Munros in Spring 2010

30 June - the Scottish weather seems to be taking a decided turn for the worse with the change in the month - after what seems like weeks of fine dry weather, low pressure is now going to dominate, with a return to cloud and rain. I have been able to make several Scottish trips this spring and have managed 20 Munros - a decent total taking my overall tally to 35. The ascents have been really enjoyable and memorable, the climax being the dramatic and remote peaks of Knoydart last weekend, especially Ladhar Bheinn, my most wanted Munro. I hope the late summer and autumn will offer some more good weather.

Knoydart - Ladhar Bheinn 27 June 2010

27 June - some cloud and showers on day 2 of the Knoydart trip with Keith and Gayle, and at last a chance to climb Ladhar Bheinn, a long-standing ambition. We approached it from the SW side, so a grassy rather than craggy ascent, initially up into mist - as we approached the summit ridge and cairn the mist rolled away to reveal the dramatic Coire Dhorrcail cliffs on the Mam Barrisdale approach - a truly amazing view beyond to the rough bounds of Knoydart and Loch Quoich, round to Beinn Sgritheall and all the peaks to the north. An ambition realised to stand on the summit of Ladhar Bheinn at 3,346'! One or two showers on the way down but 13 miles and 8 hours in total. Fantastic!

Knoydart - Luinne Bheinn and Meall Buidhe 26 June 2010

26 June - the first day of a weekend in Knoydart guided by Keith Gault of Hillways.co.uk, with fellow-Munroist Gayle Martin. The weather was fine with variable cloud, and clear summits. 16 miles walked over rough terrain involving some scrambling, with 2 Munros climbed - Luinne Bheinn (3,080') from Mam Barrisdale, then down the bealach and up to Meall Buidhe (3,104'). 10 hours, a long day, with fantastic views of the West Highlands - from Glen Shiel and Loch Hourn, round to the Loch Quoich peaks and Sgurr na Ciche.

Fhionn Bheinn 19 June 2010

19 June - A morning ascent of this outlier of the Fannichs, in clear but cool weather with a northerly wind. Tha ascent from Achnasheen is a gradual pull up the heathery, slightly boggy slopes but the summit (3,061') is on a ridge and gives a good view north and west, to Torridon, Fisherfield and the main Fannich range across the loch. The cloud was just brushing the tops of the highest visible peaks. In the afternoon, an amazing view from the plane of the West Highlands below, from Skye down to Glencoe. Beinn a'Bheithir, yesterday's ascent, was clearly visible above Loch Leven. My Munro total is now 32.

Beinn a'Bheithir (Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill) 18 June 2010

18 June - A clear sunny day and a strenuous walk over the Beinn a'Bheithir ridge from Ballachulish. A steep pull up the heathery slopes from the village, then up the ridge of Sgorr Bhan. The 2 Munros lie along a curved ridge, firstly Sgorr Dhearg at 3,360', then down to the bealach and up steepening slopes to the summit of Sgorr Dhonuill at 3,284'. Both excellent viewpoints across to the Inner Hebrides,and the panorama round the southern highlands from Perthshire to Glencoe and Ben Nevis, the Grey Corries and the Mamores. The route down follows a new path through the forestry plantations back to the A82.