BCUK Scotland Meet - Reconnaissance
Narrative:
On the 21st of July Toddy, Doc and Sandbender recced the proposed venue for the BCUK Scotland Meet at the Crannog Center Loch Tay. According to Toddy the folks at the Center are very keen to have bushcrafty type people making use of their site and certainly everyone was very friendly. Toddy managed to tag us onto an entertaining tour of the Crannog, which amongst other things had fourteen tourists watching a chap make fire with a bow drill, they were absolutely fascinated by the process, you could have heard a pin drop! once the flame caught the guide was awarded a rousing round of applause. The locations were then inspected and we concluded the day with Toddy providing tea and coffee and the three of us having a mini show and tell in the car park, Toddy introducing us to her miracle flax based fire starting material.
Location:
Two areas are available, if you refer to the map provided at the link below, the first sits along the shore to the right of the Crannog Center and Water Sports Center. The second sits across the water and follows the shore to the left of the picnic site (Dalerb plantation).
Conditions and suitability:
Both areas are adjacent to roads,
Both areas are very rocky underfoot, hammocks and thick mats will be required.
Plenty of trees for hammock use, however the ground wasn't so level for those sleeping on the ground under a hootchie
The site across the water is open to the general public.
Fire starting would be permitted at both sites however only the site next to the Crannog provided worthwhile quantities of fuel.
The use of canoes and fishing may be possible from the Crannog site.
The option exists for people to slip off from the second site into to the Dalerb plantation for a quieter nights sleep.
The midges will be out in force at either location.
Neither site will support more than twenty (ish) people.
Logistics:
24H Car parking is available next to the Crannog Center in the Hotel/Water Sports Center. Daytime parking (you can leave car overnight but the gate is locked) is available across the water.
24H Toilet facilities and water are available across the water however at this time these would only be available during the day at the Crannog Center.
Conclusion:
Neither site is ideal, however its a pretty part of Scotland with much to keep people occupied. Toddys suggestion is that a larger overnight recce (a kind of mini-meet) takes place at some point in the near future, where more heads can think about the opportunities provided by this location.
