Dundee Walker

Glencoe 2006

Route: Glencoe Self July 2006
A friend of mine rang me and asked if I would escort him and his AMERICAN friend to the highlands on an easy walk. I suggested that I took them to Glencoe and the Lost Valley ( Hidden Glen).
Duncan and Edmund arrived about 7 am to pick me up it was a long drive so I suggested we stop at Tyndrum and the Green Welly shop , after all not many toilets up in the glen.
The weather was a bit fairer once we reached the destination and it was worth the journey just to see the two fellow travellers faces as we headed into gods country.
We arrived at the car park which was plagued as usual with walkers and tourists. i slapped on the midge cream, and them we set off up well trodden path we were not far up when our American friend “Edmund” said “ what the heck I am being eaten alive. I introduced the Midgee to him and said “ well he must like American blood cause they are not interested in us” , I gave him some midge cream , it seemed to work for a while.
The path is a bit steep and a bit of a scramble at times , we chose to cross the river and take the upland route into the basin.
The tranquilly and the beauty of the glen even tempts me now to go back soon. I had to wipe the faces of the two companions I had as they were gob smacked frozen as they stared into the glen.
We chose to continue onward over the basin and up towards the bealach, the basin has a lot of loose rock thrown down by hundred of years of the small glen the rocks almost cover the basin and it proves a bit of a nuisance trying to walk on them. We wanted to reach the waterfalls that were marked on the map but after climbing near to the top of the bealach, we could hear the waterfall but never got close to it for fear of fallng. We drank and dipped our feet from the stream, I can remember thinking o hope nobody is at the top of the stream washing their feet.

We descended back into the basin. “ Edmund, why do they call it the Lost Valley?” He shrugged his shoulders. “ Dunno!”.
“Cheerio see you later” I replied. And walked away as if to leave them
We decided UNWISINGLY to go the other way back down , back through the large rock formations and scrambling. I do not recommend this way to anyone, I Decided to find a way back to the track we were on , I did not like that way AT ALL. Remembering I had torn ligiments on my knee from my fall only weeks ago.
We got back to the carpark and decided to go to the “Clachaig” Pub
“Capercally” the Scottish band were playing that night.
Was real nice meeting Edmund and hope he comes back soon.
Thanks to both Duncan and Edmund for a great fun day out.

Route Distance: 3.8 km
Estimated Time: 1:34
Total Ascent: 633 m
Total Descent: 35 m