Due to current advice from the Government and BMC to stay home (and off mountains), the trip to Roybridge planned for 16 May to 23 May 2020 has been postponed to 22-29 May 2021. The trip will go ahead as originally planned at that time.
For more information on the area, see Roybridge information. For more information about the trip and to check availability, please contact goepfertkarenATyahooDOTcom.
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Hi Karen hope you are well. Just like to know the cottage address will be staying at Roybridge. I intend to take the train but not sure how far is the cottage from the train station. The train from Euston gets in late at 21.45 hours. If it's too far to walk will have to take a taxi provided there are taxis available. Many thanks. Regards. Monica.
Meantime, in the absence of real hills (never mind mountains), get your Scottish Mountains' fix on the BBC iPlayer: "Highlands - Scotland's Wild Heart". A re-run from 2016 this is, and the Spring and Summer parts are currently available to watch.
It remains to be seen whether this trip will be able to go ahead in 2021, but I thought I’d be positive and post some tips for anyone who may be hoping to go to Roy Bridge by daytime train, and is confused by the UK’s labyrinthine ticketing structure.
1 Normally, Advance tickets (the cheap ones which require you to travel on a specific train) are available 12 weeks in advance. However in view of the current crisis, timetables are generally being issued about 6 weeks in advance, so tickets may not be available until early April.
2 In my experience, Scot Rail do their own thing, so look for separate tickets to and from Glasgow (or Edinburgh), rather than through tickets.
3 My best tip. If you can’t find a cheap ticket from Glasgow to Roy Bridge, look for the tickets from Dalmuir (the first stop after Glasgow). On some trains you can get an advance single for £13.80, whereas a single from Glasgow on the same train would be £24.40!
It was good to see many of the SWC mountaineers back in action today. However, some usual faces were missed, including one of our walk planners and dutiful correspondent, leaving big shoes to fill -- but I will do my best.... On day 1, we set off on 4 possible routes from the same car park near Creag Meagaidh -- one up to a lochan in a coire beneath great cliffs and 3 options going higher up to tackle 1, 2 or 3 Munros. 8 opted for the lochan and 15 headed upwards to the very breezy summit of the first Munro....after which 7 headed back down the hill and 8 set off across the ridge with their eyes set on at least a second Munro....However, about half way along the wind picked up substantially, making onward progress very cold and difficult, so we opted to turn back, saving the other 2 tops for another day...n=23 setting of from the car park and 23 returning to base camp made for a great day back on the hills in w=overcast-and-windy conditions. Well done everyone!
Well, I was pretty rubbish as a correspondent -- it was a busy week of hill walking, river walking, hot tubbing and g&ts....with a bit of sleep and some very tasty food thrown in for good measure...
A brief recap...the week included 8 Munros, 2 Corbetts, 2 waterfalls, a bothy, a mountain hut, an arete, a viaduct, a canal, a museum and a trip to the seaside. In more detail:
Monday: in w=persistent-light-rain 11 tested out the new unofficial East Highland Way from Spean Bridge to Tulloch. The route was varied and very pretty and involved one rather exciting and daunting river crossing...after some initial hesitation all made it safely across thanks to some great team work and support-- well done team! On the return train journey from Tulloch, we met one last arrival, making n=24 total for the trip. The other 12 did a canal walk, visited a museum and drove out to the Glen Finnan Viaduct where they explored the various lookout points....
More installments to come....
As promised, more detail...
Tuesday: Given the rather w=heavy-cloud-cover, all 24 set off towards the Lairig Leacach bothy rather than the originally planned Grey Corries in w=light-showers. After lunch at the bothy most carried on further up the valley track before returning while 10 headed up Stob Ban (grey corries) a Munro of 977 meters. Most reached the top after experiencing various weather conditions. On the summit, the cloud cleared somewhat so we could view the impressive Grey Corries originally planned.
Wednesday: 1 stayed in Roy Bridge to explore the local surroundings and 23 headed up to the far end of Glen Nevis where 6 did a valley walk visiting the Dun Deardail iron age fort and the Polidubh falls and 17 opted for the 939 meter challenge of Mullach nan Coirean, 6 of whom carried on across a lovely ridge to a second Munro -- another Stob Ban -- this one Stob Ban (mamores) at 999 meters.
Back again, for hopefully the final installment of our chronicles...
Thursday: Under w=mostly-sunny-and-clear-conditions the group dispersed for a variety of outings....4 opted for a day off and went to Glen Finnan where they timed things just right to watch the steam train pass along the viaduct, then continued to Arisaig for a day by the seaside; 7 opted for the challenging two Corbetts (Eachach North and Eachach South -- aka the Eachach Carn Deargs) in the lonely and desolate upper reaches of Glen Roy near the famous Parallel Roads (lines along the side of the hills left by three different lake levels caused by a glacier blocking the valley near Spean Bridge); the remaining 13 set off towards Ben Nevis, initially going to the wrong carpark, but then eventually finding the start of two walks from the newish North Face car park....from here 6 opted for the summit of Ben Nevis via the Carn Mor Dearg arete and 7 walked along the valley to the CIC mountain hut at the base of the shear cliffs of the north face of Ben Nevis from there 4 improvised a route around the massive slopes to the Glen Nevis visitor center and the others walked back the way they had come; meanwhile the 6 on the hill were uncertain if they would be able to make it across the arete given that there was a fair bit of snow still on the mountain, having lunch near the first Munro (Carn Mor Dearg at 1220) the arete looked fearsome -- though largely clear of snow -- however, the steep final push to the summit looked covered....we decided to investigate further....the going along the arete was slow, but fine -- not too narrow with various by-pass routes for those less keen on scrambling the spine, eventually we met others coming the other way and they assured us that although snowy, the route to the summit was passible...so on we went...3 summitted first and ran down the mountain for dinner bookings while 3 of us took a more measured approach, arriving at the summit with amazing views far and wide about 5pm and the car park about 9pm....making full use of the fine long west highland evening....A mighty fine mountain day....
Friday: Hard to believe that our last w=mostly-warm-and-sunny day had arrived and what a difference to our first cold windswept day...5 set-off to the Steall waterfalls at the top end of beautiful Glen Nevis and improvised various routes in that area while the remaining 18 (1 had already left for home) headed to Roughburn for one or two munros -- the route up Beinn a Chaorainn at 1052 meters was a long mostly pathless slog -- but we were rewarded with fine views, after a lunch break most carried along the ridge to the three satellite tops, taking a good look at the corries below and Creag Meagaidh across the valley which we had tried to summit the previous Sunday but were thwarted by extreme wind...7 then carried on to a second neighboring munro (Beinn Teallach at 915m, really just a baby munro) with some further stunning views over to the Grey Corries....back at the ranch many enjoyed a cold beer in the partial sunshine of the pub patio...before disbursing for dinner and reconvening later in the evening for a final night ceilidh....
I think all would agree that it was a really great week out in hills with a variety of interesting walk options only a short drive away and good quality accommodation....Many thanks to everyone for their flexibility, good humor and various contributions....car drivers, walk planners and leaders, cooks, music, drinks providers and river crossers...it could not have been done without you....Over and out until next year....
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