Glen Orchy duo with Dewey

My good friend Caroline and I headed North with Bella, the effervescent spaniel. I had tried to bag these two last Christmas Eve but was blown off before getting half way up. A much more benign day was in store. As we headed on to the hill, we aimed for the quartzite line of rock, which can be seen from afar on the A82 above Loch Tulla. Rock!! Mountains! It seemed an age since I had been out and it was invigorating. The heart was pounding as we ascended and the view across to Beinn an Dothaidh was stunning in the Autumn glow. Finally, we began to level off and approached the cairn as the clag also approached. The detritus of a radio mast lies up there and is an eyesore. It was wheeled up but seemingly is not able to be dragged back down with gravity. The landowner should be shot with his own .22. I would gladly do it.

A careful compass reading saw us down by the bealach and our 2nd hill of the day appeared - it seemed relatively steep but offered little resistance and as we approached the cairn, the scene across the glen to the Auch 5 and co was fabulous. We took tea and had food, while Bella begged (besom Jimmie?) for food. We caught up on all that had happened to us in the previous 6 months and it easily occupied a good 5 hours. It's good to talk. And walk. Cheers Caz.

Cul Beag

I had been waiting for a hill like you to come into my life.....feeling musical tonight. A week in Achiltibuie meant brief escapades with permission to bag hills and be home within the 5 hour limit. Deal. Previous deposits made into the emotional bank account meant a withdrawal was not going to put me overdrawn. The road back from aforementioned community to the main road is a 16-mile single track road, which is hard to drive quick on - unless of course you are local, for which the laws of physics and etiquette are defied. The weather was certainly mixed - torrential downpours with sun splitting the skies - this would have to be finely timed. I left the car just West of the cottage at Linnerainneach and tramped along the road until I detected the excellent stalker's path. Rampaging across the glen, I reached the small lochan agus climbed towards the steep face of Cul Beag. It is a domineering peak from this direction and any hope of attempting Lurgainn Edge were dashed when the rain enveloped me. I made for the North bealach and bade hello to a rambling club instead. 

From the bealach, things began to get rather beautiful indeed. The views North and West to Stac Pollaidh and Suilven irrespectively were stunning. Then, the heavens opened up and the temperature dropped several degrees. I was thankful for my Winter gear! The steep path zig-zagged but gained height rapidly. Hard to believe but I was at the summit within 75 minutes, privy to a fierce wind, which announced Winter was on its way. From here, it was a tremendous vista across Inverpolly. Some of the finest views of Scotland for me. There is something quite magical about Coigach and beyond - here there be faeries and dragons and ex-girlfriends who make Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction look positively adorable. I climbed round to the South-West prow and admired the huge drop below me. I had suggested to Slawek, a WHlander, that we could do this together but I had to take the opportunity to grab this and when we eventually met up to do Canisp, several days later, he mentioned that he was disappointed on more than one occasion. However, sorry seemed to be the hardest word for me and I thoroughly enjoyed my solo rocket-man day out. While company is fine, I am beginning to realise that my time, is my time and it affords a mental re-charging of the batteries, the soul and the spirit. Basically, I am an unsociable sod. The descent back to the car was tinged with sadness that another beautiful experience in this amazing area was at an end. A fantastic sortie. Not to mention, the most divine post-hill fish supper experience in Ullapool. And a pickle - does life get any better?

Poles apart on Canisp

I was off to do Canisp with a local lad, Slawek. Originally from Poland, he had been here for 6 years and was settled into Scottish life with his girlfriend. Indeed, such was his nous for things Scottish, that he corrected me on my use of the Gaelic - hats off. We met at the car park just N of Loch Awe and began the very boggy tramp over the first km. Unfortunately, Slawek's poles were gubbed and were confined to his backpack. After that, the ground was as stony for such a prolonged time as I can ever recall being on a hill. Our quick pace and chance to catch up about all things hummocky, footbally and lifey meant that it wasn't long before we were on the shoulder of the hill and approaching the last 1km. Unfortunately, what started out as a nice enough day turned into a pea-souper and our summit view was the inside of the admittedly lovely cairn. I was convinced that we could wait and the grand view of Suilven would come into focus. While, fleeting glimpses of the North face and the lochs appeared and offered hope, we were denied for another day. All that remained was the easy trudge back to the car via a 'look' at the North-Easterly screes. This was a simple day out which offered much but a chance to return in Winter on a clear day is definitely on the cards.

Sgor Mor to it than meets the eye

It has been quite a few months. The Olympics were fantastic to watch but it's the ones in the background we need to thank who keep things going smoothly. Like me.  On-call Olympic duty has played havoc with my summer plans and I had been limited to quick sorties here and there. In fact, I hadn't had a wild camp for over a year. My initial plans to tackle the troublesome 2, Sgarsoch and Fhidleir were massively in disarray when I crawled into Braemar at 1700 with a kaput VW. Not impressed especially considering the car was only 5 months old. 2 hours later and a manny fae Huntly came to fix it - simply a loose lead, which was connected and I was good to go. At 1915, I would maybe have a couple of hours walking and from Linn of Dee, I didn't think I'd get near the two hills and have a smooth walk back out the day after. I therefore decided to take things a little easier and catch a sunrise from Sgor Mor.
Now, there have been some fantastic trip reports from this Corbett, notable Alastair S and Kinley's. Any hopes of replicating their magnificent vista were kicked into touch when the heavens opened, just as I arrived at the Linn of Dee. The laws of physics suggest that all that rain should crush midges to the ground but somehow, they appear to hover mystically in between, while voraciously descending upon me. They didn't even let me get changed properly and I must have been parked and walking within 2 minutes. I decided to plunge through deep heather and get to high ground as fast as possible and the sweat was now mixing with the incessant downpour. This wasn't the night of relaxation I had envisaged. No matter, I ploughed on and it was incredible how quickly darkness fell. I decided to set up tent about 3 km from the summit and was delighted to get out of my damp gear and settle into my sleeping bag. My wife laughed at my 'poor me' voice and said she was just having a nice, warm bath. Thanks dear.
I listened to a few tunes and the rain and amazingly slipped off to sleep until 0500. Sometimes you need to go through the s**t to find the good stuff and I was blessed with a cracking sunrise and some unexpected views over to the 'gorms. There were a couple of pools marked into boulders, which were very interesting and it is always good to have a meander over a mountain rather than place the stone on the cairn and return as one arrives. My walk back to the car was very relaxing although I was less impressed with the ever-welcoming insect party which began the exsanguination process at the car. It wasn't the camp or Munro haul I had planned but nonetheless, it was a fantastic experience being out in the hill once again.

The 50th - Morven

Having initially never been interested in the hills less than 3000 ft, I have had a real change of heart since I set foot on the Cobbler and Stac Pollaidh. I am the converted and I'll do the preaching. Heading home to see my folks for a weekend, I perused the hills in the North-East, which were yet to be done and because I'm a little bit OCD for numbers, I was happy to hit my 50th Corbett on Morven. A late start meant that I was away from work at 1207 and at Logie Coldstone for 1500. It didn't turn out to be as relaxed a walk for several reasons. After having started, at about 300m, I looked back down to see a pursuer. Secondly, any momentary pause was taken advantage of by invertebrates, which either wanted my sweat or my blood. I therefore motored to the top in just over an hour and 10 minutes and pointed out to a local couple from Aboyne that they must sign the log book. And deposit some money. "How will I know you won't pinch it?" she jokingly said. Reason 3 to get down before these folk did in order to retain my sense of propriety and bonhomie. And so a quick run off the hill saw me at the car in 2 hours. I had a little time to appreciate Mount Keen and Bennachie in the distance but I'll definitely return for the 'big hill' in Winter, in order to fully take in this wee gem.

The Merrick has merit

Whilst staying en famille in Lochinvar, a lovely isolated mansion in Dumfries-shire, I took time to bugger off and grab this solitary Corbett, which was outstanding from my Southern Upland count. The drive from Lochinvar winds its way through the Galloway forest in some exquisite countryside and the drive along Glentrool was equally as fine. The weather was beautiful and conscious of my time, I fair rattled up the excellent path to Culsharg. There were steamy windows but I didn't stop to see if there was movement in the back seat and so progressed through the forest, while swatting away persistent invertebrates. Once up on to Benyellary, I was free from fly-life and I took time to rehydrate and admire the sweeping slopes of the Merrick. Unfortunately, the cloud was sitting at about 750m so I was not privy to any amazing views. Loch Enoch flitted in and out of the cloud, as did Mullwharchar and while I could easily have combined that and Craignaw, I didn't want to be away for too long as I was on curry duty. A wild camp plan was hatched or perhaps a wee bothy stay from the East and Tunskeen. My return trip over Buchan Hill was fine and I was round the circuit in just under 4 hours, which was pretty good going. Once home, I found out that my sister in law was in hospital and not too well, so glad to have been out of the way of the likely consternation. Pretty sure, other things will hatch over the next few days. Fingers crossed.

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.