The route out of this area involved some pathless navigation up one valley to the plateau and then down another valley eventually to join a track about 10km away. In theory this sort of navigation should be relatively easy driven by the direction of the valleys. In practice, on the ground, it is not so […]
2012 TGOC day 8 to Kingussie Read More »
I woke to whiteness outside. The rain had turned to snow. There’s a big water project at this end of the Monaliadth. A project that has gone slightly wrong. So the reservoir on my map was empty of water. Instead through the cloud and snow flurries I could see earth moving equipment with flashing lights
The Great Glen Hostel has good facilities and it was possible to do some washing and drying as well as access the internet. The Great Glen Way follows the Caledonian canal at the point, and I joined it to Fort Augustus at the end of Loch Ness. One of the first sights at Fort Augustus
2012 TGOC day 6 – the joy of packing standing up Read More »
Day 5 was another one of two different halves. First a long trek along a valley following tracks and paths partly in forest. The next part was to follow a ridge of tops leading over to the next valley and civilisation of a hostel. Catching up the lost kilometres from yesterday took more than two
The greenhouse miraculously had an old but partly functioning gas heater so I could dry much of the contents of my pack. Did I mention my little mishap? Towards the end of the yesterday I came to an unusually wide stream to cross, made furious by the rains. And there on rocks on either side
Morning came with no let-up in the weather. We had been asked to prepare ‘foul weather alternative’ routing. Both my routes for day 3 started with the pass over to the next valley Glean Unndalain This pleasant path had many swollen streams crossing it. The bigger ones to be waded in Crocs. In fact every
Day 2 started three hours or so behind the plan. This was made a little worse by an unscheduled rush up a top towards the end of the ridge from Tarbet. Its easy to forget that its not only time that is a constraint but also energy and body wear-and-tear. Daylight hours are very long
2012 TGOC day 2 reprise Read More »
Morar is just one of 13 starting point for the TGOC and here like at the others signing out can happen from 9am on Friday until sometime on Sunday. There were about 20 names on our list and when I got down at 9 oclock 4 or 5 signatures were already done. I headed off
2012 TGOC Day 1 from Morar Read More »
Day 2 had been rationalised (ie shortened) on the advice of my vetter. So although I was a few km behind I should be able to catch up. Saturday was the one day with a good weather forecast before gales on Sunday so I wanted to make the most of it. As I marched along
2012 TGOC Day 2 Sgurr na Ciche and Garbh Chioc Mor Read More »
The train from Glasgow to Mallaig snakes through the Highlands for 5 hours. Probably the most spectacular train journey in the UK. One stop before the end is Morar. A few houses, a hotel, and beaches with fine white and golden sand. A chance for a last practice at walking in the rain before the
DBB@40 quid – Exploring Morar Read More »