Scotland at its best.
As part of Scottish Trekkers, a Clydebank-based walking group with nearly 3,000 members, I try to join most of their organised activities.
“You’ll be fine,” one fellow-member assured me. “It’s a piece of cake,” said another.
The day before, it rained constantly in Glasgow making it difficult to imagine how it could ever dry up. But being Scottish, you know that we can have wind, rain, sunshine and hailstones all in the same hour, so I decided to bite the bullet and add my name to the list of 38 other Trekkers.
“Preparation is vital,” advised a fellow walker.
And with that in mind I headed to the shops and treated myself to a fine bottle of Rioja, a juicy fillet steak and a chocolate treat for my return home. After all, I reckoned, I deserved a wee indulgence or two after my long day in the hills!
The Pap of Glencoe is a Graham, mountains in Scotland between 2,000 and 2,499 feet (610 and 762 metres) high, with a drop of at least 150 metres on all sides.
It’s a steep and boggy climb on a very eroded and rough path to the ridge. The final ascent of the Pap is rocky, where I found myself scrambling on my hand and knees at parts.
Timewise you should be up and down in around four to five hours covering a distance of 4.5 miles, but despite its modest height, it gives a short but steep and very rough hill walk. However, with its sensational viewpoint and breath-taking sights of Glencoe, Loch Leven and Kinlochard, we spent almost an hour at the crest until the good old Scotch mist began to obscure our view.
I have to admit that the descent was far more difficult than the ascent. I would recommend taking walking poles as a few members of our group (including me) slipped and fell on the rocks and scree.
Arriving back at the car park some five hours later, I was exhausted, the infamous Scottish midges had bitten parts of me I didn’t know they could get at, my legs were like jelly, and I was filthy from head to do.
Did I enjoy myself?
Well, we were blessed with perfect climbing weather, outstanding views from every angle, fresh air and plenty of exercise, so yes, I loved every minute.
Eventually settling down later that evening I managed only two sips of my long awaited Rioja before I fell fast asleep.
Wonderful.
• If you are staying the weekend and camping, I suggest the Red Squirrel camping site. There is also a Youth Hostel nearby. Plenty of B&B's, couple hotels and an Inn to choose from. The Clachaig Inn in Glencoe comes highly recommended for entertainment, so staying locally maybe a benefit (especially after a whole day hike and a few beers afterwards).
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