The Auch 3 of 5

It was hot. As hot a day as i can remember in recent times. At 25C, at 0900, I was perhaps a little optimistic that I could do the Auch 5 but I'd see how the day panned out. The climb up Beinn Odhar was more or less straight up and within the hour, I was at the cairn. Great visibility and a welcome breeze. Not so great were the two cans of Carlsberg tucked away in the cairn. I hope if someone Googles Carlsberg and Beinn Odhar, it comes up with arseholes. You'll know who you are. It was a fair descent and re-ascent over to Chaorach and en route, I came across a freshly decomposing sheep. It looked rather malevolent with its blackened face and empty orbital sockets. How morbid. I would later find a dead lamb but chose not to photograph it. The walk over to Cam Chreag was quick and I had bagged the 3 Corbetts in a little over 3 hours. However, I had only taken a couple of litres of water on this trip and was drinking a lot. I decided to leave the last 2 Corbetts for Winter and head down whereupon I happened across a hirpling gentleman. I asked if he was okay and he wasn't. I offered to drive him back to Tyndrum but as he was ultimately heading to Glasgow, I offered to drive him back there. Enjoyed meeting Ann's Bob and good to make your acquaintance - hope you enjoyed your pint in the Admiral! Glad to be the adjuvant.

Beinn nan Caorach and Beinn na-h-Eaglaise

These two hills are at the far end of the road to Arnisdale, which initially rises over the Ratagan pass and it takes a wee drive to get to them. I combined them with Beinn Sgritheall, which was a fine circuit although the descent off the 2nd Corbett to the bealach was very slippy and in snow or wet conditions, would be almost suicidal. Do NOT follow the fence posts as they will lead you above a very steep crag. Best to head WNW from the summit. Beinn-na-h-Eaglaise looks fine from the North and rises imperiously, with sharp drops to the West and East - it is a fine viewpoint down to Loch Hourn and over to the Munro.

William's Leap before home

After Beinn na Cloiche and the re-ascent up on to this hill, Craig was beginning to flag. It was the first time he'd taken the heavy pack on to the hill and an uncomfortable sleep would begin to wear at his spirit. However, once at the sizeable cairn, it was good to know it was all down-hill back to Corrour and civilisation once more. This is a great hill in itself and only stand 4.5m short of being a Munro. The bog 400m from the train station is not so welcome - definitely one for a hot summer's day or the depths of Winter. The station was shut which rankled.

Tor-ific time on Conachcraig

After being battered in the NW, a visit to the folks then saw my return to Glasgow go through my favourite part of the country - the 'gorms. I had long fancied Conachcraig for a clear Winter's day and this was to be it. I started at 1200 and was on the top by 1400. I deliberated on this walk and enjoyed the small things, which I certainly never had time to appreciate in Kintail or on Little Wyvis. The ice formations were notable as were the dark crags of Lochnagar. I spoke to a chap who was coming back down and there was much agreement as to how lovely a day it was. The path up from the cottages is brilliant - others have noted that it doesn't feel like an ascent - it really doesn't but the height gained is very satisfying and means that you are at the large tors, in short time. I just love the impressive tors in the 'gorms. I faffed about on them, hid under them, tried some odd photo angles on them and generally acted the goat. Not a soul about. There was a bitter wind at the top so after my lunch, I returned over the Eastern bump and down through the forest. I spotted a wild camp location just off the plateau, which will come into use this summer. The deer here quietly appraise and do not appear to be very fearful of man. The walk back to the car along the path was an end to an invigorating stroll. A super little hill.

Little Poopy on Little Wyvis

I had stayed in the Cnoc hotel and was really looking forward to bagging some of the Glen Cannich munros. However, after a lovely full breakfast, my drive back down to Cannich was almost ended as the roads were sheet ice. I did attempt once to start up the glen road but it resulted in a triple Golf salco and I decided nothing was happening in this area today. As I had business in Inverness to attend to that evening, I figured a trip up Little Wyvis could be just the ticket. And it would also give me the chance to get 'Poopy' out for a walk too. My wife realises the complexities of my job and as an epidemiologist who specialises in analysing parasites etc from poop, she made me one from god-knows-what material. Anyway, off we set and the normally fantastic path up to Ben Wyvis was also iced up. It was dodgy stuff until the forest ended over the burn and I ascended up beside the fence rather than continue up to the beach at 500m. Views back across to the hills (the Fannaichs?) looked nice but a front was definitely moving in. I was surprised how quickly the cairn came into view but I had no markers or views to let me know if I was near it or not as the sun just couldn't penetrate the clag. At the cairn, I took a wee shot of Poopy. Then, out of the gloom a young family and friend came forth. I gave up my seat for them as they had 2 young children, who looked perished. Poor wee things. Exchanged camera-taking duty and it was off back via my ascent route. The sun did poke out briefly as I looked over at Ben Wyvis and while I haven't been lucky with the weather, I have enjoyed the couple of days up North.

Last minute diversion to Auchnafree Hill

This had meant to be a trip N for a bothy excursion into the Cairngorm. A bad crash on the A9 had shut it and diversion to Crieff meant that I was seriously considering what to do next. I decided to take in Auchnafree Hill and see how I would feel after it. Well, I couldn't' even drive up to the dam as the road was treacherous so I left the car at the turn off for the Scottish Hydro Office and walked up from there. I decided early on to go in over Coinneachean Hill and I really enjoyed the walk with the Loch on the left and the large cairns scattered over the plateau. The view over to the 'boring' Ben Chonzie looked fab and I cannot for the life of me understand people who call hills 'boring'. It usually extends to their lack of imagination or perfunctory ticking of a box rather than a feeling of liberation one should have every time they step into the wilds of Scotland. But, I am biased. I stopped at the summit for a wee while and enjoyed the peace and silence. I hadn't made a flask but a wee cup of tea at that point would have been the dogs. I did however indulge in my Green and Blacks' chocolate bars - yummy. The return to the car was along the loch this time and not a soul was around. Took me just under 5 hours and rather than head N into what appeared to be inclement weather, I drove home to a warm bed. I must be getting old.

Beinn a Chrulaiste

The weather is doing my nut in. 16 days off from Christmas Eve and only a failed trip with the G5 to show for it. I had originally planned to head NW and follow Collaciotach's excellent trip of Gleouriach but as I drove through Glencoe, the snow started to fall and my doubts set in. I'm determined to take my time and do all of the hills over 2000ft and I'd like to keep the hills with thrills for days that live long in the memory. As such, I re-assessed my options and decided a shortish day on Beinn a Chrualaiste would do especially if I got some nice views across to the Big Shepherd. I parked at the Altnafeadh amongst keen Bookilers and it seemed i'd be on my own today, which suited me fine. The route is very straightforward and occupied a quick morning - I didn't get the knockout views but will be back for a wee wild camp at the 639 cairn in the summer to take in a sunset over the Buachaille. I enjoyed the amble and took my time - I had been told my photos were fine but I could do better - try something more imaginative, she said. I was inspired by Rossco's vopitzer ciabatta (sorry Rossco) and took a pic of my own culinary delight - home made and not bad with a wee cuppy at the summit. I have long laughed at the exorbitant amounts of money that people pay for equipment - well, I am a convert of Rab Primaloft trousers - it felt like both legs were being caressed by duvet lady orifices - a real pleasure to wear them. Can't wait to get back out again.