free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Walk Highlands is a great site- full of brilliant information and people who love the outdoors. It's allowed many of us to speak and meet up with some great people. Many have forged some fantastic friendships thanks to being in touch with likeminded folks from here.
I consider myself the lucky one- as well as the above.... I'll always consider WH the place were I first spoke with the woman who'd become my wife
I'll spare you all a love story... but we met in 2009 after speaking on here and agreeing to meet for some walking. Michelle is American and lives over there but has regularly visited Scotland over the years. One thing led to another.....and we've both travelled back and forth between Scotland and US since......and in February this year we got married here in Scotland
In early 2012 I'll be moving to America (we remain apart awaiting my Visa, etc), and we have longer term plans to eventually move back to Scotland.
Michelle was here for nearly a month around the wedding. We spent a few days in
Norway and the rest touring Scotland visiting family and out walking here and there (Glencoe, Isle of Mull, Glen Affric).
A few Norway pics: [
Edit: Norway trip report now
here]
Bryggen (UNESCO World Heritage Site in City of Bergen, West Norway)
Fjords:
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After getting back from Norway we made a brief visit to family in Lockberbie. From there we headed up the road for a couple of nights in Ballachulish/Glencoe before going on to the Isle of Mull. Michelle has stayed at the same B&B in Ballachulish on her visits and always made a pilgrimage up to the Pap when in Scotland - it's a special hill for her, and today we'd be walking it together as husband and wife
Date - Mon 7 Mar 2011
Hill - The Pap of Glencoe
Route - Standard approach from Glencoe Village, ascending by path. Took on a short section of easy optional scrambling on final rocky section to summit. Returned by a more direct line straight down the hillside to rejoin original path.
Weather - A bit dull but the cloud stayed above (just) and the rain missed us!
People - Me / Michelle
Time - 4.5 hours
Distance - 6.6km
Ascent - 725mEyeing up the Pap from our B&B breakfast table, hoping the cloud wouldn't come down any more!
On the way to park in Glencoe village
We walked along the road a little before turning off toward the Pap, initally on the forest track before striking off on to the soggy path across the hillside
Deer soon spotted us
Then legged it
It's a steep push up, eventually easing a bit as you approach the summit dome
A very atmospheric Glen Coe
Approaching the dome
Loch Leven
There is a loose rocky path that winds its way up the dome to the summit
Always keen to get hands on rock, we opted to take a direct line scrambling to the top
Michelle scrambling
Summit (I must add- Michelle has a huge rucksack on!- she was testing out a new camping sack today)
Glencoe & Ballachulish
Summit shelter
Summit cairn
Fighter jet over Loch Leven
Descending the dome
Glencoe & Ballachulish
Descent
Rockfall!
Glencoe Village green stream
Refuelling - Post-hillwalk treats! Bacon rolls and cake at Crafts & Things in Ballachulish always goes down a treat
Next stop-
Isle of Mull! 