Glencoe news page 3

Up the hill, behind our cottage is an old railway cutting. It was famous in its day for being one of the most beautiful railway lines ever built and it ran between Ballachulish and Oban. All down the side of Loch Linnhe, around Castle Stalker and through Barcaldine, can you imagine the beauty of this route? Our neighbour, Jessie's boy used to catch it to school and back, and the driver would slow down to let him sling his bags into the garden as he passed. It was far more renowned in its day that the present Fort William - Mallaig run.

Where the cycle track will run
Built in 1903, there was an outcry in 1966 when it was closed as part of Dr Beeching's railway cost savings. Gradually, the line was grown over, the Kentallen Station was turned into the Holly Tree Hotel and other stations used as houses.

Now the old station at Creagan Bridge has been restored, and they plan to use much of the track bed as part of the proposed West Coast Cycle Route. Good.
Five accidents in two weeks

All the A82 from Glasgow to Inverness is dangerous. They drive too close together, they overtake at speed on bends and they meet something coming too fast the other way. Sometimes drink plays a part. A particularly nasty bit is between the Ballachulish Bridge and Fort William. The Oban Times reported two accidents here in five weeks. Take care, let the twits kill themselves if they must, but not you.

However, on the bright side, for other kinds of crimes, such as muggings, joyriding, eating too much at McDonalds this district has one of the gentlest, softest records in the whole country. It is a very safe place. (Well, except for the Aonach Eagach ridge in winter when you've hurt your ankle and not told anyone where you are going, and it is getting dark and you are not prepared for a bivvy overnight)

Glencoe Mountain rescue
They rescue you for free these lads. Night and day any weather. 22 callouts last year - winter is busiest. Mobile phones and Gps system help these days. People get stuck on crags and need assistance to get off. In winter people don't allow enough time to get down and become benighted. Women will usually survive this, when their male companions may die. It is the way their bodies are made. Most of the problem is due to walkers with ankle

damage. Many panic when they get stuck and call the rescue team which always waves a cheery hello when they find the victims have got down by themselves, drinking mugs of tea. Not.

At least this one’s head is not covered up

Just two bodies last year. Plus a dog, and a man with sore feet, and another climbing on ice without crampons. Takes all kinds. The team relies on donations. Give the leader a call and send some money. John Grieve 01855 821 444

Mind you, Ben Nevis is worse. No maps, no compass, no warm clothes, no brains that's the usual call out reason there.

Read Hamish McInnes' book on Mountain Disasters - you can get it in Crafts and Things, and he will have signed it. He is there most mornings. A kind and modest man - yes, THE Hamish McInnes, Everest, Eiger North Wall, Piz Badile. Yes, that one.

Yes, I’ve read it and it is very good. Gill hasn’t. She does not care for tales of derring do..