Mrs Cakes and Bruce at Loch Maree

"Sprachle": Vague definition, perhaps to climb with some difficulty an obstruction like a shoogly fence, a steep slippery (perhaps icy) slope with hidden holes to trip in. Anyway M thought yesterday morning's first walk of the day had a high "Sprachle" component which wasn't out weighed by the fine views and outstanding blip she got of Caley standing on a rocky summit. (And it really was a bit of a sprachle) We had to find a new route today. A consequence of my work up the west over the years is that we work in some really odd places, up little side roads that most people ignore, or secret forest tracks. A previous survey site came to mind at Tollie Bay at the north end of Loch Maree which in truth I couldn't recall much about. A glance at the map suggested there may be the start of a wee loch side path. It didn't turn out that way. A very low water level on the loch presented, initially, a wide shingly shore to walk on below steep cliffs. This quickly changed to dramatically big angular boulders and onward traverse was becoming a "Sprachle". The dogs did enjoy considerable swimming opportunities and returned to the car with the edge off their morning energy.

We continued the day with a beach visit at Opinan and then southward to Kinlochewe for lunch at the superb "Whistle Stop Cafe". The outward appearance of this corrugated iron, former village hall, gave no clue to the excellent grub on offer. Fed, we headed north to Victoria
Falls (seriously) which were flowing in a very depleted fashion and lacked what I'm sure would be real spectacle in nornal conditions. There is a forest car park off to the right at the Loch edge just as the main road veers west and away from Loch Maree for the final approach to Gairloch. This is actually the start of a path through the hills to Tollie where M and I were in the morning.

This is a rare blip picture of M (Mrs 3xCakes) with her special brown boy Bruce on the second visit to Loch Maree shores with Slioch in the back ground.
Mrs Cakes