Written by Doug, Senior Instructor
The first week in March saw pupils from Islay High arriving at an ice cold and snow-covered Loch Eil centre for an Adventure & Challenge with the John Muir Award course.
It was a busy start to the course, which focused on bringing the group together and learning new skills for the week ahead. The team, named the Macpherson Clan, worked effectively in taking The Trust’s sailing boats out onto the loch to Glen Nevis, before testing their climbing skills on Pinnacle Crag. The highlight of the week was without doubt the sea kayaking and walking expedition. The group paddled their kayaks down Loch Ailort and out into the open sea, heading towards the remote beach at Peanmeanach, on the Ardnish peninsula. On arrival, the clan undertook a conservation survey of the bay and the beach, as part of their John Muir award. They looked at human impact on the site and came up with a plan on how to eliminate their impact and leave the surrounding environment a better place than when they arrived. The group cooked dinner on the beach as the sun set and sat around a small fire, sharing their experiences of the day and toasting marshmallows.
The next day, having completed a beach clear up, they swapped their kayaks for walking boots and hiked six kilometres to the nearest road to meet their pickup.
The clan had a fantastic, adventurous and challenging week, returning home with lots of great memories and new insights into the wilderness around them. Doug and Lena, the instructors, would like to thank the Macpherson Clan for contributing so much to a truly memorable week.
