Stob Coire Sgreamhach

The intention was to set out and climb SCS via the marvellous 'hidden valley' and take in Bidean Nam Bian on the way down Coire nan Lochan. Theory and practice don't often go hand in hand in Glencoe however and so it proved on this occasion. The ladies dropped Fraser and I off along the A82 and sped away for coffee, cake, lunch and cake. Fraser and I made good pace up into the hidden valley and the weather wasn't bad at all. As we were taking the 1st day's munch, a small tit flew out of nowhere and literally sat a foot away as Fraser fed it bread. I couldn't believe the audacity of the wee thing and it happily sat eating and tweeting as we photo'd the wee bird. We headed on up the corrie towards its headwall and it was about this time that the weather began to close in. Abandon all hopes of a decent summit photo I imagined. As we approached the high bealach, the route became quite precipitous and with the increase in rainfall, the scree was very unstable underfoot. We managed up okay and it was a fairly straightforward route to the summit of Sgreamhach. We didn't hing aboot and decided in 3 stone trouser sets to head back down. The initial decline down the 'gully' was 'interesting' especially when we encountered the white trainer brigade - quelles dongues. We got back to the car park quick enough though we were pretty soaked by this time - once we were chauffeured back to the Bridge of Orchy hotel, I can honestly say that shower I had was one of the finest. As was the beer. And the whisky. A weet but sweet, tweet day.

Meall Greigh, Meall Garbh & An Stuc

I was to be on my ownsome for these 3 Munro's and as such, I took off from Glasgow at the leisurely hour of 0800, reaching the Ben Lawers hotel car park for 0930. I took off down the road and then headed up the private road beside Machuim farm, heading past a shop which said "Horn Carver" - I thought of taking something back for Emma but she would say I had given her the horn so I carried on regardless. The path was excellent and I then set off towards the obvious knoll of Meall Greigh. A steep bugger but it wasn't long before I was on the summit, an hour ahead of book-time. The cloud had moved in and views were at a premium. I didn't hang about and headed down to the bealach, following a fence to start of the incline up Meall Garbh. By this time, I could see Lochan Nan Cat but I don't see how this resembles a cat at all unless it has been run over. The ascent of the 2nd Munro was pretty quick and before long, I was tagging the summit cairn and heading for An Stuc. Having seen photos of this and reading the guide's description of a 'mild scramble', I was slightly apprehensive. Once down to the col, it loomed out of the mist but an obvious path going up the SE flank was evident. Initially, no hands are needed but about 100ft up, it becomes indeed a scramble but no worse than say that of Stuc a Chroin. You certainly wouldn't want to slip but before long, I was on the summit and it was pretty straightforward. Winter would be a tricky proposition entirely. I was glad to be at the 3rd summit (see photo) cairn and I headed down to the Bealach Dubh before cutting down the gully and towards Lochan Nan Splat and then heading for home. Once back at the car, I popped into the Lawers hotel and had an excellent steak pie (done with Ossian ale) and a bottle of Kelpie. An excellent day was had once again. 80 down, 204 to go.