Helen Rose    Hill Diary

During the time I was Munro bagging I missed seeing other beautiful sites in Scotland. One of those was the Falls of Glomach. I had the opportunity in May this year to go on a weekend with the Glasgow HF Outdoor Club www.glasgowhf.btck.co.uk  and the Falls of Glomach were on the programme as a walk. Unfortunately, the weather was not kind to us although we managed the low level walks. The Munro baggers had a problem with snow at 3,000 feet and high wind chill factor.

The Falls of Glomach are located between two glens in Kintail in the north west of Scotland and reached by walking from Dorusduain for approximately two and a half miles uphill on a good path. Kintail is on the road from Invergarry and near to Kyle of Lochalsh where the bridge connects with Skye. Glomach means gloomy in Gaelic and they often can be misty in the glens, However, on the day we went the falls we did see them in all their glory as it was following a heavy rainfall.

The path is clearly marked and crosses a burn in the forest. It is then out on open countryside looking back to the loch at Kintail. We came across a disused cottage but it was not inviting to have a tea stop there as it was so damp. We continued on the forestry track and managed a stop here between the showers for tea. We continued on the path on to the bealach at 1,700 feet then dropped down into the glen where we saw the fast flowing river with white water. We followed the path alongside the river and soon reached the top of the falls. They were in spectacular flow with the heavy rain. They are the highest falls in Scotland at 375 feet high. The path descends alongside the falls but it is not possible to see the entire length at one time as there is a twist in the rock. Fortunately, it had stopped raining and there were clear views at the falls.

We retraced our path up to the bealach but by this time it was hailstones with the wind onto our face. We were glad to turn the corner and descend out of the wind! It was back to the car park and onto the Hostel at Ratagan for some tea. Ratagan has a fabulous view over the loch to the hills and it is pleasant to have meals looking out to the view. The others who had tried to Munro bag had a hard day of it in such wintry conditions. The Club is approaching 100 years since it was formed and the plan has been to climb all the Munros before that date. The project started about seven years ago and they are well on their way to achieving their goal albeit some Munros programmed were not climbed that weekend due to the weather conditions.

The following day we went on a very pleasant walk around the Glenelg peninsula and saw the little two car ferry still running to the south of Skye. The walk took in forest, beaches and moorland with excellent views around the area. The weather was certainly better at the low level. We even had a tea stop at a disused stable where John amused us by falling through an old garden chair that was there. As the oldest person in the group, we felt he should have the chair!

Coming attractions; Shetland Islands and  Baltic cruising.

Contact me at [email protected]

Thanks to Stephen Thomson for the photos.