This was the second day for my client from the London Ramblers and the
plan was to walk from Glenfinnan, through Glen Finnan and Gleann
Cuirnran to Strathan in Glen Dessary where we would be met and taken
back to Fort William.
I met my client in Fort William and we took the train to Glenfinnan.
It had rained heavily throughout the night and it was still raining
when we set off from Glenfinnan Station towards Glen Finnan. However
the forecast indicated that the rain should turn to showers during the
morning and as we set off the rain wasn't as heavy.
The tarred road up Glen Finnan first past under the Glen Finnan
Viaduct, which has been made famous by the Harry Potter film and even
at this time in the morning tourists were out taking photographs. The
River Finnan was in spate after the overnight rain and I was wondering
what the streams were like further north.
It was an easy walk on the tarred road as far as the bridge just south
of Glenfinnan Lodge where we followed the rough track to Corryhully
Bothy. Here we took shelter from the now showery rain. This is the
only bothy where I have found electricity in use with an honesty box to
cover the costs. There is even an electric kettle so I hope users are
placing money in the honesty box so that the electricity is not cut
off. The Estate, who own and maintain the bothy, have even left some
wood outside.
We had an extended break at the Bothy before setting off again as
another shower started and a short distance along the track we came to
the Allt a'Choire Charnaig with its small waterfall before it crossed
the track. It was in spate so my client had the decision whether to
cross it or not so she decided to wade the river and continue the walk.
The track then crossed another bridge and wound its way up Glen Finnan
between Streap and Sgurr Thuilm. It also crossed the swollen stream
four times before the track came to an end just before the bealach.
Quoted message said:From here on the path was wet and muddy as it crossed the bealach and
headed into Gleann Cuirnean. Here my client found the walking rather
difficult as her normal walking was done in the New Forest so progress
was very slow as we descended north.
We took a break for lunch and continued the slow descent which was also
hampered by landfalls which either required us to climb round them or
cross beside the swollen Allt Cuirnean.
The final obstacle of the day, well I thought it was, was the crossing
of the Allt Cuirnean. There was no bridge so there was only one
option and that was to wade the stream which was knee deep. Once on
the opposite side we were able to cross the deep and swollen River
Pean, which would have been impossible to ford.
On reaching the north side of the river we entered the forest where the
track is horrendous, wet and boggy churned up by Estate vehicles, so it
took a while to negotiate. Once onto the vehicle track it was an easy
walk to Strathan where we were met and driven back to Fort William.
Photos from the second day can be found at:
http://www.caledoniahilltreks.com/galleries/glen_finnan_may06/index.htm