Matt's Compleation !

14 Oct - Munro completion, not by me but by Matt Burrows...well done! Matt did his final two Munros, Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers in a break in the ongoing poor weather, and (together with Tracy and Monty) he, Jen, Keith and I met in Killin in the evening for a celebration - a good time was had by all! Amazing to think that the cumulative totals of Munro rounds in the room was 5 plus!

I will probably end 2017 on 202 Munros...... unless we get a stunning spell of weather in November.....

Ben Wyvis 2 Sept 2017

A fine and increasingly sunny morning for the ascent of his massive mountain west of Inverness - a steep but well-engineered path took me to the plateau and the cairn with views in all directions, including back to Inverness and the Cromarty Firth. My early start meant that I met a lot of people ascending this popular Munro at 3,432' as I descended back to the forested Glen. Munro total 202.

Sron a' Choire Ghairbh and Meall na Teanga 1 Sept 2017 - 200 up!

At last some fine weather, and the chance for a couple of days Munroing. First stop was the pair of Munros just W of Loch Lochy....... a scenic forest and Glen approach, then up the stalkers path to the N zigzagging to the top of Sron a' Choire Ghairbh at 3,067' and my 200th Munro! Suitably fine weather and expansive views to celebrate the occasion, with the West Highlands on display from Torridon and An Teallach round to Knoydart. Then down to the bealach and up the southern of the pair on a less well-defined path, to the summit of Meall na Teanga which scrapes in as a Munro at 3,008'. Total 201.

Sgor Gaoith and Mullach Clach a Bhlair 1 July 2017

A sunny morning in the Cairngorms and an early start for Glen Feshie - a good stalking path up to Carn Ban Mhor, then on to Sgor Gaoith, a distinctive pointed peak (3,668') with wonderful views across to Braeriach and the massif of the Cairngorms. Superb high level walking for another 3m north, again on excellent paths with expansive views, took me to Mullach Clach a'Bhlair and the second of the day's two Munros, slightly lower at 3,343'. The walk down led to a riverside path through a beautiful woodland of Caledonian pines and alongside the River Feshie, a very enjoyable 3 miles in the afternoon sun. Munro total now 199.

Ben Challum 19 May 2017

An easier day after the previous exertions of the week, 5h up and down Ben Challum, surprisingly enjoyable, initially a steep ascent then more rocky towards the summit with its 2 tops, the N being the Munro. A nice variety of scenery and good views in all directions - S to Crianlarich hills and the Arrochar Alps, N to Ben Nevis and Glencoe, and E to Schiehallion. A fitting finale to my trip. Munro total 197.

Sgurr na Ciche, Garbh Chioch Mhor, Sgurr nan Coireachan 18 May 2017

A day long anticipated, the remote Glen Dessary munros, in the end a 10.5h day, 26 km, and 1700m of ascent. A showery day with shifting mist, shafts of sunlight and dramatic views interspersed with cloud. A 6k walk up boggy Glen Dessary led to the rocky ascent and scramble up to the summit of my most-wanted Munro, Sgurr na Ciche at 3,415'. Intermittent views west to Loch Nevis, north towards Glen Shiel and Knoydart. I've always admired this mountain with it's conical elegant shape when seen from the east, and its remoteness and romantic name combine to give it an air of mystery. I real sense of achievement to stand on its surprisingly capacious summit! Then back to the bealach and up the neighbouring peak of Garbh Chioch Mhor 3,323' following the wall which was constructed along this crest over 100y ago. Views continued to be dramatic but intermittent. The ridge led on with a fine path and high level walk, to the third Munro of the day, Sgurr nan Coireachan , which had a considerable pull onto the summit from the intervening drop, despite being the lowest of the 3 at 3,127'. A long descent and walk out followed, but a satisfying day. Munros 196.

Grey Corries - Sgurr Choinnich Mor, Stob Coire an Laoigh 17 May 2017

A bright but potentially showery day, for tackling 2 of the Grey Corries. A fairly steep pull up the NW ridge led to the ridge, with expansive views N and S along the ridge, and views to the Aonachs still streaked with snow, S to Glencoe and NW to Glenfinnan. The first summit Stob Coire an Laoigh is an airy perch with a cairn at 3,658', and we then moved south along the ridge with the steep ascent onto Sgurr Choinnich Mor, a pointed mountain at 3,592'. We then dropped back down towards the glen at Spean Bridge. All in all a fine ridge walk with excellent views and good but rocky paths. Munro total 193. 2 more Grey Corries to do on another day.

Sgurr Mor (Glen Dessary) 15 April 2017

A remote Munro and a fairly arduous day - we approached from the south, via Glen Dessary and Glen Kingie, with dramatic cloudscapes and a sprinkling of snow on the higher peaks in the cold showery NW airstream. The terrain was predominantly peaty and boggy on the approach as far as the final pull up onto the ridge, which had a fine path but some rest snow. Some impressive views especially S to Streap and W to the Ciche rangs and Knoydart. The cairn at 3,291' was in cloud, but a remote and rugged area deserving of a lot of respect. Munro#191.

Carn Mor Dearg 14 April 2017

A good start to the year with the 8th-highest Munro, in the company of Keith, Matt and Jen. The cloud base at about 8-900m, but fewer showers than forecast, and some sun. The showers had resulted in fresh snowfall above 1000m which made the walk more interesting without being dangerous...... nice views of the north face of the Ben, and towards Loch Linnhe. The summit being at 4,012', one of the select group of four-thousanders. 6h in total. Munro #190.