Monday 12 May 2014

Day six, Kings House to Kinlochleven Friday 9th May

This was to be a relative short day, only 8.5 miles.
Allan had brought with him a book entitled Not The West Highland Way, it made great reading on the way up as he drove. Today was perhaps the opportunity to take a walk from the book.

The routine walk would be out the back of the Kings House Hotel and  up  the "Devil's Staircase" the book suggested a walk into Kinlochleven by a different route.  Follow a minor track north up the stream  then swing north west slightly to slip over Beinn a Chrulaiste at 2803 feet. Then further north east along the spur to take you into Coire Garbh, follow a grassy stream bank out of the coirre heading for Warbrick's Loch, this was the shot I so wanted of the Buachaille. Then follow down over the Blackwater Dam and down into Kinlochleven, 10 miles and  2200 feet of ascent.

The forecast wasn't good, it had rained overnight hard we awoke to heavy rain, there was perhaps the chance of it lifting later. We went into breakfast, I decided against the climbers breakfast as fruit pudding was suet and dried fruit, that would sit very heavy. I wanted to get yesterdays blog posted so we sat in the hotel lounge watched the rain and clouds in front of the Buachaille, chatted to various folks. The lady of the hotel told us of the winter storms, that happened last winter roofs being lifted. That the staff have to have 4 weeks leave these days so they close for December and send them back to  Latvia and Poland for Christmas, so fortunately they weren't open as there was no power. The Kingy doesn't look as if there has been any investment in years apart from new carpets 2 years ago apparently, our room looked on to the Buachaille.



We chatted with 3 girls who were "wild camping" we couldn't get our heads round wild camping and getting your bags transported to your next destination! We at least were carrying our own bags, ok we were a little soft using B&B!

By 11am the cloud base had lifted it wasn't raining so much, we ventured out having decided to take the shorter direct route. Everything was in dry bags as light rain continued, the route follows the A82 for about  three miles, the scenery was amazing.



The path drops down onto the A82, close to Altnafeadh, a lady stepped out of her low profile camper van and accosted Allan. She had driven into the small unofficial carpark and was stuck, could we give her a push? Packs off, got her moving but in the wrong direction, not quite sure how she got in there as her low ground clearance and the steep incline with pot holes was going to make it an interesting escape. She turned round and got out we planned the escape, was going to be tight as she may easily bottom out. After lots of pushing and tyre spinning she was back at the entrance on the main road, we had done our good deed for the day and she was on her way.


Back across the A82 and we were now starting the climb up the Devil's Staircase quite steep but the gradient eased by the zig-zags, the views back up the Glen were stunning, the rain had eased and it was brightening.




Looking forward the view unfurled between Stob Mhic Mhartuin and Beinn Bheag a vista across to the Mamores and perhaps Ben Nevis.



After the saddle the descent begins, to the right is the afore mentioned Blackwater Reservoir.

The views across as we walked were halted by a grouse slowly walking from beside the path, I only had my point and shoot so the images are zoomed digitally!
 


Soon we are down to the head of the pipeline and we still have over 1000 foot of descent to go in an indirect path that finally joins the 6 pipe line leading down to the back of the old Alcan Works.





 We had ,made good time and stopped off for a tea and shortbread at the Ice Factor, when we came to leave it was pouring down again so we watched some guys on the indoor wall before venturing out to our B&B the Allt na Leven Guest House.
What a gem Allan had found here, would put the King House to shame, we were really spoilt very high standard of finish, wifi and when we looked they did evening meals. So I popped down with our order, Pauline said would 7pm be good, sliped over to the Co op for the wine.


We had a real feast, spent ages chatting with her and Wullie her husband, then retired to our comfortable beds.
The next mornings breakfast was equally enormous as were the packed lunchs.

The heart rate monitor  confirmed an easy day, 2656 calories max heart rate 158, the gps had our max elevation 1798ft, with 1174 total ascent, 6.9 miles.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home