Our Christmas holiday for 2010 was a week in a ‘cottage’ in Fort William. Not really a cottage as it’s a flat, but it’s in a lovely spot and backs onto the Caledonian Canal’s locks at Neptune’s Staircase. We got here on Christmas day, sadly just as the cold weather finally finished, but it’s been a lovely winter holiday despite that. I had a day skiing at Aonach Mor, we walked on the lovely white sand beaches near Mallaig, the shores of Loch Morar, and the forests around Loch Linnhe.
Wednesday we spent in the hills behind Glenfinnan, hiking out to a lovely view over Loch Beoraid. On our way back the sun came out for a few minutes, filling the hills with the lovely light that makes Scotland so attractive at this time of year. The lochs were still ice-filled, despite the thaw, and made for lovely views.
Yesterday we walked into the Mamores from Glen Nevis. The weather wasn’t quite as good, but we got the occasional glimpse of blue sky, as well as some lovely views down Glen Nevis, and across to Ben Nevis itself. We didn’t go to any of the summits as we’re still avoiding Munros, but had a lovely day out.
Today we’ve had low cloud and drizzle, but decided to do a trip in Glen Coe. We walked up the Lairig Eilde towards Glen Etieve, then traversed around the flanks of Stob Dubh and back along the Lairig Gartain back to Glen Coe. The cloud was down on the summits most of the way, but through occasional holes in the cloud we caught glimpses of Stob Coire Sgreamhach on the way out and Stob Dearg on the return.
All in all, it’s been a lovely week despite the thaw. Scotland in winter is a lovely place.
Looks like you had a great time and possibly the best weather. Most of our days have been very grey, damp and uninspiring, although yesterday, despite the mist, we did see some interesting colours as the sun played with the clouds.
Goes to show, you don’t get to see the beauty unless you make the effort to get out there.
Why “still avoiding Munros”?
Pete: It’s a tradition for us. I’ve never been to the top of any Munros, at first for various strange reasons (feeling unwell on the way up, thick cloud at the summit so we didn’t bother, etc.). Now it’s just something we do – we tend to get to summit ridges, look at them and say “let’s not go”. I’m dreading the day a mountain marathon puts a control on top of a Munro and I have to go. In six years of doing them, it hasn’t happened yet!