Walking with Golden Eagles

This review is by Simon Pallant who took the photograph. Thanks to him.

This nature reserve is called “Ariundle”, and it’s accessed from a small lane at Strontian. It has a nicely managed walk which is in two halves. From the visitor car park, the walk takes you along the banks of a river, through semi-open marshland. We have now been there twice, and on both occasions have been lucky enough to see Golden Eagles - unfortunately both times from a distance, and despite a good selection of lenses I have yet to get a decent photo of the blessed things. The walk then crosses the river, and you come back through some ancient woodland. Lots of mosses and lichens, and in the autumn the combination of colours from the bracken, heather, and leaves is beautiful. It’s an easy going walk; the path is well marked and is a pleasant couple of hours.

To get there from the cottage, cross the Corran ferry, and it is about half an hour or less to Strontian.

No bad weather in Scotland

I can't believe that it was just over a week ago that Charles and I were in Scotland.We had a wonderful time and were thrilled with Bayview. www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk The cottage
was brilliant and felt like a home from home.Everything was so clean and well cared for.We had the best weather we could have wished for; this is our fourth visit to Scotland and we have yet to see rain! How lucky eh? We had no joy with the Internet connection though. We saw your neighbour Mike, but he too was unable to fix it. Never mind, it was nice to be computerless although I expect Charles would disagree. Many thanks for the loan of the maps and the use of leaflets, books etc. You really do make sure that your guests are catered for. Your thoughtfulness was much appreciated. We really enjoyed
exploring and saw stunningly beautiful sunsets, especially at Morar.What a wonderful area.Many thanks, we will be back.
Amy
The picture taken in January this year shows the sands at Morar. This view has not changed for 100,000 years.

Local tales of the polis

Pic shows Loch Leven, north side, in January this year.
1) At Kinlochleven the river divides two police forces. Both of them got the same call that a man had fallen in. Each force sent a policemen to investigate. One was a fell runner and got to the body first. As his rival showed up he was tipping it over to the far bank. “Its yours,” he said.
2) The old ferry ran from the present Ballachulish Hotel to the Loch Leven Hotel. The ferrymen were in the habit of taking a dram in the back bar of each hotel. At the end of a long day a lady complained to the Police that the ferrymen were drunk. When they saw the Blue Light flashing, they were halfway across. They promptly turned round and went back to the side they’d just left, packed up the ferry and went home.

The Sunday Times travel loves Glencoe

Mar 10th issue of The Sunday Times carried a great article about touring around West Scotland. They came to our area twice, once coming down Glencoe on the way to the North West, and coming back past our cottage. Loved it. Here is an extract of what they wrote.

".......desolate grandeur of Rannoch Moor, guarded at its Northern edge by Buchaille Etive mor.
The Buchaille marks the start of Glencoe, and if you are going to stretch the legs anywhere to-day, it has to be here, with Anoch Eagach - the finest ridge walk in Britain - on hand for the hard core and an excellent path up Coire Gabhail, the Hidden Valley...."

We are planning a new page on our Website which will cover all those places you can reach from Glencoe, by car within two hours. Look at this. If you base yourself here, then the whole of the West Scotland area can be reached, from Loch Lomond to the South, Mull and the Inner Islands to the West, to the South-west you have the ancient capital of the Scots, Dalriada, to the North you have Ben Nevis, Inverness, Loch Ness, to the North-West the Skye road bridge, to the North-east Aviemore, and to the West Ardnamurchan and Mallaig, to the East Gleneagles, and Stirling, and stretch the two hours by another half, you'll be in Edinburgh. (Go to Glasgow to watch Partick Thistle play, that's my advice, that's also within two hours.)

John

New climb on Ben Nevis is the hardest yet

News of Lochaber.

Start up an overhang which was never climbed before. Keep going for 600 feet up the front of the Comb Buttress to the top, and then come back and do it next Winter in Snow and Ice. Then you will have done what is reported to be one of the most difficult ice and snow climbs in the world. Dave McLeod did the first ever summer climb of it in 2005, and plans to do the winter climb around now. He should know. He is Scotland’s premier young rock climber. Who would deny that this area is the playground of the world? One person’s play is another’s nightmare mind you.

You can see a great deal of information about climbing, ice climbing and high level walking around the Argyll and Glencoe area at our web site pages starting www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk/hillwalking.html