Beth's Stuff, of a Random Nature

Maol Chean-Dearg - from Coulags, Strathcarron

Maol Chean-Dearg means the bald red head hill on account of the lower slopes being quartzite but the top is of red Torridonian sandstone.  read more ...

  (15/08/22)

Carn Bhac, Glen Ey, Braemar

Carn Bhac meaning rocky hill of the peat banks. In practise it's a bump surrounded by boggy tiger-striped heathery peat hags capped with a scattering of quartzite boulders. The approach via Glen Ey, between Braemar and the Linn of Dee, is quite pretty, you pass the interestingly named The Colonels Bed, and old ruined walls hint at time of a once much greater occupation. But my eye's are drawn to the stark green and purple stripes from muirburn. It's the 8th of August, it'll soon be a poor time to be a grouse. "Welcome to the moor", indeed.  read more ...

  (09/08/22)

Beinn Damh - a Torridon Corbett

Beinn Dàmh (Ben Damph) means the hill of the stag, and is a Corbett (just missing out on munro status at 903m) just south of Torridon village. It's lower slopes are of woodland and waterfalls on the Allt Coire Roill, then peat bog, increasingly rocky with some Torridonian sandstone and then capped with quartzite boulders and scree.  read more ...

  (30/07/22)

Am Faochagach

Am Faochagach means the heathery place. Although these days it's probably best known for being one of the boggiest munros as the approach is across a mile of heathery boggy moorland at the westward end of Loch Glascarnoch. Thankfully after a dry spell of a good 4 to 6 weeks it was still pretty boggy but nothing like it's fearsome reputation.  read more ...

  (02/09/21)

Canisp, of bog and rock

Yesterday saw me and Skye back in Assynt to walk another corbett. Canisp, old norse for white mountain, rises from the loch-strewn landscape of the far north-west, between Ledmore Junction and Inchnadamph. The usual route of ascent is from the east on the A837 at the northern end of Loch Awe.  read more ...

  (20/08/21)

An inversion on Cùl Mòr

I woke up in a pea-souper fog and Gerty's skylight over the bed was very wet. It was kind-of in the forecast - fog lifting through the morning. "Oh well, I'm here to go up a hill so I'd best get on with it" I thought. Before leaving the van I slathered my face with Smidge and opted for my light windproof jacket rather full waterproofs. It was not a pleasant walk-in. I was too warm and even with another slathering of Smidge on all exposed skin I was being bitten. As I gained height the very light breeze freshened slightly blowing a few of the wee beasties away.  read more ...

  (21/07/21)

Breezy Ben Macdui

I'd had a couple of weeks or so of rest from the outdoors whilst I was recovering from my Humira injection, and producing another release of mapping. But now needed to get out. My default choice was Ben Macdui on a relatively quiet route.  read more ...

  (14/07/21)

Quinag - Spidean Coinich

I had a new lens coming. I also hadn't planned another walk although I had one in mind. I fancied finishing Quinag. The lens came earlier in the day than expected, and well, why not take it for a walk. So after a quick bit of weather forecast checking I packed Gerty so Skye and I could overnight at the car park and then walk the following day.  read more ...

  (19/06/21)