Sgor na-h-Ulaidh

The weather forecast for the 27th May was uncharacteristic - potential snow showers and sunshine. Fraser, David C and I all headed north to bag 'the hidden peak of Glencoe' and it was a promising start to the day. We headed up the farm path and bade hello to the farm owner who promised us that it would be hoaching with like-minded folk. The walk up past the burn was very pleasant indeed but I knew that we were in for some steep climbing further up as the craggy North face loomed of Sgor na-h-Ulaidh. We took to the slopes of Stob an Fhuaran and the climb was pretty unrelenting and arduous. Meanwhile, the sun shone and all was quiet in the glen with a few folk well behind us. Hopefully, we'd have the summit to ourselves. The only sounds were the laboured puffs of me and my compadres and it seemed an age before we attained the latter peak. A great place for a spot of lunch afforded fantastic views down Glen Etive, to Ben Nevis and Bidean nam Bian - the views were fantastic and we all ate in wonder at the silence of it all (apart from the munching of Thai Pringles). We headed down to the bealach and before long were heading up the final pull to the summit cairn by which point it had begun to snow. We didn't hang about. The descent was rapid but sustained on the thighs and we were back at the car in 5 hours - a very decent time. A wee hauf in the Bridge of Orchy hotel (who now have their own beer - fine) and a great day was had with some fine banter and flake-catching.

Last train from Corrour - Carn Dearg and Sgor Gaibhre

It was to be a hot one in Scotland on the 3rd May and so I decided to hit the Highlands albeit by taking the train from Glasgow to Corrour - this got me to Corrour at 1120 and the return train was at 1828 - 7 hours for 27 km of walking should be do-able. It was a nice journey if not slightly long but in today's eco-friendly climate, it seemed good not to be adding to the ozone layer via petrol. Once off the train, I hit the path at the end of Loch Ossian with Beinn na Lap on my left and thought I might get this one in for later, legs pending. It wasn't long before I was heading up the 'Road to the Isles' and after an hour, I was at Peter's stone. Quite a poignant plaque of a young guy who had died here, though how I'm not sure. Anyhoo, I began the trek up the 1st Munro and was greeted by a herd of deer, who (deer, me deer, gay deer, no deer) were watching me curiously. Man, I was unfit although by this time, the sun was fair beating doon on me so I shouldn't have been so hard on myself. After a couple of hours, I saw a large summit cairn and made my way up to this, to be greeted by 5 folk sitting and chilling out. We had a good gab, all drunk on the pleasant weather and idyllic surroundings. Photos were exchanged and I doled out plenty of advice, with one lady commenting "I just love the pronounciations of the hills". Fitever. I descended to the Mam Ban bealach and then whapped my MP3 player on to start the ascent to the 2nd Munro of the day, Sgor Gaibhre. In no time, I was on the summit (quite sandy?) and I thought I'd hae my lunch. Not a chance. The midges were unbearable, even at 951m and I had to make a quick descent back to a breezy part of the hill for luncheon. Chicken with chilli and garlic seemed to keep the Draculesque-like beasts away - 'I renounce you in the name of Garlic-god' etc. By this point, I'd taken 3 hours and had potentially 4 hours to get down, circle the Loch and try for Beinn na Lap. However, the walk-out along this loch was looooonng and by the time I got to the SY hostel, my legs were knackered, even though I still had 2 hours till the train. There really wasn't any decision to make, folks. There was beer waiting at the Station restuarant. And that Corrour Gold was probably one of the finest beers I've ever had. Some banter with a couple of guys whiled the time away before I was on the train back to Glasgow. A superb day out and I'll back for the Beinn Na Lap-dancer in Winter methinks.