Collected Musings of a Hill Wanderer

The options that I have in mind for this post are of the public transport variety. I have noticed that there are years when I visit an area a lot and that is down to number of factors: it might be somewhere new for me to explore and the weather conditions are more favourable there than other places. A window of opportunity for getting there using public transport can be yet another contributor.

After all, public transport options do change over time and not always for the better. One factor that contributes to this is public demand. There have been times when the frequency for bus services has been improved only for it to be cut back again, possibly because of patronage. An example of this that comes to mind is the X94 Trawscambria service that became hourly in 2006 but is as good as two-hourly these days, even if some services extend to and from Chester with Wrexham being the main northern terminus. the trouble with this is that there is the nagging question as to whether enough time was allowed for patronage to build up; that is something that might take a few years rather than twelve months in some cases.

The next thing that crops up in my mind is the loss of a public transport connection and rail-bus connections particularly come to mind. Sunday rail-bus connections in Bangor (in Wales, not NI) or the lack of them have disappointed me in the past. Having the bus leave before the train arrives does sound a bit ridiculous but short connection times are just as useless, especially when you recall how late trains can be.

Then, there regulatory hurdles to be overcome. One that recently came into play was the 50 km limit for local bus services brought into force following an EU directive. That has done for a Sunday Dalesbus service operated by Arriva and introduced changes where there previously were through services. I could see the 555 in the Lake District being hit by this as well. However, I suppose that England and Wales had a better express bus system like Ireland and Scotland, then all of this wouldn’t cause any problems.

The route length limitation can be seen as a piece of regulatory madness but there are home grown ones in the U.K. too. One that annoys me a little is the intervention of the Competition Commission in the Scottish bus market following the coming together of Scottish Citylink and Stagecoach’s Megabus. Thankfully, a sensible compromise was reached with services on some routes going to Parks of Hamilton and they are agreeing to work with Citylink as regards timetables and ticketing. Otherwise, it could have further fragmented an already fragmented system and is an exhibition of the sort of mindset that could stop us ever getting the joined up transport system that we so desire.

What has brought all of this to mind is the retiming of the Macclesfield-Crewe bus service on Sundays to leave twenty five minutes earlier. I seem to remember that an early departure from Macclesfield on Sundays was a possibility some years back but it has since disappeared for some reason. So, the earlier start for the bus service in question is very much a good thing, even if it means that last one home is earlier too. That earlier first departure restores the option of getting to Shropshire and Mid Wales after its being removed by train retiming. I hope to make good use of this opportunity to explore Shropshire and mid Wales a bit more. Who knows but I may even walk new sections of the Offa’s Dyke Path. Not all of the world’s going downhill…

When I was walking from Drymen to Callander last August, I encountered a leaflet proclaiming the attractions of Glen Finglas. These days, it is owned by the Woodland Trust and they have big plans to restore the woodland in the glen. However, it wasn’t that which caught my eye but the walking possibilities. Most are short strolls with a wider appeal but it is the prospect of a longer 15 mile jaunt that is particularly appealing. However, without a car, it seems that getting there is the tricky bit; it might be a case of doing a spot of cycling, then.

Yorkshire Water seem to very keen on encouraging people to enjoy the land around their reservoirs. After all, they do have a website containing useful ideas for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and so on. Unsurprisingly, I took a look from the walker’s perspective and there are route ideas with full descriptions and the same seems to be on offer to cyclists.

It’s all a far cry from the way that things were once upon a time. Before the advent of water treatment plants and their like, reservoirs and the land round about them were out of bounds for the general public lest the supplies got contaminated. That mindset certain applied in Longdendale and also was behind the building of the Mourne Wall among the mountains of the same name in Northern Ireland. Aren’t we lucky that we live in more enlightened times? And yes, I know that they are far from perfect…

Here’s something that I encountered on the web, as usual while looking for something else: Argyll Online. It looks promising and presents itself well as it endeavours to cover what is a large region of Scotland.

The following thought entered my head not so long ago while looking at the idea of creating a West Highland Way photo gallery: why is Kinlochleven a sleepy place in the heart of fine mountain country rather than a bustling centre of all things outdoors? My visit last month might have one answer to this. I suffered the attentions of a swarm of midges while awaiting a bus and it is not an experience that I wish to repeat. Fort William was mercifully free of the blighters.

In a sense, it is too easy to ignore Kinlochleven for it is bypassed by the A82 and the railways. Fort William has the "Ben" and much more with the accommodation provision to match. Yet, it isn’t for nothing that the West Highland Way passes through Kinlochleven as it is in the midst of its climax. Proximity to Glen Coe and the Mamores ensures that eventuality but not a steady stream of other visitors, it seems.

The village’s history may not help its cause either. After all, it did nearly get called "Alumimiumville" and possessed the requisite smelter that used hydroelectric power provided from the Blackwater Reservoir. These days, the old smelter is now an outdoors centre with the The Ice Factor being its major attraction but there is an outdoor equipment shop and a cafe to complement the said indoor ice climbing wall.

As the mention of Glen Coe and the Mamores suggests, this is quality hillwalking country that is not limited to the attentions of winter climbing wannabees. A quick inspection of an OS and Harvey map will reveal a plethora of hill tracks probing countryside that affords plenty of peace and solitude. I didn’t see it at its best last month but I did like what I saw and the views over Loch Leven were excellent, even with rain laden skies and low level cloud.

With its prospects for good walking and reasonable bus service to and from Glencoe, Ballachulish and Fort William, Kinlochleven is well worth using as an access point for hill country. I suppose that its being overlooked by the hordes that frequent Fort William does have one very attractive compensation: you get to feel that you admire the scenery at your ease without the feeling that you are constantly leap frogging others. I hope to go back.