Scotland in a tent with rain, Grease and a laptop – Just Perfect

Daisy Turnip writes.....

Once in the Highlands, our plan was to walk Ben Nevis, we pitched our tent at the Glen Nevis campsite. If you ever plan to walk Ben Nevis and camp, stay here. The site was super, the staff are great and it sits more or less at the very foot of Ben Nevis in the most spectacular setting. We sat outside the tent, just looking up and around us at this most magnificent view – BBC Spring Watch eat your heart out. It was totally breathtaking.

The only downside was the midgies – millions of the pesky things. When we arrived, we saw loads of people wearing ‘things’ over their heads – it looked like there had been a nuclear or severe chemical accident on the campsite and a team of specialist chemical ‘cleaneruppers’ were there – this is what they were wearing. We chuckled! An hour later, we too were part of the clean up operation!

Fortunately, not long after we arrived the rain started and the number of midgies reduced considerably. Great. Or may be not – it just didn’t stop raining. Rain, rain, rain, rain and more rain fell. Even with all the proper walking gear, when the weather is so abysmal and the visibility is virtually zilch, it does take away the enjoyment slightly!!! We therefore decided that we’d be cowards, sit it out and wait for a good, dry and clear day to attempt our walk. We continued to sit, waiting for the rain to stop! For just over 2 days we were still waiting! It ‘ain’t no fun’ in a tent when it constantly rains for that long. We honestly couldn’t believe that so much rain could fall – and continue to fall.

One the second day, we debated whether or not, we should just give up, go down to the pub and get totally wasted. We decided that if we did that, we could guarantee that the rain would cease, we’d end up with a hangover and wouldn’t be able to face that big beast Ben Nevis. So we agreed we’d stay one more night and if it was still raining the following morning, we’d throw the tent in the back of the car and come home. Failing in our attempt to walk Ben Nevis!

On Wednesday evening, we set off to Morrisons in Fort William, to buy our 3rd pack of ready made sandwiches, praying, this pack, we’d be able to eat whilst walking up Ben Nevis the following day. And not whilst driving home because it was still raining and we’d given up on our venture. We picked up other provisions, and as is usual practice, we ended up in the DVD aisle. We came across, at the bargain price of £3.99, the DVD of Grease. Great, we’d found tonight’s entertainment. The added bonus was that it came with a song book.

We spent the evening watching Grease on the laptop, singing along with the aid of the song book, listening to the rain bouncing off the tent! What more could you ask for on your holiday??

We went to bed – still raining.

We woke up in the morning – no rain!!!! Yes, Thursday was our day for tackling Big Ben!