Monday September 10th 2018

With the winds forecast to be too strong to venture into the mountains we turned our sights on Sandwood Bay. The beach sits some seven or so kilometres from the nearest road and is beautiful and remote in equal measure.

Rather than follow the footpath that snakes its way across moorland to the bay, the teams set off from Sheigra, taking a bee-line for the coast and following the dramatic cliffs past the sea stack of Am Buachaille before the beach appears below. The route out to the bay took the best part of three and a half hours but well worth it to have a mile or so of golden sands pretty much to themselves.

The two teams worked independently for much of the day, with the boys sharing in decision making, and being given the opportunity to lead certain legs of the hike.

We were back at the Adventure School in time for a 6.30pm supper and then some preparation work for ‘search to survive’ a wilderness orienteering course that will see them work for the first time without the direct input of teachers or instructors.

Tomorrow we will swim before breakfast and spend much of the day looking at the fire, food and shelter skills that the teams will need for the island on Wednesday. Its likely that we will be out tomorrow evening, staying in the old stone bothy at Lone, right in the midst of the mountains. Too windy to get up high but the bothy is a beautiful spot and will be a great experience for the teams.