A couple weekends ago, in a fit of spontaneity, I hopped on a Friday rush hour train with a bunch of near-strangers who call themselves the Dirty Weekenders.
I stumbled upon this group while looking on the EUSA website for a society to get involved in during my semester studying abroad in Edinburgh. Due to their name, I was initially convinced it was just a bunch of hippies that got together to have a massive orgy.
(Honestly, given how many of them are dating each other, this assessment is not terribly far off from the truth.)
I’m kidding. Or am I? They have been known to instigate cuddle puddles, though.
Sporting beards, large backpacks, warm flannel & jumpers, along with a sense of close-knit camaraderie, this eccentric assembly of conservationist/nature enthusiasts travels all around doing environmentally friendly projects ranging from making paths at the old gunpowder mill in Roslyn to making steps at glamping (glam + camping) sites. They also happen to be some of the kindest & coolest people I have yet had the pleasure of encountering whilst wandering about Scotland.
This particular weekend, we went through Glasgow to catch a train to Largs, on the Western coast of Scotland. When the conductor asked “why the fuck are you going to Largs?” all I could do was laugh. We were embarking to a bothy, which are essentially shelters throughout Scotland where you can go & stay free of charge. In our case, we were going to Kelburn, where the illustrious Earl of Glasgow has lived for hundreds of years with his family. It’s an incredible building that has artwork all over it, a bizarre anachronistic bunch of designs on a turret of the original castle (circa 1722) done by Brazilian graffiti artists that Lord Glasgow commissioned in 2007. The whole lot of us went out into the dark after dinner the first night, wandering around the grounds to find the perfect stargazing spot. It was pretty cloudy, but we waited for a while as Matt the Mighty told us the story of the constellation Orion. Eventually our patience was rewarded with a magnificent view of the starry sky.
The next morning, the weekend really began. Jared, the wonderful tour guide/facilitator of the Kelburn Country Centre and Estate took us tromping around the grounds. He introduced us to their two alpacas & a bunch of geese reminiscent of the ones from the Aristocrats. We spent the day carrying wood, cutting steps, digging trenches, essentially building a staircase by hand. On a hill elevated above the tree line, we could see the water as well as some of the Western Isles. It was a truly gorgeous view. A bunch of us climbed through a fence into a field with a herd of sheep (who promptly ran away from us) to reached an even greater height to see an even more amazing view. The afternoon sun was reflecting on the water in the distance. There were giant wind-powered mills spotting the horizon. Sidenote: Scotland is an incredibly environmentally friendly country!
After our long day, we tramped down the road, finding a path that led under a small bridge that the train tracks ran over, only to come out onto a rocky beach. Emily & I carefully climbed out onto the manmade peninsula of rocks to be as far out over the water as I could, settling to watch the sunset. You could see the sun so clearly just over the snowy mountains on the far-off Isle of Arran. The pastel colors reflecting on the clouds lit up the sky. It was breathtaking.
Later that evening, when it had gotten dark, we sat around the fire drinking Matt’s bottle of whiskey & searching for the tiny red pinprick of Mars through the clouds. I picked tunes on my guitar while Josephine interrogated me about my Patronus moment (a memory you recall being the happiest you’ve ever been). We drank lots of tea paired with baked goods.
On Sunday, we steadfastly finished our work, leaving time to go on an adventure through the secret forest (Emma, Rose & I got a bit lost). We went to the glen, where there was a gorgeous waterfall. Cameron & I maneuvered our way along a fallen log through the stream to the water, sticking our heads into the chilling rush. It was wonderfully refreshing. I can now officially say I’ve dunked my head in a magical waterfall in a Scottish glen. Jared pointed out that the glen was created because millions of years ago, sea level was much higher, such that the force of the waves had carved out the space to create the grotto we were standing in. The walls of the rock stretched far above our heads. That kind of momentous power was remarkable even to think about. Cameron went bounding up a path that Jared said led to an even better view of the surrounding area. Morna, Becky & I followed, climbing a winding path up the side of the glen to end up in a spanning field with horses & sheep beneath a magnificent tree. We just sat there for a while & looked out over Wemyss Bay at the islands of Great Cumbrae, Little Cumbrae, and Arran in the foggy distance. It was freezing, cold, windy, gray…& completely worth every second.
It was a blast to spend a whole weekend with such a quirky & giving bunch of wonderful human beings. I only slipped in mud three (five) times & no one made too much fun of me. Here’s to my fellow noob, Chenelle! Despite obviously already having a familiarity with one another, everyone was incredibly accepting of the newbies in their midst, making us feel like we belonged in a way that often only comes with years of friendship. Cameron & Nina, the wonderful bothy organizers, did an amazing job planning the whole trip. Morna & Becky, the social chairs, were particularly welcoming. Thank you, Dirty Weekenders! I can’t wait for more adventures to embark upon with all of you.
~ Rachel
And here’s some lovely photos thanks to Cameron
