A walk up the Pap of Glencoe in Winter

This lovely mountain is the Pap of Glencoe. It is about 2500 feet and at a leisurely 1,000 feet an hour you can tell how long it would take up and down. Easy stuff, but brilliant view from the top.

Legend has it that a MacDonald piper broadcast a lament about the Massacre to tell the other clans about it - that would be just after February 14th, in 1692.

Here is a report from two of our friendliest returning guests, who stayed with us in January.

"We had a good week despite poor weather as it forced us to relax a bit - we had a wet wander near Port Appin, a fun visit to the Oban Sealife centre, a day on Beinn Sguilaird (near Creagan) (v windy), a walk up the Pap of Glencoe, a day on Garbh Bheinn (over the Corran ferry) and a lazy day with a swim in Fort William."
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
Weather month by month in the area
Skiing in Glencoe
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Rain in scotland
Summer weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland
Winter weather in Scotland
Spring weather in Scotland
Facts about self catering holidays
Advice on driving in Scotland
The Demand A82 upgrade campaign site

Amazing weather in Glencoe - right now

Picture shows the Pap of Glencoe from the Kentallen road. Isn't the whole place stunning?

Here is the most amazing thing. Right now, the UK news bulletins are full of horror stories involving cold weather, deep snow in the East of Scotland, cars benighted, emergency services at full stretch, and worse to come. The worst snowfalls in the UK for 20 years they say!

What have we got in our little micro climate at Kentallen? Well, nothing but peace and calm. And we have quite high temperatures.

I've just looked up the weather station report from Mark our neighbour. This is what it says:

Dry, wind wnw force 1, no gusts humidity 55% (quite low). Temperature 6.9C no windchill at Kentallen cottage on 2/2/09 at 20.55.

It is very very much warmer here on the Scottish West Coast than on the East. It is the Gulf Stream and all that which does it.

Here at Kentallen, we have a different climate from Glencoe itself, because Glencoe, although it is just around the corner, is just over the hill. A 3,000 foot hill. And our climate in Kentallen is different again from that on Rannoch Moor. Now the Rannoch plain is one where you definitely do not want to be stuck overnight. Not unless you have a duvet sleeping bag, plenty of spare clothes, and a hot thermos. They'll get you out ok, but you want to be warm and still breathing when they do.

But here at Kentallen, all is peaceful bliss. Snow on the hills of course, brilliant skiing both at the Glencoe centre and at Nevis range. Brilliant high level walks.

By the way our cottage this month costs only £290 for the week. That is half the standard price

John
ps We can sometimes, very occasionally, get horizontal rain driven with the force of an AK47. Oh, very occasionally, of course. "A wee bit damp" they say.
pps. Here is a link to a page which gives you all the weather information, month by month for the region. Weather month by month in the area

Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Skiing in Glencoe
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Rain in scotland
Summer weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland
Winter weather in Scotland
Spring weather in Scotland
Facts about self catering holidays
Advice on driving in Scotland
The Demand A82 upgrade campaign site

February Ski Report Ben Nevis area, Nevis range

Another ski report, if you are thinking of flying high. These two months, February and March are the best for skiing in Glencoe or the Nevis range.

If you read it you'll see how you can learn to ski for less than half the usual price, with plenty of other offers.


SKI REPORT
Nevis Range
Date: 01-02-2009 at 08:06
Current weather : CURRENT WEATHER Dry & Clear, windy. Wind & temp top station: SE 15-45mph, -1C Weather Forecast : FORECAST FOR SUNDAYDry day with some clouds and bright spells. Wind & temp at 900m: SE 30-40mph, -2 < -4CSnow level : 300Vertical runs : 550Runs : RUNS Set up firm overnight, grooming is coming up well. Wind speeds are still high. Lower lifts only to start with - will review as day goes on to try and open more lifts. Despite the recent thaw, most main runs are complete with good cover. Lower area has most runs complete with groomed snow but there are some bare patches.
Gondola expected to open Trainer Rope Tow expected to open Great Glen Chair closed Snowgoose Chair expected to open Summit Button expected to open Braveheart Chair closed
Linnhe/Lochy Button expected to open Alpha Button expected to open Rob Roy T-bar closed Goose T-bar expected to open Warren's T-bar expected to open
Additional Comments: : If you have never, ever skied or boarded before LEARN NOW for £100, less than 1/2 price! Includes 'any 5 days in the season' lift pass, 3 lessons + equipment hire on tuesdays and thursdays in January or February. Phone 01397 705825 for details.CLIMBERS GONDOLA 8am sharp. GONDOLA open 9-4.30.Access roads : ROADS Clear


John
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
Weather month by month in the area
Skiing in Glencoe
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Rain in scotland
Summer weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland
Winter weather in Scotland
Spring weather in Scotland
Facts about self catering holidays
Advice on driving in Scotland
The Demand A82 upgrade campaign site