Party time in Ardnamurchan

It has been a grand weekend in Ardnamurchan. The weather has been mixed - sunshine and rain alternating with bewildering frequency - but we had great fun. James and the rest of the group climbed various mountains while Hilary and I explored this beautiful peninsula by car and on foot. Among many other adventures we visited the annual Ardnamurchan agricultural show which was fascinating. It was very traditional with lots of categories of animals being judged, and stalls with burgers and home baking, and competitions in the main arena such as pony riding. The highlight had to be the terrier racing. A number of very yappy wee dogs raced after a fox's tail (fake I hope!) This was attached to a long rope which was reeled in to a drum as the dogs were let loose from the traps. It was hilarious; the winning terrier got hold of the fox's tail and would not let go, despite the judge and the owner trying to prise its jaws apart!

Also hilarious were the post show celebrations, which started at the hotel where we were having dinner and continued in a marquee down the hill near the village centre. The food in the Strontian Hotel was excellent, and the place got busier and louder as the evening progressed. After dinner we were warmly invited by the revellers to join them at what they assured us would be " the best night of the year" but our hill walkers were tired and, politely declining the invitation, we headed back to the hostel instead. The hostel was ok but quite basic, and the bedroom doors didn't lock. So when a noisy and confused group of party-goers arrived at the hostel at 4 a.m. looking for their rooms they tried all the doors and in fact came bursting right into our room - twice! Then they seemed to run around upstairs for a while - which was particularly loud due to the wooden floors! Let's just say that it wasn't the best night's sleep that I've ever had!