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On Friday 15 April, 10 intrepid members of Kelso CC set off to Fort William for the weekend, intent on capturing some great shots of Glencoe and whatever turned up in front of our cameras. Here are some of the results and the ‘story’ of our weekend.
Friday 15 April
On Friday evening, Alex, Ian and Norman set off by car to explore Glen Nevis. It was cold but the light wasn’t at all bad. We stopped near a wee gorge and walked down to it. Norman met a photographer, Dave ‘Cubby’ Cuthbertson, who was right down in the gorge photographing water movement. Turns out that Cubby is a very well-known Scottish climber not to mention an excellent photographer! On the way back to the car we had to ford the stream. And guess what? Yes.. Ian fell in! Luckily no camera equipment was involved and apart from a wet arm and leg, Ian survived intact.
Back to the hotel and then off for a meal in the Rio Pizzeria. ENORMOUS helpings and a very convivial evening.
Our night was disturbed by the fire alarm at 1.15 am and we all trundled down to the front door in various stages of unconsciousness. Tom and Laura missed all the fun because they were staying in the absolutely fabulously wonderful Travel Lodge where the alarm also went off but everyone just ignored it there.
Saturday 16 April
Another cool day but some decent light as we headed for Glen Etive courtesy of our 2 drivers, Alex and Tom. First stop was Buachaille Etive Mòr which was bathed in beautiful sunshine. Three minutes later the clouds settled above the mountain and it remained grey for the rest of our time in that area. The iconic shot of the Ben with the stream in the foreground just wasn’t an option as there was almost no water visible. Still, we know where it is now.
Next we sauntered down the glen – all the way to Loch Etive where we enjoyed a splendid but short-lived snow flurry. A beautiful place with many photo opportunities including the loch itself, a broken-down hut and several red deer which were fairly disinterested in posing for us. We also managed to pass Skyfall, the Bond movie location, without actually noticing.
One stop on the way back afforded us an opportunity to photograph a nice stretch of the River Etive with a few wee waterfalls. Some canoeists were rather more obliging than the deer and came down the falls several times until we got the shots!
Then on to Glencoe itself with several roadside stops for photos in both the glen and the village.
A final stop at Corran Ferry ended the day’s photographs.
That night we all went to Brown’s and had a smashing meal and a drink or two as well.
Sunday 17 April
After breakfast we all went our separate ways – some to Corpach, some to the Commando Monument at Spean Bridge and some to Kaig Falls near Loch Arkaig.
On the way home I stopped near Amulree to take some photos of a hut on a hill. Ian stopped in Lochearnhead for a completely different reason. Least said the better … coughs…. 3 points and a £100 fine.
All in all a GREAT weekend!
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