Tollie Brahan early morning

Memories of Tollie Brahan Campsite

Sadly all good things come to an end  sometime in our Scouting lives and camping, rallies, meetings and great days out will become just a host of wonderful memories to look back on, and chat about another day.With Health & Safety Regulations evermore present and catching every aspect of daily lives our privilege of using the Campsite on the Brahan Estate came to it's last summer 2005.  Logging Operations on the Estate by the edge of the Campsite: and with heavy vehicle traffic in the forest and on the very steep, narrow, winding road there was a constant danger for campers and visitors alike.  Our Farewell Camp end of summer 2005 was very well supported from the whole Area, and brought hosts of memories for Leaders looking back over the years.

We hope to have separate pages for your special MEMORIES of TOLLIE CAMPSITE so please submit article and pictures suitable for this section.

The pictures need to be clear and of activities, and of individuals or groups.  Long distance shots and out of focus, wondering what the picture is about are not suitable as the website has visitors from around the world, and they will have no idea of what is happening.  Meanwhile the present Campsite photo is one of the best to remember taken especially with the sunshine on that day.

  The last Meeting of any sort was an Area Executive Meeting late end of 2005.  Now it is quiet to the sound of mallets banging tent pegs, campfire singing, shouts of exciting campers busy with activities, smells of food on smoky fires, grand pioneering feats and large noisy Rallies for the different Sections of Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Venture Scout / Explorer Scouts and Leaders.

With safety always uppermost with tree felling operations in the woods, roads too narrow for accesss safety, etc. it is a fond farewell to Tollie Brahan Campsite and nothing but memories.  A special Thank you to the owners of Brahan Estate for the opportunity to use this beautiful Site in it's setting no so far from Loch Ussie over the past 40 years.

Activities can still be part of "Scouts" visiting this beautiful part of Scotland.  Contact the email addresses on the first pages of this Area Web Site for information.

Abseiling and archery, biking (bring your own or hire locally), pioneering, orienteering, forest walks, canoeing, sailing, swimming, fishing on Loch Uissie. A Sports Centre and indoor pool at Dingwall (3 miles). Loch Ussie is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and details of the restrictions can be obtained from the Area Commissioners.

We have another small place "Gordonbush" in east Sutherland which is pretty remote and details again via Area.

There is also the Fairburn Activity Centre in the Area and details can be found from "Area Contacts".  See text below next photo for more ideas and reasons to come to Ross-shire !

Places Of Interest

Visit our Highlands capital city of Inverness with it’s Sports Centre and Aquadrome – a fabulous ‘hands on’ Museum, loads of top class shops, places to eat, beautiful river banks walks, canal basin and trips out on the Firths for Dolphin spotting.  Historic local towns and coastal townships with ever changing scenery;  passing small and very large Lochs, including famous Loch Ness and you never know – ‘Nessie’ might just appear.  Call near by at Dingwall (an ancient Viking Capital) with the museum of the Seaforth Highlanders at the west end of the rich agricultural Black Isle: or up to Dunrobin Castle on the Golspie coast with an energetic hike up Ben Braggie.  Fish ladders, waterfalls, spotlessly clean beaches with clear seawater, and miles of open moorland – we have it all.  Then maybe a day at a local wildlife park, Highland games, (in season), a castle trail tour, Pictish Standing stones, whisky distilleries and places of local interest, or why not plan a day trip to the North coast (John O'Groats) or the West coast (Isle of Skye) and support the railway line travelling in comfort whatever the weather.

You can arrive at Inverness by train, or by the main A9 Trunk road from Edinburgh:  or by plane to Inverness airport.