Beinn Lora cracking views

Beinn Lora Sub 2000 368m

Beinn Lora

What a stunning little hill whose views well exceeded my expectations. After yesterdays solo trip I dragged the good lady along for what was meant to be an easy hill but was rather steep for her in places and over 400m of ascent with all the ups and downs, but she enjoyed the views.

Walk start

I went to do this last year but the hill was closed for deforestation, now all open.
We parked in the car park beside the café, crossed the road to see the blue marker system still in place. There is a newly constructed soft track all the way to the moorland section but already rain making troughs in some of the downhill sections.

Typical new viewing area

Immediately this is a steep hill but the forestry have created plenty of viewpoints, benches etc well needed for some. Some great views already in this clear blue sky. Admittedly the forest destruction is less desirable on the eye but the longer views more than make up for it.
I was looking forward to rushing waterfalls but down to a trickle today.
The small lochan seemed to have pretty much dried up also, the construction to blame. But there is plenty of active spring birdlife to watch.

Lora comes into view

From here the summit can be seen and some people are already up there.

Oban airfield below

At the moor edge the good track has gone and it is a very wet and boggy 900 metres to the trig.

Final pull

 There is a short section of gravel track to climb to get you to the top.

When we reached it another round trig, I wonder if these are local to the area? However, fantastic 360 degree views. 

Mull in background

The most impressive ahead: Mull; the Small Isles beyond; Oban Bay; Morvern peninsula; Lismore. Turn around it is grey skies but there is Loch Etive, Cruachan under cloud and through to the Glencoe range.

Back down over the wet boggy stuff

Walk further on to the western point and it opens up below to Connel, the bridge, the airfield, the beach, superb. We spent some time up here soaking it and the heat in.
We took the short detour to the Eagle's Eyrie viewpoint on the way back, well worth it as some alternative views. 
A great little hill and now time to sit in the sun at the café for well deserved coffee and carrot cake, who loves this country, me.
Wildlife included: Chaffinch; Coal tit; Dunnock; Chiffchaff; Golden Eagle; Meadow pipit; Peacock butterfly.

Time: 2Hr 54Mins
Distance: 4.65m 
Ascent: 1259ft. (426m)

Pap of Glencoe

A day on my own so opted for the Sgorr na Ciche, the Pap of Glencoe, a spectacular walk on a cracking day with magnificent views for albeit a fair bit of effort and sweat. This is not the easiest hill particularly coming back down as lots of loose rock and stones to help you lose your footing, care required.

Pap from the village start

I started from Glencoe village, and walked to the car park along the back road before joining the Orbital path until the obvious start of the climb, signs on either side but these are the last you will see. 

Hill start through these gates

This leads to a track, hill straight ahead as the crow flies but not the walk.  Obvious path up but it seems to continue whilst the footbridge is on your right. Turn right, correct decision. Track heads towards Glencoe, looking for the dam, never did find it, I presume it is gone.

Track up side of gorge

Over the gorge the track now goes steeply uphill, lots of loose scree, boggy ground, head down, sweat it out in the surprising heat, last nights food and drink taking its revenge.

This is a Saturday and I am on the hill alone, am I missing something?

The track heads away from the Pap before coming back and climbing more steeply again.

Views opening up to Ardgour

Head down I almost miss the stones marking the turn off that is the descent route from the Aonach Eagach ridge.

Summit comes into view

 However I am continuing up and ahead I spot both the Pap and people, not alone after all.

At the Pap I miss the start of the diagonal path and go too far round before having a major hands on scrambling session up to the top, with some long drops down to loch Leven to concentrate the mind. Good fun was had anyway and almost at the top of my scramble I rejoin the track!! Reach the highest cairn area 2.02 hours from the start.

Looking west from the top, Sgorr Dearg with snow

No doubts, there are great 360 degree views to be had and today’s clear air made sure of that. 

View back Loch Leven to Kinlochleven and Mam na Gualainn

A good 20 minutes wandering about taking it all in.

Now the descent and I find the path I missed, how much easier but less fun. The tourists are out in full now as I pass them smugly on the descent, how far to go voiced often.

Wildlife: cuckoos calling all day. Two golden eagles at different times, possibly same bird, once being bombed by a raven.

Lizard enjoying the sun

 A small brown lizard sunning itself as well as a peacock doing likewise. Blossom on trees and some mountain flora, spring is finally in the air. 

Spring blossom

A good climb, starting from sea level so it’s ascent can match many a so called bigger hill.

Time: 4.03hr

Distance: 5.24m

Ascent: 2378ft

Ardsheal Hill magic views over Loch Lhinnie

First walk of the short trip was welcomed after the drive north. Before dinner a quick trip up Ardsheal Hill. As the good lady was with me this had to be straightforward and this short hill was perfect.
We parked at the community centre, asked a posh lady if it was ok to be told park as far down there as you can!!  Through the gate behind the centre and there is a grassy ATV track that leads directly the mast, but cutting up following the faint  path through the heather. 35 minutes to the top. Delighted with the 360 degree views for little climbing discomfort although not sure good lady would agree. 
As we got ready in the car park a cuckoo called, my 2nd hearing this week. A pair of white tailed eagles, so low magnificent and some meadow pipits.

Looking back to the community centre where we heard the cuckoo across the road. The green track looks better than reality.

The track to the mast. Shortly after this snap I spotted coming over what I first thought was microlights or the the like but quickly realised the wing planks were sea eagles coming over from Morvern. They quickly flew over Kentallen heading towards Glencoe. 

Gap view as we climbed and snow clouds up north thankfully did not drop anything on us but fresh snow on the higher tops, what a long winter.

The mast is clear but as can be seen more snow showers in the distance.

Morven from the rare round trig

Looking down on the farmland below.

Looking up Loch Lhinnie north towards Fort William

More heavy weather looking south.

In poor weather the dyke could be used. From here the 2 sea eagles reappeared and were dived by something fast and coming from high up, a peregrine maybe. 
Also the cuckoo called and this time we spotted it in a nearby tree.
Overall a superb little walk, what a start.

A wild day for a ramble around stunning Loch Sgiopoirt

Another extremely windy day so another low level walk, this time around the absolutely stunning landscape around Loch Sgiopoirt on the rugged eastern flank of South Uist. 
The drive in is a 4 mile single track, surprisingly no cars met on route but there was one parked up in the 2-3 car parking space at the road end. As previous blog not a full report but again a set of snaps with text.
Basically 2 walks. Firstly the short walk down to the abandoned jetty where some of the prawn cages looked in good condition so maybe someone still uses it.
Secondly a walk along the initial stages of the Hecla trail, taking care as the guide I read warned of boggy moss areas where you could plunge waist deep or deeper. Not a good thought when on your own.

Single road track with passing places for 4 miles but all the way along the only horsepower belongs to living things.

At the end of the road I come across the culprits, surely these 4 could not have laid all that manure for 4 miles. Presumably this small herd are original Eriskay wild ponies. I did come across more on the Hecla section so not all the dung was this foursome.

The guide indicates that this jetty is abandoned but the small boat looks modern enough as did some of the creels

Some of the jetty is definitely rotting and run down, no clambering across these poles.

This red breasted merganser suddenly appeared in my view, gutted as I thought it was an otter rising, but it was battling against the choppy waters, I could barely stand still in this wind hence the shaky snaps.

I stood on top of this hillock and spotted a sea eagle above the far islands being bombed by a couple of gulls. Seen well through the binos but could not keep a long lens still to capture it.

There are so many ruins around here that suggest the population before the clearances was large but what a hard life it must have been. If you kept sailing from here out of the loch you would reach Skye.

Heading to the Hecla track bothy a good landmark if the weather closes in.

This looked like an ideal spot to see an otter. A sea water loch with a fresh water burn where it can clean itself, but none around today.

I walked carefully past the bothy as there was a warning sign that there was a rat infestation so not to enter. Presumably they are far flung as well and don't stay indoors, glad I have gaiters on in case they run up my trousers.

The loch looks calm but anything but.

As I was near the car park an incoming rig was moving fast, a bumpy ride. The other car had a woman and child parked up for at least an hour when I  started my Hecla wandering, I wonder if this was the father rushing back to the jetty.

Wildlife: no otters but apart from the merganser and sea eagle, stonechats, rock pipits, skylarks, heron, goldeneye. Thankfully no rats.

Hebridean Way South Uist

The extreme winds had ruled out fishing and high level walks so I opted for a stretch of the Hebridean Way (a long distance trail with a cycling option as well), from Askernish southwards. This is a beautiful but very rugged area where you are guaranteed isolation for much of the walk. The next stop off it's western coast is America. Todays walk was into the wind which was 30-40mph at ground level, which at times even this low down tried to lift me off my feet. At least mainly blue skies. Not a full blog, mainly just a set of images with some comments.

This is a typical west side landscape, flat marsh ground with crofts dotted all around.

Although most properties are refurbished there are still plenty of ruined traditional structures around. Traditional language as you frequently hear the Gaelic spoken.

The Western Isles are a network of trout lochs of all sizes many linked by channels like these which allow trout to move through the system so a very small water may hold a big fish. No wonder it is a mecca for trout fishermen.

Be enticed with beautiful white sand beaches and big sky landscapes.

And often like this nobody else around, your own beach. 

Just some seaweed to spoil the white sands.

But further along the tides also bring in plenty of jetsom, mostly like this from fishing boats, deliberate or accidental?

The Atlantic ocean and the next stop America which also means there is nothing in between to block the winds as per today.

There are a few Hebridean Way signposts dotted around but on this section you cannot get lost with the sea always beside you.

This has to be one of the most scenic and highly challenging golf courses in Scotland. Askernish GC, an original Tom Morris designed links course re-established recently. With these winds it would challenge the pro guys.

You get different hazards on this course, electric wire fencing protects the greens from the free ranging common grazing coos and sheep which live on the course. 

The highest hill on the island is Beinn Mhor, today covered with its cloud shroud, but you would be crawling, not walking, to its summit today.

It is worth a short deviation inland to visit the historic roundhouse site as well as the immaculate cemetery which has a grand variety of very old and very new headstones, they take it seriously up here.

Beside the graveyard is what must be one of the lowest trig pillars in the country, only 20 metres above sea level.