Mini Meet Glen Loin Caves @ Arrochar

[magicdin]

I must be getting old (birthday pun, get it ).

Gettin old - Aye - tell me about it

oops - not very gentlemanly - you of course are not getting old

[mountainstar]

Happy Birthday, bit of a different one!
Wished I could have made it, but will see you at the end of the month

[walk aboot]

[Scotjamie]

great stuff - nice to put sleeping bags to names
wish I could have joined you...................kind of.......
can't wait to read more from mc and flipside

[walk aboot]

[Graeme D]

Different! I'm with Kinley though - I'll stick to the tent, or a bothy, although the thought of a cave fire does sound appealing!

[gaffr]

This area looks at bit familiar. When descending from A'Chrois, early sixties, we blundered into the caves area, drawn in by the smell of wood-smoke and made to feel very welcome, tea and biscuits, by the folks staying there. From what I remember they appeared to be RAF rescue folks....one of which I have though was the author of 'Space below my feet'...but that may well have been a young man's imagination. But the cave that we went into had a longish sloping descent into the main chamber.
It has been said by someone writing that.....during the last 5,000 years of mans existence that if that time was divided into 800 lifetimes the last 650 or so of these lifetimes would have been spent in caves.

[Caberfeidh]

during the last 5,000 years of mans existence that if that time was divided into 800 lifetimes the last 650 or so of these lifetimes would have been spent in caves.

And/or teepees.

[gaffr]

Oops!....apologies Mr Caberfeidh. Should have perhaps said 50,000 years...but even that would give an average of around 60 odd years.....probably a wee bit high? I think what I was trying to indicate was the amount of time that our lot had spent dwelling within these natural features. before building something less damp and more draftproof. Mind you I would have preferred one in Mediterranean lands rather than in wet old Scotland.

[mountain coward]

This area looks at bit familiar. When descending from A'Chrois, early sixties, we blundered into the caves area, drawn in by the smell of wood-smoke and made to feel very welcome, tea and biscuits, by the folks staying there. From what I remember they appeared to be RAF rescue folks....one of which I have though was the author of 'Space below my feet'...but that may well have been a young man's imagination. But the cave that we went into had a longish sloping descent into the main chamber.
It has been said by someone writing that.....during the last 5,000 years of mans existence that if that time was divided into 800 lifetimes the last 650 or so of these lifetimes would have been spent in caves.

There are lots of caves there and the cave in Borthwick's book is one with a long, sloping descent into the main chamber. I've found a couple which fit the bill but I'm not absolutely convinced I've found the one he stayed in, although our cave for the night does have the other cave he mentions which is reached up the short 'easy' arete - that's the one in our photos and is the one which apparently has an underground loch down a slope in the back of it. Without a rope I doubt I'll find out...

Brilliant report Walkaboot - I think it's a lot better than mine personally - maybe I was too tired when I wrote mine. I was certainly knackered when I got back by the time I'd got everything sorted out, unpacked, dried out, washing done etc. and then stayed up late to write my report. Your pics have come out better too - you probably have a better camera than Richard's and you'll be more used to using it. On the 'Billy didn't want to leave' pic, it looks like I'm crying on his shoulder!

We just have to do it again sometime

[walk aboot]

Your experience of the caves in the 60s sounds terrific, gaffr .


Wonder if anyone else has any experiences of them to share (pretty please) .


Yup MC, definitely need to go back .

[walk aboot]

@ MC

My favourite photo is cave rear...your bum disappearing oot the back door!

[chalkywhyte]

@WA - sorry I forgot to wish you a happy birthday

So, Happy Birthday

[walk aboot]

Hi Alan,

Thanks.

Thanks too for being such a good help and company. Hope you've decided to join us in Glencoe at the end of the month .

[mountain coward]

@ MC

My favourite photo is cave rear...your bum disappearing oot the back door!

Yeah, most people are glad to see the back of me!