Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe

Last nights hope of a clear day turned out to be false, set off for the Clach Leathad Traverse from the Bridge of Orchy Bunkhouse about 9:30 along the WHW to Victoria Bridge, there the route goes up over the hills above Black Mount, should have been Stob Gabhar, Clach Leathad and Meall a Bhuiridh, low cloud and switching off my GPS as I left Stob Gabhar meant I took a wrong turn and came out in Glen Etive, very scenic but left with a long road run to get to the Glencoe Ski Centre where my bag was being left.

Turned left along the farm road to the Old Schoolhouse then up the trail beside the Allt Toaig into Coire Toaig. Past Corein Lochain and up into the mist over the Aonach Eagach ridge to Stob Gabhar.

From there managed to come down Sron a Ghearrain instead of Aonach Mor. Met a few deer and a lot of frogs. I realised where I was and decided to continue down to Glen Etive instead of the turning back and up to try and find Aonach Mor.

Following a series of scenic rivers and glens down to Glen Etive, these might not be there much longer, hydro schemes are proposed for this  and another two or three similar glens nearby. Very scenic run back up the glen, an extra hour or so running on tarmac to finish in just over 7 hours wasn't what I needed. More pictures here.

Clach Leathad traverse

Had my eye on this run for a while, Victoria bridge to Glencoe ski centre then back to Victoria bridge by the West Highland way. Set off about 2pm.

10 minutes along a trail then a path towards Stob a Choire Odhair rising gently at first then steep zig zags before easing to a bouldery summit.

Rewarded with a fly by from a massive eagle.

Off the west ridge towards Stob Ghabhar with a couple of steep scree scrambles onto the airy Aonach Eagach ridge, thankfully not as exposed as the Glencoe version.

Undulating down to bealach Fuar-chathaidh before a steep 1000' climb to Clach Leathad.

Easier running to the Double summit of Creise, the spur to Meall a'Bhuiridh about half way along.

Turned back along the ridge to the spur towards the last hill of the day, Meall a'Bhuiridh, a couple of false summits on the rocky climb test my humour.

Steady run down through the chairlifts to Glencoe ski centre, about 5 hours 40. All that's left is a 7 mile run along the West Highland way back to Victoria bridge as darkness approached, finished inside 7 1/2 hours, tired but happy. More pictures here.