Geoffrey's Jaunt. West Coast of Scotland Tour. June 2016

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Just had some great news.

 

Another couple confirmed for the first three days.

 

       

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Here is a bit about Glen Etive which is where we will be going.

 

 

GLEN ETIVE

Buachaille Etive Beag & Buachaille Etive Mor from Glen Etive

 

Most drivers heading north across Rannoch Moor towards Glen Coe find their attention drawn to the rocky pyramid of the north end of Buachaille Etive Mor. As a result many probably don't notice the nearby junction from which a single track roadleads south down Glen Etive. 

The Glen Etive road meanders for some 14 miles to the head of Loch Etive, where it ends in a turning circle near a pier. And that's it. The road down Glen Etive is the original "road to nowhere". 

It's not always been that way. In 1750 there was a track running down the south side of the loch as far as Taynuilt. And from 1847 a steamer service from Oban operated to the now derelict pier at which the modern road ends. 

Glen Etive is a magnet for climbers and hillwalkers, who come here especially to climb the mountains around Ben Starav to the south east and the Glen Coe mountains to the north and west. But others make the 28 mile round trip simply because it is one of the most beautiful detours in the North West Highlands. The scenery is simply superb. 

The single track road first leads you down the south eastern flank of the ridge of Buachaille Etive Mor. As soon as you are out of sight and sound of the main A82 the sense of retreating into another place and time begins to build. A short distance down the glen, keep a look out for the remarkable little "bucket bridge" intended to allow brave souls to cross the River Etive. It's been there for many years and we're not sure it still works, or how. You'd need to want to cross very badly to trust yourself to it... 

The first half of the Glen is a steady descent of an open heather-clad valley. The character changes at the southern end of the twin mountain ridges of Buachaille Etive Mor and Buachaille Etive Beag. Here, near the large house at Dalness, is a junction with two of the great mountain passes of the highlands, the Lairig Eilde and the Lairig Gartain, both extending north to Glen Coe and providing the punctuation for the Buachailles, dividing them from one another and from Bidean nam Bian. 

The southern half of the glen is more enclosed and wooded, and all too soon you find yourself at the road's end. When we last visited there was a ruined wooden pier here from which you could look straight across Loch Etive to the steep sides of Ben Starav. Or enjoy the view back up the glen. Here the chief attraction is Stob Dubh. This isn't the highest mountain around the glen, at 883m, but it is the second most beautiful. We are told the ruined wooden pier has been replaced by a stone one, and will update our images when next in the area.

You find out which is the most beautiful mountain in Glen Etive on your return trip. Suddenly the views before you open out across the lower glen and you are presented with the sight of the southern end of the Buachaille Etive Mor ridge, with the Lairig Gartain to its west. If this mountain's northern end is unmatched for rocky splendour and mountain majesty, its southern end takes some beating for simple perfection of form. 

You return from Glen Etive to the high speed stream of traffic on the A82 with a sense of regret. You've been somewhere different, and somewhere very special and suddenly you're back in the modern world. But now you know it's there, you can always return, and probably will.

Buachaille Etive Mor from the East
Buachaille Etive Mor:
Summit from Glen Etive
Cattle Grid with a View
Journey's End: Old (Replaced) Pier
The Pier from Its Landward End

VISITOR INFORMATION View Location on Map

A Young Stag in Glen Etive
Deer in Glen Etive
Bucket Bridge
Looking down Glen Etive

[Kirmodawn1]

Great write up and pics. Here is one just off the A82 with the Tiger Owners from a couple of years ago. I haven't been down the full road but I will after reading the post.

Bob

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Here are some details of the gondolas that we will ride on in the afternoon after leaving Glen Etieve

 

 

Gondola

Times and Prices

  The Mountain Gondola

The Nevis Range mountain gondola system, the only of its kind in Britain, was originally constructed on the mountain of Aonach Mor, just 7 miles north of Fort William, as a way to transport skiers to the slopes. The gondola is also widely used as a short cut by climbers to the many challenging winter routes and by paragliders and hangliders on their journey to the clouds.

However the gondola is a highly acclaimed visitor attraction in its own right, allowing sightseers to enjoy the scenic ride, whilst absorbing the stunning views and clear mountain air, feeling fully refreshed on their journey back to firm ground!

The Journey

The gondolas transport visitors effortlessly from 300ft up to 2150ft on the north face of Aonach Mor, the eighth highest mountain in Britain. The journey takes approximately 12 - 15 minutes each way, and each gondola can accommodate up to six people inside.

The journey allows breathtaking views of the Scottish Highlands, including the Great Glen, Ben Nevis, and surrounding areas. On a clear day this spectacular view can extend as far as the Inner Hebrides. Frequent visitors often remark that every visit to Nevis Range can be extremely different with the changing seasonal colours.

The Mechanics

The Doppelmayr gondola system comprises of 80 six seater closed cabins running on a continuous 4.6km steel cable weighing 40 tons. The cable and gondolas are supported between 18 pylons, 2 masts, and 2 drive station structures each anchored in 200 tonnes of concrete.

The system spans 2.3km of the hillside from the base station at 300ft to the top station at 2150ft. There are specific ambulance, freight and service gondolas. The rated carrying capacity of the gondola system is 1700 persons per hour at any one time.

 

 

 

NEVIS RANGE

Let Britain's only mountain gondola transport you effortlessly to 650m. Meander along the mountain trails to the panoramic viewpoints, then relax in the restaurant & bar with breathtaking views.

CONTACT US

Nevis Range
Torlundy, Fort Williamfile:///Users/geoffreycarter/.Trash/header-mountain-gondola-winter.jpg

Inverness-shire
PH33 6SQ
Scotland

T +44 (0)1397 705 825
E

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

 

This is where we will go to following the Gondolas.

 

Parking was only £2.00 last time I went here and there are toilets and its a great place to stretch the legs.

 

 

 

 

Glenfinnan Viaduct  Crosses River Finnan Characteristics Longest span 50 feet (15 m) Number of spans 21 History Engineering design by Simpson & Wilson Constructed by Robert McAlpine & Sons Construction begin 1897 Opened 1901

 

Eleven of the bridge's twenty-one arches

Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. Located at the top of Loch Shiel in the West Highlands of Scotland, the viaduct overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument and the waters of Loch Shiel.

 

Construction[edit]

The West Highland Railway was built to Fort William by Lucas and Aird, but there were delays with the West Highland Railway Mallaig Extension (Guarantee) bill for the Mallaig Extension Railway in the House of Commons as the Tory and Liberal parties fought over the issue of subsidies for public transport. This Act did pass in 1896, by which time Lucas & Aird (and their workers) had moved south. New contractors were needed and Robert McAlpine & Sons were taken on with Simpson & Wilson as engineers. Robert McAlpine & Sons was headed by Robert McAlpine, nicknamed "Concrete Bob" for his innovative use of mass concrete. Concrete was used due to the difficulty of working the hard schist in the area. McAlpine's son Robert, then aged 28, and his nephew William Waddell, took charge of construction, with his younger son Malcolm appointed as assistant.

Construction of the extension from Fort William to Mallaig began in January 1897, and the line opened on 1 April 1901. The Glenfinnan Viaduct, however, was complete enough by October 1898 to be used to transport materials across the valley. It was built at a cost of £18,904.

A legend long-established attached to the Glenfinnan Viaduct was that a horse had fallen into one of the piers during construction in 1898 or 1899.In 1987, Professor Roland Paxton failed to find evidence of a horse at Glenfinnan using a fisheye camera inserted into boreholes in the only two piers large enough to accommodate a horse.^[9] In 1997, on the basis of local hearsay, he investigated the Loch nan Uamh Viaduct by the same method but found the piers to be full of rubble.Using scanning technology in 2001, the remains of the horse and cart were found at Loch nan Uamh, within the large central pylon.

Design[edit]

The viaduct is built from mass concrete, and has 21 semicircular spans of 50 feet (15 m).^[11] It is the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland at 416 yards (380 m), and crosses the River Finnan at a height of 100 feet (30 m).^[11] The West Highland Line it carries is single track, and the viaduct is 18 feet (5.5 m) wide between the parapets.^[11] The viaduct is built on a curve of 792 feet (241 m).

The concrete used in the Glenfinnan Viaduct is mass concrete, which unlike reinforced concrete does not contain any metal reinforcement. It is formed by pouring concrete, typically using fine aggregate, into formwork, resulting in a material very strong in compression but weak in tension.

Railway services[edit]

The West Highland Line connects Fort William and Mallaig, and was a crucial vein for the local fishing industry and the highlands economy in general, which suffered enormously after the Highland Clearances of the 1800s.

The line is used by passenger trains operated by ScotRail between Glasgow Queen Street and Mallaig, usually diesel multiple units. Additionally in the summer the heritage Jacobite steam train operates along the line. It is a popular tourist event in the area, and the viaduct is one of the major attractions of the line.

Depiction[edit]

 

The viaduct is commemorated on this Bank of Scotland £10 note

Glenfinnan Viaduct has been used as a location in several films and television series, including Ring of Bright Water, Charlotte Gray, Monarch of the Glen, Stone of Destiny, German Charlie und Louise, and four films of the Harry Potter film series.

The Glenfinnan Viaduct features on some Scottish banknotes. The 2007 series of notes issued by the Bank of Scotland depicts different bridges in Scotland as examples of Scottish engineering, and the £10 note features the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

 

[silky13]

Looks awesome. Just booked hotel for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights. So we shall meet you in there on the Monday... Myself and Seonad are looking forward to the trip!

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

^^^^ How fantastic is that.

You may be able to meet Ziplob on the Monday also. We will be travelling up in convoy with others and should be there mid to late afternoon.

Don't forget to bring plenty of smiles, laughs and waves.

[ziplob]

hi, lorna and i are not leaving till the Wednesday morning the 1st and will stay 1 night at Glencoe then go up to Skye with you till Saturday . we will Arange to met up during your run on Wednesday.

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Hi Ziplob.

 

Here is a little bit about the Fairy Glen that we will be visiting on Skye.

 

I do hope you are a believer. 

 

 

 

Suspended in turbulent seas with cliffs that plunge into dangerous waters, many islands have an air of mystery, but on the Isle of Skye belief in the existence of fairy inhabitants or “little people” dates back to prehistoric times. Once believed to have evil overtones, Scotland’s fairies are believed to live in “beehive” houses buried deep in the heather in The Fairy Glen where the tribe meets located on the north end of the island near Uig. 

Some long-time island inhabitants believe in the continued existence of these strange creatures, but debate over what they wear and how they live might get a little heated in a pub. Green is widely acknowledged to be the color of choice for fairy clothing, though “eyewitness accounts” from medieval times describe fairies as wearing gold and silver clothes made of gossamer and silk. The queen of all the fairies is said to prefer white linen with a coronet of pearls in her hair.

Tales of Scotland’s island creatures are not simply told by word of mouth. In 1691, the Rev. Robert Kirk published a book called “The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies.” The book may have cost the Rev. Kirk his life though as it is said that he was spirited away by the subjects of his research because “he knew too much.”

Skye’s surreal tranquility may convince even the most committed skeptic of the fairies existence. Their purported meeting place, a glen bursting with twisting trees and grassy knolls, captivates visitors, but don’t go there to spy on the fairies. “Little people” have a rigid moral code and spies face retribution. Conversely, they repay acts of kindness and politeness with good luck. Doubters are ignored.

The Fairy Glen cannot be found on a map, but if you're visiting Scotland and you go to the Isle of Skye and you're lucky, one of the island’s human residents might tell you a story or walk with you through the wild landscape. Just be sure you wear any color but green!

 

 

 

 

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

And here is a little bit about the Quiraing that we will drive through.

 

 

 

…the terror that walketh in darkness, here walks by day...

 

 

Quiraing, The Prison

 

The Quiraing is awesome. It is supernatural. It is a place of wonder and amazement. It is outstanding by any measure. If you are fit enough to walk the narrow path and scramble up and down the steep slopes – you must do it. To visit Skye without experiencing the Quiraing seems unthinkable.
Go on a bright and clear day for views of the Outer Hebrides and the Scottish mainland, framed by the pinnacles, cliffs and great buttresses. Go on a wet and windy day to feel your spine tingle as the clouds and mist swirl around you in this unreal and menacing landscape. Whatever the weather, you’ll not forget the experience.

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

This looks like a great place to visit on Skye.

 

It would be great if we could time the tides right.

 

 

http://www.theskyeguide.com/see-and-do-mainmenu-35/27-natural-wonders/36-spar-cave-the-most-remarkable-cave-on-skye

 

 

 

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Subject to what time we arrive in Durness, this is a beautiful walk and place to go.

 

Last time we went, there was only myself and Carol and three golden eagles.

 

https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/trust-land/sandwood

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Here is a planned route from Killin which is where we are staying for our final three days.

Would anyone care to join us.

We will travel from Killin to Dunnottar Castle.

Here is a link to the castle details.

http://www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk/index.cfm

 

And here is a bit about the castle history and a few pictures.

 

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stonehaven/dunnottarcastle/

From there we will go into the Cairngorms National Park and we will travel up the funicular railway.

This is Scotland’s only funicular railway. This is a unique visitor experience that allows people of all abilities to reach the Top Station where the Ptarmigan Restaurant is located with panoramic views from over 3,500ft. There is also a viewing terrace, exhibition, shop and the highest post box in the British isles.

Here is a video of the railway.

 

Here is the route that we will be driving.



This should be a great day......yes another one.

[Gary Taylor]

Hi Geoffrey, can I make a suggestion that from stonehaven to forfar instead of sitting on the A90 which is all dual carrigeway it might be  more interesting scenicly (dont know if thats a real word) and driving wise to take the coast road Inverbervie / montrose / forfar

I am hoping to be iva'd  and so able to partake with you all , fingers crossed

Regards Gary

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Hi Gary.

 

Thanks for the suggestion and all up for comments etc.

 

I will plot your route tonight or tomorrow and post it up.

 

It would be great if you could join us so pull your finger out.