid, in at last lovely weather. Several campers rested at the lodge which now felt like home. The swimmers (see Tuesday) drove to Rogart aiming to walk a circle of small hills and return to help with dinner. But an azure sea hove into view as they tramped eastwards, so they tramped all the way to the shore for a swim (clad), tea and ice-cream. The small problem of returning to the car (no taxis on a Saturday night) was again solved by thumbing it (“Hitch-hikers’ Guide for the over-50s” issues shortly). The best dinner of the week appeared from nowhere and we toasted a wonderfully relaxing week. Chantal was thanked for her project management skills (who else could magic away bathroom tide-marks?) - Scottish Government’s loss is clearly ESTC’s gain!