Benvane in black and white

I had considered doing this hill a few years ago, only to sit in the car while it hammered down and I vowed to return in Winter, to avoid the boggy plateau and walk. The drive along the rutted road to Ballimore farm was a slow affair since I didn't want a re-arranged suspension on the R. I arrived to find some snow at about 450m mark so a Corbett was probably the correct choice, quickly ruling out Creag Mhor, which I can return to at a later date. The walk along to the bridge and up on to the hill proper was quick enough and the views back to Creag Mhor, were opening up. As I got to the 450m mark, I noticed a fantastic view over to the higher Munros, near Loch Voil. I believe Stob Binnein was rising majestically and with the dark foreground of Creag Mhor, it made for a nice shot.

The walk along the broad ridge to Benvane was good fun, with wee peat bogs and lochains strewn over the hill. Finally, the climb towards the summit was a steep pull especially now through deeper snow. The wind was biting but within 2 hours of leaving the car, I was at the summit cairn where I took tea and biscuit. I could just make out Loch Venachar down below but that was as far as I could see until I retreated and then views down to Loch Lubnaig and across to Beinn Each and beyond, became evident. Winter is still with us and it provides a real breath of fresh air before the new growth of both season and Martha become apparent. Really good wee walk followed (of course) by a lovely 'wee' full breakfast at http://mhor.net/mhor84-motel/.

Acting The Goet

My first Corbett of 2015 and first since Martha was born. En route to Aberdeen to drop off the Golf at Jim's, I was looking for a shortish trek so Mount Battock was out. The Goet from Wheen looked a good option and as I drove into Glen Clova, the view to Glen Doll cemented my decision. The walk along the land rover trek was easy and once high enough to see Loch Wharral, this was a very rewarding walk. I could still see where the loch was partially frozen over and the last vestiges of Winter are still in evidence. Once up on to Ben Tirran, I had views as far as Lochnagar, Mayar, Driesh and Mount Keen. I think I could even see the Lomond hills in Fife. An extraordinary hill for such little effort. Great to be out.

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.