Wolves in Scotland

We went to Scotland for New Years during the harsh winter of 2010. Friends had booked us into a log cabin near Oban. We made our way from Stranraer in our trusty Volkswagen through blizzards and temperatures of -15. We almost made it - Godfrey (our pet name for our Golf) could not negotiate the last few miles.

 

We abandoned our car at the nearest village and relied on the kindness of strangers. A couple made us tea and called a friend with a four wheel drive to take us to the log cabin.

 

The friend was called Phil. As his truck wound through the snow capped hills he told us about his work. He was a farm manager for a large estate. He had studied for a degree in wolf husbandry in Poland and there were plans to reintroduce the grey wolf to the Highlands.

 

When safely deposited at the cabin we enjoyed the rest of our stay. At some point we had to retrieve the car. There was an alternate route the car could negotiate to the cabin. I simply had to hike back to the village, retrieve the car and take the alternate route. I did some research - it was a three hour hike of approx. 10 miles. Our friends needlessly alarmed my wife with stories of her husband having to camp out for the night and kill game.I am not Bear Grylls and I thought this hyperbole .

 

I set off and made good time . I collected the car and returned with it before sun down. Our trip passed off without further incident .

 

When tramping through the hills I did think of Phil and his plans to reintroduce wolves. With nothing for company but my own footfalls I thought of night approaching . I thought of the Swiss Army knife in my rucksack and my meagre tent and flint . I imagined I heard the howls of animals that had not been heard in the hills for centuries.

 

Fear concentrates the mind. I felt vital and alive.