Walkhighlands

Yesterday I had a day in Ardgour, intending to climb Garbh Bheinn. It snowed all day though, this and low cloud meant the summit was out but I did make it up the glen to the bealach and frozen lochan. A difficult walk over rough terrain in the conditions so I was looking for just a half day today and decided on the striking-looking Pap of Glencoe.

Great weather today with fresh snow on the tops in this view from Ballachulish.

I parked in the lane from Glencoe Village and headed along the path that leads between the Pap and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

The climb is quite steep but it was no hardship stopping for a breather now and again; the light quality gave excellent views of the surrounding mountains and out across the lochs to the west.


As you ascend, the Pap looks more of a lump compared to how it appears from sea level.

At the bealach more great views open out across Loch Leven to the eastern Mamores. From here I decided to go straight up to the summit, the shortest route. Just before I started off I met a chap who’d just come down that way, he told me he’d slid down on his bum, hmmm! The slope is rock and turf covered, this gave a mild scramble in places over the slippery new snow. The summit is a marvellous viewpoint, superb and inspiring in all directions.



For the descent I decided on going straight down to the startpoint. This gives more distance of rocky terrain to cover than in the ascent and involved a bit of route-finding enjoyment. I found a few interesting sections with rock ledges and down climbs to spice things up.

Once below the rocks I stayed near to or in a stream gully that gave a great way down although steep in places, it would be a slog in ascent. The surrounding mountains took on a new appearance in the dusk.


On the way back to base I shopped in Ballachulish then photographed the forbidding-looking face between the N and ENE ridges of Sgorr Bhan on the Ballachulish Horseshoe – more of this later.

stunning stunning views, love up that way, infact feels so long since i climbed stob derg in november, id move up there in a heartbeat. lovely pictures and surroundings, next weekend im thinking of doing the lost valley, looks worth the trip round to the village and doing the pap aswell.. whats the road conditions like on the a82 if you were on it?

baz