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.