Stob Ban, 16th - 17th June 2012

Hoping to miss the "eye of the storm" of bad weather over most over northern Britain, myself Bruce, Gordon, Mark and Willy drove up to Spean Bridge to climb Stob Ban in the Grey Corries, and hopfeully find the Lairig Leacach bothy empty and so not have to use the tents! It did rain for most of the short walk in and after stopping to talk to a group walking back to their cars, we were lifted by the thought that (according to said group) , the bothy was indeed empty. 

The Lairig Leacach bothy comes into view and it's a race for the best bunk space!

As usual we had all carried one fire log each, plus a now unrequired tent, so we had no problem getting the fire going for most of the evening. There is bunk space for about 6 to 8 people depending how cosy you want to get and you could fit a couple on the floor, although that may be tight with all the kit. There are about 5 chairs and a long kitchen worktop where we put all the cooking and foodstuffs. Only one window and a skylight though, but with the long nights at the moment it never really got dark.      

After a few beers and a comfortable nights sleep we were treated to slightly better weather although it was still quite chilly. Our first hill of the day would be Stob Ban at 977m high, seen here behind the bothy. 

If you do use any of the mountain bothies, please take all your un-burnable rubbish with you and leave the place as clean and tidy as you can.

Looking back down to the Lairig Leacach bothy as we made our way up to Stob Ban.

From the top of Stob Ban, we descended north before climbing up to 1177m to the summit of Stob Choire Claurigh. On the way we were surprised to find quite large south facing snow pathces which were still quite hard. Not quite neve, but a slip would send you down a few metres!  

From Stob Choire Claurigh we headed north again along the short easy ridge to Stob Coire na Ceanain at 1123m. It was from here that the hill fog came in and any further views and photo opportunities were gone. Again we headed north along the rim of and then descending back to the cars.

On the way back we passed , once again the "" casting his eerie gaze over Lochaber.

Wild camp at Angle Tarn, 3rd June 2012.

My second (true) wild camping trip of the year was to be at Angle Tarn, north of Bowfell. Myself, Gordon, Mark, Willy and "newcomer", John, first popped into the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel to get hydrated before we set off for The Band via Stool End Farm. The weather so far was staying ok, and there were a few climbers out on Middle Fell Buttress (and others?) as we watched from the comfort of the beer garden!     

After the slog up The Band, we came to the branch in the track that heads off right for the Climbers Traverse. There isn't much flat ground till you reach about the 700m point after about a mile, where the path then weaves it's way along under Flat Crags, Cambridge Crags and on to Bowfell Buttress.   

As Bowfell Buttress comes into sight the path rises then falls, and becomes messier, until you reach (on your left), "a river of stones", as Wainwright called the path heading up past The Great Slab.

Just past the "river of stones", below Cambridge Crags is a spring that drips safe drinking water.

Another short slog brings you up alongside The Great Slab, which if you can be bothered to cross the boulders, is actually easier to walk on before turning slightly right to head past Bowfell summit, then North down to Ore Gap. At the gap we turned right, off the main track to Esk Pike and dropped down to Angle Tarn. At first sight of the tarn we saw quite a few tents already pitched which was worrying.     

However once we got down there we managed to find a half decent spot with enough room for five tents!

After some dinner, cheesy pasta (with some of Gordon's left over couscous) and chocolate flap-jacks, it was time to set the fire and have a few beers!  

I was pleased with my new Lifeventure Downlight 1200 sleeping bag that I picked up on sale at Go Outdoors too. I slept in just shorts and was fine whilst some of the guys seemed to find the night a bit chilly, or slept with some gear on. Plus my new 3/4 Multimat seemed ok too. Sunday morning was bright but still a bit windy but at least it was dry as we headed back up to Ore Gap leaving the dozen or more other tents behind us.      

John trying to enjoy his baptism of fire (carrying a wardrobe on your back!) with us on the summit of Bowfell at 903m with the Scafell's behind.

From Bowfell we headed south down the rough path towards the Three Tarns and Crinkle Crags.

Another nice view of the Scafell's from the Three Tarns area. We avoided the so called "bad step" on the way down. Having done it before I can vouch that it is really easy but with a heavy pack might put people off down climbing it. After descending over Great Knott we took a left just before Pike of Blisco to drop down into Oxendale.   

Looking back up the Crinkles as we head for the pub!

Willy and John about to cross the bridge over Oxendale Beck with Pike of Stickle, Gimmer Crags and Harrison Stickle in the distance.

Rannoch Moor - Inveroran to Kingshouse and back, 27th May 2012.

After a hot and very slow drive to Bridge of Orchy, myself and Lorna pitched camp just past Inveroran and managed to enjoy the afternoon sun. Thankfully it was quieter than I thought, and choosing a spot by the river was easy. Just one other couple on our side of the bridge, a lone walker and a Belgian couple on the other. 

Even though we arrived about 3.30pm , it was still very hot and the occaisional breeze was welcome (as were the cold beers I brought!). My concession to Lorna for her introduction to wild camping was, a) to drive to a camping spot and, b) to bring some folding chairs! I was glad we did so that we could enjoy the good weather!   

We didn't start cooking till about 8pm, and it wasn't long after, once the sun had gone down over the horizon, that the midges appeared. At first they weren't too bad, and the fire and the smoke from the      b-b-q kept them at bay. However I was eventually beaten, even after Skin So Soft and repellent were applied. So at about 11pm I retired to bed.       

We got up at about 7am to swarms of midges outside the front of the tent. Headnets were needed to survive as we prepared breakfast up at the road above the bridge where there was a little more breeze and sun to keep them away. It wasn't long before they started to go away so it wasn't the worst midge experience I've ever had. 
We moved the car up to the car park at Victoria Bridge, and set off across Rannoch Moor, following the West Highland Way. We didn't see that many people on our journey out to Kingshouse, just a small group at Ba Bridge and a few guys heading back to Victoria Bridge. The views across Loch Tulla to our right were amazing, and as we went along, Blackmount came into view over our left shoulders. Soon we were at Ba Bridge, the halfway point before the second long drag up the the high point above the Kingshouse, and the long descent past the Ski Centre to the Kingshouse Hotel itself.
There was a young Stag, hind and calves wandering amongst the gardens of the few houses that are at Kingshouse, seemingly at ease with the passing of hordes of tourists and walkers.        

Young stag wandering around happily outside the Kingshouse Hotel.
After a hot sweaty walk over the moor, it was time for a pint and lunch. However I went into the walkers bar and ordered my drinks at 1220 and it turns out they're not licensed till 1230! So I had a long 10 minute wait for my well earned pint. Whilst waiting we got chatting to a guy doing the "way", and it turned out he was a tanker driver working out of Grangemouth and had some interesting and enlightening stuff to say about their fight to retain their terms and conditions and how unlicenced and unregulated rigs wait outside the plant for loads to be brought out to them, I'll leave you to decide. 
   

After bidding farewell to the tanker driver, we went outside so Lorna could dip her bad ankle in the cold water. As we did we got talking to a couple on their honeymoon - camping at the back of the hotel  - and had just spent a week in Aviemore. It turned out the guy was ex SAS, so we had a short ex army blether and bid them farwell as we set off back for Rannoch Moor.

No trip to the Kingshouse is complete without another obligatory shot of Buichaille etive Mor at the head of Glencoe. It always looks impressive, no matter how many times you see it.

Walking back to Victoria Bridge, it was evident that the vast majority of people we saw heading north along the track towards Glencoe, were either foriegn or of an older generation. That's not to say we didn't see any Brits, or young Brits at that, but they were the minority, at least today.

At the halfway point, Ba Bridge, we really need some extra water. The bar staff at the Kinsghouse kindly fill peoples bottles for them, but we drank it all in the heat, so I scrambled down amongst the rocks beneath the old bridge to get some fresh water. It was tempting to jump into the natural pools that form there and I reckon it would make a great wild camp (despite the midges) with your own pool thrown in!
From here we battered on till we got back to Victoria Bridge, where we jumped in the car and went back to our original camping spot where we cooled down in the river before getting changed for the drive home.    
  

Stob Binnien, 20th May 2012.

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Catbells-High Spy-Dalehead Tarn, 12th May 2012.

As Lorna was looking for an "easier" type of walk to continue her very slow rehabilitation back in to hill walking and more, we opted for a route I've often seen on the way to Borrowdale and Scafell. Catbells can be seen as you drive out of Keswick and out to Borrowdale and although not very high, always looked like it would be a walk with some great views. 

We drove out to Portinscale and on to the very small car park at the start of the Catbells route near Skelgill. The long undulating ridge gives you great views over Derwent Water, Keswick and beyond. In fact skiddaw and Blencathra were also visible the day we were there.  

A minor challenge for Lorna was the scrambly section on Maiden Moor, easy for the rest of us, but tricky when you still have a stiff and still painfull ankle.   

Looking back to Skiddaw in the distance.

As we made the top of High Spy, we could see the crags below Dalehead with Hindscarth beyond. From here we descended through Eel Crags to cross the stream and over to Dalehead Tarn.

Looking back to Eel Crags before crossing over to Dalehead.

At Dalehead Tarn there are several walled shelters which seem suitable for a spot of wild camping. Sadly there was some rubbish stuffed into the walls and a recently left arrangement of two fresh banana skins!
TAKE YOUR RUBBISH HOME!

After lunch, we headed north, descending along the path following Newlands Beck, which itself has loads of tempting picnic spots next to several waterfalls en route.

Looking back up Newlands Beck with Dalehead Crags on the right and High Spy and Eel Crags on the left. From here, it is a straightforward walk back through Little Town and back to the car park at Skelgill.

Glentress, Mountain Biking, Sunday 22nd April 2012.

My first proper visit to Glentress today, and I can't believe I've never bothered to come before! The place is excellent. There's showers, a bike wash, shop, cafe and loads of parking. Okay it's a whole three quid, but that's all you need to pay if you forgo the bike wash (£1) and the showers (£1) but it seems daft not to use them. Myself and Ian basically rode the Blue route a couple of times (in fact we may have missed some bits it's that long) but it's just the right level of downhill and technicality for me.   

I have read that some think the new "Peel" cafe is a "monstrosity", although to me it fits well into the surrounds and is a great facility, along with the showers. Prices are what you would expect, and again you don't have to spend a fortune.

 

The place did get busy, but there was always space on the trails and there's a sociable feel to it all.
I can't wait to go back, and of course it's always more fun if there's a crowd of you racing down through the trees!