Spring is in the air down in the glens, and with the evenings drawing out it is a great time to get out. However up on the hills climbing and ski-ing conditions are good with conditions still being pretty wintery.

Friends climbed Hidden Chimney over in the Cairngorms on Saturday, they reported it was wild on top but the climb was in nick. Jane from the Outdoor Capital ski-ed at Nevis Range on Saturday, visibility deteriorated later in the afternoon but the snow got better and better as the day went on.

On Sunday 30th March I walked along the ridge on the north side of Loch Leven with a friend, Hilda. Parking at a layby near Callert Cottage we walked back into Kinlochleven taking in Mam na Gualainn and Beinn na Caillich. This is a great walk, not quite so comitting as some of the higher mountains(you climb to just under 800 metres) we took, but didn't need ice axes, but it was pretty snowy so we were glad we had warm kit. This walk gives fantastic views of the mountains in Glencoe, the Mamores, and through to the sea and is really worth doing - you get great views for not so much climbing. Descending we joined the West Highland Way and walked into Kinlochleven.

For more info on the Glencoe and Loch Leven area of Lochaber, ideas of where to stay and things to do visit the regional pages on the Outdoor Capital site.

Hilda's boyfriend did Hadrian's Wall on Ben Nevis on Sunday and had great day too. See Abacus Mountaineering's site for more info on current climbing conditions.

Anna