The sign on the door reads 'Be Patient' but the door opens as soon as I knock.
‘After a pitch?’ says a short, stocky woman.
‘That’s right.’
‘Ohhh,’ she replies, shaking her head of tight grey curls.
‘Booked out?’
I’m disappointed, the spot's perfect, just as described on the internet nestled between two mountains at the edge of a loch.
‘Oh no, not that. Rain. Pretty muddy down there. Best take a look before you decide.’
Down by the loch it is rather muddy... and windy, although others seem brave enough to chance it. And there's a sheltered spot further back at the bottom of a ridge that seems okay.
I head back, knock and wait.
‘You sure?’
I suspect she is assessing me for hardiness. My hair could do with a brush and having been travelling for a few days now, I doubt I’m looking at my best.
‘Yep we’re sure.’ Besides, this is Scotland, I doubt we’re going to escape the wet weather.
‘There’s midges,’ she informs me.
‘We have repellent.’
‘A lot of midges.’
I know midges and don’t much like them, but am not going to be put off by the little blighters.
‘We’ll cope.’
She sighs, ‘alright then. How many nights?’
‘5 please.’
She gives me that worried look again. ‘5 you say?’
‘Yep 5.’
‘Ohhhh… not sure that’s a good idea. Best pay for 2 and then rebook.’
‘I’m sure we’ll stay for 5 nights.’
She shakes her head, ‘all the same. I’d rather not give refunds.’
‘Alright then, 2 it is.’
I trek on back.
‘Yes dearie?’ she asks.
‘Just after some wifi,’ I reply.
‘Ohhhh,’ she says with that, now familiar, shake of tight grey curls.
'No?'
‘Well, you see, not sure that’s a good idea.’
(we stayed for 2 nights - driven out by midges and rain)
