Kinlochleven
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.
I thought this bench was going to be a war memorial, but it turns out to be celebrating the local angling club.
Fancy a glamping holiday? The Blackwater Hostel has some attractive pods and a welcoming bear.
We also found that some of the locals had very quirky gardens!
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!
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.
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!)
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.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
I’m now in love with Loch Levan. With the mountains as a backdrop, this location looks spectacular!
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It is, and a nice memory to look back on. Hope all is well with you and yours.
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I am well, thank you. This crisis has certainly curbed my gallivanting but I’m grateful to have a new passion in my life – painting. It’s absorbed a lot of my time and attention.
How are you faring through all of this?
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That’s good – maybe we will see some more on your blog! On the whole, we are fine thanks.
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Loch Leven looks a lovely area – I guess the tourists will have to stay away for a while. Hope the little cafes and businesses can somehow keep going in the future.
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I hope so. The future looks very bleak though 😟.
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Yes the consequences of this extended crisis will be felt for many years – just hope support can be given to the many whose livelihoods will be destroyed. Can’t see a quick solution at this point in time but trying to stay positive.
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That’s all we can do I guess, keep hoping!
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Yes somehow have to focus on positive thoughts and an end in sight to this horrible virus and all the ensuing disruption!
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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.
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Yes, I’m definitely not keen on the climbing! And it’s all beyond our reach now anyway 😟.
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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
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Thanks, Erica – you too! Trying times.
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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!
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I think armchair travel is what we are left with now 😟. I admit we laughed at first too, then watched open-mouthed as he was rescued. Nothing would induce me up there!
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I’m sure my much-anticipated Hebrides trip in August will have to be cancelled, too. Can’t see the world being over this in only five months.
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No, I can’t either, despite the bumbling idiot we have as PM saying we’ll turn the tide in 12 weeks.
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I read that on the Guardian, it did seem oddlly optimistic.
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so very beautiful . . .and guess thanks to the rain you had more of it to yourself!
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Funnily enough it was quite quiet! Less so on the part of our walk that was on the west highland way. I guess if you do that you just have to keep going!
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I’ve yet to convince MrB to the merits of a long distance walk, probably because of that very thing – you have to keep going!
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It would be carrying everything and staying in basic accommodation that would put me off!
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ah I was thinking more of someone driving ahead with it all for me!!!
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Oh, good plan!
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What stunning scenery. Although I lived in Scotland for 45 years, I never made it to Kinlochleven.
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It was the first time I’d been too, and we’ve been here since 1986!
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