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Glencoe Hiking in April

PostPosted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 10:09 pm
by Hanikia
Hello,

Best wishes to all, may 2020 be a year full of beautiful moments and passionate hikes ☺

Can someone advise the 3 most beautiful hiking trails in Glencoe, the ones with the most breathtaking views ?
I'm planning a trip in April with my wife and 2 big kids (24 & 22 years old) and would like to do a hike or 2 there on our way to the Isle of Skye.

Thanks,

Re: Glencoe Hiking in April

PostPosted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:47 am
by Caberfeidh
Hanikia wrote:Hello,
Best wishes to all, may 2020 be a year full of beautiful moments and passionate hikes ☺
Can someone advise the 3 most beautiful hiking trails in Glencoe, the ones with the most breathtaking views ? I'm planning a trip in April with my wife and 2 big kids (24 & 22 years old) and would like to do a hike or 2 there on our way to the Isle of Skye.
Thanks,


That is difficult to say as we do not know your fitness, experience, etc., but assuming you are of average fitness and ability I'd say the Lost Valley (aka Hidden Valley, Hidden Corrie, Corrie Gabhail [meaning Corrie of Plunder, as the highlanders used to secrete their stolen cattle there]). This has a bit of a steep slog up to it but you are rewarded with great views across Glen Coe to the Aonach Eagach Ridge and beyound to Ben Nevis. Another short but steep day trip is the Pap of Glen Coe (Sgurr na Ciche) which again is a steep slog but worth it for spectacular views out over Loch Leven, Loch Linne, Lochaber and Ben Nevis. The passes leading through the hills from Glen Coe to Glen Etive are good, the Lairig Eilde and Lairig Gartain, making a fine round trip. No doubt many others will have other recommendations. The Kingshouse Hotel is good for food, as is the Clachaig Inn at the other end of the glen. April will probably be quite wintery, with a good possibility of ice and snow on the ground. These hikes should not be attempted in winter conditions without crampons, ice axes and helmets. You may be able to hire these locally.
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Blackrock Cottage, Rannoch Moor. Buchaille Etive Mor in the distance.


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Ben Fhada and Gear Aonach, towering over Glen Coe


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Entrance to the Lost Valley (Corrie Gabhail)


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Sgurr na Ciche from across Loch Leven


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Loch Leven and Eilean Munde (burial island) from Sgurr na Ciche


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The snowy peak of Schiehallion across Rannoch Moor.

Re: Glencoe Hiking in April

PostPosted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:56 am
by Hanikia
Thank you for your reply, looks amazing, I'll look into your recommendations later today.

Fitness wise, my last trip was a hiking one in South Korea in July/August 2019, where my wife and I hiked 20 mounts (41 peaks) in 40 days, no big mountains in SK, highest one is Hallasan a bit less than 2000m, but great hikes non the less, sometimes a bit more challenging than others, and mainly amazing scenery and mountains to yourself most of the time in summer days ☺

Kind regards,

Re: Glencoe Hiking in April

PostPosted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:07 pm
by Caberfeidh
I should have added these links from Walkhighlands : https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/2-lairigs.shtml ; https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/lostvalley.shtml ; https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/papofglencoe.shtml . Enjoy! Oh, and remember what Billy Connolly said ; someone told him that they'd love to visit Scotland but they were afraid it might rain. "Of course it will rain!" he replied, "Wear a [expletive deleted] raincoat!" :lol:

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Kingshouse Hotel view

Re: Glencoe Hiking in April

PostPosted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:16 pm
by Caberfeidh
Hanikia wrote:Fitness wise, my last trip was a hiking one in South Korea in July/August 2019, where my wife and I hiked 20 mounts (41 peaks) in 40 days, no big mountains in SK, highest one is Hallasan a bit less than 2000m, but great hikes non the less, sometimes a bit more challenging than others


Oh well, you may find my recommendations a little small and disappointing. Perhaps you should try the Aonach Eagach Ridge, Bidean nam Beinn and Buchaille Etive Mor...
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/bideannambian.shtml
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/buachailleetivemor.shtml
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/aonacheagach.shtml

Be careful of our North Atlantic weather, it often catches people unprepared for the ferocity of gales and freezing temperatures.

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Winter wander


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Climbing on North Face of Aonach Dubh


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Climbing above Glen Coe

Re: Glencoe Hiking in April

PostPosted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:44 pm
by Hanikia
As I'll be traveling with my kids, I don't think the latter propositions will suit them that much ☺

thanks anyway for all the links, I'll have a look and let you know the choices I've made ☺