Meall nam Maigeach

Hardly the most energetic day out but when you're 18 inches tall, 2 stone of muscle and a face as flat as a duck's quack, such a hill could seem like a behemoth. Winnie, our French Bulldog, is not well suited to the hills but she is game and loves getting out and about. Winnie has become a much loved member of our small but soon to be expanding family hence my new moniker of 'papke'. Winnie is aka Winkle, Wee-chops, Mutt-face, Piggy, Fatty, Windbag and Gruntle. I love that wee bugger. However, at this time of year, dogs become fearful of the firework set-up and in order to exhaust the dog, I had suggested I take Winnie with me on the hill to my wife. She realised that this wasn't an entirely altruistic suggestion but said 'go for it'.

To head to the hills with a high pressure, snow-clad tops in view and with my hairy companion, I was very much looking forward to this wee day out. Yes, it isn't the most scenic of hills but what it does offer are some great views over to the Lawers range and to Glen Lyon. It is also short which suits a bulldog. Within an hour, we were at the summit after having left the car beside the hut. We had a bite to eat before the biting chill forced us to retreat and head back with the wall a perfect companion back to the road. Winnie couldn't work out where the stream was. The intermittent grunts of approval from Winnie meant that she was a happy dogface and when I took lunch at Mhor 84 on the way home, she curled up in front of the wood burning stove and slept. Bliss.

An Dun and on...

Forty years young! The plan was to take in the An Dun two with Graeme and I was pleasantly surprised to find the weather being better than in it was 50 miles South. However, as we arrived at the Trinafour turn-off, the clag wis doon. We bolted across the A9 and up on to the land rover track, which would take us to our destination 7 miles away. Our chat involved the independence decision and fallout, family life and hills! Dodgy Glasgow teams were also discussed - grow a team, don't buy success. We await the future. After 4km, we stopped off at Badnambiast for a re-charge and I spotted this unfortunate chap, who had come to pass.

As we continued, our first objective came into view, An Dun. The impression of steepness cannot be gleaned from this far out and really, it is only as one approaches the slopes of the hill, that it rises up rather impressively.

We stopped briefly at Sronphadruig lodge, which will soon disintegrate - one wonders at the parties held there in the past, this large building would have been quite regal in its day. The carved sign pointed the way forward and the Gaick pass opened up.

The walls of A'Chaorinich towered above the loch, with sweeping screes. There was nothing for it but to batter on up the slopes of our hill. Having done quite a bit of kettle bell work recently, I felt that my VO2 max has really come on and I was feeling great as we powered up the slopes. It was a good half hour blast and we levelled out on the plateau. Graeme observed that it wouldn't be the first cairn we came to and a quick check of the map confirmed his thoughts. We strode on and eventually came before a little cairn.

I posed as per normal, birthday boy.

 We decided not have our dram at this point but to push on and descend down to the loch, whereupon Graeme threw up his shelter and we supped our prize. We also decided at this point to abandon ship and keep this prized area for a better day. The walkout was quick and we were back at the car, 6 hours after having left. Cheers G!

Cul Mor more more!

In the top ten this one. An absolutely stunning hill. My photos just don't do it justice. A short day out with some of the most amazing views of Inverpolly. I actually rate this higher than Stac Pollaidh, especially if you do it the way I did i.e. ascend via the North-East ridge and over the boulder field. The views out to the ocean and to Suilven and Canisp are unrivalled. I was round in just over 3 hours and was blown away by the scenery. The corrie which drops from the North summit is big and expansive and with the stags roaring, the NE ridge was a super place to while away time. Brilliant hill.

Am Bathach

En route to UHI induction, I had originally intended to bag two of the five Munro sisters. However, the weather forecast wasn't great and as I drove along the Cluanie road, I had anticipated the cloud level to be low enough that a plan B, Am Bathach, was hatched. The route was simple enough and up the wee path to the side of the wanton destruction of forestry, which used to be present. A land rover track had been gouged into the Chernobyl-like wasteground adding to the sense of human interference in this area. I was glad to make quick ascent and leave that behind although the view back over to Loch Cluanie was rather pretty.

After the initial steepness, the walk was very enjoyable and while views flitted in and out between cloud, I could feel the mass of A'Chralaig to my right and the start of Aonach Mheadhoin to the left. The final approach to the cone-like summit felt quite airy. This is a lovely wee hill and i was at the top in just over an hour, where I perched and had some food. The southern crags of Ciste Dubh were visible but the main summit eluded my vision. I assessed ridges coming down off A'Chralaig for a return trip to bag the Mullach Munro in the future. The descent back to the car was quick and all in, the sojourn had lasted only a couple of hours before I made my way North to Inverness. Not quite the Munroage I had hoped for but Corbett 77 was in the bag. And what a fine hill it is too.

Beinn a Chaisteal & Beinn nam Fuaran

A couple of years ago, I had set out to do the Auch 'hand' but on a very hot summer's day, I decided after the 3rd Corbett to head back to the car and call it quits due to lack of fluids. As I was feeling fit now, I thought I would tackle these two by running the first 2 miles on the West Highland Way and then walking the rest before running back out. It brought back memories of helping Darren run the WHW race in June, when he nailed it in 23 hours. Whoaf!

I left the car park at about 1315 and took off on a good run until I was at the train viaduct. From here, it was a gradual ascent below the crags of Chaisteal and into the upper part of the glen, just below Beinn Odhar. I reluctantly left the land rover track and began the steep climb on to the South ridge of Beinn a Chaisteal - at about 500m, I put my trousers on as the temperature had dropped somewhat. The views were now opening up over towards Ben Challum and beyond. At about 650m, I decided to stop and have lunch with a couple of nervous sheep eyeing me closely. It wasn't long before I was walking along the final few hundred metres, with the cairn visible and in front of Beinn Dorain. The sun came out and I could see the way down and over to my 2nd objective of the day. I popped a wine gum and took off - the weather coming in from the West was none-too-pretty and I knew further down I would get a soaking.

The descent became quite boggy and the bealach was pretty swampy. However, I began the climb up on to Fuaran and pushed on. There isn't much in the way of interest when ascending this hill but the steep slopes keep you challenged. Eventually, I met up with the fence and this took me on up to the summit cairn. The wind was quite strong at this point so I didn't hang about and began my slippery return off the North-West slopes all the way down to the river. The views here were excellent with a particularly nice view of Beinn Achaladair and its steep prow. A couple of cyclists were returning after their sojourn up Mhanach no doubt and I slightly envied them their transport. However, I was feeling fresh and even managed to run back some of the way to the WHW. I was back at the car within 4 hours 10 and it was good to set foot back on the Corbetts.

Beinn Mhic-Mhonnaidh

Categorically, this was one of my most uncomfortable days on the hill for a long time. Having agreed to meet Graeme D for this one, we pressed on despite the poor forecast. Unfortunately, said forecast was correct and it poured for most of the day, only stopping when it started to hail. We started from Glen Orchy at the Eas Urchaidh, in full flow, and an impressive cascade of water. The meandering landrover track afforded some respite against the elements and when we had jumped two burns and meandered through the forestry, a brief lull in the rain allowed for a cuppa and a view up to a dark defile in the hill. This looked an attractive approach and we started up the side of this, surprised that its gradients weren't on the 1:50,000 map.

Unfortunately, as we ascended to about 500m, the clag closed in and that would be the last of the views for the day (at least until we were back down at ground level). The walk up on to Mhic-Mhonnaidh from this point was very testing as the wind picked up and the snow fields gave way to slushy streams/lochs underneath - my feet were soaked by the time we made it on to the plateau. The climb through the crags and deep snow was very testing and Graeme performed some Winter Olympics, which would have put Elise Christie to shame. No Chinese dissidents here though.

At 700m, things got better in that the rain became less wet but adopted a drier and harder feel. We spent little time on the summit and completed the circuit, heading off its Western shoulder. Once again, Graeme was almost comical in his attempts to defeat gravity and his biped stance. Efforts to slide down on one's arse were pathetic as we both sank into the soft snow. By the time we reached the burns, they has swelled in size and rather than seek narrow routes over, we simply strolled through.
I must say that the post-hill pint at the Suie Lodge hotel was very enjoyable and we both agreed it beats a day at le metro boulot dodo.

Creag nan Gabhar

En passant. Heading North to see mum who had been in a car crash. As she had folks for the afternoon session, i took the opportunity to take in this hill en route before seeing her at night. A bitter-sweet hill then. I hadn't felt great on the drive up but once I arrived at Auchallater, the sun broke through and my spirit soared. The walk up on to this was straightforward but I was feeling it - later I'd realise I was coming down with a bug. Once up on to Sron nan Gabhar, the Cairngorms in all their glory lay in every direction. The tors of Ben Avon to the various paraphernalia on the Cairnwell 3. I could see a large group moving up on to Morrone - a vehicle was also with them. How odd. Mountain hares and grouse scattered in every direction - as I walked up to the last part of the hill, I could see substantial avalanche debris in the coire. Chunks of snow as big as cars. Once up to the final plateau, I headed towards the large cairn, where I took tea and some lunch. At this height, it was a brutally cold wind and I didn't linger. I returned down the same route rather than head East and down to Loch Callater as I was a bit unsure how stable the snow fields would be. I got back to the car after 4 hours. A lovely wee hill.

Meall Buidhe and Sron a Coire Cnapachain

This was meant to the weekend that Graeme and I finally bagged Beinn Mheadhoin - with a fairly rubbish forecast, we postponed that Munro but have both proclaimed it will be in the bag this year. So, where to next? Finding something between the two of us is getting more difficult but a Corbett combo in Glen Lyon looked like an option. I raced up the road and over the lairig into Glen lyon for 0800, with Graeme soon in tow. I wasn't impressed with the forecast and proffered a number of options including the Graham (Graeme done) and the easy Corbett, Meall nan Meagaich (Graham done). In the interests of non-disappointment, I we decided to go and 'check out' the two hills, which literally means we decided there and then we'd do them. The drive down to the end of Pubil was inglorious but the cliffs of Meall Ghaordaidh loomed large and poked through the clouds. Although it was raining, we opted for the get high quick approach and marched straight up off the land rover track to Meall Tonail at 710m, whereupon the rain quickly turned to snow. A drier rain, it seems.

We dropped down to the bealach and I made some snow balls, before we had a wee bite to eat. The climb up on Meall Buidhe was good and we made progress up on to the broad slopes. Once at the fence posts, it was a fairly uncomplicated plod round to the summit although navigation was in order, to ensure we got the correct summit cairn (there appeared to be 2). Graham erected the tripod for the summit shot (guess the pic) before we returned into what was now q a fierce hail of snow/sleet. Graeme donned his goggles while I cursed the fact that I had forgotten mine and would pay for it with very bloodshot and sore eyes later that evening. We descended down to the bealach and spied our 2nd objective as well as Loch Daimh - rather than ascend any further at that point, we traversed down and over to quite haggy ground. From there, we made the last ascent up on the summit, which would be good on a nice day but it was claggy. Our return to the car was uncomplicated but notable for some spectacular double salcos by Graeme over wet and greasy ground. The drive to the Lawers pub was an anti-climax as it was shut for Winter presumably. Our usual post-hill aperitif would need to wait until the next time. Good pad despite fairly inclement weather and nice to be back in Glen Lyon.

Beinn a Bha'ach Ard

The weather gods were not kind on this trip North and after my marination the previous day on Sgurr a Mhaoraich, I was keen to wait for a decent weather window. A short trip into Inverness from the www.thestruy.co.uk meant that I was back in the Inn for 1100, changed and already decided on where my afternoon stroll would be. I could see my hill with a lovely rainbow over it and so decided that this was indeed a positive omen. The walk down Strathfarrar glen is very pleasant. The ugly power station is not but the land rover track behind it made for good progress. I decided to follow a track North-East into the coire of the Corbett. It was quite good going and views over to the Kessock Bridge and beyond were opening up. I started up the South ridge and I was surprised how long this hill was taking me even though the guide book by Cicerone does state a round trip time of 5 hours and 5 minutes. At about 800m, the wind really dropped the temperature and so I layered up - looking West, I could see the start of the Strathfarrar fower, which I'd come back to later this year hopefully.

South, the characteristic double crags of Sgurr an Airgid could be seen while just behind, Glen Affric Munros loomed in broken cloud. I climbed up the final summit and took shelter behind gar trig point, taking a lovely warm cup of cha. I continued North down the slopes and over to the satellite peak before heading SE and over to Loch na Beste. What a beautiful loch this is and it provides a stunning foreground to the Corbett. I whiled away a little time here before realising it was 3.15pm and the shadows were lengthening. From here, the track took me back out at Inchmore (every woman's dream) and the pleasant amble back to the Struy for a well-earned dinner with pint. Good wee day out.