Glencoe: 2–4 April 2010
- Accommodation
- Glencoe Youth Hostel
- Location
- Glencoe … Map of location
- Organiser
- Andy
If only we had known the weather would be so kind…
After a few days of anxious forcast watching and dubious travel reports, a hardy group of 15 (including two Take a Hike regulars) headed up to Glencoe Youth Hostel for an Easter weekend of walking. This was my second successive Easter weekend with GYBO and after the three Munroes and glorious weather of last year, it had a lot to live up to.
An advance party of six arrived on Thursday evening to find the sun shining, clear roads and some fresh snow on the tops. After some map and guidebook consulation, it was decided to start with a relatively low level circuit to check out the snow situation. With sunglasses and suncream donned and rucksacs stuffed with multiple layers, we took a stunning route over three summits of Sgorr a' Choise (663m), Meall Mòr (676m) and Am Meal (414m) enjoying panoramic views of the snow covered mountains around while avoiding any dangerous routes. The weather was fantastic and we took it easy, with long breaks to enjoy the stunning Scottish scenes. The route was far from easy, as the descents between the summits meant a total climb of over 1200m. The final section, down a steep hillside with a thick covering of very mushy snow meant we all felt we had done a challenging walk by the time we returned to the cars.
We returned to the hostel early evening to find the rest of the group waiting for us expecting tales of blizzards and avalanches. Again after further map consultation it was decided to head a bit higher on Saturday, heading up Beinn a' Chrùlaiste (857m). The route started a few miles from the hostel further up Glencoe, with some steep sections of walking and considerably more snow. The weather was wetter and soon we were within clouds, but it stayed mild and later in the day the shifting clouds led to some stunning views of emerging mountains. We stuck close together on the ascent to the summit, where the recent snow falls had covered what would probably been unwalkable ice with a soft grippable surface. I think we were all pleased when Andy effectively led us to the trig point through the cloud where we enjoyed (?) the views over lunch. We descended into the valley quickly, altough not without a few casualties putting their feet through the snow into hidden, freezing bogs (lovely) before a march back to the cars along the West Highland Way for a fairly early finish.
On Sunday we drove to Kinlochmore (about seven miles north) to do a circular route to Blackwater Reservoir, before crossing 'an unnamed bog' back to Glencoe to join the West Highland Way again back to Kinlochmore over 'the Devils Staircase'. This was definalty a walk of three sections, covering about 15 miles on a route devised by Neil and led again by Andy. We headed up to Blackwater Reservoir along a well defined path (quite unusual for this trip) through woodland alongside a series of streams and waterfalls which were magnificent. After a couple of stream crossings half the group had a least one wet foot by the time we had lunch at the reservoir. The next section was across the vast bog running South towards Glencoe, where Andy successfully led us the correct way for a number of miles. Attempts were made to avoid two streams running parallel to us but this was far from straightforward! There was much leaping and squelching and a few more wet feet (and one wet leg) before, much to everyone's relief, we reached the gravel path of the West Highland Way again. This was a fantastic section, climbing steeply up 'The Devil's Staircase' on an old military road to allow for more stunning views across Glencoe and the Nevis range, with possible sightings of a very snowy Ben Nevis. We arrived safely back at the cars hungry and tired but all very pleased with the walk, ready for some food at the pub in the village.
All in all a brillant weekend of walking. We didn't get to do any of the routes planned beforehand by Andy as the amount of snow around meant they would have been unsafe without winter skills and equipment. However, a good leader with good knowledge of the area (plus some others' help and guidebooks) meant we managed to do three great walks. The weather helped too and was nothing like we were led to believe; if only we had known the weather was going to be so good we wouldn't have been so concerned before we set off! No Munroes this year, but I don't feel I have missed out one bit!
Photos by Andrew. Write-up by Bridget