Finally... a walk in the sunshine

[Andy74G]

I think Glencoe is fast becoming one of my favourite area's. My last walk was in April just down the road due to the rubbish summer weather. I tend not to walk at weekend's unless desperate as my job allows me rest days during the week, even so its been impossible to tie up a free day with good weather until now.

the view from the smaller car park in Glencoe

I decided to park in the smaller car park as the main one would be mobbed later on . Boot's on and changed I was ready for the off by 07:40am. The excellent path up Corie nan Lochan made the going straight forward until it was time to break right and head over the stream up the grassy right flank.

view back down into the glen from the right flank

I continued on with the south and Pinnacle buttress's to my right.

South and Pinnacle buttress's

the ridge line of Aonach Eagach

The views were superb in every direction and I liked the view down into Glencoe and loch Leven.

the village of Glencoe and Loch Leven

.As I reached the cairn at Stob Corie Sgreamhach some low cloud would roll in every now and again but it never lasted long, It didn't take long from the cairn to cross Collie's Pinnacle and assent up to the 1st Munro of the day Bidean nam Bian.

looking down Collie's Pinnacle and

looking down toward Loch Etive from the cairn at Bidean nam Bian

. With it still being early abut 10:40am I was free to take in the surrounding beauty in peace. After a short break it was time to head over towards the 2nd Munro and with a clear path it was an enjoyable walk over to the next summit.

R to L - Stob Coire nan Lochan , Collies Pinnacle and Stob Coire nam Beith

The lost Valley

Looking down into the valley from Stob Coire Sgreamhach

It took no more than an hour to reach the cairn at Stob Coire Sgeamhach , I did pass some still deep patches of snow on the higher slopes even at this time of year. After my break I headed down to the exit cut above the lost valley.

exit point.

Its not as bad as it looks... although I did put one of my walking sticks away for the first 100m

There were 4 pairs of walkers climbing up the pathless section each selecting their own route , a couple in trainers and others deciding to walk up the snow patches which seemed to me a bad idea as there were lots of gaps under the snow, so who knew what they were stepping into.

some walker's decided to walk up the snow patches

Once onto the path it was just a case of following it to the bottom although the WH route indicates to cross the river bed and take the LHS path (which I did after climbing through the trees) to meet up with the path further on.

Super Puma flying very low up the Glen

[Mal Grey]

Great conditions, &its a fantastic walk. Especially without the crowds!

I'm sure others will be grateful to see evidence that the snow has almost all gone from the gully at the top of the Lost Valley.