Fort William trip was one to savour
Our Lady of Lourdes Hiking Club had its long weekend away recently – and couldn’t have wished for better weather.
Bang in the middle of the dry, sunny period, the Fort William area was attracting its share of fellow hillwalkers.
Club members wanted to start walking immediately on the Friday so were dropped a short distance from Fort William at Inchree Centre from where they followed an easy, but warm, fourkilometre route to Corrin Ferry.
Arriving at the ferry, well-deserved refreshments were appreciated while waiting for the coach to transport the hikers to the Croit Anna hotel, two miles outside Fort William.
Saturday was the day for the choice of three big walks: some opted for a relaxed, sunny, low-level Nevis Glen route by the riverside.
Others took on the daunting task of climbing to the top of the United Kingdom’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, while a group of 11 were attracted by the ‘Ring of Steall’ challenge – a crescent of mountains opposite the Ben, taking in no fewer than four Munros and associated ‘Munro tops’.
A river crossing by a tricky steel rope bridge provided a frisson of excitement – as well as great photo opportunities – for the Ring hikers who coped remarkably well with this ‘high wire act’ first thing in the morning!
Sunday saw some of the group choose a pleasant coach trip past Morar to Mallaig where excellent fish suppers were savoured, much to the envy of those who hadn’t chosen the trip.
The alternative was a 12-kilometre walk from Moy down an end section of the Caledonian Canal, leading down to Fort William.
This picturesque route started off with an obliging lock-keeper responding to our whistle and, with the help of the club president putting in the man-power on our side, closing the lock-bridge so we could get over to the towpath.
The popularity of this canal for leisure users was evident with boaters, cyclists and hikers out in force enjoying the sunshine.
A section of the canal with a close succession of locks here known as ‘Neptune’s Staircase’ allows leisure craft to get down from the height of the canal to sea level eventually to enter the sea loch, Loch Linnhe.
The staircase also had a convenient pub where the hikers could hardly wait to order ice creams, beers and coffees.
The trip home on Monday was far from an anti-climax for the committee had planned a final idyllic excursion for all, from Killicrankie NTS visitor centre down to Pitlochry, with a scenic lochside tearoom lunch stop en route.
After some icy and liquid refreshments in Pitlochry, the coach returned the happy hikers home after a superb few days full of achievement; a tour de force by the hard-working organisers that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Some hikers even managed to stay awake all the way to East Kilbride!
Come and join this friendly, active group on its fortnightly hikes. Check out these and the club’s other videos by visiting the Scotland’s Mighty Mountains channel on YouTube.
Call (01355) 222464 and visit www.ololhikingclub.co.uk for more information on the club’s itinerary and activities.