Kinlochleven

72 Comments
Loch Leven
Loch Leven

The final day of last year’s North-West Highland trip dawned very wet. We were staying in Ballachulish, which we had explored thoroughly the previous evening, so we decided to take a scenic drive to Kinlochleven. Despite the rain, the views of Loch Leven (above) were, indeed, scenic.

Kinlochleven is a former industrial settlement, the site of a huge aluminium smelter built in 1904. When it closed in the 1990s, the owners, Alcan, transferred land to the community for use by the village. This Pelton Wheel, part of the hydro-power system, was also donated and is proudly displayed in front of the old smelter buildings. They now serve as a climbing centre, The Ice Factor, of which more later. Kinlochleven is also a stop on the West Highland Way long-distance footpath so climbing and hiking tourism keeps it going.

We strolled along the River Leven, above, spotting several sculptures along the way.

Kinlochleven sculpture
Kinlochleven sculpture
Kinlochleven sculpture

I thought this bench was going to be a war memorial, but it turns out to be celebrating the local angling club.

Kinlochleven Angling Club bench
Kinlochleven Angling Club bench

Fancy a glamping holiday? The Blackwater Hostel has some attractive pods and a welcoming bear.

Blackwater Hostel, Kinlochleven
Blackwater Hostel, Kinlochleven

We also found that some of the locals had very quirky gardens!

Kinlochleven garden
Kinlochleven garden

We took a short path up to Grey Mare’s Waterfall. I turned back before the very end – I didn’t want to fall in and get wet feet!

Grey Mare’s Waterfall, Kinlochleven
Grey Mare’s Waterfall, Kinlochleven
Grey Mare’s Waterfall, Kinlochleven

Finally, we used the West Highland Way to create a circular walk above Loch Leven. Despite the weather not being great (and luckily, it wasn’t as wet as it was when we set out in the morning) the views were once again good.

Loch Leven
Loch Leven
Loch Leven

As promised, back to the climbing centre. The Ice Factor opened in 2003 and boasts the biggest indoor ice climbing wall in the world, the UK’s highest indoor articulated rock climbing wall, and a competition bouldering wall voted the best in the UK. Wow! More important to me – it also has a very nice café which we visited for lunch, and again for a cup of tea before we returned to our hotel. From it, you can observe some of the climbing walls, and on our second visit we watched a drama unfold on the Outdoor Aerial Adventure Course. A gangly boy of 16 (we know his age because his granny kept wailing “He’s only 16!”) got well and truly stuck. He slipped off the footholds and didn’t have the strength to pull himself back up – I think the instructor certainly earned her money that day by getting him back on track. (Photos taken through a very wet window!)

Drama at the Ice Factor
Drama at the Ice Factor
Drama at the Ice Factor
Drama at the Ice Factor
Drama at the Ice Factor
Drama at the Ice Factor

And so ended the first section of our 2019 summer trip. The next day, we drove back to Glasgow where we spent a few days with friends and family before setting off again, this time for the south-eastern part of Scotland. Maybe with all this “social distancing” I will have time to catch up. I hope everyone is doing well in these difficult times.

Scotland, UK

72 Comments »

  3. The hiking, the longs walks, the cafe- all that but leave out the climbing. Unless, of course, I can watch it all whilst I drink my coffee and enjoy my scone.

    Like

  4. I always enjoy your scenic photos, Anabel! I like the idea of a glamping holiday. The Ice Factor looks interesting although I am with you and the cafe would be more my thing. Good grief on the 16 year old. Glad for the happy ending. Stay healthy, Anabel! xx

    Like

  5. This post was a delightful diversion from reality, which sadly is not terribly delightful these days. I laughed at the poor teenager who fell off the blocks, though can’t imagine why anyone would want to do that in the first place!

    Like

  10. Hi Anabel – does the waterfall flood into the river in that first photo? Well done on walking in the rain … but you have some gorgeous photos – or John does! Fascinating to see the Alcan site … glad it’s been turned over to the community. I’d be happy to glamp – but not like that with lots of others around … still if it was a group for a walking purpose – makes sense! Cheers and take care – Hilary

    Like

      • Oh … ok – thanks for answering re the hydro scheme escape. Yes I can see the glamping pods would make sense for walkers … and distinctly better than carrying a tent! Cheers Hilary

        Liked by 1 person

  11. I’m not sure what is worse gnomes in the garden or the rain 🙂 I do love your glamping option. I certainly admire you and your husband for exploring no matter what the weather is like. We haven’t got to the stage of major closing of public places, though big events have cancelled. Even tangi’s, funerals and weddings have a people limit to under 100 or 50.

    Like

    • The gnomes are something else! Lots of closures here, libraries, including the one I volunteer in, museums etc. I know two people with sons getting married this weekend. One is having the ceremony with immediate family only and a big party to follow at some unspecified time in the future. I haven’t heard about the other one. She’s in my book group which we are holding virtually tonight, so she may or may not “attend” depending how things are going.

      Liked by 1 person

      • I have reluctantly given up my volunteer work. Not that I’m concerned about myself it’s Les that has a comprised immune system which is a bit of an understatement. Closures are happening over here too. Feels very strange not to have tourists walking about or many locals. I am still heading out for my training walks. Otherwise, I would go stir crazy. How did you book club meet up go?

        Like

        • That’s very sensible, Suzanne, Les needs your protection. We can go out for walks too without being in contact with others: we’re lucky to live near a park, a river and a canal. The book group went really well! We’re going to try it again. It’s important to keep in touch virtually when you can’t in person.

          Liked by 1 person

  12. An area and village I used to know very well over many years but that life now feels like a different person lived it. It’s certainly improved a lot since my last visit as it had very few sculptures or tourist friendly attractions back then except for hill-walking and climbing. Weird how a life can have many different compartments like that, all separated and apart. I used to go hill-walking with the owner, many moons ago.

    Like

  15. I still don’t fancy glamping (never liked camping even as a youngster) but the pods look attractive. Loved the bear though!

    Like

  18. What a beautiful place to see. I love the sculpture and what was done to the factory and its surroundings. I would have loved seeing that waterfall and creek which i am always drawn to. Those people sure love their gnomes. A beautiful place to visit. Everything is basically shut down here except for grocery stores, pharmacies and some retail places but it sounds like we are closing our borders too. Many restaurants have closed for now as well as all the sights. It’s a good time to go hiking in the woods and be away from people:) How is it in your neck of the woods?

    Like

    • It was beautiful, Birgit, and it’s good to have some memories to look back on now that everything is so horrible. All our libraries, museums etc have shut down but quite a lot of shops and restaurants are still open. Our restrictions seem a lot looser than most other countries.

      Like

  19. Ooh, those pods look great! I’ve never glamped, but I can see the attraction of not having to pitch a tent in the rain (which I don’t terribly mind) or amidst the midges (which I mind very much!)

    Like

  25. I don’t know that I’d be one for glamping, but those pods do look nice. The garden statuary is something else indeed. People express themselves in so many different ways.

    Like