26th to 30th August
I did it!
In warm, sunny weather I started from beside the Kyle Rhea ferry and walked up the Elg Valley and over the steep, winding mountain pass to Ratagan Hostel on the shores of Loch Duich. Using the hostel's wifi, I began to search for a local weather forecast. The headline appeared: 'Scotland, 10 days’ rain to fall in 24 hours'. I was not greatly perturbed, having prepared well and armed with suitable clothing and equipment.
The following morning, Suzanne the warden tried to persuade me not to go on my intended route to the remote hostel at Alltbeith. I went to speak with the Kintail Ranger at Morvich Outdoor Centre and he also strongly advised that it was too dangerous, as there are a number of streams to be waded across the trail. He radioed the hostel to not expect me.
To go as planned, alone, would have been risky for me and would have possibly put others at risk. I returned to Ratagan. I did some jobs to help Suzanne and she found me a bunk for the night. I walked that day, along the shoreline of Loch Duich, but even here the extreme weather had caused landslides. I messaged my vehicle support team, asking them to transfer me to the highest point of Glen Affric – as close as possible to where my high-level Alltbeith section would have taken me. I wild-camped there. The rain fell heavily in the night. I stayed dry and warm but the tent was so heavy with water. I set off down Glen Affric.
The forest of Glen Affric is preserved and allowed to grow like the ancient Caledonian forest used to be before farming, loss of predators, large numbers of deer, grazing sheep and commercial exploitation reduced its biodiversity. The UK is so bio-depleted.
In this 'Celtic Rainforest' the sun appeared briefly. A young woman stopped to remove her waterproofs and revealed a T-shirt featuring a portrait of a highland cow – like my logo. I remarked on the horns being slightly wrong, and showed her my An Turas flyer. She thought for a while and said, "This is a sign. I was conceived in Zambia. I have a Zambian name; today is my birthday. Can I take this leaflet?" She said she would look up Malakota and Hands at Work.
Friday was my final and longest day's walk, along the beautiful, broad flat valley (strath) of the River Glass. I was accompanied and encouraged by Jane and Alan from the Hands at Work Partnership of Turning Point Church in Forres, near Inverness. Our conversations and views of this gentler landscape kept me going. When we reached the fish & chip shop in Beauly – the 'Friary' near the Priory – there was a small crowd of Hands at Work UK family. I went to the tidal estuary of the River Beauly but couldn't dip my feet in.
I thank all who have donated, my support team, members of the Hands at Work family who have advised and encouraged me, and any of you who have spoken to others about Malakota and the work of Hands at Work.
I am also so thankful for the great, free gift of God's wonderful, dangerous Creation, and for the luxury in the freedom, the privilege and the means I have to choose to explore and enjoy it. As I walked, I reflected on those I pray will benefit from the donations, who have very little choice or opportunity to enjoy the beauty that surrounds them.
George Green.
The justgiving page will stay open for a while for those who like to see the challenge completed before they donate. Please read the story and the updates on the page.
justgiving.com/page/george-green1
www.handsatwork.org
