Mount Keen 1 Oct 2016

Our booked trip this last week was thwarted by the weather, with Jen and Matt returning home defeated midweek. An improvement in conditions gave me the opportunity to use my booked flight at the weekend, so I headed for the outlying eastern-most Munro, Mount Keen in the SE Cairngorms, approached from the east coast. A scenic drive up Glen Esk lead to the parking area and I headed up the broad track towards Queen's Well, then on up the shoulder of the heathery mountain with improving views back down Glen Esk, and west to Lochnagar. The weather was showery and the cloud rolled in before I reached the summit, with the jumble of rocks at the cairn at 3,081' appearing rather eerie in the mist. The return walk was enlivened by several very confiding Red Grouse. Munro no 189.

Carn Dearg and Geal-Charn (Ben Alder) 19 Aug 2016

A day affected by the weather. We cycled from Dalwhinnie station down Loch Ericht towards Ben Alder, initially in sun, but cloud on the peaks around Culra bothy thickened and lowered and the wind increased especially at altitude. The steep slopes of Carn Dearg led to the summit cairn in the mist at 3,392' and no view. Across the plateau to a further climb and an extremely windy Geal-Charn, 3,714'. At this point we decided to bail out from the further 2 Ben Alder Munros, and we headed down Lancet edge - initially tricky with slightly wet rock and a sideways wind in the fog. The cycle out was much wetter than the ride in in dreich conditions ! Munro count 188, 94 to go........

Meall Ghaordaidh 18 Aug 2016

A fine afternoon with some cloud, and sunny intervals, for a pleasant ascent of Meall Ghaordaidh on the N side of Glen Lochay - a green and scenic glen reminiscent of the Lake District, with its stone walls and wooded streams. A pleasant (and not too boggy) ascent of the SE ridge led to a rocky summit cone, and then the trig point at 3,409' in and out of cloud, with some misty views, E to the Ben Lawers range, and W to Ben Challum. Munro no 186 achieved in 3h 50m.

Creag Pitridh, Geal Charn and Beinn a'Chlachair 30 July 2016

A cloudier day with the base at about 700m, little rain but no breaks either. A long walk in from the S side of A86, good paths, up to the bealach then easy slopes to the first and lowest Munro of the day, Creag Pitridh at 3,031'. A fairly short traverse in the mist took us to the pointed summit of Geal Charn, 3,442'. Then across the bealach and a bouldery steep ascent onto the ridge of Beinn a'Clachair, the cairn and summit being at the far end of the ridge at 3,569'. Cutting down the Coire slopes we regained the path for an hour walkout back to the road. Cold in the wind and cloud, but some shafts of sun on the path below. Munro total 185, 97 to go!

Beinn a'Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach 29 July 2016

A fairly strenuous but enjoyable day on these peaks W of Creag Meagaidh. A fairly steep pull onto the ridge of Beinn a'Chaorainn from the SW gave increasingly extensive views in clear weather, with the summit at 3,451' a fine viewpoint for the Grey Corries and Aonachs to the west, the Creag Meagaidh massive to the east, and Loch Trieg area to the south, enhanced by blue skies. A steep descent then brutal reascent of 400m led to the summit of Beinn Teallach, just a Munro at 3,002'. A straightforward descent on fairly wet ground back to the A86. Munro total now 182, exactly 100 to go !

Geal Charn ( Monadhliath ) 28 July 2016

A sunny afternoon for the enjoyable but rather boggy ascent from Garva bridge via the SW ridge, pleasant walking especially on the more rocky upper slopes, with increasingly impressive views to Ben Alder and the Cairngorms. A large cairn on the summit at 3,038. Several other groups out enjoying the fine weather.

Ben More (Mull) 6 June 2016

A hot humid day at the start of our Hebridean Odyssey, and an ascent of Ben More from the north side on the main tourist route. Increasingly impressive views as I reached the summit ridge, especially east to the knife edge of A'Chioch, seen dramatically from the summit at 3,170'. Munro number 179 bagged.

Ben Lui and Beinn a'Chleibh 28 May 2016

I met up at short notice with Keith, Matt and Jen to join them for the last day of their May trip - Beinn a' Chleibh and Ben Lui. The early low cloud steadily lifted as we walked up through the forest and up the open hill to the Bealach, so the summit of Beinn a' Chleibh at 3,005' was clear, with views S to Arrochar and Lomond, W to Ben Cruachan and N towards Glencoe. We then crossed the Bealach and ascended the slopes of Ben Lui, the narrow rocky summit giving intermittent spectacular views in the mist - the 27th highest Munro at 3,707'. A very enjoyable walk, Munro total up to 178.

2016 kicks off ........ Spidean Mialach 27 May 2016

A beautiful day in the Northwest Highlands, blue skies and a light breeze - the road to Kinlochhourn passes through a stunning glen, very scenic, with ash and oak woodland, and getting out of the car silence is the first thing noticed. I've previously climbed Gleouriaich, so this time I ascended the SW slopes of neighbouring Spidean Mialach on a stalkers path, then climbed directly up heathery slopes to the summit at 3,268', with extensive views down Loch Quoich to Sgurr na Ciche and a distant Ladhar Bheinn. A wonderful airy feeling of solitude. Munro no 176.