The last time I made a plan of adventures for the year ahead was 2020. And you’ll remember how that year turned out.

New adventure ideas present themselves all the time and I find it easier now to make one or maybe two plans at a time for the months directly in front of me. And I had built up a list of ideas. it was continuously updated when new ideas were discovered. This list was stored in the notes app on my phone. Easy.

I say “had” and “was” because having just got a new phone, and having somehow not toggled the correct toggle, the list didn’t synch to my new phone. Along with the all 45 of my other notes. Tragedy. It’s been like losing my memory as so much information was stored in those notes, information gathered over years.

It’s just as well I’m a positive character, so I’m viewing it as a positive, the chance to start again. To create new lists. Lists of adventures of course. But also other lists. I like lists.

The King and I had decided on some more new year bothy therapy, continuing what we started last year and are now calling a tradition, where we hit a bothy after new year. And despite losing all my old phone notes, I remembered a bothy from my adventure list, to be found at the far end of Loch Garry called Duinish that I’d wanted to visit. 

It is maybe useful to point out that just 6 days before, the snow around the Drumochter Pass was so bad that people were stuck in the their cars overnight in some serious snowdrifts. After 6 days of above freezing temperatures we decided that in no way would this affect us and our proposed trip. 

As we drove north the snow became more obvious and the parking areas around Dalnaspidal were mostly clear but snowy. We got the car parked just off the A9 and after finishing our packing we set off down the road towards the houses, sliding most of the way to the bottom of the tarred road.

After a kilometre or so we arrived at the start of Loch Garry. There was no wind or snow falling. And the ground was snowy in places and clear in others. 

Walking on the edge of the road where it met the grass was often the easiest path. 

As we neared the end of Loch Garry, the light was beautiful A mix of dark blues and purples.

Blue skies occasionally tried to poke through but the clouds quickly pushed their way back in.

The last 2km was on a path which, quite frankly, was invisible in the snow. Our feet frequently disappeared into the snow and various streams as we pushed on. This was much harder going although I was enjoying the exercise. At about 700m from the bothy, we found another dirt road and this gave us a slightly easier finale to the walk. 

We couldn’t see the bothy until the very last few metres but when it appeared, we were shattered and so glad to have reached our destination. Tea and biscuits were quickly brewed as a reward for our efforts. I loved this bridge with it’s massive slabs, although I was a little terrified I might slip on them and end up in the burn.

It started to get dark as we arrived, closely followed by the rain. Pretty good timing I’d say.

The fire was welcomed by my wet feet.

After some chorizo pasta, we settled to tell stories and enjoy some whisky. 

Thinking of lists again, I didn’t have a list of my favourite adventures on my old phone. Only potential future jaunts. But despite the hardship of getting to Duinish through the snow, especially the last stretch, this was an adventure I really enjoyed and might have made that kind of list.

I’ve long driven up and down the A9 and looked down Loch Garry as I’ve sped past and wondered what was down there. It gives me a sense of satisfaction to know that I can now picture in my head what you’ll find down there. A beautiful area in the snow. The perfect bothy therapy. I might have to go back in the summertime. 

Does that mean Duinish goes back on the new list?