The Pap of Glencoe from Glencoe Lochan

Weather cloudier. Still dry. Plenty of sunny spells.

A slightly late start today for no particular reason. Making it up as we went along we thought we would head South to Glencoe village and see what happened. We stopped at Ballachuilish tourist information to see if we could spot a leaflet or something about walks. No luck other than to buy books. We decided not since we are near the end of our week and the forecast is now predicting rain for Friday and Saturday.

We decided to go to the Glencoe Folk Museum. The annual display is on 'A Journey Through Glencoe'. This is a photographic display of a variety of  transport used in the past throughout Lochaber and features the Ballachuilish ferry. The photos were fascinating.

"The museum contains a large variety of artefacts mainly collected locally, of interest to anyone curious about how Glencoe’s people lived in the past. Treasures range from weapons found in the thatched roofs of local houses (where they lay concealed for more than 200 years after the battle of Culloden), to Victorian dolls which have retained the charm of that period. Spend as long as you like browsing through our archives. Whether you are young or old, there is something to interest anyone keen to learn about history. The Collections•Costumes & Uniforms•Jacobite Relics•Historic Weapons and Militaria•Household Utensils•Historical Toys•Paintings, Photos & Books•Crofting & Blacksmith’s Tools•The Story of Local Slate Quarrying •Local History, Geology & Archaeology Displays."

The very enthusiastic lady who was on the reception desk and shop chatted to us when we went in and before we left. She told us about Glencoe Lochan which was just along the road from the museum.

From the Forestry Commission for Scotland website:
Just outside Glencoe village you’ll find an exquisite wood around a lochan with a backdrop of pointed mountains. The trails wind through a landscape planted with North American trees by Lord Strathcona in the 1890s - he hoped they would comfort his homesick Canadian wife. (apparently they didn't and they went to Canada to live)

Lochan trail
A gentle trail around the tranquil Glencoe lochan.
A wide, firm and smooth surfaced path, generally flat, but with short gentle gradients, broken up with rest points.

Woodland trail
Meandering through huge North American conifers - an impressive woodland path. Enjoy the loch views and in spring, carpets of bluebells. A firm path with some rough rocky and rooty sections. Constantly undulating, with short steep sections. Can be muddy in places after rain.

There is also a mountain trail, but we wandered round a combination of the lochan and woodland trails with Maeve the Deerhound. Just right after yesterday's uphill walk with easier softer footing for Maeve.

Next on the agenda was a visit to the cafe in the always busy Crafts and Things. We have stopped there two or three times over the years and it is always packed, but the fresh baking and good strong tea always compensates. Scones and carrot cake were our choices today.

With the whole day running later than we would have thought we decided we would still head back North to try and get a visit to the Clan Cameron museum in the Achnacarry Estate about 5 miles from the Commando memorial at Spean Bridge. We were there with plenty of time to spare. We did ask the lady at the desk when she closed and were given a cheery reply of "when the last person leaves". It really closes around 4.30pm, but the lady lives in the estate cottage just across the path. The museum is full of exhibits and information on the Cameron family history, the estate, and the clan. There is also plenty about Bonnie Prince Charlie and the "'45" (including his waistcoat). Then there is the story of the Commando training centre in WWII which was centred on the estate.

Having come all the way back to the North of Spean Bridge (where we are staying) we still had to go back to Fort William to get things for dinner. The has been no planning ahead this week !

E-PL5 f/7.1 1/250 sec. ISO-200 14mm

Extras:

Colourful boxes Glencoe Folk Museum

Probable Waiting Time - when the ferry was the only crossing at Ballachuilish