Rain,Wind…and the ‘Great Escape’ !

A bit of a grim Wednesday morning in Glen Roy, saw me having a lazy morning, reading,eating and waiting for things to improve – they didn’t, so I set off down the road, and, still not finding anything much better, I headed for the top end of Laggan, and buried myself in the forest, watched the rain…. and read another book ! – Oh, and ordered something special to greet me when I return from Scotland… ???

Thursday was no great improvement, so after a trip into Fort William for some cream cakes (!) I headed for the North Face Car Park, below Ben Nevis, for another night  - I did manage a small walk meandering through the forest, and giving me an idea for the following day…

Friday was a lot nicer, or at least dry !, so I headed off towards Ben Nevis North Face…https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Nevis  a great historical place for climbers young and old ( even me !) - I’ll explain more later !

The track had improved so much over the years, what used to be a boggy, horrible trail, was now a lovely well surfaced track for me to wander up the hillsides !, all the time remember my epic climb up this way once, at least 15 years ago… I had come up with Susan for our first real winter climb on Ben Nevis ( never having climbed it before), and ,as usual, she had decided we would climb it by an ‘exciting route’…up at the top of the valley – I could see it today, but back then the rocks were shrouded in mist (and ice/snow)… so I saw ahead of me, the rock wall which we had attempted…and which I had been  ‘avalanched’ off !, hurtling back down towards the boulder field below, although, fortunately I had managed to come to a halt before plummeting over another edge ! – So, if I look nervous… I was !

Lovely day though, reminiscing sitting amongst the rocks, and taking in the views – both physical and mental !

I meandered back down the valley  , eating my sandwiches on a nicely placed bench, looking down on Fort William !

After I returned to Wally, I headed down to the town, for a well deserved shower in the sports centre (for only £1-15 !!), and a pleasant drive along and through Glencoe… and overnight towards home, ready to get on with my ‘Autumn duties’ !!

I drove along on the night of Halloween…missing these scary characters (but they were a long way from me!

And now, I’m home… ready for my next journey… where… who knows I certainly don’t !

I’ll let you know,when I do !

Monarch in the Glen …

Monday morning I awoke to sunshine in Fort William – perhaps I should have climbed today ?, anyway I filled my water tank, and headed off… all clean, ready for more happy wanderings… firstly up to the top of Glen Nevis, for meanderings amongst the waterfalls, back along and looking at the ice curling ponds at the bottom of the Glen , and then into Fort William for food supplies, then up the road, firstly through Spean Bridge, by the Commando memorial, and then back to Glen Roy… for some glacial scenery ! http://www.scottishgeology.com/geo/regional-geology/highlands/glen-roy/

As you look up the Glen, you can clearly see three parrallel tracks on both sides of the valley – being the limit of 3 huge Glacial Lakes from the last ice age, and where the shores of the lake cut into the surrounding mountains ! I decided that it was too good a spot to not stay, even though there were still high winds burrowing around ! I had a fantastically peaceful night, no light to be seen anywhere (even moonlight !), although it was cloudy so I didn’t get a star view…nor anyone passing along the road!

I awoke to a spectacular dawn, just before 7 a.m. (don’t ask what I was wearing when I took this picture !!) It looked like it would be a nice day … and it was !

I had breakfast, made sandwiches, and headed off to walk the entire length of the Glen ( 9 Kms), it was great ! Peaceful, and interesting scenery all the way up and down .. I just meandered along, with only the very,very occasional traffic passing (about 6 in total all day !) I did get to the top of the Glen, and sat at the riverside eating my sandwiches,

and drinking in the peaceful surroundings with no one in sight ! Of course, I’d walked all the way to the top…now I had to walk back again ! The sun was shining, and peace reigned !

I meandered along, in no rush, as I was going to stay where I was for the night, maybe even see some stars ( No !), eventually getting back for a relaxed dinner, read… and sleep !

Well… It would be Rude Not to !!??

Here I was, lying in Wally on a campsite at the foot of Britain’s biggest mountain…what should I do ?http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/bennevis.shtml 

Should I lie in bed all day, whilst the fan heater gently caressed me with wonderful heat… or get up, out into the wild weather, and climb it !? – the forecast did say there may be a little snow, although it may dry up later…so I had to decide, climb or not to climb…??

I made the butties, filled the flask with hot Ribena, and covered in my waterproofs, off I trudged, up the side of the mountain, across the river…with only about 1300 metres (about 4,000 feet ) to climb !! What else would you do on a wet Saturday in Scotland ?

By mid morning the gentle rain had stopped, and I’d started to get into my Rhythm, and even started seeing something below me…not long after half way up, it started snowing, and I soon realised that the overnight rain in the valley had landed on the ‘Ben’…as snow , I was soon into a winter wonderland – it certainly improved the views !

I was amazed at how many people were walking up it today – with many,many Asian looking people , not quite sure why, or what the significance was … maybe on some sort of ‘adventure’, anyway it was nice to see them enjoying themselves…as I was, snow makes such a difference to a trudge upwards !

Just after 1 p.m. I made it up to the top – about three hours, not bad for an old codger ! There were loads of people on the top,including a University club from Edinburgh !,  all congratulating themselves on their great achievement !

The only thing with high mountain tops, and snow…. is the cold ! My fingers had frozen taking pictures, so I couldn’t stop for food, and started re-tracing my steps back down the mountain , passing those still struggling their way up (trying not to be smug , but encouraging them !)

After an hour or so I emerged from the snow, to take in the views below me, and happily trudged back to the campsite, for a lovely hot shower…and back to the pub !

I had a leisurely Sunday, wandering into Fort William on a rainy Sunday, for Mass, big Breakfast fry up at Morrison's, and back to the site for a full clothes wash at the Laundry ( and dry !) whilst I watched football and later the Grand Prix (on me phone !) – I was fully clean, relaxed and ready to go… where ?

Wind Skirling Around !

After a wild night, I awoke, to sunshine,showers…and a Rainbow ! So another leisurely start had me driving from Laggan towards Fort William, in a sort of Southerly direction ! Firstly passing Creag Meagidh Nature reserve, still a bit wild and windy so I continued , coming into Roy Bridge, I saw signs for an ‘Ancient Glacial Terrain’ area, and so I headed off, up into the hills, along an ever narrowing road, and up to the head of Glen Roy, looked an interesting place, however the wind was funnelling along it, so I marked it down for a return visit ¬ then drove back to Creag Meagidh http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/creag-meagaidh/ , for a breezy afternoon walk into the Gale force winds !, up the valley to Coire Ardour ,although not increasing height very much !, and then turning round and almost getting blown back to the car park…10 kms in wind,sunshine…and more wind !

I could have stayed there for the night, however I decided that the strong wind wouldn’t have give me a very relaxed night, so I drove back along the valley to a wooded car park I had seen earlier, where I had a nice sheltered night, whilst the wind was howling all around !

Next day I headed off from the Laggan area, through Spean Bridge, and up to Aonach Mor http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/activities_mountain_biking.asp – the ski area for Fort William, and then to the ‘North Face’ Car Park, to follow the bike trail ‘10 Under the Ben’ !…a hard 17 kms trail up and around the foothills, with Ben Nevis looming above me.. I’d finished that by mid afternoon, and the rain was heading in… it was time for a …. Camp Site !

I drove to Glen Nevis Camp Site ,  getting provisions en route in Fort William, and settled in for the weekend, with the comfort of a pub next door, heating, hot showers…even toilets !

Time to relax with beer, Mussels,Venison…and Cranachan to finish… I may need some more exercise tomorrow !!

Wandering the Trails

A nice lazy start after my exertions of the day before, and eventually I got going, on a bit of a wandering trail… firstly across country, and into the small town of Aberfeldy http://www.visitaberfeldy.co.uk/ , again in nice Autumn sunshine, where I had a wander round some of the art shops, almost purchasing something ! (although I held back..), quite a nice place, with the old General Wade’s bridge crossing the river, allowing access to the West… and a nice delicatessen where I could stock up on some local meat pies !

Then it was back wandering, and into Pitlochry http://www.pitlochry.org/, a lot busier here… I parked up near to the Hydro electric dam, alongside of which there was a ‘fish ladder’… with resident Heron, awaiting an easy lunch ! I had a nice trek around the town, over a quaint footbridge, before ending up at a nice restaurant… with ‘helpful sign’…I don’t think I disappointed them !- even after my 3 Courses ‘Scottish High Tea’ !

Then it was back on the road, and further North, then heading West, and just before dark I arrived at Laggan Wolftrax http://www.ibikeride.com/scotland/1640-laggan-wolftrax-mountain-bike-trails , ready for a days biking the next day, but firstly a peaceful nights sleep in the rain !

Up early next day, I was soon biking up to the top of the familiar Laggan Wolftrax centre, hardly anyone around early in the day, as I was at the top, looking down on to Loch Laggan, far below…then onto the serious stuff as I zoomed down the trails, having great fun, and even managing to go down a big slab of rock – ‘Little Airs Rock’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYiDF6uhiks … which then showed me what ‘Airs Rock’ was like…huge, and not for me !

I had a few trips up and down the trails, and jump zones, before settling for a nice hot shower in the newly built centre, and polishing off a nice hot ‘Black pudding on toast’ washed down by Hot chocolate with marshmallows on top !… and a nice 10 kms walk along a low lying trail up the valley to stretch my legs ! I returned to Wally to find an accompanying French van, emblazoned with a Scottish saltire…on ‘UK Tour’ !!

I didn’t hear much from them, as it was a wild and windy night, although I was well sheltered where I was !

Back of Beyond…

Sunday morning I had a really peaceful ‘lie in’, in my little spot in the woods, with just the river and birds for company…before setting off to explore further, where I was !

I soon was travelling along the shoreline of Loch Rannoch, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Rannoch with lots of signs for ‘runners’ – I had stumbled across a ‘Marathon’ – Lochs and Castles, being ran around the shores of the Loch… not particularly large crowds of runners, mere stragglers really (with an Ambulance as the back marker !)… as I drove peacefully around them on the small narrow road… I saw signs for ‘Rannoch Station’https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rannoch_railway_station  – then end of the road…and so continued to it – a famous railway station, used many times in the past by hikers, keen to get into the deep of the mountains by public transport, the railway line going across Rannoch Moor ( a desolate place), where I parked off, and walked across the moor, for views across the hills towards the great mountains of Glencoe, on a raw brisk day !

Back to the station for a nice ‘cream tea’ at the welcome Cafe’, and then back to circling the Loch, and the still struggling runners ! and looking for somewhere to stay the night ..

At the top of the Loch, there were great views back along the thin Loch, and checking the map I also found a ‘Munro’ mountain to climb, that I’d not climbed before – Schiehallion 1083 metres high!http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/munros/schiehallion

I found another useful quiet woodland, and settled down for the night…

Monday morning I was up early on a bright fine day, ready for a brisk climb, and made my way to the car park at the foot of the mountain, it was quite busy considering it was a Monday – children on half term enjoying an ‘Adventure’ !

A fairly straightforward path, took me along a broad flank of the mountain, and up towards the summit ridge , which after a couple of hours I was nearing, into the stiffening ( but dry) breeze…and soon, the latest top I’d climbed –a quick 2,000 ‘ ascent !, and way off the regular path …

A quick food stop, and about turn, back the way I’d come, and to Wally, for a little more touring of the area, finding a special viewpoint – ‘The Queens View’ http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/forest-parks/tay-forest-park/queens-view-visitor-centre (which Queen is debatable !)…and away for another night in the woods !