Spring Break at Glencoe
Not having had the opportunity in the past to explore many of the places around Glencoe I decided to take advantage of a good weather forecast. So chucking my camping stuff in the car I once again trundled off up the M6.
Finding a fantastic spot to camp on the shores of Loch Leven I hastily retraced my steps back once again to drink in the awesome scenery of Glencoe. The last time I had been here I had been climbing along the Aonach n Eagach. This is the ridge that runs the length of Glen Coe opposite The Three Sisters sitting squat but still towering over the ant like traffic as it crawls its way along the length of the glen.
Driving through here always conjures up romantic childhood visions of dozens of kilted clansmen tearing down the hillsides on either side of the Glen, sporrans flying while the eerie sound of bagpipes drifts along the valley. In reality the massacre that occurred in 1692 was far more barbaric and savage. Guests of the Macdonald clansmen, staying at three different settlements along the glen, savagely killed their hosts in the early hours of a wintry February morning. Thirty-seven men were slain in the killing spree and a further forty women and children died trying to flee their homes to find safety and shelter against the bitter cold.
For the week I was there the weather was uncharacteristically hot for early April and although the temperature dropped below freezing at night this was recompensed with bright sunny days. Wanting to do a lot of walking in an effort to dispel my winter inertia I walked the length of several lochs that I had never visited before.
Loch Etive in particular is memorable as the drive down the valley towards the loch is stunning in some places. I was also lucky enough to see some more wild red deer.
Another walk took me out towards the Caledonian Canal where I visited Neptune’s Staircase: eight locks one after another taking an hour to get through. Designed by Thomas Telford it is the longest staircase lock in the UK lifting boats 19.5m as they progress from one end to the other. Quite a fantastic sight and what a wonderful example of the amazing engineering that went on years ago.
Rannoch Moor was also I place I had driven over so many times in the past but never had time to top and investigate this watery plateau.
One of my walks started in the village of Glencoe visiting the memorial to those that died in the massacre then going over the very picturesque stone bridge at the end of the village.
Whilst on this early break I had taken my little F30 that I bought second hand to experiement with. I had bought it as back up in case my main camera flooded or wasnt working at any time, I can’t imagine diving without a camera these days. In particular I was interested to see how it performed with macro subjects.
Whilst I had planned on trying the camera out I never for a minute thought it would be on marine subjects. However driving past the Sealife Centre on the way to Fort William and with legs that were weary of stumbling over rocky hillsides I decided to spend the afternoon there. Some lovely things to look at and a fantastic display about Loch Creran a Marine Special Area of Conservation. This baby plaice was about 4 inches long and was just so cute.
