Saturday 12 September 2026 - Ganavan Sands parkrun

Fort William parkrun was cancelled due to a mountain bike race - the second time this year that we've missed it for that reason. Anyway, we left Linnhe Holidays after a pleasurable week in the mobile home, at 7:45, and enjoyed the scenic drive to Oban, where Ganavan Sands parkrun has the disadvantage of being rather hilly (60 metres ascent) but the advantage for some of being next to a good beach.

We lingered near the start, expecting a few midges, but the breeze was sufficient to deter them.

The story of the Appin murder was provided on an information board. Click on the image to see the detail.

It's a lovely beach.

9:30, and the time to run or walk up a steep hill had arrived. Sue ran, I walked.

Long before I reached the turnaround point, the lead runners were returning along the good tarmaced path.

Sue would normally come back along the route to walk in with me, but today was a no-brainer for her - a dip in the ocean would always take precedence over a run back up the hill.

We'd come armed with coffee and cake as we didn't want to hang around in a coffee shop when we really needed to be getting on with the 330 mile drive home.

The last of Ali's excellent carrot cake went down very well. Thanks Ali.

We left just as a rescue boat hit the waves to look for any parkrunners who had overshot the finish.

Full results are here.

Sue finished in 28:00, much slower than usual - position 31 out of 79 finishers - many first timers at this event - people like us who were on holiday.

Meanwhile I took a leisurely 39:52 in position 72. Not much slower than on Penrith's flat course last week.

Friday 11 September 2026 - Another bike ride to Gairlochy and two more Munros

On a fine day, Sue chose to return to Glencoe, leaving me with the bicycle. Wednesday's sunny route to Gairlochy and Fort William was repeated - another nice 40 km outing. There were lots of cyclists about, and quite a few folk walking the Great Glen Way. 

The swing bridge at Gairlochy closed just after I crossed it, allowing a huge catamaran and two other substantial boats through. 

Others wouldn't need the bridge to be closed,  though they would soon have to portage up a lock

Wednesday's display of sunshine on the Ben was sadly not repeated as I cycled into Fort William in full view of the cloud capped mountain. 

Here's a view from the Soldiers Bridge.

Lunch at the picnic benches by the start of the Great Glen Way offers a chance to admire the harbour and Loch Linnhe.

On the return to Corpach, another view to the Soldiers Bridge. 

And from back on said Bridge.

My photos (apologies for the ongoing poor resolution problem) finish with a view down Loch Linnhe and a couple of snaps by the canal at Corpach.

Meanwhile, Sue was on Bidean nam Bian, this was her view from a tea stop at 750 metres.

Later, her view from the summit of Stob coire Sgreamhach.

Only thirty odd Munros to go. I wonder when the next trip up here will be?

Thursday 10 September 2026 - Newtonmore's Wildcat Trail

Newtonmore is a little over an hour away, so we couldn't really come here without choosing a day when weather prevented Munro bagging, to visit our friends there. 

Before meeting Ali, Adrian, Sue and Neil in the Wildflour café, Sue and I enjoyed a jaunt around the southern section of the Wildcat Trail a walk that's a lovely attraction to visitors here.

It was a surprise to find four peregrine falcons in the first garden we passed, but apparently they and some pointer type dogs have been enjoying an annual holiday here for some time.

There are still plenty of wild flowers around, including these asters.

This southern section of the trail skirts through woodland, with a golf course on one side and the River Spey on the other side.

According to Ali and Sue, the Spey is quite low at present!

We passed under road and rail bridges on our way to the café, and flatbread lunches, before adjourning to Ali and Adrian's house for tea and great carrot cake.

A lovely way to spend a day that would have been unpleasant high in the mountains. 

Note: poor images - sorry, and I see that having managed to upload some of them, the high resolution of the originals has been drastically reduced. 

Wednesday 9 September 2026 A bike ride to Gairlochy and a couple of Munros

A sunny day for a change. Sue set off to the other end of Glencoe, leaving me to unlock my bike and embark on a 40 km ride to Gairlochy and Fort William.

Near the start, a tall memorial post champions the achievements of Colonel John Cameron at Waterloo. This is positioned outside Kilmallie Parish Church, which curiously appears to have a more modern house attached to it.

Good views from the mobile homes.

I took the minor road past Taigh Moy, where we stayed for a week in May. Nearly made 30mph on the descent to Gairlochy.

Good views back to The Ben, the cloud over which withered as the morning progressed. 

The next photo, taken at Gairlochy swing bridge from a picnic bench where I enjoyed a coffee, turned out to be the last photo from me today as the camera battery expired.

That's a shame, as the light was great and the air was clear as I continued to Neptune's Staircase, then on along the route of the Great Glen Way to Fort William. There I enjoyed the rest of my coffee and a superb smoked salmon roll. Thanks Sue. 

It's an easy return via Corpach. 

Meanwhile, Sue had a great day on two Munros. She sent me a picture of her tea break at 566 metres.

And the view from her second Munro summit and other pictures from Sue today. Her report is below the pictures.

An hour's drive from Linnhe Lochside brought me to the car park at the Glencoe Mountain Resort from where I set out at 9.30am. The SMC guide describes an anticlockwise circuit of Creise and Meall a’ Bhuiridh, so I headed west on a small path. Luckily I was wearing gaiters as my foot sunk to almost the knee in some soft bog! The waterfalls cascading down the valley looked beautiful in the sun, and crossing the river proved uneventful.
The rocky spur of Stob a’ Ghlais Choire was ‘sporting’ as I chose a line directly up the rock, stowing poles until I was walking again. This top gives great views over Glencoe and Buachaille Etive Mor.
From there it was an easy slope to the summit of Creise (1,100m) where I met a man from Stirling. He was one of only six people I met on these Munros today.
As the day was so good, I continued to the other Top (1,099m) which used to be the Munro until resurveyed in 1981). I had lunch with a view across Rannoch Moor, and even the Ben shrugged off its summit cloud.
The gentleman I met on this section was 44 Munros short of his 4th round and was meandering very gently.
I retraced to Mam Coire Easain (Pt 1070m) then dropped steeply off the edge onto the spur that leads to Meall a’ Bhuiridh (1,108m).
The descent was stony, but straightforward until the path steepened for the final section beneath the chairlift which was bringing people up, of whom some were walking up Creag Dhubh for the views.
As I returned to the car (3.50pm), weary West Highland Way walkers, some of whom will be staying in the pods, were arriving.
A great day out, with blue skies and excellent views (13km, 1,050m ascent).

Tuesday 8 September 2026 - Neptune's Staircase on a rainy day

On a thoroughly wet day we took advantage of a short break from the heavier rain to climb Neptune's Staircase and wander along the towpath of the Caledonian Canaĺ. A 6 km 'there and back' walk.

There were a few people about - some clearly plodding along the route of the Great Glen Way, others cycling or dog walking. Here I am at our 3 km turnaround point.

On the way back we passed a horde of Canadian canoe/kayakers heading very slowly towards Gairlochy.

Our own outing was intercepted by the café at Neptune's Staircase, where we lingered for some time with lattes, cake and Squaredle.

Back at mobile home number 63, we relaxed into an afternoon of jigsaw, Boggle, reading (Seascraper - Benjamin Wood), and the start of a big transcription project.