Sailing/Walking Holiday in Scotland

An adventure in Scotland

Its 9 o’clock and we’re boarding the train Suitcases bulging, muscles taking the strain. Johns forgotten his tickets, Annie’s almost late We can’t find Brian’s pub –we’re in a hell of a state!

Rocked off to sleep by the click/clack of the train Travelling like this really eases the pain Next morning to greet us mountains, lakes & brooks Bathed in mist & sunshine we all rush to look.

Now to Oban – a bus ride Fantastic views on either side. Trees mirrored in lochs so still & calm Mountains, deer sailing boats and the occasional farm.

After breakfast we walk up to McGraigs Tower Magnificent views of Kerrera, Lismore and Mull are ours to devour. Below us canoes skirt the bay in a line And the Caledonian McBryne ferry arrives dead on time.

At last we meet our crew Chris & Jan They talk about safety, lifejackets and toilet pans. Then it’s back off the boat for a walk in the sun Up to a monument to Donald Hutcheson.

In a line we follow the path around the shore Spotting bluebells, skylarks, a fish farm and more Chris T spots a hole in the wall up ahead “That’s good I need some cash!” Ivan said.

A stop at the pub for a large G & T Then back on the boat ‘cause we’re ready for tea.

Our little cabins a bit of a squeeze Suddenly we seem to be all elbows and knees. “Devastating” jimjams when John appears the next day It’s Lismore for us and we’re soon on our way.

Dropped off near Achandrin Castle we’ve the whole day to play Below us Corryvreckan slips quietly away Across fields of Iris, it’s quite wet underfoot We find a trail leading north which we eventually took. A profusion of primroses cling to the banks all around The song of the larks make a wonderful sound Wild orchids and king cups bob in the breeze The tracks fairly flat so quite kind on the knees.

At a typical cottars cottage we stop for tea Much needed refreshments and a chance for a pee. It was Donald McNicol who lived in this house With his 16 children and Lillia his spouse.

The Parish Church graveyard we visited later that day Where we found a large tombstone amongst the decay T’was Donald & Lillia and 9 of their babes Their mother having lived to a fantastic old age.

Later that day Annie goes swimming but doesn’t stay long The water is freezing and the current quite strong Over dinner we discuss the events on the road Wild rhubarb, a rescued lamb and the yellow prick toad.

The noise from the pumping station groans in the night It gives us all the most terrible fright. John has a solution that’s genuinely swell It’s a bright blue expanding urine well!

Up the next day and we are soon under sail With so many deckhands we really can’t fail The sheet coils the cleet- it goes clockwise you know But you must watch out for the Stay sail or overboard you will go. At 6 knots or more we’re at Innimore Bay Then a walk to the castle & gardens with a pub on the way.

We didn’t quite make it – we ran out of steam What grows in the gardens remains only a dream Still we had a good walk and were certainly not bored We heard a cuckoo, crossed waterfalls and saw an eagle that soared.

From Loch Aline we sail up The Sound After a ride in the jolly boat we again come aground There’s a monument there to Charles McLean of Drumnin Who fought well at Culloden but just couldn’t win.

In a sheltered spot we stop to eat To scoff our pasties and rest our feet A fighter plane zooms through the air In the distance a heard of deer stand and stare. Our walk is over but before we stray Campbell greets us and bids us stay Wine appears and we have a tour Of Drumbuie, his generator, workroom and more.

A lonely chap now his wife’s departed And obviously left him broken hearted In the garden they created together He’s placed a memorial so she’ll be remembered forever.

It reads: I must go down to the sea again to the warm Drumbuie life To the gulls way and the otters way where the winds like a wetted knife And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow rover And a quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long tricks over.

(Drumbuie was the name of their home)

The next day we are off sailing in the Atlantic The men wishing for waves that are really gigantic The sun is still with us the wind in the sail We hope to spot a porpoise or even a whale.

We turn back past Castle Glengorm Tomorrows forecast looks like a storm So we anchor safely at Tobermory Hugging the coastline in it’s Technicolor glory.

A quick look around the shops and a walk to the loch But after our showers we are in for a terrible shock We meet up with Brian who looks harassed and pale ‘Cause all of the pubs have run out of draft ale!

It’s now Kerrera for us and we’re soon on our way We’re all feeling quite sad ‘cause it’s our last day We discuss things to do but it’s all getting silly Like streaking on deck – dismissed because it’s quite chilli.

We came across Tatiana who showed us her Mongolian Gurt After admiring the interior I hit my head and boy did it hurt. We had a hot cup of tea with some fantastic cake With some incredible teacosys Susan’s mother did make.

We’ve all had a good time, our hosts have been great Despite the limited space no-one got in a state We’ve all made it through we’re brown & well fed Now we’re looking forward to home and our own comfy bed. Our luggage we left in the station lockers for the day Whilst we disappear off to explore and to play On return to collect them the station is closed. What a fix! The station master locked up & went home to supper at six.

We call on the police, we get on the phone We must get on the bus if we’re to get home Has our luck run out- we should have retrieved them much faster Then the cleaner appears and avoids a disaster.

Scotland’s a place of history, lost secrets and thousands of stories It’s beautiful, enormous and one of life’s glories The Islands are best the’re a great place to roam But it’s time to leave and make our way home.

This poem is dedicated to our hosts Chris & Jan and to great team of walkers and sailors who made it all very special. Chris Dee-Crowne