Floods and landslides!

The Falls of Dochart

My last caravan trip of 2014 was later than I'd hoped due to difficulties getting time off work so the clocks went back on my first night. That was OK as I was pitched at Maragowan, Killin so that I could go to the Annual Dinner of my mountaineering club in the Bridge of Lochay hotel. The next day, after a long lie, I upped sticks in the rain and headed north to Bunree. Unfortunately, I only got as far as Crianlarich, where a road sign indicated that the A82 was closed at Ballachulish due to a landslide. I knew that the blockage was likely to be north of Bunree however the police advised me not to continue as the tailback was considerable at that point. By 2pm I was back at Maragowan and it was pouring. I got settled, had a quiet afternoon and was just about to make dinner in the evening when the warden knocked the door and told me they were evacuating everyone to Clachan due to flood warnings. Cue a convoy of caravans out of Killin in the rain. It was 9pm by the time I'd got pitched at Clachan and I was soaked. So was the car - I discovered the next day that I'd accidentally opened one of the back windows when talking to the warden at the entrance to Clachan and I'd left it open on one of the wettest, windiest nights of the year! The car is still drying out.

A peaceful evening at Bunree

The rainbow

I had intended going on to Morvich from Bunree however Morvich was also closed due to flooding so I decided to stay a total of 4 nights in Killin and then spend the rest of the week at Bunree. Maragowan never reopened - it was a couple of feet underwater at one point - but I enjoyed my stay at Clachan, always one of my favourite sites. Bunree was also really pleasant and quiet, it being the last week they were open. I even caught a glimpse of a Sea Eagle, soaring in the wind and saw a rainbow before I left.