River Spey

On Saturday, BT Al, Ian and myself set off from Grantown to paddle down to Craigellachie. The river was really moving and we did the trip in less than 6 hours even though we stopped a couple of times. On Sunday we continued to Spey Bay. We were lucky enough to see otters in 2 places, they came very close to the canoes and seemed quite happy about it. Ian was so close to one he could have patted its head! Lovely way to spend a weekend.

Today we worked with a group of people from Forth Valley College on Team Challenges and tomorrow we are going to be doing Archery and Orienteering. Lovely group who did not know each other very well before we started work on them!

Active kids and Charleston youth group

We had a Treasure Hunt and some Indoor Climbing on Saturday with a few 'Active Kids'. Always a fun day out with these guys!

Sunday and we were at the Lodge again, this time with a group of girls from the Charleston Youth Group. They were really keen and up for trying things so were quickly climbing, belaying and abseiling. Spent the last 40 mins doing some Team Challenges.

Birthday Boys on the Indoor Wall

Charlie and his friends joined us for some fun on the indoor climbing wall at Glenmore Lodge. We should have been doing Archery and Den Building but the heavy snow put paid to that! However, they had a really good time Climbing and Abseiling and all took a lot of interest in the belaying.

River Spey, Loch Insh to Grantown on Spey

On Friday, Sylvia joined us for a trip on the Spey. We went on at Loch Insh and paddled down to the island just past the bridge at Boat of Garten to camp for the night. Sylvia did not know this section and we were using it as a training day, looking at hazards etc. Carried on to Grantown the next morning. Pleasant weather, good to see lots of curlew, oystercatchers and lapwings as well as our first skylark this year!

Team Building

Yesterday we were with a group of management from the BASI office doing some Team building ie Challenges and Indoor climbing. Some were none too sure about the climbing but all enjoyed it at the end of the day!

Today we are off with Sylvia to paddle on the Spey from Loch Insh to Grantown, camping on the island at Boat of Garten

Ben Loyal and Ben Hope

The weather was glorious on Monday as we strolled around all the Tops of Ben Loyal. It is a spectacular mountain and hours of fun can be had scrambling on all the tors. On Tuesday, the weather was kind again and we paid our second visit to Ben Hope, the first being 24 years ago, our first hillwalk. It was this hill that inspired us to move to Scotland.