L2L Days 72 - 76 Loch Monar

While at a charity auction in aid of Muscular Dystrophy Research, organised by our friend Andy Davies and in a moment of hubris, Margo and I bid for a few days in a lodge on the shore of Loch Monar on the West Monar estate.

Not knowing anything about the area other than its remoteness, Margo and Sally did a fantastic job in getting together a like-minded team of 8 friends to share the experience. It worked brilliantly.

Loch Monar is stunning - the lodge only accessible after a 90 minute drive Westward from Inverness and a 20 minute boat ferry with our luggage and provisions for the week on a  landing craft.

Surrounded by high mountains, the weather was constantly changing.

The walking was fantastic - some of it along old pony tracks, much of it involved tramping across the heather. 

The range of fauna and flora was surprising. 

Each evening, inquisitive deer would come down to the lodge and gaze in at us as we gazed out at them.

On each of the days, we were able to walk new trails and when necessary get picked up and returned by boat to the lodge.

And when the weather became too inclement there were more than sufficient distractions.

Being amongst friends, enjoying the outdoors in the hills and the weather seemed to be the most fitting way to remember Andy.

On the final morning we were taken back across the Loch and returned to a busier world.

A brilliant week.