A quote written in the 1960s:
'Just a few words of gratitude towards my enjoyment at the Centre. I particularly enjoyed the Canoeing but liked the food best of all. If I could go back to the Centre in the years to come, I will most certainly do so.'

I was probably one of the first on the course, although I didn't realise that at the time. I think it was run by Toc-h, and we were there from May 22nd to June 22nd. We had amazing weather, and I learned to sail dinghies, paddle canoes and climb mountains. We scaled Ben Nevis and did the scary ridge between it and Carn Mor Dearg. I was 16, and got a bursary from the Glasgow Corporation (council). I met other Glasgow boys, one of whom I would like to trace. A guy from Easterhouse called Ian. I was from Barlanark, and we had great laughs together. I still climb hills (the Munros), and sail with friends. The course opened my eyes to the beauty of the Highlands, and gave me a love for the outdoor life. I can't remember any of the instructors names. They were mostly ex-army I think. I'd like to hear from anyone on the same course..
Thanks. Brian

I hope Ian finds his way here and is able to get in touch.
The site was created as Loch Eil Centre appeared to be lost to history - any searches just led to Outward Bound Loch Eil.

My parents, Stan and Betty Coppinger, were members of Toc-H which ran the Centre when I was on a course in the sixties; from Sat. 20th July to Sat. 3rd August 1963.
I still have my log book with signatures of some of the instructors - I hope I am reading them correctly:

Iain M Donald - Sailing Instructor
David R (Forth ?) - Canoe Instructor
Gary M James - Art Instructor
Peter Hendy (Police Cadet)
Reg Stuart
Mr. Hill (Alan Hill was the first Warden, followed by Peter Downes)
Mr. Curry
Mr. Teesdale - Canoe Instructor

I was in Clan Cameron. The only other one I noted was Clan Stuart.

Other people on the course, from signatures: Alasdair Picken; Norman Garrett; A Watson; W (Bill) Fettes; David Russell; Warwick Adams

I hope this helps. The Loch Eil Centre course was tough, formative and a privilege to attend. It was an experience that shaped my life much more than I realised at the time.

I don't remember the lodge, only the huts beside the road. I drew a plan in my log book that shows a dining and common room area, accommodation for staff, showers, canoe racks and a separate dormitory block.
It's possible I have photos in storage. They will be poor quality (Box Brownie format) but I will try to recover them.

John your comments are great - clearly I will have to alter the start date of the Centre.
If you do find some photographs that you would be happy to have in the photo section let me know and I will send you an email address. Many thanks.

The Mr. Hill referred to above was Alan Hill (met him once long after he had left) but I never knew any of the others named, although I heard of several of them. When I first went to LEC as an instructor in 1967 Peter Gordon Downs was warden and Alec Fulton was Chief Instructor.
The brochure photo (in the picture section) was one I took at a checkpoint on a senior final expedition at Barrisdale on Loch Hourn. I think it was Ron Gretton who was with me when we paddled in from Kinloch Hourn for four days. We also went to the Cairngorms for senior final expeditions.

Pictures of Loch Eil Centre attached. I hope they are of some interest.

The sketch shows the area that was allocated to the Centre mid 1963.

The clan assembling pictures are probably before the circuit that included the Devil's Ridge and the Ring of Steal - the instructor wearing a beret is Mr. Stewart and the summit photo is possibly Stob Coire a’ Chairn.

John your photos and comments are a great addition to the history of the Centre.

Many thanks.

Spending time with Jim and Margaret.I will try and scan some old slides of the good old days.

Alan that would be great, regards to Jim and Margaret.

I was at the Toc H centre together with around 30 or 40 other boys, around 1963. We all came from around the west side of Glasgow, selected from various Schools. I came from Barrhead High School.

I remember being in the Clan McLean, that was our groups identity, we had our dorm, the rules were very clear and military, cleanliness, tidy and discipline very important. The group Clan was soon formed. Initially some boys dropped out, or even ran away, surprisingly it was the tough guys. After a time we formed and enjoyed our instructions, canoe building, canoeing, clinker built sailing dingies, how they were made, and how to sail them. Kayaking, 2 and 3 day hikes, how to take care of each other, and the importance of equipment. We also had a chance to draw and do a bit of pottery.

The experience was quit tough but left you with many new values and ideas, I came home like a new person with a new world to explore, and with a yearning for outdoor life. I say thanks, it changed me and formed me. Toc H was definitely a great thing for youngsters, it's a shame it's not really offered to youngsters today. I never forgot the Clans, and the Sheilds in the dinning room, or the morning courtyards assemblies.

I would also like to mention, our 2.5 day canoe journey. Loch Eil through Loch Linnhe to Loch Shiel's end, camped there and paddled back. Our escort was the instructor in a tri-hull light motor boat, fantastic.

A chapter in his book “In the Shadow of Ben Nevis”, published February 2016, Ian Sykes provides a description of the Centre's early years.

During 1967 H Green (comments above) took over Ian’s post at Loch Eil when he left for Antarctica.

I liked the Loch Eil Centre chapter in Ian Sykes book because I have my own special memories of the place, having spent a great fortnight there 4th - 18th of May, 1968. I was in Clan MacLeod and I only wish I could remember the name of our clan leader who was brilliant - he was from Glasgow and our bus driver dropped him off at Crianlarich on our way back home. My brother had also had a fortnight there in May 1965. What a great place that was!

Norman Clark was one of our teachers (I can't recall the name of the other teacher). I know Norman (Nobby) Clark really liked the place.

The first day of the fortnight was an art class - and I thought, "how easy is this?" Although the rest of the fortnight wasn't really difficult - it was just that beforehand I didn't know what was coming and was a bit nervous. But I thought the instructors were great, not in the way of a teacher, but still authority figures.

The first 'bothy night' was also good, though one lad nearly set fire to the bothy while cooking - again the instructor was really cool about it. There was a tree right outside that bothy (Upper Drimsallie) and for some reason I recall three lads sitting in the branches of the tree for ages, just blethering. The only canoeing we did was on Loch Eil, I think maybe twice. No sailing at all that fortnight.

Another walk was up the main Ben Nevis path, then a long traipse back down
the other side, which I enjoyed. Another was in the Mamores (Stob Ban?), one of the big ones; up then straight back down.

The three-day expedition involved us walking over the hills between Loch Eil and the east side of Loch Shiel on the first day, the weather was not great and we all had a go at navigating and I was useless while others were fine - but the instructor was really laid back and encouraged us, didn't find faults. The next day we walked at a fairly low level, ending up at Polloch after quite a lot of miles - another adult from the centre appeared at one point from behind a tree on the route as we walked through some forestry, which I thought clever, as in, “how did he know we were going to be coming that way?" (How innocent was I?).

Then from Polloch there was a great motor-boat trip down to Dalelia, to camp the second night. We got taken over to the little historic island in Loch Shiel in the late afternoon, which really stays with me. Also that evening the instructor sent us on a walk on our own up the hillside above Dalelia, where I got my first great view of the west coast and the islands, on a magical night. I was hooked on the west coast landscape after that evening.

I always remember a sort of group debrief on the final evening back at Achdalieu, after the meal, in the nice lounge. One lad from another expedition kept coming up with phrases like, "then we ascended a steep descent" and "later we descended a tricky ascent," which set everyone off laughing for ages, all the more so as the lad had no idea why that sounded funny.

Amazing how those moments stay with you after 48 years! The whole thing was a fortnight-long one-off, and nothing else of an outdoor experience ever happened to compare with that. It was truly unique.

In 1964, I joined the staff of instructors at the Centre, along with Ian MacDonald and John Ferguson. Alan Hill was the Warden and Tony Norman his deputy. The Achdalieu was a commercial hotel next door to the ex WD building that served as dormitories and instructors' rooms.

During 1964. we ran 6 one month long courses, apparently with enough success to warrant the purchase of the hotel to expand to running courses for six clans throughout the year.

We needed more instructors and took on Jim Hunter, Don Carlyle-Kitz, Alec Fulton, Hugh Noble, Les Parsons and Captain Downes RM was to be Chief Instructor. As he could not get early release from the marines. I was given the job as Chief Instructor which I held until I left in 1966 to start a career in Personnel Management.


Ros Pollock

Charlie and I started our married life initially in one of the Army huts and later in the bungalow on the left. Our first son was born up there---happy memories.

Charlie and Ros, many thanks for your very useful comments - tried to email you but address does not seem to work.

I forgot to mention two other instructors with us at the time: Jimmy Logan and Ian Sykes.

I was there in 1967 as part of a large school party. I was lucky enough to be in a Clan led by a Mr Dodds who was a great guy; but one thing I remember about the stay and didn't like, was the strict Mr Carlyle-Kitts.

Mike, many thanks for your comment, what Clan were you in?

For those who were on the very first courses in 1963, I am sorry to announce that Andy Currie, who did so much to develop the Centre, passed away on 31st December 2016, aged 80.

Loch Eil Centre, February 1971

I attended Loch Eil Centre for a 3 week course back in February of 1971. In fact the start dated was Monday 15th the significance of this being that this was the day that our UK currency changed from pounds & shillings to the new pence.
The attendees of the course were gathered from a number of schools covering Glasgow & the West of Scotland.
I would be interested if there any records or photos from 1971.

Tony Convery

Tony, thanks for your comments about 1971. There are no archived records but hopefully someone will be able to send some more photos to be included on the site. What clan group were you in?

Sorry, I can't recall the clan I was attached to.

My most vivid experience was being asked to capsize my canoe in the middle of loch Eil with spray deck on, how crazy, but I sure learned how to get out and then had a great incentive to keep upright and to master an Eskimo roll. The canoeing was my favourite activity form white water rapids on the river to crossing Loch Eil at its narrowest point with the fast flowing currents, exhilarating!!!!
Orienteering consisted of individual and team events, all I can remember is running around in the freezing conditions in tee-shirt and shorts, yes it was cold!
Forestry, Wildlife and Art were not my bag, probably because I was not terribly confident in classroom situations.
The sailing experience was limited mainly due to poor wintry weather conditions, I never had any natural ability, so was not selected for the three day sailing trip.
Hill walking, again I enjoyed this very much, we set out on a three day expedition with our tents and walked around the mountains surrounding Ben Nevis, often in whiteout conditions. Visited the research station at “Coire Leis”.

Read more of Tony's memories below . . .

Tony

Tony, once again thanks for your comments. I seem to remember that Orienteering was easier for instructors.
If you, or anyone else, discovers any photos of that time please get in touch.

I attended Loch Eil Centre for a 3 week course back in February of 1971. The date was 15th and the significance of this being that this was the day that our UK currency changed from Pounds & Shillings to the New Pence.

The attendees of the course were gathered from a number of schools covering Glasgow & the West of Scotland. On arrival we were all split up and allocated dormitories. You may just imagine the diversity of the young people within the group. Not to be disparaging to anyone but the range was from the west end of Glasgow to Castlemilk and Paisley where I came from. Coming from an RC Junior Secondary I was somewhat daunted by the prospect of what was to come.

My selection to attend by my school St Aelred’s was more than likely based on the fact that I was a member of the school’s Adventure Club, which ran an old 'classic coach' on hill walking outings one Sunday a month. In addition, I was a member of 21st Paisley Scout Group.

From what I recall the first week was a basic introduction to each of the activity areas progressing in duration and degrees of difficulty as time passed. Canoeing was my favourite activity from white water rapids on the river to crossing Loch Eil at its narrowest point with the fast flowing currents.

Forestry & Wildlife was not my bag since I was not terribly confident in classroom situations. Sailing was limited, mainly due to poor winter weather, and as I never had any natural ability in it I was not selected for the three day sailing trip.

I enjoyed Hill Walking very much; we set out on a three day expedition with our tents and walked around the mountains surrounding Ben Nevis, often in whiteout conditions.

Instructors were in the main fair, nobody however crossed the former Marine who was built like a tank and stood no nonsense. For the first few nights as result of our noisy and unruly behaviour we all spent time running around the games barn. These punishments soon tailed off as everyone was knackered form daytime activities.

I was the youngest on the course and was feeling homesick at the end of the first week. Via a close neighbour at home, the warden arranged for my father to phone me with the aim to give me reassurance that I would be OK. He asked me to give it a couple of more days to see how I felt and before I knew it the last day was upon me.

In summary and with no understatement this was a tough gig for a number of reasons. However, coming from a family with 5 sisters and 4 brothers I learned to follow the middle ground. I was not confident or tough enough to be king pin but I was cute enough not to be the timid mouse to be picked upon. Human nature is a wonderful and strange thing at the same time. I did survive!

I went on and carried on with my scouting from which I have only just in the last year retired from running a scout troop facilitating front line activities for many of the young people in our great country. In a funny way I’m proud that I was able to participate in the course back in a cold February in 1971. I’m not going to say it had a great influence in the way I turned out but the mere fact that I’m able to review my memories it has had an obvious impact on my life to date.

Tony Convery

Hi. I was at the centre in October 1969 - Stewart Clan with Blyth Wright. I was from Maryhill, Glasgow and spent around 3 weeks there. If I remember, I still have my certificate from my time there, the only part of the course I didn't get completed was cross country as I had a bad knee and couldn't take part.

I had an unbelievable time and always wanted to take my kids to show them where it was but time passes so quickly and you never seem to find the time.

It's a time from my past that I hold very dear. Being there definitely changed my life, coming from a deprived area of Glasgow where 9 of us lived in a room and kitchen in Maryhill, when I went to Locheil having my own bed, learning to depend on others and them depending on me definitely had a big impact on my outlook.

Dar Simpson

Jim Mount, an Instructor at Loch Eil Centre during the early 1970s, died on the 19th of February, 2021.
Jim was well respected by all who were at the Centre at that time. He kept in close contact over the years, sharing many fine climbs in various parts of the world with those friends he made there.

I attended a four week course at the Centre in August 1968. We were sent there by our work apparently for a personal assessment of our characters. (Who Knows).
I was in the the Clan Stewart room and met another seven lads from all parts of the country, from Dundee to London.
We were given an explanation of the course as well as safety lectures for the first couple of days as well a some team bonding. We were deemed unfit and were introduced to the rope course and the forest trail for a mile rum. We were unfit but the daily early morning exercise changed all that.

The introduction to hill walking with a heavy pack was next on the agenda. I say heavy pack but every walk the pack got heavier.

We had Sailing and Kayak training. There were single and double kayaks. Training included being tipped out of your Kayak and swimming back to shore, in August and in Scotland (Brrrr). We were eventually let out on our own closely watched by the instructors in the whaler. We had a two day expedition on the canoes included an overnight camp.

We had talks on the environment, forestry and the importance of the countryside codes. Other activities included presentations to your group on your workplace, art classes, map reading and if I remember right some tests (see if we were paying attention).

The last week was a five day expedition on the Cairngorms (to do the five peaks). Although we thought we were on our own we were constantly watch from a distance by the instructors. (to make sure we behaved?).

The team spirit was first class we blended together well. We all were given a role to play, from Leader to Cook. we quickly learned to eat the food in the tins to lighten the load and powder milk and powder potatoes were very very similar. I had potato tea one night.

The instructors were excellent, we gained a lot from the course not just physically but as a person, how to react to unknown situations, the importance of teamwork from the strongest to the weakest and how to help when required.

It gave me a great start to my working life and taught me lessons I never forgot. I have several photos of our adventures, I will post them in the photograph section. I would like to say a big thanks to the Instructors. It was one of the best times in my life.

Jim Barclay

Mac McDermott a well-regarded member of staff at the Centre during the 1970s died in December 2021.

Born in India to Service family, he joined the Royal Marines, then aged about 27 became their youngest ever Sergeant Major. He was involved with the Special Boat Service and taught climbing at Sennen in Cornwall with the Cliff Assault Wing, he and others put up new routes which were quite outstanding for the period.

J Lawrence described the Cliff Assault Wing staff as, “This amazing crew in 1956-7, with then Lt Goddard, Middy Middleton, Mac McDermott, Dicky Grant (future LEC Warden), Barry Page, Tom Patey and of course Mike Banks.”

Following military retiral he trained as a carpenter before coming to Loch Eil Centre as Handyman / Instructor in the 1970s. He later settled in Skye, working there as a carpenter.

RJ Schipper 'Skip' an instructor at Loch Eil Centre during the late 1960s and early 1970s died at his home in Dornie on 22 February 2022.
Many wild adventures with Skip, which are remembered by all who knew him.

I attended a course in mid August 1964. I still have a diary of a 10 mile hike up Ben Nevis that I kept for my scouts hiker badge.

We were dropped off at a distillery in Fort William at 10 am and followed a footpath towards Carn Mor Dearg. We then followed a narrow ledge with a near vertical drop on either side across towards Ben Nevis. The instructor pointing out white posts marking where people had fallen to their deaths. The snow was horizontal and at times was blowing up the ridge so it was hitting us from below.

Ben Nevis summit was not on our original route but we decided that we would make a slight detour so we could say we had climbed it. Then back down from the summit and followed the Water of Nevis to camp beside the river next to a three wire bridge. Supper of cocoa and biscuits.

Changed into dry clothes for the night but the following morning had to dress in wet clothes from the previous night. The memory of pulling on frozen Y fronts I will take to my grave!! Breakfast was Tea, Bacon and Bread and Butter.

The other highlight (which helped me fix the date) was hitching a lift on an Army lorry to the highland games at the West end of Loch Eil. The driver had a dispute with an oncoming car at a narrow bridge as to who had the right of way. He pointed out his lorry weighed ten tons and he was coming on regardless. The car backed down. We didn’t do any activities on the Loch don’t know the reason why.

It was all good training for the Outward Bound course I did in Devon a couple of years later.

Steve, many thanks for your comments - indeed a wild day on the Ben.
If any other memories come to mind please feel free to comment.