Ardgour Gold

Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Expeditions are some of my favourite bits of work, big on wilderness and wildlife, motivated kids and challenge. Sometimes, I get to do expeditions in new areas, and the Gold in Ardgour at the weekend was one of these.  I'm fairly familiar with the shores of Loch Shiel, but this time we accessed it via the Corran Ferry and Glen Cona, all pretty much new to me.

We set off on Saturday on the tail end of a filthy storm that dumped epic amounts of rain and saw the burns in full spate. The map shows a number of fords in Glen Cona so we were prepared to have to wait for water levels to drop, but in reality most of these are now bridged, and we were able to find a camp near the pass to Callop.

Storm light in Glen Cona

The following day, the weather softened, as we descended the pass towards Callop and Glenfinnan. By the afternoon the sun was shining, and fluffy white clouds adorned the blue sky. We took to the forest road on the shores of Loch Shiel and found a campsite a few kms to the north of Polloch.

The peaks of Glenfinnan.

We woke up the next morning to a breathless Loch Shiel.  Whilst the midges were a menace, we were more than rewarded with dazzling reflections of the hills and sky.

From Polloch, it was over the hill to Scotstown, and through the beautiful woods at Ariundle, to a camp in some remnants of ancient woodland below the Strontian lead mines.

On the final day, we passed through the bog of Glen Gour and out to Ardgour. The sun continued to shine.  I was pretty delighted to emerge on to the road with my feet still dry after 4 days and 80km of boggy hill and landrover track.

Adder in Glen Gour

Glen Coe visible as we emerge from Glen Gour.

Safely back at the Corran ferry.

Knoydart Expedition 2013

I'm fortunate that my work takes me to some fantastic places, and this week was no exception, as I was part of a team supervising a Gold Practice DofE expedition in Knoydart. I've done this route before, in better weather, when the ground was so dry that finding water to drink was tricky.  This time Knoydart was her more typical watery self.

The adventure begins here.... the train from Glenfinnan to Mallaig.

Rough old crossing to Inverie on the Knoydart Peninsula

A mucky morning for some nav practice and a trek through the glens to the northwest

It brightened up for a paradise camp

Bliss....

Passing remote hamlets on the west coast... a landing craft.... why not?

Heading back towards Inverie and a night in Gleann Meadail.

Climbing up through the Glen the next morning.

Scary bridge at the Carnach

Good timing, arriving at Sourlies at low tide and in time for lunch.

Leaving Sourlies as the rain sets in.

I'm in love with the high pass to Glen Dessary.... The "Rough Bounds"

Final day was VERY wet. A soggy climb from up to the pass in to Glenfinnan.

Golden days on Loch Shiel

This week I was was working for Shearwater Adventure on a Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition with a difference, exploring the remote beaches and hills around Loch Shiel, on foot and by canoe. Canoe instructor Paul Weller and I knew we'd landed on our feet when we saw the forecast for wall to wall sunshine and settled weather. This is a rare and wonderful thing in Scotland.  When it happens there is nowhere better to be. We were blessed with sunny days, deserted sandy coves, and a Scottish paradise on earth.

We put in at the top of the Loch, at Glenfinnan.

The first evening saw us camped right on the sand of a heavenly beach

The morning mist added a bit of mysticism...

Another day, another blissful beach stop...

We stopped that evening for a two day camp at the entrance to Glen Aladale.

The next day we explored the surrounding hills: highpoint Beinn Odhar Beag

The final morning was also misty and still.

Eerie paddling through the mist back to Glenfinnan

Barely a ripple.

Gold Days in Glenshee

Oooops!  Its catchup time again.  At least it means I'm busy....
Its all a bit out of date now, but I've been out an about a lot this month with wall to wall Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions.  This one was a real treat- perfect weather, a great group, and a new area to me. We started from near the Spittal of Glenshee, and finished not far away, and over the course of three days explored the glens and hills of the area around Gleann Taitneach. We even managed a few Munros!

We climbed gently out of the Glen and over Carn a Gheoidh

Home sweet home, Gleann Taitneach

Blissful weather! Looking back down the Glen

Loch nan Eun

Big views on the way up Glas Tulaichean

Aspen in a remote gully.

Gold Solstice in Knoydart

The Summer Solstice is a great time to be in the Scottish Highlands and the long days are perfect for Gold Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.  I'm just back from a practice in Knoydart- my first trip in to this remote area, and certainly not my last.

Day 1:
We caught the boat to Inverie the day before and set off on a bright morning for the first two days of our trip, a rough round of the Peninsula, beginning with a hike up the Mam Li and a traverse through two high passes down to Croulin on day 1.  We camped close to the tip of the peninsula, and were treated to a beautiful sunset that smouldered between Skye and the low cloud.

 A still morning in Inverie

 The pass at the head of the Mam Li

 Looking North to Loch Hourn, with glimpses of Torridon on the horizon. 

 The Skye Cuillins from the pass above Croulin. 

Sunset over the Red Cuillin

Day 2:

This was a tough day for the group with a lot of off path navigation back over the hills to Inverie, and then beyond, with a midgey camp at the entrance to Gleann Meadail ("Glen of the Midge"). We, being wimpy leaders hid out at Druim Bothy, a private bothy owned by the Kilchoan estate. 

 Descending to the road via the Sandaig Burn.

 Back in Inverie, briefly.

 Kilchoan and Inverie

Lord Brockett's Watnot.  Lord Brocket had the dubious distinction of being a Nazi sympathiser, and the last aristocrat to systematically clear a large area of the highlands.  See the Highland Clearances website for more about him and the Knoydart Seven.

Day 3:

This was a magnificent day with two mountain passes to negotiate and some of the finest scenery in Scotland.  We took Gleann Meadail and descended to the remote Sourlies Bothy. From here it was another high pass via the Mam na Cloich' Airde and down to Glen Dessary.  Here the hardy students braved the midges, while we leaders yet again hid down the road in A'Chuil Bothy.  

 Sgurr na Ciche

 Camus Ruaridh at the top of Loch Nevis.

 The forlorn ruins at Carnoch

 Sourlies Bothy, what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in character. 

 Tide is out in Loch Nevis

 Ascending the pass via the Finiskaig River

 Lochan a' Mhaim

A' Chuil Bothy.

Day 4:
The summer soltice and the longest day.... We hoped it would be a bit shorter than the other days and set out for Glenfinnan amongst gathering clouds.  The weather broke as we topped out of Gleann a' Chaorainn. The rain chased us down hill to the viaduct and the welcome respite of soft shoes and a warm dry minibus.  What a trip!

 The conical shape of Streap guards the pass to Glenfinnan. 

 Looking back up the pass from Glenfinnan. 

There is, allegedly, a horse and cart buried deep in one of the pillars of the Glenfinnan Viaduct.