The Pap of Glencoe (Sgorr na Ciche)

[daniel]

Monday, the 25th of June 2007

We (me; Daniel, and my wife; Judith) had decided to do our first scrambling-climb. I had seen this walk in Collins Scrambler's Guide (book by C. Townsend) and it looked like a great walk to begin with. It was a little bit cloudy that morning. We started at Glencoe Village, walking beside the River Coe under some old Oaks. After 10 minutes we had to turn left, trough a gate. Suddenly we were standing at the foot of the Pap.

There was a good path at the beginning to climb up the mountain. But the more we went, the more the path dissapeared. Sometimes it was a bit muddy and we had to cross several streams. A couple of times we had to find "the path", when it suddenly stopped. There were great views on our backside over Loch Leven and Glencoe Village. And on our right side into the valley of Glencoe (a little bit of Bidean nam Bian).

The path becomes less steep and the top is very close now. There's a lot rocks and stones and no more plants. We arrive at the foot of "The Nipple" , in between Sgorr na Ciche and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. It looked like it was unclimbable. Only steep rock with no path up! We didn't have any equipment for this climb, we'd thought. But coming closer, we decided to begin with some scrambling fot the last 100 meters up. With a little bit of fright of heights we'de scrambled up. Sometimes I had to help Judith and sometimes she had to help me.

But we made it to the top! And what a great view. Looking towards Kinkochleven and the Aonach Eagach. And looking over Loch Leven.

So, a great mountain for some first scrambling.
Daniel (The Netherlands)
Tip: Return from the top by the same route. We took the wrong way down, just straight going down. We lost our way and had to stop just a meter above a waterfall! scarry!!!

[Alan S]

Nice pics Daniel i like the ones of loch leven
I really fancy this hill and ill maybe add it on when i do the Aonach Eagach ridge

[daniel]

Nice pics Daniel i like the ones of loch leven
I really fancy this hill and ill maybe add it on when i do the Aonach Eagach ridge

I'll remember this one my whole life, because it was my first real climb (with some scrambling). A good idea to add The Pap with The Aonach Eagach. I hope to do the ridge (and maybe The Pap too) in September, when I'm coming to Scotland again. Last year I tried to do the Aonach Eagach, but I was very ill the week before, so I didn't made it. I only climbed Am Bodach.

[mountain coward]

Nice pics Daniel i like the ones of loch leven
I really fancy this hill and ill maybe add it on when i do the Aonach Eagach ridge

It's definitely the best way down from the Aonach Eagach and well worth including

[daniel]

Nice pics Daniel i like the ones of loch leven
I really fancy this hill and ill maybe add it on when i do the Aonach Eagach ridge

It's definitely the best way down from the Aonach Eagach and well worth including

Thanks! I hope to do make a new report in September... What are your next plans for some "scrambling"?

[mountain coward]

I'm not a big fan of scrambling but am planning to walk 'The Fisherfield Munros' this weekend and then stay up in Scotland for the rest of the week doing some more Munros... which ones will depend on which area has the best weather I think!