09 June 2008

Lagangarbh Hut Weekend - Glencoe, Whitsun Bank Holiday 2008

I’m sure our Hut Secretary document his own version of events over this Bank Holiday weekend but not all of us did the ridge walks / scrambles on the Saturday or Sunday. Everyone arrived at various times on Friday afternoon / evening, and it was from here that we all hoped it would be a weekend to remember. Although the weather when we all arrived was a bit unpredictable, the forecast for the weekend was looking good.

The four of us (Victor Marcinkiewiecz, Linda Doody, Pauline McDonald, and myself) had booked to stay at Kings House Hotel in Glencoe when the weekend was originally announced back in October 2007 as, at that time, we were advised the hut was full. Whilst we now know there were spaces, we decided to remain at the hotel – for what we had planned, it’s location was ideal.

After having a good drive up on the Friday, we arrived a lot earlier than we’d expected, even with a stop at the Green Welly Shop at Tyndrum (met Dot Heaton), not meeting any significant traffic en route – I know some diverted on Loch Lomond due to an accident just an hour later than us, and arrived 3 hours later.

Once we’d unpacked, we took the 3 mile walk to the Lagangarbh Hut (along the West Highland Way) to see who’d arrived – a cloudy, drizzly day – to find several already had and were already making their plans for the next two days. I understand the main Saturday walk for the hutters was to be the Aonach Eagach ridge – not for the faint hearted! After we’d walked back to the hotel, the majority of members at the hut joined us later, and a good session was enjoyed in the hotel’s lounge, watching the deer feeding outside. A good way to start a walking weekend,

On the Saturday, we awoke to a glorious sunshine morning and, with our bedroom overlooking the Buachaille Etive Mor, we couldn’t have asked for a better start to any day. After devouring the hearty Climber’s Breakfast, we set off on our walk for the day at around 09:30am, not knowing we wouldn’t get back until around 7:00pm that evening. The walk we’d planned was to climb Creise and return via White Corries.

Our initial walk-in seemed a bit long but it meant we avoided crossing the river too low down. Heading towards the White Corries ski station, we veered off to the right and followed the river valley to the left of the mountain we were about to scale. After crossing the river, we began our ascent – a fairly steep walk up, with a short scramble part way up. After getting past this, it got easier and we got to our first top – Stob a’ Ghlais Choire (996m), and moved swiftly onto Creise (1100m). By the time we got here, all I can say about the views is – absolutely magnificent. Ben Nevis was clear, and we could even see as far as Ben Cruachan. A lot of photos were taken to savour the moment.

At this point, we split up – Victor and Linda headed for Clach Leathad (1099m), whilst Pauline and I headed down the step between Creise and Clach Leathad, and headed up the long, long ridge to Meall a’ Bhuiridh (1108m). Whilst from above this looked like a ridge, up close it was more than that and involved a few areas for basic scrambling, taking a bit longer than it initially looked like it would. Sitting there, admiring the panoramic views all round, and enjoying the glorious sunshine, we waited for the other two.

Bt the time they’d reached us, and we’d all tested for a while, we headed down via the White Corries ski area. It was at this point that the Ladies decided they’d descend very slowly, and we were to get the car and come back to collect them at the ski station. Whilst this may be a good descent on a ski lift, the track beneath the overhead lifts had seen better days and we were all glad to get back to more even ground. By the time we picked the girls up, it was 7:00pm and we knew we’d arranged to be at Lagangarbh Hut for 8:00pm to join our friends for a meal we’d prepared earlier. We headed directly there.

Arriving at the hut, we found the main party were still not back from their Aonach Eagach ridge walk, so we settled down to chart to those members who’d also enjoyed their respective day’s out. Just as we’d finished our meal, the ridge walkers arrived and, by all accounts, it was a day to remember for a variety of reasons. We said our farewells and left them to their story telling, knowing we’d see them all soon.

Sunday morning arrived much the same as did Saturday morning – glorious sunshine over the Buachaille, and even clearer skies. Today was a day that we knew we’d all be splitting up and doing our own thing – Victor wanted to do Curved Ridge, Linda and Pauline were going to take the car and head down Glen Etive as far as Loch Etive (with Don and Jean Begg), and I had decided I was going to walk up the glen to right of Buachaille Etive Mor – Lairig Gartain – and return via Glen Etive. Arriving at Lagangarbh to meet up with the various groups, I was joined by Dot Heaton, and we all went our separate ways.

Whilst my planned walk wasn’t a difficult one for either of us, it was a hot day and we both enjoyed the sunshine and the views both up and down the respective glens. The original plan was to meet Pauline & Linda somewhere in Glen Etive near Dalness and, hopefully, get a lift back to the hut. However, best laid plans meant we’d walked virtually all the way up Glen Etive before our “taxi” arrived. Before they arrived, we were amazed at the number of tents by the beck side and, especially, the youngsters who were skinny dipping in the beck. Rather them than me!

Arriving back at the hotel, we found the garden area at the front of the hotel packed with thirsty West Highland Way walkers, all enjoying a great end to a day’s walking. The campsite at the back of the hotel looked well used, and both the Residents Bar and Climbers Bar were doing good business. After a while, Don and Jean Begg, and Dot, decided they’d walk back to Lagangarbh on the West Highland Way, and the girls would drive back to the hut to see if Victor had returned yet. It was well over another hour before they all got back, as the ridge walkers had had a long day too.

After settling our bills at the hotel on the Monday morning, we got on the road for the drive back to Lancashire, and again marvelled at the views we saw along the way. As always, Rannoch Moor looked bleak but, in the sunshine, almost inviting. Loch Tulla glistened in the sun, and any other mountain tops we saw en route were magnificent in the day’s sunshine, Beinn Dorain included. None of us wanted the weekend to end.

By the time we got home to Lancashire, the weather had cooled somewhat and the blue skies of Scotland had all but disappeared.

I’m sure I can say what the others will – it was a fantastic weekend for all concerned – the weather was excellent and the location perfect. I know the four of us didn’t stay at Lagangarbh Hut, but I would like to pass on my thanks to Roy Haythornthwaite for choosing somewhere that can only be described as perfect.

We look forward to the next Scottish trip in 2009, and hope we’re as lucky with both location and the weather.

Stuart McDonald