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EPPING FOREST OUTDOOR GROUP

On 24th October, Twenty-one EFOG members and friends met up for a weekend at Tarbet on the banks of Loch Lomond. Some travelled by train, a couple by car, one by air and eight by coach from Victoria. There was plenty of rain about that weekend.

(Photographs by Paul Ferris)

Loch Lomond  Ben Lomond from above Tarbet - 24th October 2008

EFOG Loch Lomond   It is difficult to maintain that the Silverline coach from Victoria was comfortable - 2.30 am

Those of us that travelled by coach - Alex, Ann, Chris, Duncan, Paul, Steve, Susan and Val - used a Silverline Coach Service this time. Supposed to be luxury, but it was just uncomfortable - not enough leg-room. Anyway, it got us to Glasgow before the cafeteria in the bus station opened and we hung around there before having breakfast and boarding a much nicer 'local' coach that took us through the Glasgow rush-hour and out to the Highlands. Tarbet was wet when we arrived, but not pouring - and Shearing's Tarbet Hotel allowed us to use their facilities (toilets) and leave our luggage in the lounge until check-in at 3pm.

EFOG Loch Lomond  Glasgow Buchanan Street Bus Station - 7.15 am -Breakfast

EFOG Loch Lomond  Just arrived at Tarbet Hotel - 9.57 am
EFOG Loch Lomond  We had another breakfast in Tarbet at 10.15 am -

Having deposited our luggage, we set out to explore the village. Essentially -apart from a few houses - there is the hotel, a tourist information office, a post office, a converted kirk now restaurant, two bus stops and a nice little tea room. Having already visited one of the bus stops and the hotel, we went to the tea room. Then we went to the information office, then we went to the hotel, then we went for a walk.

EFOG Loch Lomond    - visited the Tourist Information Office
EFOG Loch Lomond   - and the coach-travellers set out at mid-day for an introductory walk. The kirk is now a restaurant.

The walk was a relatively short one, from Tarbet/Arrochar Station onto the tree-covered hillside above Loch Lomond. A mixture of sunshine and showers - initially quite good underfoot for it is a well-used path, but in some parts quite boggy. When Paul suddenly decided to lie down, we had the first fall of a grand total of 31 on this trip - definitely a record for EFOG!

Returning from the walk, some of the Group took a sightseeing boat-trip from Tarbet Pier onto Loch Lomond. This was a good idea to do it at that time, because subsequently the Loch was flooded (or at least the pier was) and the boat couldn't sail.

EFOG Loch Lomond    Within a short time - the weather had brightened
EFOG Loch Lomond   Autumn colours in a mixed-woodland
EFOG Loch Lomond  This is probably a dwelling place of the shee.
EFOG Loch Lomond  The darkness of a conifer plantation
EFOG Loch Lomond   A wealth of colours
EFOG Loch Lomond   Loch Lomond from above Tarbet

As more of the Group arrived during the day, our opportunity for all to meet up came at our evening meal and in the lounge afterwards.

EFOG Loch Lomond                 Val puts her feet up          (photo :Madeleine Scott)
EFOG Loch Lomond                Some of the Group in the lounge           (photo :Madeleine Scott)

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