Paula Evans / Fears realised – the monster tick

My overriding fear of Knoydart had been bugs and bodily crevices i.e. ticks and midges. I was constantly reassured that it was too cold for both and I would be fine so long as I stayed away from the long grass. So when I saw the sunshine I was both happy – it was beautiful and relaxing, and worried – did this mean ticks and midges?

We assembled for our first foray into nature and where did we go? Into the long grass! I have to say I was having a silent and begrudging sense of humour failure as we silently made our way up a rather steep, boggy, long grass/bracken filled hill (I would call it a mountain but I don’t want to be accused of over exaggeration). I did persist, and got to the top of the hill only to be marched back down again.

I was unclear on the purpose of this little expedition and I certainly didn’t enjoy it but as I stood in the shower trying to stretch out my shaking legs and check for ticks, I realised I had learnt one thing…. there was no way I was going back in the long grass to sit with the monster deer ticks for my solo.