Beth's Stuff, of a Random Nature

A' Chailleach and Sgur Breac - 2 western Fannichs

A' Chailleach means the old woman in Gaelic, and Sgur Breac is the speckled (pointy) peak.  read more ...

  (16/05/18)

Derry Cairngorm from the Linn of Dee

Having been back and forth through Tomintoul recently I really will have to stop by the Whisky Castle again. If only to see if the new owners are as helpful and welcoming as the previous guy. I could hear the bottles calling me as I passed. I was early, as in the day before. Crash out in the car park overnight and walk the next day being the plan. Even with this a bank holiday weekend I figured at 7 o'clock in the evening the car park would be quiet enough. It was and I found a space or two at the far end big enough to park alongside the track. Backed Florence the camper into a lovely little spot and killed the engine. Lovely lovely silence, among the hordes of cars parked everywhere barely half-a-dozen other spaces available.  read more ...

  (06/05/18)

Carn a'Mhaim from Linn of Dee

Spring has finally sprung, and in the words of John Muir - "The mountains are calling and I must go". I have been meaning to do Carn a' Mhaim since my backpacking trip last autumn. It had been on the plan but I was too exhausted to haul an overnight pack over it and Ben Macdui so escaped via the Lairig Ghu - which was another of my must do's at some point.  read more ...

  (20/04/18)

New boots on Cairngorm

Having tried, and remarkably failed to climb Meall a' Bhuachaille the other week, I was ready for some more snowy stomping. In the meantime I'd been to Aviemore on a boot hunt, and failed. A visit to Craigdon Mountain Sports, the only outdoor shop in Sneckie I hadn't been in also failed to provide suitable boots for my feet. However, a chance dropping in on Tiso was successful. I now haz a bright shiny new Pair of La Sportiva Trango Tower boots. Rated B2 they are horribly stiff on paths round the usual dog walk. On snow, they turned out rather fine. Even on a long day with Gina being very slow they kept my feet warm and comfortable. Definitely good snow boots and lighter than my AKU SuperAlp's.  read more ...

  (07/01/18)

A night with the devil

I'm just starting to write up this walk of epic proportions almost a week later. My excuse is simply that in the days after I have been supremely tired, a little achy and my brain struggled to adjust back into normal life. I was only away 2 days and a night, but it felt a real shock to rejoin the bustle of life.  read more ...

  (02/09/17)

Mayar and Driesh, and Mount Keen - 10/11 Aug 2017

I was considering a walk to Ben Klibreck in Sutherland for the Thursday as the weather looked reasonable early in the week. As my good weather day approached the forecast deteriorated substantially. On the day before my walk chance meeting with Gina meant I might have some company, but she'd already done it and didn't fancy repeating it. The south-east highlands forecast looked much better. I reconsidered going north, and contemplated the south eastern highlands. I mentioned my vague plan to Gina. She was up for it. So at very short notice we arranged to meet up at the Glen Doll car park in the depths of Glen Clova. Both arrived just before 11pm and immediately went to bed in the campers.  read more ...

  (11/08/17)

Beinn Dearg, Ullapool - 18th July 2017

It was in May 2009 that I walked 3 out of 4 of the Ullapool Beinn Deargs with the Morley gathering. I remember it as a particularly rough year. I'd been diagnosed with Crohn's, had umpteen operations, 'investigations', and failed at a number of drugs to try to gain control. It did end fairly well with me being put on yet another which did eventually help. And obviously, bagging 3 munros was pretty good going for the time. So much has happened since, but the mountains were still there. The one I'd missed was Beinn Dearg itself...  read more ...

  (21/07/17)

Beinn Mheadhoin and Ben Macdui via Loch A'an

Following beside the Allt Coire Raibeirt down to Loch A'an, the rough and rocky path already pretty steep, steepened further. Sitting on a rock step water running down my leg as I lowered myself down to the next ledge I hoped it was going to be worth it. I saw no-one about. I hadn't since two guys came up the track from the ski centre on a glorified quad-bike passing me at the Sheiling Station. I'd seen ant like dots climbing the path to Stob Coire an t'Sneachda, but they wouldn't see me if I slipped. Or hear me. Don't slip I thought, it wouldn't be good.  read more ...

  (13/07/17)