Final Tally : 284 Munros

On Monday 10/08/09, Silke, Lewis and Eilidh joined me for the last Munro of the trip - Ben Hope. It was my 284th and Eilidh's 1st! Unfortunately it was clagged in at the top, so no view to finish off on - but at least it was dry!

A bit of a dreich Ben Hope summit, 10/08.

All in all the trip took me 115 days, with 8 rest days taken in total. Of these 3 were taken at the end of the first week when I was suffering some sort of calf muscle problem, which thankfully sorted itself out after a couple of days rest. Other than that, I luckly managed to avoid any serious injury, despite clunking my knees off various items, being blown over and tripping up over my own two feet on occasion (... stop walking first, then look at the view!).

From the route planning I did prior to the trip I calculated that the whole journey involved some 1112 miles (1794 kms) of actual walking and 479151 feet (146038 meters) of ascent. No wonder I went through the best part of three pairs of boots!

Many thanks to everyone who came up to visit or otherwise supported me on the trip. Also a big thank you to those who helped me raise almost £2000 for Maggies Cancer Care Centre. If anyone still wants to make a donation, you can do so online at:

http://www.justgiving.com/nonstopmunromadness/

It was a fabulous journey, with many great memories. If anyone is thinking about undertaking a similar trip, I could only encourage you to do it you will have a great time!

trevgall@googlemail.com

Thursday 6th August – Current tally 283 Munros.

The end of the walk is quite literally in sight. Ben Hope will be my last Munro (of the trip), but I’m waiting for my family to arrive so we can climb that one together and have a party on the top!

The last 10 days or so have been fantastic, including a visit to Shenavall bothy for the Fisherfield group, it was amazing to finally be walking in those hills after having read, seen from afar and thought about them for so long. Thanks Stuart and Bobby for coming up and providing some support and banter on that one!

John Bayne also popped up to help sample some of the fresh sea food on offer in Ullapool. We had a rather misty but memorable day out on Ben Wyvis, which was about all I was capable off following a dodgy prawn the night before!

Seana Bhraigh offered the chance to stretch my legs one last time to get it and all the Beinn Dearg hills done in one day. With a strong easterly blowing the whole day and still feeling a tad peeky from the prawn incident of a couple of nights before, I was glad to be heading back down the glen with the wind behind me on the walk out!

The last couple of days have been quite surreal with the slow, dawning realisation that the trip is almost over. Sitting here in Durness at the most north-westerly tip of Scotland, looking out to sea with the rain pinging off the camper van roof, it’s great to be able to reflect back over the last 100-odd days; the highs, the lows, the views seen and the cairns visited, the absolute soakings received, the wind blasted summits touched and the bloody midges!

28/07 – Fannichs East
(An Coileachean, Meall Gorm, Sgurr Mor & Beinn Liath Mhor Fannich)
29/07 – An Teallach
(Bidein a’Ghlas Thuill & Sgurr Fiona)
30/07 – Fisherfield Group
(Ruadh Stac Mor, A’Mhaighdean, Beinn Tarsuinn,
Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Sgurr Ban & Beinn a’Chlaidheimh)
31/07 – Walk Out / Rest Day
01/08 – Fannichs West
(A’Chailleach, Sgurr Breac, Sgurr nan Each, Sgurr nan Clach Geala
& Meall a’Chrasgaidh)
02/08 – Ben Wyvis
03/08 – Beinn Dearg Group
(Seana Bhraigh, Eididh nan Clach Geala, Meal nan Ceapraichean
Cona’Mheall & Beinn Dearg)
04/08 – Am Faochagach
05/08 – Conival & Ben More Assynt
06/08 – Ben Klibreck

The summit cairn on Beinn Liath Mhor Fannich
with Beinn Dearg in the background, 28/07.

Looking back from Sgurr Fiona towards
Bidein a’Ghlas Thuill on An Teallach, 29/07.

A view down Gleann na Muice towards Shenavall
from near the summit of Beinn Tarsuinn, Fisherfield 30/07.

The summit trig point on Ben Klibreck
with Ben Hope in the background centre, 06/08.

Monday 27th July – Current tally 256 Munros.

Quite a lot of ground covered since my last update, and some big rounds in wild remote country too! Overall the weather has been generally kind and I’ve been lucky to avoid some thundery downpours by a glen or two, in other instances it they were direct hits and I've taken a few soakings!

Too many highlights to describe them all here, but the Skye Ridge and in particular the Inn Pin in perfect conditions and the ascent of Sgurr nan Gillean the following day in less than perfect, has to be up there. There is no way I could have managed the Skye hills on my own – many thanks Mike for a fantastic memorable weekend!

Thanks also to the words of encouragement received from a couple of ScottishHill’ers I met on the way. Just what I needed to hear at the time!

12/07 – Rest Day
13/07 – Strathfarrar Circuit
(Sgurr Fhuar-Thull, Sgurr a’Choire Ghlas, Carn nan Gobhar & Sgurr na Ruaidhe)
14/07 – Mullardoch Circuit
(An Socach, An Riabhachan, Sgurr na Lapaich & Carn nan Gobhar)
15/07 – Moruisg & Sgurr nan Ceannaichean
16/07 – Bidean a’Choire Sheasgairch & Lurg Mhor
17/07 – Sgurr Choinnich, Sgurr a’Chaorachain & Maoile Lunndaidh
18/07 – Maol Chean-Dearg & Fionn Bheinn
19/07 – Rest Day : Weather awful!
20/07 – Beinn Alligin
(Tom na Gruagaich & Sgurr Mhor)
21/07 – Liathach
(Spidean a’Choire Leith & Mullach an Rathain)
22/07 – Beinn Eighe
(Ruadh-Stac Mhor & Spidean Coire nan Clach)
23/07 - Slioch
24/07 – Beinn Liath Mhor & Sgorr Ruadh
25/07 – Skye Ridge : South
(Sgurr nan Eag, Sgurr Dubh Mor, Sgurr Alasdair, Sgurr Mhic Choinnich,
Sgurr Dearg (Innaccessible Pinnacle), Sgurr Banachdich, Sgurr a’Ghreadaidh
& Sgurra’Mhadaidh)
26/07 – Skye Ridge : North
(Bruach na Frithe, Am Bhasteir & Sgurr nan Gillean)
27/07 – Bla Bheinn

Sgurr Dearg and the Inn Pinn
from the summit of Sgurr Alasdair across Coire Lagan, 25/07.

Sunday 12th July – Current tally 218 Munros

Feels like I’ve been getting right out into the wilds now, with some big hills in some of the remoter parts of Scotland visited in the last few days.

Still got a few more to do though! Mullardoch, Strathfarrar, Glen Carron, Torridon, Fisherfield and the Fannichs have all still to be done... and then of course there's Skye.

30/06 – Sgurr Mhaoraich (Loch Quoich)
01/07 – Beinn Sgritheall
02/07 – Knoydart
(Luinne Bheinn, Meall Buidhe & Ladhar Bheinn)
03/07 – The Saddle & Sgurr na Sgine
04/07 – South Shiel Ridge
(Creag a’Mhaim, Druim Shionnach, Aonach air Chrith, Maol Chinn-Dearg
Sgurr an Doire Leathain, Sgurr an Lochain & Creag nan Damh)
05/06 – Five Sisters of Kintail & One Brother
(Sgurr Fhuaran, Sgurr na Carnach, Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe & Saileag)
06/07 – North Shiel Ridge
(Sgurr a’Bhealaich Dheirg, Aonach Meadhoin & Ciste Dhubh)
07/07 – Cluanie I
(A’Chralaig & Mullach Fraoch-choire)
08/07 – Cluanie II
(Sgurr nan Conbhairean, Sail Chaorainn & Carn Ghluasaid)
09/07 – West Benula Forest
(Mullach na Dheiragain, Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan & An Socach)
10/07 – West Glen Affric
(Beinn Fhada & A’Ghlasbheinn)
11/07 – Glen Affric Circuit
(Mam Sodhail, Carn Eighe, Beinn Fhionnlaidh, Tom a’Choinich
& Toll Creagach)

Looking across towards Beinn Sgritheall and Arnisdale

from the summit of Luinne Bheinn, Knoydart, 02/07.

Thunder storm in Loch Hourn across Barrisdale Bay
from the slopes of Ladhar Bheinn, Knoydart, 02/07.

A view back east along the South Shiel Ridge towards Creag a’Mhaim, 04/07.

The start of the Five Sisters ridge in Glen Shiel, 05/06.

Rain clouds clear the North Shiel Ridge,

view from Aonach Meadhoin, above Cluanie, 06/07.

Loch Mullardoch from Beinn Fhionnlaidh, Glen Affric Circuit, 11/07.

Monday 29th June – Current tally 182 Munros

26/06 – Glen Dessarry (Sgurr nan Coireachan, Garbh Chioch Mor & Sgurr na Ciche)

27/06 – Gairich & Sgurr Mor

28/06 – Meall na Tenga & Sron a’Choire Ghairbh

29/06 – Gleouraich & Spidean Mialach

Streep & Sgurr Thiulm from the bottom of Glen Dessarry, 26/06

Looking west fromSgurr nan Coireachan towards Garbh Chioch Mor & Sgurr na Ciche, 26/06.

The summit cairn on Sgurr Mor with Loch Quoich behind, 27/06.

Loch Quoich from the stalkers path on the western slopes of Gleouraich, 29/06.

Thursday 25th June – Current tally 173 Munros

Quite a tumultuous week.

On Monday the 22nd I was in Aberdeen to attend the funeral of a work colleague and friend, Colin Caie. Colin was an apparently fit, healthy, marathon running 38 year old who was unfortunately diagnosed with terminal cancer in March this year. He will be sorely missed.

21/06 – Sgor Goaith & Mullach Clach a’Blair
22/06 – Colin’s Funeral
23/06 – Beinn a’Chaorainn & Beinn Teallach
24/06 – Glenfinnan Horseshoe
(Sgurr Thuilm & Sgurr nan Coireachan)
25/06 – Gulvain

The family had come up to visit over the weekend, with Lewis joining me for Braeriach on the Saturday 20th. We had a cracking day, with early morning cloud burning off by mid-day to give fantastic views across and down the Larig Ghru and down Glen Dee. Lewis did fantastically well! We celebrated with a BBQ on the shores of Loch Morlich.

Lewis enjoying the view from near the summit of Braeriach, 20/06

Sunday the 21st saw me finishing off the Cairngorms on Sgor Goaith, and this felt like a real milestone had been reached. All the Munro’s south and east of the Great Glen have been climbed – just the 100 or so left in the north west!

Sgor Goaith in the distance from the summit cairn of Mullach Clach a’Blair, 21/06.

The view south from the summit cairn on Beinn Teallach, 23/06.

Sgurr nan Coireachan and the Glenfinnan Horseshoe ridge from Sgurr Thuilm, 24/06.

Gulvain summit from it’s south top, 25/06.

The next few days should see me into Knoydart, Loch Quoich and then up into the Glen Shiel hills. Fingers crossed the good weather continues!

Saturday 20th June – Current tally 166 Munros.

Well over the half-way point now, but it doesn’t feel like it’s getting any easier! The last few days have been long ones with lengthy entry / exit routes to add to the km’s covered. So far Jonathan’s old mountain bike has been coping well, and hasn’t let me down yet – must be because it’s been so well looked after!

07/06 – Rest Day, family up for visit in Blair Atholl

08/06 – Glen Shee South (Carn a’Gheoidh, Carn Aosda, The Cairnwell, Glas Maol & Creag Leacach)

09/06 – Glen Shee North & Glas Tulaichean (Carn an Tuirc, Tolmount, Tom Buidhe, Cairn of Claise & Glas Tulaichean)

10/06 – Mayar, Driesh & Mount Keen

11/06 – Geldie Lodge Circuit (Carn a’Fhidhleir & An Sgarsoch)

12/06 – Lochnagar Circuit (Cac Carn Beag, Carn a’Choire Bhoidheach, Carn an t-Sagairt More Cairn Bannoch & Broad Cairn)

13/06 – Glen Ey Altanour Circuit (An Socach, Carn an Righ, Beinn Iutharn Mhor & Carn Bhac)

14/06 – Cairngorms South West(Beinn Bhrotain, Monadh Mor, Sgor an Lochain Uaine, Cairn Toul & The Devils Point)

15/06 – Rest Day

16/06 – Cairngorms South (Carn a’Mhaim, Ben Macdui, Beinn Mheadhoin & Derry Cairngorm)

17/06 – Beinn Bhreac & Beinn a’Chaorainn

18/06 – Beinn a’Bhuird & Ben Avon

19/06 – Bynack More & Cairngorm

20/06 – Braeriach

Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochain Uaine from the summit of Braeriach, 20/06.

The view descending down from Beinn a’Bhuird towards Ben Avon and the Sneck, 18/06.

The view from the Devils Point looking south down Glen Dee towards White Bridge, 14/06.

Late afternoon in Upper Glen Ey, 13/06

I had a couple of really nice days in the Glen Shee hills. The weather was fine and was rewarded with clear views across the high moors towards Lochnagar to the east and the Atholl hills to the west. To the north the bulk of the Cairngorms and Beinn a’Bhuird stood, all new hills for me on this trip.

I stayed for a couple of nights at a friends house in Glen Isla, en-route to and from Glen Clova and Esk. What a treat it was to sleep in a soft, comfy bed wider than the narrow bunk in my camper van!

And so into the Cairngorms… This was the first time I’ve climbed any of the Cairngorm hills and was looking forward to these new hills.