For the Love of Glencoe

Last week Jo Tinsley, the Outdoors Editor of Countryfile Magazine and friends spent a few days staying at Glencoe Independent Hostel during a winter mountaineering holiday. They spent their time enjoying some of the things to do and see in the area in winter, unfortunately they missed the low level snow but there was enough on the hills to make up for that.

Wintry Conditions in Glencoe - Jo Tinsley

As a big fan of the area and the Clachaig itself, she has visited several times and has even mentioned the Clachaig in her route card for the Lost Valley in the magazine two years ago, also available online here.

Steall Falls - Martyn Cooper

This trip included taking part in a two day Winter Skills course through The Ice Factor, digging snow holes and learning how to stop yourself sliding by using an ice axe; self arresting for those in the know.

Steall Bridge - Martyn Cooper

As well as some more relaxed site seeing and walking, including a road trip to Mallaig via the Glenfinnan monument and the freezing but stunning Silver Sands of Morar. Followed the next day by a walk up Glen Nevis to the beautiful Steall falls (no longer frozen, for the ice climbers among you.) and the Wire Bridge, at which I was the only one of the group to lose my nerve in the high winds and fail to cross.

Silver Sands at Morar - Jo Tinsley

Of course, the visit wouldn't be have been complete without seeing our live band on the Saturday night, Black Eyed Biddy, and sampling the beers and whiskies we had to offer. Favourites were the Old Pulteney and Dalluaine whiskies and Cairngorm Brewery's Nessie's Monster Mash. Hopefully we'll see a little more of the area featured in the magazine in the coming months.

Martyn (Guest Blogger - and big jessie when it comes to wire bridges)

The sky's the limit!

After some gentle persuasion from Isi, our bar supervisor, 8 brave Clachaig staff were dragged kicking & screaming from their beds at 8am on Thursday morning to take advantage of an open invitation from the Ice factor to try out their facilities - free of charge.
With representatives from housekeeping, reception and bar - many of whom had never climbed before - this was a great chance for them to bond as a team. We even discovered that due to working opposite shifts some hadn’t met before!

Slightly bleary-eyed, they rocked up at the Ice factor, were kitted-up, signed-in and enjoyed a warm-up on the auto-belays. These mechanisms allow you to climb without having someone to hold your rope and are a great way to get beginners onto the wall straight away.


Following a brief lesson in how to tie in and belay, the real climbing began, supervised by some of our more experienced staff. Some of the group achieved things they didn’t think were possible and many giggles were had by all! A brief play in the bouldering wall and a coffee (tho' not at the same time!) finished off the morning nicely.


Needless to say they are all planning another trip, although unfortunately they’ll have to open their wallets this time!

Thanks to Tracy & all at The Ice Factor for making this possible.