Meall Corranaich and Meall a Choire Leith 5 November 2011

Thanks to Air Miles and a free ticket, I was able to take advantage of the first fine weather in Scotland for quite a few weeks. Due to reduced daylight hours in November, a fairly short route in the Ben Lawers range in Perthshire. After a drive past Ben Lomond at dawn, from the summit of the road through the range (at 1,900') I ascended south east through boggy terrain to reach the SW ridge and then the summit of Meall Corranaich, an excellent viewpoint at 3,507'. The glens were filled with fog with only the mountains protruding - an amazing sight, a form of cloud inversion I have never seen before. Panorama from the southern peaks beyond Loch Tay, round to Glen Lyon and then towards Rannoch Moor and Glencoe, with more cloud in the west. There were several walkers on the mountains enjoying the conditions, and the ridge north then led to the lower peak of Meall a Choire Leith (3,038'), and then back to the road via an extremely boggy descent.
Munros completed now 67, or almost a quarter of the total....

Waun Fach and Pen y Manllwyn (Black Mountains) 28 October 2011

Superb weather for an afternoon walk up to the highest peak of the Black Mountains in South Wales, Waun Fach (2,660'), a boggy whaleback on the Gadair ridge, reached via a fine ascent of the spur of Y Grib to the northwest, with excellent views to Pen y Fan and the Brecon Beacons, and then over the slightly lower summit of Pen y Manllwyn (2,500'). As I didn't start until 1pm, I did not have time to include the top of Pen y Gader Fawr at the southern end of the ridge, but the circular walk was very scenic in sunshine and light winds.

This walk is dedicated to the memory of my dear friend Carol, from Wales, who passed away on 17 September aged just 42.

Ben Chonzie 24 Sept 2011

My dear friend Carol passed away last week, on 17th Sept. She was just 42 years old. Despite events at home I decided to go ahead with my walking trip - A very scenic (and not too strenuous) ascent of Ben Chonzie (3,054') from Glen Lednock - good views from the summit and adjoining ridge - Ben Vorlich to the west, and the Ben Lawers range, with Ben More and Stob Binnein behind, to the west shrouded in shower cloud.

Cold Pike and Crinkle Crags 23 August 2011

A more cloudy day, and the ascent of Cold Pike starting from the highest point of Wrynose Pass - good views from the summit at 2,259', Pike o'Blisco impressively close across the valley, round to Langdale and Bowfell/Crinkle Crags. Then on up the obvious path to the ridge of Crinkle Crags, as far as the south summit at 2,730, with impressive views of the Scafell massif to the west. Very windy on the Crinkle ridge itself.