271 years too late in Glenfinnan
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 11:52 pm
My Gran, a Cameron, used to have to traipse me around Scotland as a youngster due to my interest in all things Scottish, war and battle related. Culloden was visited a number of times and the stories were repeated over and over till she must have been bored to tears, but i was interested. I still remember fondly her singing a lovely song about the Cameron men, however have no idea of the words of the song. One place we never visited was Glenfinnan to see where the standard was raised. I was in fact an adult the first time i went to this sacred place and it gave the the old shiver down the body sensation, proud of my identity. My Gran married my Grandpa, a MacBean and both Clans played huge parts in the Jacobite rebellion. The Camerons offered one of the biggest numbers of men from any one clan at Culloden and the MacBean's fought under Clans Chattan & Mackintosh. Legend has it Gillies MacBean filled a hole in a wall and cut down thirteen English Dragoons before succumbing to his injuries, Aeneas MacBean was chased from the field by a group of dragoons and escaped because he kept leaping across a stream and another MacBean ironically helped the wounded chief of Clan Cameron (Lochiel) off the field. I was really looking forward to going to Glenfinnan again. The was a weather window and i went for it after the usual struggle to get out my pit
I reached Glenfinnan and was off up the Glen by 0950, under the Viaduct and into the wilderness.
I heard a Landrover approaching behind me so called the dogs in and the guy stopped for a chat, it was Alistair Gibson - the Estate Manager. We spoke for a while about the estate and neighboring estates as my Brother in law managers Conaglen estate. Alistair was off up the Glen to the bosses house, The Leith family, they own the Leith Quarries business. A right fine chap and it was nice that he took the time to stop and speak as he was genuinely interested in who was using the Glen and why and he offered advice on which way to tackle the route which i followed.
I overtook a CWT go'er and made the bothy and the door was open and the dogs raced in ahead and gave a poor Dutch lad a fright. I spoke with him for a while and wished him all the best, the CWT is something i'd love to do but getting time off work means it'll likely never happen. The Leiths house up on the hill is stunning.
I passed a nice waterfall before coming across 2 sets of 2 bikes, this was the point to branch off for Sgurr nan Coireachan but i had decided to go for Sgurr Thuilm first. I continued along the landrover track and crossed a stream before branching off at another sign up the hill.
I struggled as i have been really lazy of late but the dogs drag me on as they are keen to explore ahead. As i reached the ridge i could see around 10 people coming back off the summit to head across the ridge. There goes the solitude
I made the summit and the wind was up so i headed down off the summit for a bite to eat.
Once my food had been shared between me and the dogs i set off towards the ridge. It was here i met Davie Southern (Ceaser) so we chatted for a while, him and his mate were doing the route clockwise. The wind was sending a right chill through so we set off on our different ways after about 20 minutes.
The ridge over is quite rough but luckily no snow till the summit ridge which of course the mutts made first. Cracking views again. Ardgour Corbetts, the Rough bounds and Glen Dessarry Munros looked stunning. The Glenfinnan Munros were sporting much less snow than surrounding hills which was lucky for me as i decided to leave the crampons but take the axe which i never even used.
More noms were taken at the summit before i made my way down to the Glen again.
Passed the bothy and Alistair again, he was ferrying youngsters he taught rugby up to the bothy for the night, great to see the younger generation in the outdoors. A few photos of the Barry Trotter railway bridge and then back to the car, none of the monument as the scaffold is up to make repairs i presume.
Cracking pair of hills which cover some rough ground, 271 years, a couple more attempts and were still left with 'what ifs'
I reached Glenfinnan and was off up the Glen by 0950, under the Viaduct and into the wilderness.
I heard a Landrover approaching behind me so called the dogs in and the guy stopped for a chat, it was Alistair Gibson - the Estate Manager. We spoke for a while about the estate and neighboring estates as my Brother in law managers Conaglen estate. Alistair was off up the Glen to the bosses house, The Leith family, they own the Leith Quarries business. A right fine chap and it was nice that he took the time to stop and speak as he was genuinely interested in who was using the Glen and why and he offered advice on which way to tackle the route which i followed.
I overtook a CWT go'er and made the bothy and the door was open and the dogs raced in ahead and gave a poor Dutch lad a fright. I spoke with him for a while and wished him all the best, the CWT is something i'd love to do but getting time off work means it'll likely never happen. The Leiths house up on the hill is stunning.
I passed a nice waterfall before coming across 2 sets of 2 bikes, this was the point to branch off for Sgurr nan Coireachan but i had decided to go for Sgurr Thuilm first. I continued along the landrover track and crossed a stream before branching off at another sign up the hill.
I struggled as i have been really lazy of late but the dogs drag me on as they are keen to explore ahead. As i reached the ridge i could see around 10 people coming back off the summit to head across the ridge. There goes the solitude
I made the summit and the wind was up so i headed down off the summit for a bite to eat.
Once my food had been shared between me and the dogs i set off towards the ridge. It was here i met Davie Southern (Ceaser) so we chatted for a while, him and his mate were doing the route clockwise. The wind was sending a right chill through so we set off on our different ways after about 20 minutes.
The ridge over is quite rough but luckily no snow till the summit ridge which of course the mutts made first. Cracking views again. Ardgour Corbetts, the Rough bounds and Glen Dessarry Munros looked stunning. The Glenfinnan Munros were sporting much less snow than surrounding hills which was lucky for me as i decided to leave the crampons but take the axe which i never even used.
More noms were taken at the summit before i made my way down to the Glen again.
Passed the bothy and Alistair again, he was ferrying youngsters he taught rugby up to the bothy for the night, great to see the younger generation in the outdoors. A few photos of the Barry Trotter railway bridge and then back to the car, none of the monument as the scaffold is up to make repairs i presume.
Cracking pair of hills which cover some rough ground, 271 years, a couple more attempts and were still left with 'what ifs'