Mam na Gualainn

And so after 18 months, I was back out on the hills with Graeme who I had not seen since pre-pandemic. And this time, we'd be joined by Luna, his new black Labrador. We had agreed to do Mam na Gualainn from Kinlochleven and got there nice and early (0830). The pooch was keen to go and we began the hike along the road before ascending the WHW path on to the lairig. It had been about 15 months since I'd tried this with my brother-in-law in very heavy snow. At that time, we had got as far as the shoulder and then bailed. This time, the weather was fine with no rain or inclement weather forecast. Indeed, we made good time up on to Being na Caillichand the views were stupendous. This hill is ideally placed for views to Glencoe, down the Loch, and over to the Mamores. An absolute gem of a hill. 

At some point, Luna had absorbed a tick and Graeme was able to unlatch and dispatch. She seemed non-plussed and only had eyes for lunch! We made our way along the ridge to the Corbett summit, where there was a poignant summit trig point ('Keep on climbing, Tony') - he had died very young and had served his country in the Royal Marines. A fitting tribute to someone who had given so much. I thought about it for a while and we pushed on. The descent back into the lairig was uncomplicated and once back on to the Land Rover track, we were assailed by numerous WHWers asking us how far to Fort William. We began to make the numbers up by the 3rd or 4th lot of people "Only 14 miles to go now" etc. We were down by 1430 and it was a most enjoyable hill. Great to see Graeme again and the plans for Knoydart were in full flow for July. Encore!  

Gairbeinn from Melgarve

I had intended on heading back up the Munros again but the timings weren't right so I decided to keep the drive reasonable, and instead decided on Gairbeinn from Melgarve bothy. I had the bike unloaded once more, and from Garva bridge, it was a nice ride along the road for about 4 miles, all done in 22 minutes. Unsurprisingly, the bothy was locked but it looked a nice place to spend an evening so I'll definitely come back in Winter. Gairbeinn stood tall and as it had been so dry, what would have been a boggy approach was actually dry underfoot. I fair pelted up the slopes, and once at the plateau, the views opened up nicely to surrounding hills. Although the wind turbines were a definite blot on the landscape. There was still some snow patches lying around and there was a real frigidity to the wind blowing from the North. I didn't hang about and descended quickly to the bike. The 4-mile cycle back out was lovely and the amount of deer near the river was incredible. When I got back to the car, I fired up the cooker and got some curry down my throat, with a wee can of Dr Pepper. I felt great and it was good to get Corbett 122 in the bag - ONLY 100 to go!

Mount Battock feat. Clachnaben

As the dictat to 'stay at home' was relaxed to 'stay local', I decided to head up and see my parents who I hadn't seen for months. My mum, in particular, seemed to be suffering from a depression of sorts and so for me, as they had both been double vaccinated I felt justified in heading up and dropping M off with them before I took in this hill. I arrived at the Glen Dye car park at 0830, about 10th in line! So, others had decided to explore and get out and about. I took the path out of the car park and hared along to Miller's Bog, where a stream of people were up ahead. Clachnaben could now be seen, the prominent tor that prompted the now infamous quote "Clachnaben and Bennachie, twa landmarks fae the sea'. 

The yomp along the excellent path made for quick going and within the hour, I was up at the Clachnaben tor, which was becoming busy already. The wind at the top was perishing and I really wondered whether I was ready to walk the extra 4 miles out to Mount Battock, and back. However, I was determined to make the most of every trip from now on. I could see my objective away in the distance, and conditions looked dry. I was going for it. 

I passed a couple of guys at the smaller tor further on and said hello; one of the guys with shorts said 'it's f£$king freezing!' - I had to laugh. It was but I was fully clad. I motored on and began to enjoy the solitude. The Land Rover track made for easy walking albeit it was bordering on environmental vandalism. I eventually came across a hut about 3km from the summit and decided to leave my pack here. I had some refreshments and then started a run along the track and up to the summit. I topped out at the trig point and large shelter cairn just as the clag dropped. So, there wasn't much point in taking in the view. Plus, I still had the 13-km walk-out. I ran back to the pack, had a lovely can of San Pellegrino and started my walk out. I enjoyed the walk out, passing many people who all seemed jovial and delighted to be out. After 5 hours of walking, I made it back to the car - pretty good-going for a 26-km day. My Winter training had really put me in a good place physically and mentally. Really enjoyable day.

Stob an Aonaich Mhoir

Weeks and weeks of lockdown. We hadn't seen our parents at Christmas as it would have been folly to spend time with them when Covid was rife. We had abided by the rules but having only had 2 days off in 10 weeks since the start of the year, I was beginning to lose the plot. I decided I would take a day off and fuel the car up to full, before leaving early and avoiding any traffic. I drove the 2.5 hours along past Kinloch Rannoch and parked in the car park, just beside the power station. Not a soul around. I got the MTB out of the car, and began the cycle round to the start of the Land Rover track that would take me to the high point of the road down to the lodge. The track is excellent and while some of the road was steep in places, it took me just over an hour to get to the 655m point, where plenty of snow was lying on the hills. I left the bike just off the road, and began the last wee ascent up to the summit. Although the views were lovely to the point where I left the bike, the same could not be said for the summit.

I romped back to the bike, had some nourishment; pumped up the tyres and began the 14.5km descent back to the car - I fair flew down the road and at one point hit 35 mph. A LOT OF FUN. Views across Rannoch Moor were lovely and back down at the loch, I enjoyed the stillness and placid aspect. It was only 1100 and I was home by 1400, not having seen or encountered a soul. This Corbett deserves the bike approach and I'll be using the bike much more in future trips for hills.

 

Sgurr Ghiubhsachain

I had driven North with the intention of doing this hill, possibly combined with the Corbett at the back of the coire. This would be a long day but starting from Callop, Sgurr Ghiubhsaichain would be a long enough trip anyway. Almost 20km, as it turned out. Although I had the larger pack, I was wearing my hill approach trainers - so I'd run where I could. I returned up the glen, the way I had been previously when I wild camped up on Sgorr Craobh a' Chaorainn - that seemed like a long time ago but it was probably a couple of years. It was a quick trip up and along the glen until it started to drop down again. At this point, I began the hard work up on to the shoulder between the two aforementioned Corbetts. Once up on to the ridge, my target came into view. I really love Ardgour, Morvern and Moidart. A sense of wilderness out here. The ascent up to the summit was steep and the view out to the seaboard and the loch was outstanding. I could even see Ben Nevis in the distance, clear as a bell. I picked my way carefully back down the ridge, and arrived at the Geussachan house at the loch. From here, I ran/walked the rest of the way back round to the car park at Callop. All in all, 4 hours was good going, especially with 1000m ascent in there. A classic trip.

Glas Bheinn (Kylesku)

This was the two days I had most been looking forward to since the relaxation of lockdown. I had booked the Kylesku hotel for a couple of nights and would attempt both this Corbett then a couple of Munros in the Cuillins should the weather hold out. These two days will live long in my memory for all the right reasons. I left just before 0900 and waved Martha and Emma off - Martha had just gone back to school, was enjoying it and my wife was busy with a commission. I enjoyed the long drive North and eventually got to a warm NW Highlands for 1400. The lay-by for the start of this hill was full so I drove on another 100m and parked in tight to the road. From here, it was Factor 50 on and I headed off on the path, before encountering a young lady over from Austria, with her dog Tia. Really nice to chat but I had a hill to do! Quinag looked good with its head just in the clouds, as was Glas Bheinn initially. I made for the steep incline and a path of sorts wend its way into the gully. I met a family coming down who said they didn't get a view but did meet plenty of midges! I got to the summit in an hour and the views were splendid - right enough the midges were prevalent even at sub-800m. I decided to contour round and down past the loch to make a route of it. This was a most pleasant meander back to the car and I got back to the car for 1630. From here, it was a 10-minute drive to the hotel where I checked in, showered and had a lovely meal before an early night - due to the long 3.5 hour drive that I'd have to get to Glen Brittle for 0830. Another cracking wee Corbett.

 

Sguman Coinntich & Faochaig

Coronavirus pandemic. On March 23rd, the UK was placed into national lockdown and while some idiots had gone into the hills early, I had restrained myself. Maintaining fitness by running 5 miles a day in June, I was going to be physically ready for the hills once we got the go-ahead from Nicola. As an infectious disease epidemiologist, it had been very odd to watch events unfold through either MSM or on social media. I knew that there would be many folks streaming North for hills so I decided to head from home early on a Friday at 0830. Driving through Tyndrum was an odd experience - practically nobody about in the middle of July. Fort William was much the same and heading past Invergarry, the roads were so quiet. It was all very odd. I eventually arrived at Killilan for 1230.

I had never been to this part of the world before and it was both pretty and quiet. Sguman Coinntich was the the obvious hill and I made for the path that would run in between it and Ben Killilan. The weather was a mix and it was to be like this all day; sunshine, cloud and rain. I headed up to the bealach, enjoying the views back to the loch but rather than head on to the Corbett proper, I thought I'd make for the bealach proper - this was a mistake as the crags were severe enough that I'd not fancy my chances. I thus, had to drop down into the coire at the back of the hill and re-ascent on to the shoulder of Sguman Coinntich. Here, I left my bag and romped the last kilometre to the summit trig point. There was a great view down to the loch but a fleeting one, as the cloud and rain moved in once more. I pinged over to get my rucksack, had some food and began the meander over to Faochaig.

There was a great view over to Carnan Cruithneachd, with the larger hills behind it. This was a place of real remoteness and I revelled in the solitude. Again, as I made for the final objective of the day, the cloud and rain came in. I dropped the rucksack at a large boulder and made for the summit cairn. No view, a quick message to my wife as to where I'd camp for the evening, then I made the long and unrelenting walk back down into Glen Elchaig, where I came upon Iron Lodge. I had a look at round but it was being decomposed from the inside out. I found a hidden flat piece of land beside a large waterfall, had some dinner and a beer/dram before getting my head down. I slept fitfully for several hours before packing up and heading out at 0200. I got back to the car at 0415 after a couple of frights with deer jumping out on me. It had been a fabulous re-emergence back into the way of the hills. I felt completely rejuvenated, as if I'd sloughed off my old skin.