This week’s walks

LOCHABER AND LORN RAMBLERS

The walk leader is to be contacted before hand for meet-up and start times. Car sharing usually possible and people can try before they buy. Further information at www.lochaberandlorn-ramblers.org.uk. Lochaber and Lorn Ramblers Group can be contacted by email on info@lochaberandlorn-ramblers.org.uk.

Sunday June 17 Glenfinnan Viaduct Circuit

Start at Callop CP, NM923792. Head NW on the forestry track. After 1.2km at NM916800, take the path on the right to a promontory which gives views of Callop River. Return to the road, continue W for 130m and take the path on right at NM915800.

Return to road and continue W. At the bend in road, NM910801, look for a signpost to right for hilltop view. Follow this short path, which climbs to a third promontory with view of the hills to the N and W. Return to the road then turn almost immediately NW to follow the signposted path to the visitor centre along a boardwalk. On reaching the main A830 road, follow it NW across the bridge over the River Finnan and turn immediately NE on to the estate road into Glen Finnan. Just before the viaduct, at a signpost to Glenfinnan Station, take the path leading up hill and passing under the viaduct. The path descends to station. Cross the track carefully and follow road downhill to the A830.

Turn right and take first road on opposite side signposted Pier which heads SW downhill. Turn S at road junction then E to reach the pier at NM901804. Turn N and walk along the shore of the loch, with houses on the left, to pass in front of the Glenfinnan Hotel. Turn E at the road and follow it to the A830. Recross the bridge over the River Finnan and retrace the outward route back to Callop

Grade: L; Distance: 10km; Height to climb: 250m Map(s): LR40, EX398; Meet at Fort William Woollen Mill at 10.30am. Start at 11am. Leader: Marion Moir 07427 830341.

Thursday June 21 Bidean nam Bian, Glen Coe

A classic mountain walk up the W face of Aonach Dubh on Dinnertime Buttress, over Stob Coire nan Lochan and Bidean nam Bian, descending into Coire nam Beith.

Follow the path S by the Allt Coire nam Beithach. Cross the burn at approx. NN139560 and head E up the steep slope towards the buttress between the first and second gullies on the W face of Aonach Dubh. A path becomes fainter higher up on steeper vegetated ground. The rock quality improves at the rhyolite band, which provides a good scramble up the right-hand side of a prominent cleft in the centre of the buttress. Exposed scrambling may be avoided here by trending rightwards into the second gulley, which is followed up into a small coire under the skyline. Climb out of the coire and visit the summit of Aonach Dubh, 892m, then head up the N ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochan to its summit, 1115m. From here, take the SW ridge to the col and climb to the summit of Bidean nam Bian, 1150m. From the summit of Bidean nam Bian, head W, then N to reach the summit of Stob Coire nam Beith 1107m. Descend W before curving NW to a small col with a cairn just S of a spot height 907m, at NN134547. Turn E and descend steeply on a path into Coire nam Beith. Continue the descent N to exit at Achnambeithach.

Grade: S; Distance: 9km; Height to climb: 1248m; Map(s): LR41, EX384; Meet at Glencoe village car park at 9.15am, for start of walk at 9.30am. Leader: Andrew Gilbert 07808 924722

NEVIS HILLWALKING CLUB

Please see full walk details at www. nevishillwalking.club. If anyone would like to go out on the walk please contact club secretary Suzanne Theobald on 01397 701783 or email enquiries@nevishillwalking.club.

Saturday June 16

An Socach, An Riabhachan, Sgurr na Lapaich, Carn nan Gobhar, Cannich

Four possible Munros. Hopefully, a boat will have been hired (details to follow) to take you from the dam on Loch Mullardoch to Benula Lodge. From here, go west on a stalkers’ path towards Coire Mhaim and climb the SE ridge of An Socach. You are now on the main range of hills between Glen Strathfarrar and Glen Cannich. Head east over the west and SW tops of An Riabhachan, over the summit to the east top, where there is a steep rocky face above Loch Beag and Loch Mor. Continue over the col to Sgurr na Lapaich and then Carn na Gobhar, the final Munro. Descend the south ridge over Mullach na Maoile to the loch side and back to the dam. Without a boat means an extra walk of 8.5km with 220m ascent along the north shore of the loch on a fairly good path

Distance: 20km; ascent: 1800m. Suggested by Robert Paterson and Fiona Wild, coordinated by Liz Stevenson.