Van Park Up: Glencoe
A surprising oasis in this beautiful but busy mountain pass, plus a book about clouds!
Most people who’ve ventured to Scotland will have heard of Glen Coe, an outrageously scenic glen made accessible thanks to the A82 road. As such, it’s enormously popular during the summer months, so much so that I once avoided this glen in favour of quieter regions further north. Now that we’re based in Argyll, we seem to find ourselves in Glen Coe frequently as it lies on our direct path to Fort William and other useful places.
Despite the tourists - and I can be a major tourist grump - Glen Coe is deservedly popular and beyond the crowded car parks is some spectacular hill walking to be had.
I also learned last week that, despite the crowds and the deluge of camper vans, there still exists in Glen Coe some quiet corners where you can actually spend a peaceful night in this mountain oasis. We happened by this layby off the main road while on our way back south from Ullapool. The location is sufficiently exposed to attract a breeze (and detract the midges) with views all around. Not a man made thing in site (aside from the occasional passing car!).
We stopped here for the night to break up the journey and watch the night unfold. (What little night there is in Scotland in July!) Clouds provided the bulk of the entertainment. Quote of the night by Mark: “There were some cumulonimbus up there and they’ve just f*cking gone!”. Mark captured the magic of the clouds in this time lapse - watch the clouds in the middle as they disappear!
And if your curious, the definition of Cumulonimbus according to The Met Office Cloud Book (which I heartily recommend): “A compound of the Latin words cumulus (“heap”) and nimbus (“rain cloud”), convective Cumulonimbus clouds can grow to immense heights, producing lightening, hail and stormy conditions at ground level.”
Park up location
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