VIDEO OF THE GLENCOE AVALANCHE TRAGEDY

Dreadful. They were normal, happy people, it was a a fine afternoon and they were undoubtedly looking forward to a drink in the Clachaig in a couple of hours's time. Not much wind. But the wind direction was from the South. This is where the danger lies. This wind had probably blown snow up the windward side and deposited it on the lee side on top of older snow, where the climbers were. A nasty slab of snow like this slides easily, and does not take much to dislodge it. 

Contrary to popular opinion, the official avalanche warning was not of the greatest danger, it was one below below. They were on a fairly easy Winter route, they were expert people, properly equipped. There were probably a dozen other parties out on the hills in the area that day. There will be more out next weekend. As there should be. It is called the human spirit.

Glencoe is not a dangerous place. All winter sports are liable to these objective dangers. They had bad luck. Not for nothing are we reminded that this can still be called the "Glen of Weeping"

You have to hand it to the Rescue Teams there. Nothing short of heroic what they do. For no reward at all. Sometimes they go home and cry, too. 

Glencoe cottage offered at half price for the week of October 18

Cuil Bay, near the cottage.

This is a sunset from Ballachulish bridge. These views are staggeringly beautiful at this time of year. We had a lovely e-mail from Sheelagh when they stayed recently.

Dear John, Just a quick note to let you know we had a wonderful time, you are right about Cuil bay being the most romantic place on earth. Your book of information was truly amazing I have never seen anything so comprehensive. My husband thinks the Scottish Tourist Board should employ you as you are so enthusiastic about the area. "

"Thank you" says he with appropriate blushes. When Gillian and I go to the cottage, we go to Cuil Bay first, just to look South down Loch Linnhe.

We have just one week left available in the cottage before the short breaks season starts in November. Week Commencing October the 18th - this is offered at rates which are half the normal rate, £295. If you'd like it then just e-mail us at lochsidecottage@yahoo.co.uk

Here are links to other web pages which may interest you. First, if you are looking for self catering cottage properties in Scotland you can do no better than look at these ten or so

Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland

These describe the Glencoe cottage area
Availability for the lochside cottage near Glencoe always up to date
Take a break in the Autumn at the lochside cottage
There are 20 brilliant walks around the cottage area
The details of the cottage near Glencoe, in Appin
Prices in the cottage including low season rates
How to walk and navigate the Glencoe mountains
The local history of the area
Weather and temperatures in Scotland
All in one page, the best ways of tracing your Scottish ancestors
Over 20 totally different walks in this area
Winter skiing in Glencoe and at Fort William Glen Nevis
Scottish mountain navigation Winter and Summer
Tourist information glencoe and ballachulish
Facilities for visitors to glencoe, appin and lochaber
Easy munro hill walks
Most people can just walk up Ben Nevis
This guide helps you to find your ideal Scottish holiday cottage + 26 properties

If you are touring Scotland by car look at these pages:
Driving and touring around Scotland
The wrong way to tour Scotland, don't do it like this
How to drive the single track roads of the Scottish highlands

That's enough. You must be exhausted.

John

Had a very happy honeymoon here in the cottage

Gillian and I have been in the cottage for this last week. It has been adorable, the weather in the early part of the week was brilliant. Too hot. We've had warm rain to-day.
I took this picture at Loch Arkaig last Tuesday. It is a remote and beautiful place. Apparently, somewhere about, there is buried a trunk full of French gold to support the rebel army of Bonnie Prince Charlie in the Rebellion of 1745. Of course I believe it.

We found this lovely message in our Guest Book from the previous visitors to the cottage.

"Love the views of the loch, the waterfall and the sheepy visitors that drop by every evening. Found the cottage guidebook really helpful and informative, and the os maps came in handy.

Weather was very mixed - don't do a Loch Sheil cruise or drive all the way to Skye in horizontal rain! But we had some fantastic days out and even got sunburnt on Mull.

The Great Western railway had spectacular scenery and we saw a sea eagle driving down the Ardnamurchan peninsular. The highlight of the trip was a cruise around staff and the Treshish islands - sitting next to puffins and seeing so many guillemots, razorbills and cormorants, was very special. To top it off we saw seals and a basking shark on the return to Mull.

Thanks, and for a fab meal definitely go to the Holly Tree Restaurant - the sticky toffee pud was scrumptious."

Availability for the lochside cottage near Glencoe always up to date
Take a break in the Autumn at the lochside cottage
There are 20 brilliant walks around the cottage area
The details of the cottage near Glencoe, in Appin
Prices in the cottage including low season rates
How to walk and navigate the Glencoe mountains
The local history of the area
Weather and temperatures in Scotland
All in one page, the best ways of tracing your Scottish ancestors
Over 20 totally different walks in this area
Winter skiing in Glencoe and at Fort William Glen Nevis
Scottish mountain navigation Winter and Summer
Tourist information glencoe and ballachulish
Facilities for visitors to glencoe, appin and lochaber
Easy munro hill walks
Most people can just walk up Ben Nevis
This guide helps you to find your ideal Scottish holiday cottage + 26 properties

Don't leave your car keys on the top of the Pap of Glencoe

This is the view from the top of the Pap of Glencoe at Midnight in the Summer. Our good friends and neighbours Chris and Fiona Hall climbed up to the top of it the other day. This is their story.

Hi, John
We're just packing up to go home now.The weather here was glorious yesterday so Fiona and I did the Pap of Glencoe (2500ft). As we got down near the bottom I discovered I'd lost my jacket - with the car keys in it. So I had to go all the way to the top again! There cannot be many people who have climbed the Pap twice in one afternoon!!

How long was the round trip Chris?

From the gate at the road to the top took us 1h40. The descent was a little under an hour.
The complete double trip took exacty 5 hours, invloved 4300ft of climbing (and descent) and was just over 6 miles in distance. I've got a Garmin GPS so know all the facts and figures!
However, on the second trip I was really motoring and virtually ran (jogged) most of the way down as it was gettting near sunset.
I think a comfortable time for average walkers would be around 3 hours for a normal round trip.
By all means relate the story in your blog. The lesson to be learned is to keep the car keys safely in a rucksack or trouser pocket! I would have happily left my jacket on the top - but the car-keys were another matter. :)
Cheers

Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe

last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage

The Vikings in Scotland, the Terror, the Battles, Vikings in Glencoe

Scotland how to find your ideal holiday property

last minute, self catering holiday breaks scotland

excellent Scottish holiday properties offering short breaks and special prices

The Anoch Eagach solo. The wrong way.

This is where Keith walked. The usual route is from East to West. This lovely photo was taken by Dougie. His photos of Scotland can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldnotbold/478270195/

Hi John,
We arrived back late on Saturday and I spent Sunday generally sorting out. School started on Monday, so I now feel as if I have been back ages!


The information, guidance and friendly help you gave prior to our visit and in the cottage was the very best we have ever experienced. No other host in any holiday cottage we have rented has been so keen to help and ensure we have a good time, know where to go, how to find the cottage etc etc. Your book in the house was read by us all; you really did work very hard on behalf of your guests and should be proud of yourself!!
We had an active holiday and the boys always had things to do. The weather was OK, not sunny, but also not pouring with rain.


What did we do? Firstly, we read all your information so we are grateful to you for your insight. We walked to the Hidden Valley, climbed Ben Nevis, walked to the waterfalls in Glen Nevis, the boys climbed at Kinlochleven Ice Factor (what a brilliant place!) they also ice climbed on our last day which was the first time for them. Kind instructors and very welcoming.


Keith walked a ridge which ended near the Clachaig which he just loved, but it sounded quite scary to me and I am glad the boys did not go too. It was foggy on top, so we had decided that Keith should trial it alone. He met people walking it with helmets and ropes, but he managed it and will talk about it for ages.



We ate at the Seafood Cafe whch was different and fun, but I think it fair to say we liked eating at the Clahaig most. It was lovely and informal, good food and not too expensive. (Haggis, tatties and neaps!) We enjoyed seeing deer outside the pub, just stood looking at us as we got into the car...beautiful. I very much wanted to go on the "whalewatching" trip from Arisaig to one of the islands, but was outvoted and due to lack of time (and will) we did not go. I regret that. Keith and my boys love to be active, to hike etc and did not want to spend a whole day on such a trip. We also kayaked (it was great to have the garage to lock the boats away) in the bay, to the bridge and to the Island of the Dead, off Glencoe.


So, the location/ area is stunning. Keith wanted to do far more hikes than we had time to do. The deer, the heather, the mountains were beautiful to say the least. I was fascinated by the history and read most of your history books! I had to stop by about Thursday as it seemed too gloomy, too unfair. I needed to read about something nice happening to someone. James of the Glen is rather stuck in my head at the moment! Where is the actual plaque on the site of the massacre? Is it just the cross in the village? I looked in "a field just beyond the Clahaig" as one guide book said, but "just beyond" gave me no direction or scale! Still I made myself not be too morbid about it all ...........


The cottage was lovely and clean. Bath is interesting, especially for Jim who is 6ft 5ins. He is of the generation who have never really done anything but shower, so I think he probably came home a bit dirty!!! (No harm in that)


Sally
Sally also had some very sharp things to say about the people who run the roads up here. She wants speed restrictions and better driving. She thinks the roads are dangerous, and we totally agree with her. The absolute worst bit of road is 10 miles south of the cottage on a sharp left bend. The signage and lack of speed restriction are a disgrace. Her remarks are going to the Village Council who also share her views, and now I'm going to do a separate blog and try and whip up a campaign about with. Good on you Sally. Thanks. Oban Times letters page, here we come, that will do for a start.

The pic is of the boys, Jim and Charlie, in the Hidden Valley. One of the reasons why the Glencoe MacDonalds were so hated by the other clans was because they carried out continual raids on other clans' cattle - an act punishable by death if caught at it - cattle thieving was the bank raid of the day. The other clans came in strength to the Glen to find the cattle and they never could. That's because the beasts were shoved up the steep track to the Hidden Valley, a feat which no one thought possible. Like most Scottish tales it is happy and sad at the same time. Sad if you are a Cameron or McLean or Campbell, but happy if you were a Glencoe MacDonald with food for the winter.

(Would the MacDonalds of Skye ever do such a thing? No, of course not. They'd nick the cattle out of the Dunvegan estate and ambush any McLeods who tried to get them back. Happy days.)

John

Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Short Breaks Glencoe

Winter breaks hill walking in Glencoe

Travellers Tales from the Highlands of Scotland

how to find your ideal holiday home in scotland, advice for visitors

visitors information about Glencoe in Scotland

Wonderful week of weather in Scotland. Yes!

The garden wall at Ardchatten Priory near Connel. About 13th century. The wall, not the flower.
Dear John

We had an absolutely wonderful time up there, I think we had the best weather in the UK during that week! Only one day was a complete washout...
The countryside and scenery is stunning, I could certainly see myself spending my retirement there.
Apart from the walks (hidden waterfalls was a smash with the kids), we went ww rafting in Glengarry, talk about adrenalin.., seafari trip was also incredible

Cottage is very snug and cosy, everything you need was there. Thanks again for all the useful advice and tips on what to do.
I’m sure we’ll be back.

Note from editor: you might not believe this, but Kentallen has a little micro weather system all of its own. It has more sunshine and less rain than the average for the West of Scotland and about one-fifth of the rainfall they have in Glencoe itself six miles to the East. How do we know this? Because there is a Met station at Dunstaffnage near Oban.

Forget the Med. It is far too hot there. Try Kentallen, it is near perfect. And on the odd occasion when it is not perfection, it is wondrous to watch

John

Some wonderful walks

Picture taken from the top of the Pap of Glencoe by our friend David "Cubby" Cuthbertson, the Glencoe mountaineer. He was the body double for the climber in the film Touching The Void.

A couple of weeks ago, our guests staying at the cottage did a huge amount of walking. Look at this programme:

They started out with the big half circle mountain trip around the back of us on day one, the Ballachulish horseshoe. This circles around 3,000 feet, and the mountain grows out of our back garden.

Next day, not having had enough of mountains, they went part way up Ben Nevis in the evening.

Then they walked part of the West Highland Way from Tyndrum to Crianlarich and back. That is a low glen walk, total 13 miles, with a little up and down. They would have passed the remains of a 14th century chapel, St Fillans, granted rights by Robt Bruce four years after his famous victory over the English at Bannockburn near Stirling. Ten years earlier Bruce had won his famous Highland battle near this spot at the Pass of Brander near Cruachan. His opponents were the McDougalls, supporters of Bruces’ rivals for the Crown.

Here is what Wikipedia says about the battle
“A party of loyal Highlanders, commanded by Sir James Douglas, climbed high up the mountain and, completely unobserved, positioned themselves in the enemy's rear. As the Macdougalls attacked they were caught in a vice, with King Robert coming from below and the Black Douglas from above. The men of Argyll wavered and then broke. They were chased westwards across the River Awe all the way back to Dunstaffnage, while John their chief escaped down the Loch in his galley, eventually taking refuge in England.

Later in the week our intrepid guests did the Hidden Valley.......... and loved it. Then, following day, they did the Pap of Glencoe. Whew! that's a lot of walking.

They said “Everywhere.....such wonderful walks and beautiful scenery......spoilt for choice !!”

take a break in the Autumn

We have weeks available in October and in November in the cottage

Surprise - it brought back childhood memories

Mc Cagis Tower Oban

The cottage was very clean and cosy and a great base for exploring the surrounding area. I had quite a surprise as your cottage is only a few miles down the road from a lodge I stayed as a child - Glen Acculish, just past the Ballachulish House hotel!! I remembered going under the bridge by the Ballaculish hotel. We did lots of walking. On Sunday we went into Oban -walked up to McCaig's tower, wonderful views, then went on a boat trip to see the seals and had a nice meal in McTavish's.

Monday we went to Glengarray castle, and walked to the top of the hill behind it, tiring but worth it.

Tuesday we went to Fort William and then on to Glen Nevis further past the centre to a long and rocky walk to a waterfall. That was definitely worth the trek.

Wednesday we went to Mull and walked to Torosay and the other castle further on (got the bus back though as a long trek!).

Thursday was the only rainy day so we did the Seal Sanctury and went to do the hydroelectric station but it was fully booked.

Friday we went for a ride Spean Bridge way and did another waterfall walk and on to Mallaig for the ride. We also went for a ride along Glencoe to the Visitor centre. We had two lovely meals at the pub on the old Glencoe road when we found it!! We hadn't gone far enough the first time we tried to find it.

We had a wonderful time thank you so much for all the information in the cottage and emails. We didn't want to come home!

Marie and Leighton

Three feet of rain per second. We loved it.

Youngsters only care about rain, cold and snow if the parents make a fuss. This wonderful family just gets out there and does it. They stayed at the cottage last week.

HI John and Gillian,
Thanks for having us at Bayview. We had a great week. The whole place is stunning and the cottage was perfect for us. All the little ones enjoyed being there.

We had one glorious sunny day and walked the old road through Glencoe (with buggy and baby rucksack!) Phenomenal views. The last 2 days were snowing heavily, which made doing things tricky, but one of the snowy days we walked (unbelievably the three year olds did walk themselves) up to the first waterfall up Glen Nevis path.

The next day was difficult to do anything, but when the clouds cleared (for about 10 seconds at a time) the views of snow covered tops were breathtaking. In between times it followed the traditional three feet of rain per second, so we did some the other things you suggested eg sealife centre (great for our kids), Ice
climbing at Kinlochleven (hard work!) but good play area for the kids at both.

We had a great time, thanks.
With best wishes
Damian, Barbara, Elizabeth, Catherine and Ruth

That story takes us back to our own family - quite a few years back, it must be said. You can see the details of where they went on the following pages

http://bayviewkentallen.co.uk main site

http://www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk/glencoewalks.html

http://www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk/trackwaysfromglencoe.html

http://www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk/wildlifeglencoe.html

John