Attendance
Leaders:
S.M. Ian Blake, A.S.M. Robert Miller (2 nights only), A.S.M. Jim Harvey, A.S.M. Sandy Whiteford.
Troop Leader:
John Nisbet (2 nights)
Eagle/Seal Patrol
PL Ken Conway, Second Ritchie Muir, Robert Harvey and Laird Macfarlane (1 week)
'Curlew' Patrol
PL Brian Elliot, Second William Harkness (1 week), Philip Dry (1 week), Sandy Millar
Otter Patrol
PL Kenneth Johnson, Second Jim Blair, Tommy Dow, Alistair Cram
Falcon Patrol
PL Hamish Rankin, Second Ian Fraser, Peter Fraser (1 week), and John Gatherer (1 week)
Wolf Cub
Martin Blake
This camp took place during the 5th-18th July near Ledaig, Benderloch, but it is not yet established where exactly the camp was located. There were frequent visits to the beach which must have been very close, and both Benderloch and Connel Ferry south were within walking distance. There was a 1007 foot hill close by to the east of the campsite which has been identifed as Beinn Lora. From this evidence, it is proposed that the campsite may have been between the A828 and the coastline just south of Ledaig. However, this is highly tentative.
Throughout the camp, the four patrols were self sufficient - camping and cooking independently from each other, and using wood fires to prepare their meals. This may have happened at previous camps, but the Benderloch camp is the first summer camp with conclusive evidence of a camping style that would last for the next 30-40 years. There is evidence that the patrol fires were built in the open rather than under kitchen shelters. Although safer in terms of the fire risk, it meant that it proved extremely difficult to light fires and cook meals when it was raining. The worst weather was possibly experienced on the second Sunday with the Scouts confined to their tents in the morning. It was perhaps unfortunate that this coincided with the parents visiting in the afternoon as the dismal morning probably was a big factor in five of the Scouts returning home with their parents that day.
As far as activities were concerned, the troop took the train to Oban for the day on Friday 11th. In 1958, the Balluchulish branch line was still operating and so it is likely that the Scouts caught the Oban train at Benderloch station, which was closed in 1966. When they returned from Oban, they had a meal, then climbed Beinn Lora and then descended the other side to visit the 73rd Troop which was also camping in the area. The Scouts did not get to bed till after midnight.
Another evening hike was carried out on the 14th to visit Lady Margaret's Tower on the west side of Ardmucknish Bay. From there, the Scouts got tremendous views. On the 17th, everyone hiked south over the Connel Bridge to visit the village of Connel, then managed to 'cadge' a lift home on a lorry.
Activities in camp included baseball and cricket, and there were several sessions of training and testing presumably focusing on tests that counted towards the 2nd Class and 1st Class badges. Gadget making was also an important activity and one that SM Ian Blake was keen to see the patrols excel in. Several evening campfires were held and at one of these the Scouts ate rabbit stew; the ingredients of which had been shot by ASM Sandy Whiteford. There were also several visits to the beach where swimming tok place - presumably in Ardmucknish Bay.
Hamish Rankin and Jim Harvey left the camp for a couple of days in order to climb Ben Nevis. It is assumed that they caught the train to Fort William and stayed at the youth hostel in Glen Nevis before scaling the peak by the tourist path the following day. They would then have returned by train.
A report on the camp was provided in the troop log and can be accessed by clicking here.