Hills & Mountains
Corrour & The Grey Corries
*I am in the process of redesigning this section to include notes and many more high-res shots*
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Includes Loch Treig etc*
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Unveiled in 1952 by the Queen Mother, the Commando Monument has become one of Scotland's best-known war memorials. The iconic monument is situated beside the busy A82 Fort William to Inverness road on the high ground above the village of Spean Bridge and overlooks the wild country in which the Commandos trained.
The figures gaze across to the dramatic skyline of the Grey Corries mountain range with Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor off to the southeast and the combination of the memorial and, weather permitting, magnificent scenery, make the Commando Monument one of Scotland's most-photographed war memorials. As a result, it`s often a challenge to capture it against the mountain backdrop without people in the way. In 1949, the sculptor Scott Sutherland`s design won a competition open to all Scottish sculptors for the commission. `United We Conquer` is inscribed around the top of the stone plinth, while the plaque reads: `In memory of the officers and men of the commandos who died in the Second World War 1939–1945. This country was their training ground.` Nearby Achnacarry Castle became the main Commando Training Depot for the Allied Forces from 1942 to 1945. Achnacarry had been a training centre for the first Commandos and the SOE (Special Operations Executive) since 1940 but the facility was greatly expanded in preparation for the D-Day landings. In addition to British troops, United States Army Rangers and commandos from France, the Netherlands, Norway, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Belgium also trained there. Each course culminated in a simulated amphibious assault, usually at nearby Loch Lochy, when live ammunition was used. |
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PEAK ( m) (Partial ascent only)
Winter, Early 1990s - exact date not recorded
Winter, Early 1990s - exact date not recorded
I`ve made three trips to `do` the Grey Corries to date and every time the weather has been a washout. The first occasion was in the early 1990s, when I was accompanied by Russell D, a pal from work. We got quite high up on Stob Coire Gaibhre, the first subsidiary top (desc) of the circuit, but by that time visibility had almost deteriorated to a `white-out`. There was little chance of an improvement so we retraced our route and called it a day.
PEAK ( m) (Partial ascent only)
Date not recorded
My second time on the Grey Corries was again in winter, following the same route, but I was unaccompanied. Despite a good forecast, the weather turned out almost as bad as before and after gaining the ridge, I thought it unwise to continue.
Date not recorded
My second time on the Grey Corries was again in winter, following the same route, but I was unaccompanied. Despite a good forecast, the weather turned out almost as bad as before and after gaining the ridge, I thought it unwise to continue.
PEAK
For my next visit, another solo outing, decent weather was again forecast. I followed the same ascent route for the third time but cloud clung to the tops and I never got a view, although it looked as if the murk would clear at any minute. I ddi a complete circuit of Coire Choimhlidh, taking in Stob Choire Claurigh, its subsidiaries, Stob Coire Gaibhre, Stob Choire Claurigh-North top and Stob a` Choire Leith, as well as Stob Coire An Laoigh and its satellites Stob Coire Cath na Sine, Caisteal, Stob Coire Easain and Beinn na Socaich. I sat at the last cairn for ages under a lightening sky before dropping down and following the line of the old tramway back to the day`s starting point. I had the car in sight by 2.30 pm, and that was when patches of blue finally started to appear above. Within 15 minutes the tops were completely clear!
PEAK(S) ( m)
Thursday 20 May 1993
Thursday 20 May 1993
I tagged Sgurr Choinnich Mor and its satellite, Sgurr Choinnich Beag, onto an ascent of Aonach Mor, starting from Glen Nevis. I also climbed Aonach Mor`s subsidiaries Stob an Cul Choire, Stob Coire an Fhir Dhuibh and Tom na Sroine, This was my first decent day involving one of the Grey Corries` peaks and I finally got a view from one of their summits!