Cambridge Scottish Society trip to Glen Coe, Spring 2011 - the Walks

Outdoor Gear

Weather in Scotland can be capricious at any time of the year, and at this time of year we may have snow, or we may have a heatwave. Good clothing and footware is essential. You should bring with you:

• Waterproof jacket and overtrousers.
• Walking boots with a good sole and good ankle support.
• Good walking socks.
• Trousers suitable for walking.
• A fleece or jumper plus a spare - or two. Several layers are much more flexible and effective than one thick one.
• Warm hat and gloves, two pairs of gloves are recommended in case one gets wet.
• Sunhat, sunglasses and suncream - just in case!
• Rucksack with waterproof liner or cover.
• Water bottle and thermos flask.
• Personal first aid kit, blister repair etc.
• Camera.

Outdoor gear shops in Cambridge

Open Air, 11, 12, 15 Green Street, Cambridge
Blacks, 18/19 Sidney Street, Cambridge
Cotswold, Bridge Street, Cambridge

The Walks

The intention is to have four walks each day: a relatively easy low-level walk, a slightly longer (in time, not necessarily distance) but still relatively easy walk, a medium walk and a more challenging walk. Distances range from 6 to 10 miles, with between 350 and 3700 ft of ascent. Coach transport to and from the walks is included. Walks at any level may be changed depending on weather conditions.

Monday	Around Kinlochleven
	1. Easier	Paths around Kinlochleven. After a lovely coach drive along the shore of Loch Leven, we take the West Highland Way as it climbs up to the military road, which we follow to Mamore Lodge, a hunting lodge once enjoyed by King Edward VII when he visited the area, and now a hotel. We continue along the military road as it loops around the Allt Coire na Ba, a fast-flowing mountain stream. Here we may proceed a short way up the valley for our picnic lunch. We then return to Mamore Lodge and down the drive to pick up the West Highland Way back to Kinlochleven. Here we will visit the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall, named after one of Edward VII's favourite horses. Before picking up the coach there will be time to watch the ice climbing at the Ice Factor, or to sample the beer at the local microbrewery. 5 miles and 750 feet of ascent.
	2. Longer Easier	Loch Eilde Mor. Also starting in Kinlochleven, we visit the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall, and then head through wild unspoilt country to meet the old military road, and on to Loch Eilde Mor (Great Loch of the Hind) where we will have lunch on the shore. We return along the military road past Mamore Lodge and then follow the West Highland Way back down to Kinlochleven and refreshments. 7.5 miles and 1150 feet of ascent.
	3. Medium	The Lairigmoor. We leave the coach after just a few minutes and set off through the woods, soon climbing open hillside on a rough path. The climb is steep but we take it slowly, and soon reach the bealach (pass) at 1522ft, with superb views both south to Loch Leven, and north towards Ben Nevis and the Mamores range. From the bealach we take a path around the side of Mam na Gualainn and drop down to ford the Allt na Lairige Moire (burn of the great pass) where we join the old military road and the West Highland Way, which we follow to Kinlochleven. 7.5 miles and 1775 feet of ascent.
	4. Harder	Beinn na Caillich. We leave the coach at the same point as the medium group, and also climb the path through the woods and across the hillside up to the bealach with its splendid views. From here we head east up fairly steep grassy slopes to reach the peak of Mam na Gualainn which at 2612 ft is the highest point of the walk (a Corbett). From here we follow an undulating route along broad ridges to the summit of Beinn na Caillich (2507 ft). From here we descend on a steep but good zig-zag path to cross the river on a bridge. A short ascent brings us to the West Highland Way which we follow to Kinlochleven. 7.5 miles and 3325 feet of ascent.
Tuesday	Glen Coe
	5. Easier	Historic Glen Coe. We take the coach through Glen Coe to the Kingshouse Hotel on Rannoch Moor, reputed to be the oldest inn in Scotland. From here we follow the West Highland Way back towards Glen Coe, with stunning views of Buchaille Etive Mor, the great herdman of Etive. Much of the film Highlander was filmed in this area. Leaving the West Highland Way we follow the old military road down through Glen Coe with magnificent views on all sides, eventually reaching the famous Clachaig Inn for some refreshments before meeting the coach. The route mostly follows paths but can be boggy in places. 8.5 miles and 425 feet of ascent.
	6. Longer Easier	The Lost Valley and Glen Coe.We leave the coach at the Meeting of Three Waters near the top of Glen Coe, with dramatic views of the ends of the three ridges known as the Three Sisters. Our goal is the dramatic Coire Gabhail (Corrie of Capture or Booty) better known as the "Lost Valley" .We follow a path which leads down over a bridge, and then up through a jumble of gigantic boulders, the remains of a huge landslide. The route is a little harder than usual for an easier walk, but well worth the effort, when you emerge into the wild and secret valley. After lunch we retrace our steps and follow the shore of Loch Atriochtan to the Clachaig Inn, where there should be time for refreshment before meeting the coach. The paths are varied, some good, some not so good. The entrance to the Lost Valley is steep in places for a short while, and requires a little scrambling, so is more strenuous than a normal easier walk. 6 miles and 875 feet of ascent.
	7. Medium	Beinn a'Chrulaiste.We leave the coach at the bottom of the Devil's Staircase where the West Highland Way crosses over from Glen Coe to Kinlochleven. The ascent is on an intermittant path and is fairly steep, but we will take it slowly. After a while it flattens out for a bit in an area of attractive lochans, and the next stretch to the summit (a Corbett) is much easier. From here there are superb views in all directions: south to Buchaille Etive Mor, west down Glen Coe, east across Rannoch Moor, and north to the Blackwater Reservoir, the Mamores and Ben Nevis. We descend steeply to the north of the summit and then follow an undulating ridge across three small bumps before dropping down to the Allt Chailleach river which we follow to the Kingshouse Hotel and our coach. 7.5 miles and 2350 feet of ascent.
	8. Harder	The Buchaille Etive Mor Ridge.This is one of the classic walks of the Scottish Highlands and includes two Munros. We leave the coach at the bottom of the Devil's Staircase and follow the path up into up into Coire na Tulaich. We ascent the route up to the ridge, which is steep and has some areas of easy scrambling and loose scree, but there are no particular difficulties. Once on the ridge we continue on to the summit of Stob Dearg (3345 feet), an airy perch above Rannoch Moor. From here if time permits we follow the ridge to Stob na Broige (3120 feet). We then return a short way along the ridge and drop down a steep mountain path into Lairig Gartain (rather boggy) and back to the road. 7 miles and 3700 feet of ascent. If there is too much snow at the top of the corrie, we may instead attempt the next ridge, the two summits of Buchaille Etive Beag. 5 miles and just under 3000 feet of ascent.
Wednesday	Kentallen, Glen Duror and Maclean's Towel
	9. Easier	Kentallen Peninsular.This is a lovely coastal walk. A scenic coach journey takes us to the shore of Loch Linnhe, a submerged continuation of the Great Glen which runs up to Inverness. We follow a quiet minor road around Cuil Bay and then follow the shore to the peninsula of Rubha Mor, where we may see seals. We now follow the coast with views of Ben Nevis ahead of us. Passing Ardsheal House, a replacement for the earlier building razed to the ground after the 1745 rising, we continue to the sheltered Kentallen, and follow a short section of the trackbed of the old Oban to Ballachulish railway. A short rising path takes us above Kentallen for superb views of Loch Leven and Loch Linnhe and then descends easily to the Holly Tree Hotel where we may have time for refreshments before our coach arrives. 7.75 miles and 350 feet of ascent.
	10. Longer Easier	Glen Duror.We also start in Duror but turn away from the coast and follow the forest track through Glen Duror, alongside the River Duror. We ascend gradually, following the south side of the Beinn a'Bheithir range. We finally leave the track and follow a narrow woodland path eventually emerging on to wild open hillside. The views are now wider as we follow the valley of the River Laroch down to Ballachulish. Here there may be time to visit the exhibition commemorating the slate industry, or the Information Centre with its teashop, before rejoining the coach for the short return journey.
	11. Medium	Maclean's Towel and Meall Breac.The coach drops us off at the Corran Ferry which we take for the short crossing to the village of Corran. We follow the road for a short distance and then climb steeply by the waterfall known as Maclean's Towel - spectacular after rain. At the top of the falls we climb over rough ground onto Meall Breac and follow the undulating ridge round to Lochan a’Choire Dhuibh. We descend by the tumbling burn to the head of the waterfall and retrace our steps to the ferry. There are few paths and the going is rough and steep. The descent by the waterfall requires care. 6 miles and 2300 feet of ascent.
	12. Harder	Maclean's Towel and Beinn na Cille.After crossing on the Corran Ferry we take the same route as the medium group to Lochan a’Choire Dhuibh, and then ascend further to the summit of Sgurr na h’Eanchainne (2400 feet), a superb viewpoint for the hills of Ardgour, Glen Coe and Ben Nevis. We descend northwards towards Beinn na Cille and then down Coire na Cille, then follow the shore back to Corran and the ferry. The going is rough and steep with few paths. 7.75 miles and 2600 feet of ascent.
Thursday	Glen Nevis and Beinn a'Bheithir
	13. Easier	Gleann Domhanaidh.This walk has a bit of everything: forest trails, a ski and mountain bike centre, stunning views of the back of Ben Nevis, a distillery, and a ruined castle. Starting just north of Fort William at Torlundy we follow the forest track to the lower gondola station. Then we ascend gently on forestry roads across the lower slopes of Carn Mor Dearg to emerge on the Ben Nevis path alongside the Allt a’ Mhuilinn. We descend to Fort William on a service road, but then divert back to the river to emerge by the Nevis Distillery. Crossing the road we take the Great Glen Way to Inverlochy Castle, then follow the Way by the River Lochy into Fort William to meet the coach. Good paths and forestry roads, although the short section before the distillery may be a little wet underfoot. 8 miles and 800 feet of ascent.
	14. Longer Easier	Nevis Riverside and Fort William Heights.Starting in the beautiful and peaceful Glen Nevis we follow the river through the meadows for some distance before climbing out of the Glen to the splendid viewpoint of Cow Hill, overlooking Fort William and its backdrop of lochs and mountains. From here we descend gradually following an easy path with views all the way back to the town. Here there may be a little time to explore or find some refreshment before meeting the coach. The path by the river may be a little muddy but otherwise all paths are well-surfaced. There are a few steep sections leading out of Glen Nevis. 8.5 miles and 1175 feet of ascent.
	15. Medium	Glen Nevis to Inverlochy via the Halfway Lochan and the CIC hut.Starting from the Glen Nevis Visitors' Centre, we follow the Ben Nevis path out of the Glen and up towards Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe, often called the Halfway Lochan. From here we leave the Ben Nevis path and instead contour round below the steep northern buttresses to follow the valley of the Allt a’ Mhuilinn up to the C.I.C. climbers' hut, from which there are stunning views of the North Face. We may well see climbers on Tower Ridge and Observatory Ridge. From the hut, we cross the river and follow a good path down to meet the service road used by the easier group. We then follow their route down to the distillery, Inverlochy Castle and back to Fort William. 10 miles and 2230 feet of ascent.
	16. Harder	Beinn a'Bheithir: Sgorr Dhonuill and Sgorr Dhearg.The Beinn a'Bheithir range has two superb summits (both Munros) and wonderful views. Walking from the house we will cross the Ballachulish bridge and work our way up through the forest trails to the bealach (saddle) between the two tops. Depending on the weather, we will climb one or both of the two summits, returning to the bealach and back through the forest to Alltshellach. The ascent of Sgorr Dhearg is quite straightforward, while that of Sgorr Dhonuill involves a steep climb and a rocky scramble. There are no real difficulties, but a good head for heights is recommended as there is some exposure. Up to 10.5 miles and 4200 feet of ascent.