Baden-Powell Council BSA
at the
2022 Blair Atholl Patrol Jamborette

Day 2 - July 13th - Commando Monument, Jacobite Train, Great Glen to Thurso

Our second day of touring was the longest, in terms of driving, but with the day broken up into a number of stages it never seemed like we were traveling very far. 

The Commando Monument
We'd stayed in Spean Bridge on many previous trips, but had never taken the time to drive to the Commando Monument, which is only a few miles up the Great Glen. With some time to spare before our morning ride on the Jacobite, we decided to visit. It was well worth it, and the Scouts were very respectful and interested in this extremely moving memorial.	The Commandos were formed in World War Two as an elite fighting force of men trained to infiltrate enemy lines and perform special dangerous missions into occupied Europe. They were trained in the Highlands of Scotland, largely in the area between Spean Bridge and Mallaig - exactly the area we would be covering this morning - and formed the inspiration for the American Army Rangers or Marine Raiders or Navy SEALs.
Joe gave the Scouts an introduction to the Commandos. As a member of the 82nd Airborne in Iraq and 2nd Cavalry in Afghanistan, Joe had served with Commando units from the British Army, and provided a personal link for the Scouts to this elite group of men.	Next to the monument itself is a memorial garden where people can leave tributes to lost Commandos... an incredibly moving experience.
The Jacobite Steam Train
The Jacobite Steam Train stood in for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films. Of course, we had to ride it from Fort William to Mallaig...	Brennan takes a picture of Drew in the cab of the locomotive pulling the Jacobite that day, "The Lancashire Fusilier". .
I was pleased to see the Scouts taking my advice on getting interesting photographic views on the trip...	We had three and a half four-passenger sections of the train cars to ourselves - Mike Homrighaus and Pete Cowan didn't take the train, but drove the vehicles to meet us in Mallaig.
Crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct on the Jacobite. You can use your imagination and see Harry Potter and Ron Weasley in their Ford Anglia ahead...	Pete Cowan took this shot of the Jacobite at the same time I took the picture at left.
The Jacobite stops at Glenfinnan Station for about 20 minutes.	The stop at Glenfinnan gave the Scouts time to buy some ice cream or other snacks or souvenirs.
An Austin Seven parked at Glenfinnan.	Leaving Glenfinnan, our train heads inland away from the Road to the Isles, and the scenery becomes much more wild and uninhabited.
	Our Lady of the Braes chapel.
Crossing the Glean Mama viaduct, the highest point on the line.	Descending down to the coast, the Small Isles Rum and Eigg of the Inner Hebrides came into view.
When we got to Mallaig, the end of the line, we had lunch at Jac-o-bites across the street from the railway station. The fish in the fish and chips couldn't have been fresher - Mallaig is, after all, a fishing port.	The leader of the 5th Lochaber Scouts stopped in to give each of us a unit badge. This flower bed is maintained by the 5th Lochaber.
Urquhart Castle
From Malliag we drove up the Great Glen to Urquhart Castle, which overlooks Loch Ness. The trebuchet was built for a PBS special on medieval siege engines.	The view from the Upper Bailey at Urquhart Castle, looking northward up Loch Ness. No, we didn't see the monster...
One of the patrols at the Water Gate.	Chris and Nick in the Gatehouse.
To the far North...
We left Urquhart Castle as they were closing, and stopped off nearby at the Italian Job in Drumnadrochit for dinner. The food was good, and the portions huge.
Our home for the evening was the 2nd Thurso Scout Group's Scout Hall in Thurso. This was our second time using the hall, and once again we were warmly welcomed and spent some time with the local leader before bedtime. "Thanks" to the group, and I hope we'll be back one day...