A Glen Coe "Catch Up"

[martin.h]

Bidean nam Bian was one of the four Munros around Glen Coe Denise had on her catch up list, we had agreed to wait for a good day to do it because of the views you have from this route

I was on a school trip back in 1974 when I first did Bidean nam Bian, the teachers who were leading us took us over
Stob Coire nan Lochan first then on to Bidean, from memory it was thick fog and rain for most of the way I can vividly remember the cairn on Bidean's summit looming out of the mist and the lack of chat once we'd arrived, I think we were all a bit peed off, including the teachers, I also remember one of the teachers saying something about a "hidden valley and lets get down as soon as possible" it meant nothing to me at the time, I just wanted to go down.

I've been up there a couple of times since, again in the mist, so I was due a view and also there was the matter of
Stob Coire Sgreamhach which I didn't realise was a Munro until I started using Walkhighlands, it was promoted to Munro status in 1997 so Denise's catch up had turned into two new 'uns for her and a new 'un for me

The Monday of our holiday was going to be another good weather day so we decided to go for it and take our time.

We parked up in the layby at NN168569 nice and early, we were the first car parked so we got a good spot on the fringes of the layby to make sure we could get out when it got busier. The day a going to be a good 'un

DSC03414 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03413 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

We set off down the path towards the FB over the River Coe and started the ascent into Coire nan Lochan.
The path here is well made, pitched for the majority of the way up into the coire, although it's steep in parts, the pitching helps, the views are good too.

DSC03419 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03420 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03418 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

We were soon at the point where our route leaves the main path and heads up grassy slopes, there is a sketchy path but you do have to keep your eye on it.

We reached the little saddle between Aonach Dubh and the start of the climb up to Stob Coire nan Lochan, had a break and took some more photo's, then set off up the ridge.

DSC03424 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03423 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03425 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

The path travels over a boulder field, a bit awkward in places but progress is easy enough, you get some nice views own to the road.

DSC03426 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

The final few meters to the top of Stob Coire nan Lochan gets steeper so the boulders act a bit like a staircase. The view from the top is great especially over the Aonach Eagach towards Ben Nevis, Bidean was next and from where we were it looked a bit of a climb.

DSC03427 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03428 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03429 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03430 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03431 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03432 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03433 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03434 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

We set off down stony slopes towards Bidean thinking it was going to take a while to the summit, in reality it took just half an hour and as we approached the cairn I remembered my first time up here, this time it was views all round and I wasn't peed off

DSC03435 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03436 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03437 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03439 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03440 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

We sat down to have a snack taking in the views, we could see our next objective and felt lucky we were out in such grand surroundings and able to appreciate such good weather.

DSC03449 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

A few photo's were taken then it was on our way to Stob Coire Sgreamhach.

DSC03446 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03444 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03445 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

The ridge between the two is lovely airy walking and the route is easy to follow, we had a look down the descent route as we passed the top of it, I was a bit concerned about the erosion at the top of the gully, in reality it's ok but it is very loose.

It took 50 mins summit to summit, again it didn't take as long as I thought it would.

DSC03450 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

On the summit we had lunch, taking our time appreciating the views, mountains stretching away into the distance in all directions.

Back to Bidean and Stob Coire nan Lochan

DSC03455 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

Views

DSC03451 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03456 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03457 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03458 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03459 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03463 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03464 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03465 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03467 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03468 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

Sgreamhach Pano by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

We had to leave this spot though, after half an hour we began our descent back to Bealach Dearg we were careful on the loose stuff at the top of the gully, it turned out to be no problem at all and once off the really loose stuff the descent into the Hidden Valley was easy on a well made path.

DSC03469 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03470 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03471 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03472 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03473 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

There were a few people in the Hidden Valley, we'd seen just three people while on the mountain, it was very busy on the path back to the road so it turned out to be a game of "dodge the crowds" not easy lower down

There were lots of these

DSC03474 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

Hidden Valley

DSC03475 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC03476 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

Our car had been joined by loads of others to keep it company, what a contrast to 07:45, we de-booted, had a quick snack then joined the stream of traffic for the drive back to Roybridge.

Last look

DSC03477 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

It was a good day out and another "catch up" off Denise's list, there's only 7 on the list now, so it's not a long one