Gairich - with the boggy walk-in
Having on a previous attempt started late due to the stuck gate, and trying to march across the bog to make up some time, which blew my energy, I started nice and early. Thin mist hung around the dam, a wee bit of sunshine and blue sky suggested a lovely day. And the infamous gate was open! Despite a restless night in the van I was feeling ready for the day ahead, whatever that may look like. read more ...
(03/09/24)
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Aonach Mòr via the Nevis Range gondola
I've been feeling the summer is in danger of passing me by. Post solstice and the combination of poor mountain weather and lack of confidence in my fitness has not been helping my mood. I've had in mind for a while now the idea of using the gondola to get me a bit of height onto Aonach Mòr and Aonach Beag. However the timing would be everything. read more ...
(08/07/24)
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Ben Vorlich at Loch Earn
We left Ambleside early as I'd woken at silly o'clock. The roads were very quiet and we made good progress to the west end of the South Loch Earn Road. There the fun began. The road is incredibly narrow, rough, and with few passing places. Then we found the informal parking places and the campers on the loch shore. read more ...
(29/06/24)
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Unfinished business on Sgùrr a' Mhaoraich
Sgùrr a' Mhaoraich means the "peak of the shellfish", which whilst it's not too far from Loch Hourn it didn't appear to have much connection to shellfish that I noticed. A previous visit here resulted in an aborted mission just metres from the summit due to snow. I hoped to avoid another miss but would see how the day progresses. read more ...
(01/06/24)
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Schiehallion - the Fairy Hill of the Caledonians
It was ages since I walked a hill, poor weather and less than optimal energy levels gave me plenty of excuses. But I needed to change things, so... Schiehallion is rocky and not boggy at all so no issue with saturated peat bogs. As is often the way I was up earlier than the alarm and driving off into the fog. As we neared the Braes of Foss car park a break in the mist showed us a glimpse of a snow capped hill. It promised a Good Day Out. read more ...
(18/11/23)
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Beinn Iutharn Mhor
A looong walk-in to a remote hill, surrounded by peat bog, rivers on each side, very steep in places? Oh, okay then! I'd failed at this hill before. I'd marched along the track through Glen Ey into a head wind to get the long walk in done and over with. By the time I'd reached the ruins of Altanour Lodge I was spent, burst and utterly finished. So this time with a light breeze and much longer day length I took my time. read more ...
(07/06/23)
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Tolmount and Tom Buidhe
Paul dropped us off at the wee Allt a Gharbh-Choire car park just 2km north of the Glenshee ski centre with a plan to do 3 munros. Carn an Tuirc is on the way to the other 2, but Cairn of Claise was so near and since I felt pretty good with such lovely weather, I thought it would be rude not to. So we did 4 munros, 2 old and 2 new to me. read more ...
(27/05/23)
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Beinn Alligin, Tom na Gruagaich and Sgurr Mor
We started out early. I'd been awake since around 4am and dozed for an hour or so after, finally getting up around 6:30. Sunrise had taken it's time to get going but once the sun peeped above the hills the temperature lifted quickly. It was going to be a warm day. Jumping out the camper around 7:45am I soon found the midges were out and being annoying, there was little breeze in the car park to carry them away. read more ...
(16/05/23)
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