Glencoe Summer Munros
Guided hiking in Glencoe
Many parts of the Scottish Highlands are spectacular, but few compare to the awesome mountain scenery of the Glencoe Area. This dramatic glaciated landscape of high peaks deep glens has drawn mountaineers and hillwalkers for centuries. Here we do some of the more “off the beaten track” peaks.
Bag some Munros in Glencoe this summer under the expert guidance or a qualified, local guide.
The dramatic history of Glencoe, the rivalry of the opposing clans of Macdonald and Campbell, is not as evident to the naked eye as it once was, but the scenery is still imposing and rivals Skye in beauty. When you gaze up at the mountains surrounding you here, it brings home to you how hardy the native Scots must have been to derive a living from the land. To think that people used to walk this terrain with their cattle in kilts/plaid while we need gortex and sturdy hiking boots!
At the end of the day, we’ll also have a cosy, comfortable cottage to retreat to and a hot shower. There’ll be homemade cake on the table and a hot brew to keep you going until the evening meal.
It’s still a simple formula for our trips – walk, eat sleep, not so different from the Highlanders of old, with a few modern comforts thrown in.
HIGHLIGHTS of the Glencoe Munros
- 7 nights accommodation in at Loch Leven Seafood Cottage
- 5 days of guided hikes
- 1 day to rest and recuperate or explore other parts of the local area
- all meals during your trip
- transport to the walks
- pick up and drop off from either Aviemore or Fort William stations
PROPOSED ROUTES
- Beinn Fhionnlaidh
- Sgorr na h-Ulaidh
- Meall a’ Bhuiridh & Creise
- Stob Gobhar & Stob a’ Choire Odhar
- Sgurr Eilde Mor
PROPOSED ACCOMMODATION: in twin or double rooms in a holiday property in the Glencoe area. Your guide and his/her team will provide all meals at the accommodation and eat with you in the evenings.
GROUP SIZE: 2 – 8 people
PRICE GUIDE: as above, depending on group size and available accommodation
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Day of arrival:
You’re met at point your of arrival whether that’s Aviemore train station (2:45 pm) or Inverness Airport (3:30pm), Fort William (5:30 pm) or alternatively you can meet us at our accommodation in Ballachulish from around 6 pm onwards.
Try to aim to arrive by 7:30 pm so that you have time to settle in and meet the other members of the group before dinner at 8pm. It’s no problem if you can’t. After dinner over teas and coffees Andy will go over the planned itinerary and let you know what to expect during your stay.
The timings quoted below are relative and somewhat arbitrary as they will very much depend on the group’s ability to move over the sometimes challenging terrain.
Day 1
We start the week with an ascent of Beinn Fhionnlaidh. It’s a straight forward hill not too unlike Schiehallion. Its remote situation at the heart of the Glencoe/Glen Etive peaks presents some unfamiliar but interesting views of the neighbouring giants.
1080m (3130 ft) of ascent on gentle to moderate gradients. 16km (10 miles) across snow covered rough mountain moorland and rochy terrain. Approx walking time excluding breaks: 6:51
Day 2
Our quarry today is a bit of a hidden gem, Sgorr na h-Ulaidh, (Peak of the Treasure) lies well hidden from the Glencoe road. Unlike many of the peaks of the area this one doesn’t involve an abrupt climb straight from the car park. A 3km walk in allows those muscles to get fully warmed before the climb begins.
1270m (4170 ft) of ascent on gentle, moderate and steep gradients. 9 miles (14km) of mountain walking on vehicle tracks, footpaths but also on snow covered rough mountain moorland terrain.
Approx walking time excluding breaks: 6:39
Day 3
Viewing across the great expanse of Rannoch Moor Meall a’ Bhuiridh & Creise form part of one Scotland’s finest mountain panoramas. Seen from the Kingshouse Hotel they form an attractive horseshoe and the promise of a great outing. They are the highest 2 Munro’s in the Black Mount and a traverse of them both creates a route with real mountaineering flavour and a very fine day out in the hills.
1050m (3450 ft) of ascent on mainly moderate and steep gradients. 10km (6 miles) of mountain walking on paths but also on snow covered moorland and rocky terrain. Approx walking time
excluding breaks: 5:02
Day 4
It’s a rest day! It’s a chance to recover those weary muscles and explore the local area. Take the bus into Fort William or Kinlochleven or alternatively you might want to relax with a book around the house. The choice is entirely yours.
Day 5
Stob Gobhar is arguably the finest mountain in the Black Mount. It’s sprawling ridges and flanks hold no less than around 14 coires. It offers both narrow ridges and board plateau with our route taking in it’s great eastern coire as well as the neighbouring Munro of Stob a’ Choire Odhar.
1340m (4390 ft) of ascent on gentle, moderate and steep gradients. 16km (10 miles) of walking on vehicle tracks and footpaths but also over snow covered rough moorland and rocky terrain. Approx walking time excluding breaks: 7:16
Day 6
Sgurr Eilde Mor is the remotest of the Mamore Peaks, lying 6km from our start point. Aloof from the main ridge, it’s a fine looking peak. Steep and conical, it sits splendidly above Coire an Lochain.
1140m (3750ft) of ascent on moderate and steep gradients. 14 km (8.5 miles) of mountain walking on paths but also over snow covered rough moorland and rocky terrain. Approx walking time excluding breaks: 6:12
Day of Departure:
What ever time your plane or train is we will get you there for it. Most folks depart after breakfast leaving requests for Rebecca’s recipes or vowing to maintain their elevated standard of living!
YOUR HIGHLAND BASE – LOCHLEVEN SEAFOOD COTTAGE
Located on the shores of Loch Leven between Glencoe and Fort William.
The cottage is built in a modern Spanish style, with an open plan, tasteful interior. The cottage provides a large social area for friends and family to dine and spend time together in comfort with incredible views.
Full details available here:
On all our holidays we have a ‘leave no trace’ policy. Our guides are asked to explain and encourage this policy. For example, leaving an apple core or feeding a seagull on a mountain summit may seem innocuous but it can have a detrimental knock-on effect on the indigenous wildlife by encouraging a higher level of predation. Our guides are there for your safety & enjoyment & to informally share their knowledge of the mountain environment – from its geological beginnings through to contemporary land management and its associated politics.
We compost all bio-degradeable waste in 3 large compost bin built from scrap wood and use this to fertilise our vegetable garden. We have reorganised our plot with the help of volunteers on the WWOOF scheme, so we can supply more fruit and vegetables from the garden. The WWOOFers have been fantastic and helped us achieve several major projects in the garden: fruit cages made with reused wood; a new Keder greenhouse – which has special significance to us as it was made possible by a legacy from Rebecca’s grandmother; and we’ve also moved our vegetable plot and the car park.
The lodge is mainly heated by radiators fed from a biomass boiler fuelled by Scottish wood pellets.
Green Tourism – the World’s most Credible* Sustainable Tourism Programme has awarded both Scot Mountain Holidays and Fraoch Lodge their Gold Award. In 2013 both businesses were also awarded Highly Commended during their 2013 Gold Star Awards.
As well as minimizing our carbon footprint Scot Mountain Holidays also donates 1% of the cost of all it’s holidays and courses to the RSPB’s Abernethy Reserve’s Caledonian Pinewood Regeneration Project. In terms of monetary value this more than covers the carbon offset aspect of the holiday.
For more details of what we do to reduce our environmental impact please go to Scotmountainholidays.com
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