Christmas in Glen Coe III: the Hillwalk Terminator

January 15, 2025 Trip reports aonach eagach, beinn a bheithir, britain, glen coe, hill walking, meall dearg, munros, scotland 5 Comments

It was the third year in a row that we’d chosen to spend Christmas in Glencoe in the hope of bagging some winter hills. But, as we’ve discovered, hoping for good weather in Glencoe over Christmas is a forlorn hope. Still, you’ve got to put your chin up and get on with it. With an unpromising weather forecast, would we manage get up any Munros?

In memoriam: Dave Fowler, West Coast mountain guide

August 23, 2023 Reviews and tributes aonach eagach, climbing fatalities, cuillin ridge, dave fowler, glen coe, mountain guides, obituaries, scotland, west coast mountain guides 18 Comments

It was with great shock and sadness that I learned of the death of Dave Fowler on Aonach Eagach earlier this month. Dave guided Edita and me on the Cuillin in 2020. He was a great character, ever talkative and cheerful, and extremely careful as a guide.

How to survive a wet and wintry week in Glen Coe, Scotland

January 11, 2023 Trip reports aonach eagach, britain, chris townsend, glen coe, hill walking, munros, scotland 3 Comments

For many years the idea of a week in Scotland at the end of December was far from my thoughts. There are only a few hours of daylight, a high chance of rain every day, howling winds and thick mist over the hills. But it’s still possible to enjoy yourself in these circumstances.