Abyssinia

Saturday 28th February 2009

A couple of years ago when I first heard that we were going to Abyssinia I thought "that's a long way for a Saturday morning", as you all know Abyssinia is now Ethiopia in north east Africa and a very long way from Erskine. Then I discovered that the Abyssinia we were going to walk to, was only a pleasant car drive up the shores of Loch Lomond through the village of Arrochar and up and over the 860ft summit of Glen Croe and the "Rest and be Thankful" more commonly known to us as "The Rest". It got It's name originally from the olde coaching days and you can imagine the condition of the horses as they laboured up the old twisting road to the top. A short drive from here passing Loch Restil we eventually came to our starting point at Butterbridge, the old drovers road that crosses Kinglas Water nestled beneath the 901m Corbett of Beinn an Lochain on the A83 road to Inveraray. Our route from here took us onto the Strone plantation track leading to the upper reaches of Glen Kinglas and passing the now reconstructed cottage of "Abyssinia" the name of our walk today. Story goes that a once owner of the cottage an Iain M'or or (Big John) had spent quite a considerable time in the real Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and when he went of an evening to a Ceilidh at a neighbours cottage down Glen Kinglas he spoke so much of that distant country that in the course of time he and his house came to be known as Abyssinia (believe it or not). A brisk walk uphill from here and along the Scottish Water Board Viaduct took us into Gleann Uaine and to a small water encatchment area beneath Beinn Dubh where a refreshment was taken before we made our journey back down the now rather overcast and rainy Glen Kinglas to our starting point at Butterbridge.

Everyone enjoyed this walk into one of the more remote areas of Scotland but not so remote that our host today Mr. John McGarry could pull out some delicious home made "Pancakes" accompanied with raspberry jam even, and washed down with the usual Tea & Coffee. What an end to another great day out!!!!

Joe Roche

Last Updated Sunday 23rd August 2009

Scottish Charity No13514