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.

Saturday 6th June – Current tally 126 Munros.

The weather has given a real mixture over the last couple of weeks. The beginning of the first week saw low cloud and rain being the predominant feature, while this last week has been one of the hottest of the year so far! From one extreme to the other. 

23/05 – Rest Day (the first in a month!)

24/05 – The Grey Corries (Stob Ban, Stob Choire Claurigh, Stob Coire an Laoigh & Sgurr Choinnich Mor)

25/05 – Loch Treig West (Stob a’Choire Mheadhoin, Stob Coire Easain)

26/05 – Loch Treig East (Beinn na Lap, Chno Dearg & Stob Coire Sgriodain)

27/05 – Beinn a’Chlachair, Geal Charn & Creag Pitridh

28/05 – Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil

29/05 – Carn Dearg, Geal-Charn, Aonach Beag, Beinn Eibhinn

30/05 – Geal Charn (Glen Markie) 

31/05 – Monadhliath (A’Chailleach, Carn Sgulain & Carn Dearg)

01/06 – Drumochter West (Geal Charn, A’Mharconaich, Beinn Udlamain & Sgairneach Mhor)

02/06 – Creag Meagaidh (Carn Liath, Stob Poite Coire Ardair & Creag Meagaidh)

03/06 – Drumochter East (A’Bhuidheanach Bheag, Carn na Caim & Meall Chuaich)

04/06 – Beinn Dearg

05/06 – Beinn A’Ghlo (Carn Liath, Braigh Coire Chrunn-bhalgain & Carn nan Gabhar)

06/06 – Carn a’Chlamain

I had a rest day on Saturday the 23^rd, the first since I hurt my leg way back at the end of the first week. This was the first day in a month that I hadn’t climbed at least one Munro. My conscience was clear as I put my feet up and listened to the rain bouncing off the van roof!

The Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) had forecast “rain not expected” for the Sunday 24^th. Feeling refreshed after a day off and the prospect of some decent weather to enjoy along what was going to be a new ridge for me, I had a spring in my step along the long walk in to Stob Ban, the first of the Grey Corrie Munro’s. Half way along the main ridge however it was exactly that phrase “rain not expected” that reverberated through my head as I struggled to pull my waterproof trousers on without toppling off the ridge into the corrie below. By the time I was on the slopes of Sgurr Choinnich Mor things had deteriorated into a full blown south westerly gale!

Some “unexpected” rain clouds gather over the Grey Corries, 24/05.

The same “unexpected” rain was still hammering down the following morning. So much so that I abandoned any ideas I had about camping at the south end of Loch Treig, deciding to split the Loch Treig hills into two separate day trips; the hills on the west from the van at Fersit, and those on the east by using the train to get to Corrour and then walking back over the tops to Fersit (where I had left the bike the previous evening). This worked out really well and in retrospect was probably the best way to do these, the walk over the hills from Corrour to Fersit was really enjoyable!

Another two days of low cloud and rain followed ensuring that I saw nothing of the hills other than the summit cairns and the intermittent paths connecting them.

 

A brief break in the clouds on Ben Alder looking down at Loch a’Bhealaich Bheithe on the Bealach Breabag, 28/05.

Then last Friday the weather cleared and the following day on the Aonach Beag ridge opposite Ben Alder was the clearest, warmest day yet. Finally I was able to see something of the Ben Alder group of hills. It was great to be able to look across to the summit cairns of neighbouring hills and see where I had been over the previous few days, stumbling about in the mist and rain using map and compass to feel my way around. 

A view back along the Aonach Beag ridge to the north of Ben Alder from Beinn Eibhinn, 29/05.

The weather stayed fine for almost a week and I took the opportunity to get the Monadhliath hills done. These are big rounded hills, quite a contrast from the sharp well defined peaks and ridges of the western highlands. The clear weather was ideal for wondering along the high plateaux between tops, enjoying the big open skies. 

  A view down Loch Ericht from Geal Charn, in the western Drumochter hills towards Ben Alder. 01/06

John Bayne and Willie Chalmers came up on Monday evening this week and with the weather still fine on the Tuesday we set off for the Creag Meagaidh group of three on the north side of Loch Laggan. It was another fine clear day. After a short but brutal ascent directly up the first Munro, Carn Liath, the views down to the dramatic cliffs of Coire Ardair were spectacular. Back across to the west looking towards Aonach Mor, Ben Nevis was easily identifiable standing out behind Aonach Mor’s flat topped summit. A herd of approx. 100 deer were also clearly visible grazing across on the big wide north west ridge of Creag Meagaidh itself. A great day for John’s first ever Munro!

Willie and John approching the summit of Stob Poite Coire Ardair on Creag Meagaidh. Aonach Mor and Ben Nevis are visible on the horizon. 02/06

The view down into Creag Meagaidh’s Coire Ardair from Stob Poite Coire Ardair. 02/06

I managed to get all three eastern of the Drumochter hills done on the Wednesday, with a long walk over the moors between Carn na Caim and Meal Chuaich. This left me a long way from the van and my feet took a bit of a pounding along the tarmac’ed hydro road back towards Dalwhinnie and the busy A9. 

View back west from the summit of Carn na Caim, Drumochter Hills. Ben Alder and Geal-Charn in the background. 03/06

Heading further east towards the end of the week, Beinn Dearg was a fairly uninspiring trudge up into high moors above Blair Atholl. I was glad to have the bike to help eat up the miles on the long route in and back out to get to this hill! 

View north from the summit of Carn nan Gabhar (Beinn A’Ghlo). That's fresh June snow on the southern Cairngorms! 05/06 

There are some long days ahead over the next week or so as I’ll be travelling through the Glen Tilt, Shee and Tarf hills before tackling Lochnagar and Mount Keen and then finally into the Cairngorms themselves! 

Friday 22nd May - Current tally 89 Munros climbed.

Another full week, with a real mixture of weather conditions, everything from snow and sun to mist and rain, with a gale force easterly mid-week as well.

Had a really great day walking over Bidean nam Bian in Glen Coe, on Thursday 14th. The descent down into the Lost Valley from the bealach between Bidean and Stob Coire Sgreamhach still held a lot of snow and felt vertical on the way down! So much so I had to descend facing inwards. The snow was all soft and sugary though so kicking steps wasn’t a problem.

The descent route down into the Lost Valley
from Stob Coire Sgreamhach, 14/05.

A big round on Friday to get both Buachaille’s done on the same day, with gusts of around 60 mph on the summit ridges not helping! Cloud levels descended during the day as the rain and wind intensified. It’s difficult to tell just how strong the wind was, but at one point I did lose my footing and ended up with my feet above my head thinking “This isn’t good, someone could get hurt up here…” Needless to say I managed to right myself and pressed on in full Scott-of-the-Antarctic style (i.e. at 45 degrees)!

Storm clouds gather over Rannach Moor,
view from Buachaille Etive Mor, 15/05.

Murdo came up on the Friday 15th night and we headed to the Clachaig for some beers. It was pretty much as I remembered it from way back, absolutely jumping! The Aberdeen Angus Cheeseburger was fantastic - and I’d already had my tea before I went!

A bit of a trudge up Creise the following day with cloud level just scrapping the car roof! Still it was good to have some company again, although we saw nothing of the hills we walked over.

Sunday was a complete contrast again, with high clouds well above the summits and the sun even came out! Great day and managed four Munro’s down the bottom of Glen Etive.

Tuesday saw me in Glen Nevis, with two rather wet days spent traversing the Mamores, an atrociously wet day on Aonach Beag & Mor, and a fine day to finish off the week traversing the Carn Mor Dearg Arete and over Ben Nevis. First time I’ve been along the CMD Arete, and fantastic it was too! I had a shave and a pint to celebrate!

The mist starts to clear along the Carn Mor Dearg Arete,
looking towards the Ben, 22/05.

13/05 - Sgor na h-Ulaidh
14/05 - Bidean nam Bian & Stob Coire Sgreamhach
15/05 - Buachaille Etive Mor & Beag
(Stob Dearg, Stob na Broige, Stob Dubh & Stob Coire Raineach)
16/05 - Creise
17/05 - Ben Starav, Beinn nan Aighenan, Glas Beinn Mhor
& Stob Coir an Albannaich
18/05 - Meall nan Eun
19/05 - Binnein Beag, Sgurr Eilde Mor, Binnein Mor, Na Gruagaichean,
Stob Coire a’Chairn & An Gearanach
20/05 - Sgurr a’Mhaim, Am Bodach, Stob Ban & Mullach nan Coirean
21/05 - Aonach Beag & Aonach Mor
22/05 - Carn Mor Dearg & Ben Nevis

I start to head east next week, along the Grey Corries to Loch Treig and into the Ben Alder wilderness before popping out on the A9 at Drumochter.

Tuesday 12th May – Number of Munros climbed : 62

Weather much improved since the tail end of last week. Last three days have been fantastic with little wind and generally clear skies. How nice it is to arrive back at the van not dripping wet!

The family came up for a visit over the weekend and we ended up hiring a caravan. This meant I got to sleep in a proper bed for the first time in about 4 weeks!

Lewis was determined to get out and climb something, so when the rain finally stopped lashing down around Saturday lunchtime, we headed to the Glen Coe ski centre to venture up into the clouds. Once at the top of Meall a’Bhuiridh, fairly deep snow and deteriorating conditions meant that a trip across to Creise was out for the day.

By complete contrast the following day was calm and after the low morning cloud burnt off, was clear. Lewis joined me for the Ballachulish Horseshoe, which turned out to be a fantastic day despite having to cut through forestry plantations Indiana-Jones style to make it back to the van!

Willie Chalmers also came up this week to join me for a day, keen to do something in Glen Coe. Taking advantage of the availability of the extra car, we agreed on a traverse of the Aonach Eagach ridge. I hadn’t been along here for years, but it was fantastic, every bit as exhilarating as I remembered it, and we had a cracking day for it. Despite best intentions to avoid the Clachaig Gully footpath, we ended up descending down that way, which turned out to be the hardest and most exhausting part of the whole traverse!  

 08/05 - Black Mount (Stob a’Choire Odhair & Stob Ghabhar

09/05 - Meall a’Bhuiridh

 10/05 - Beinn a’Bheithir (Sgorr Dhonuill & Sgorr Dhearg)

 11/05 - Beinn Sgularid & Beinn Fhionnlaidh

 12/05 - Aonach Eagach Glen Coe (Sgorr nam Fiannaidh & Meall Dearg)

 

View from the summit ridge of Stob Ghabhar (Black Mount) 08/05.         All four seasons rolled into one.

Lewis at the top of a quite wintery Meall a’Bhuiridh, 09/05.

Photo opportunity at the top of Sgorr Dhearg, 10/05. Ben Nevis in the background in white.

A view out to Mull from the top of Beinn Sgulaird, 11/05. 

Looking back along the Aonach Eagach from Sgurr nam Fiannaidh, 12/05. 

Thursday 7th May – Tally stands at 53 Munros

Stop, I can’t be writing something up for every day! I wanted to try and escape the tyranny of the keyboard for a while!!

From now on I’ll endeavour to post weekly summaries with a selection of the weeks pics – assuming that it’s stopped raining long enough to actually take some, and cut down on the verbage a bit.

Feels like I’ve had a bit of a battering from the wind and rain this week. More often that not I’ve ended up with a real soaking. Which has meant hours of fun in the evenings trying to get all my gear dried out, within the confines of a small camper van – ummh nice!

01/05 - Schiehallion
02/05 - Ben Lui Circuit (Dubhcraig, Oss, Lui & a’Chleibh)
03/05 - Ben Cruachan Circuit
(Eunaich, a’Chochuill, Stob Diamh & Cruachan)
04/05 - Ben More on Mull
05/05 - Ben Challuim
06/05 - Bridge of Orchy I (Mhanach, Achaladair, a’Chreachain)
07/05 - Bridge of Orchy II (Dorain & an Dothaid)

Thursday 30th April – Rannoch Forest

Stuart McGuinness joined me for the day, taking in two Munros that sit just to the north east of Rannoch Station. It was great to have some company for a change and it was hard to restrict ourselves to just a couple of pints the night before!

Both Carn Dearg and Sgor Gaibhre had the potential to offer spectacular views across to the west to the Black Mount and Glen Coe hills, and to the north into the Ben Alder wilderness.

Not today. The usual mix of low cloud and persistent wind, with a little heavy rain thrown in made the 20 km more of a trudge than a joy. The long ridge of Sron Leachd a’ Chaorainn leading to the first Munro, Carn Dearg, was shrouded in mist. Only when we dropped down to 720m on the Mam Ban between the hills did we get a glimpse over to Loch Ossian.

So much effort for seemingly so little reward! Still Stuart seemed to enjoy it...