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Second week of recovery from my hand surgery so decided to keep the walks simple and straightforward - hopefully without the deep water crossings of last week's trip to Galloway
So decided to nip up to Kinlochleven, stay at Blackwater Hostel site and enjoy the hills either side of the loch. Arrived sometime around 7 on friday night - Hostel was booked out for a private function but no other campers around, so had a quiet night apart from some noise from the Ice Factory bar and roaring deer from the surrounding hillsides. Awoke to sunshine and high clouds on Saturday morning and took the car up to Mamore Lodge - closed, but the car park makes a useful start to the day. The views along the still Loch Leven down to the Pap and Beinn a'Bheither were superb. Set off along the track that passes various derelict shacks then meets with the WHW. Here we encountered a grizzled old timer with a very
large backpack who - for some reason - reminded me of a lizard in human form. So for much of the walk we expected to see lizard-man following relentlessly behind us intent on some nefarious purpose
Blackwater Hostel
P1040116 by
23weasels, on Flickr
View just past Mamore Lodge
P1040120 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1040121 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Route up Beinn na Caillich
P1040124 by
23weasels, on Flickr
We headed off to the R from the WHW at a small cairn and followed a path down to the river and a gate - then it's along a good stalker's path up the shoulder of Beinn na Caillich, the top of which was still swathed in cloud. Across to our right Stob Ban and the Ring of Steall flitted in and out of the puffy clouds. We reached the cairn on Beinn na Caillich the set off along a grassy ridge towards Mam na Gualainn, noting tyre tracks - which Allison reckoned were trail bikes - travelling along the ridge. It's easy going to the top of MnG from here and we stopped at the trig point - with memorial to marine Anthony Callow - for our lunch. Unfortunately the clouds were down preventing much of a view as we sat, bit chilly out of the sun. We could see the way ahead over to the Graham Tom Mheadoin. As we set off down the grassy slopes towards the bealach the clouds started to lift and the pointed tops of Beinn a'Bheither poked impressively into sight.This mountain truly dominates the skyline from this end of the glen. We reached the small cairn marking the summit of Tom Mheadoin and gazed down on Glencoe, looking at the road ribbon its way up to the east. Followed our ascent route back down to the bealach - marked by a pile of stones, then headed northeast down another stalker's trail towards the WHW, meeting a couple of guys on trail bikes heading up. An easy river crossing then onto the WHW proper and a brisk march back along to Mamore Lodge. A quick pint in the Tailrace Inn before back to the tent and chili for tea.
View over to Stob Ban/ Ring of Steall
P1040128 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1040129 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Ridge from BnC to MnG
P1040132 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Beinn a Bheither
P1040133 by
23weasels, on Flickr
View back along the ridge
P1040135 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Approaching top of MnG
P1040138 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1040142 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Summit Mam na Gualainn
P1040144 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Tom Mheadoin
P1040147 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1040151 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Beinn a'Bheither
P1040152 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Glencoe
P1040156 by
23weasels, on Flickr
B'aB again
P1040158 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Mamores in background
P1040160 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Path down to the WHW
P1040161 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1040167 by
23weasels, on Flickr
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23weasels, on Flickr
Shack
P1040172 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Mamore Lodge (shut up)
P1040173 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1040174 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Sunday brought another sunny morning. We had a late start, enjoying breakfast on the picnic benches in the sunshine. Garbh Bheinn was the target today - a wee short walk by all accounts. Had almost changed plans and headed for Bidean nam Bian to do tops, but hadn't brought my proper boots and didn't fancy Bidean in trail shoes. Parked by the stone bridge and set off along a muddy path, initially following the Allt Gleann a'Chaolias before heading east for Stob Coire Sgoilte. Once onto the spine of the ridge it was a pleasant walk towards the steeper nose of Garbh Bheinn, views of the Aonach Eagach to our right catching the eye. Looking back there were great views down past the Pap. The final section up Garbh Bheinn is steeper and rocky, bringing us out onto the flattish summit. Unfortunately the sun hid behind a cloud as we sat to eat our lunch, making it much cooler than on the ascent. We gazed over to the Aonach, watching ant-sized figures making their way along the ridge - the AE was a busy place to be today alright - at one point it looked like they'd be able to form a conga line over it, the number of folk coming up
Garbh Bheinn
P1040175 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Pap
P1040177 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Stob Coire Sgoilte
P1040178 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1040183 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1040184 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Final section up Garbh Bheinnn
P1040188 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Summit
P1040190 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1040191 by
23weasels, on Flickr
View over to the Mamores
P1040195 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Aonach Eagach
P1040196 by
23weasels, on Flickr
View up to the Ben
P1040197 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Another Aonach shot
P1040198 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Back down the way we came up, slipping onto my rear end a couple of times on the slippery grass. Enjoyed a pleasant drive back down the road in the sunshine, although did see the yellow copter out hovering over the Clachaig Gully, which didn't look good - hope it was only a training exercise but given the number of climbers up on the AE I suspect it wasn't.
P1040199 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Wee rocky section
P1040200 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1040202 by
23weasels, on Flickr