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.

Ben More and Stob Binnein 10 June 2010

10 June - another fantastic spring day of weather, blue skies, and 2 linked Munros, first a steep climb up the west side of Ben More to the summit ridge, and the cairn at 3,852' with an amazing view in all directions - all the West Highland peaks, from Ben Cruachan and Glencoe round to Ben Nevis and the Cairngorms to Ben Lawers and the Perthshire peaks. Stob Binnean (3,822') is reached by a descent to a bealach and re-ascent of almost 1000ft, with similar panoramic views. A descent down alongside the river back to the road.

Munro count 2010 so far....

4 June - 2 short Scottish trips in the last couple of weeks have yielded 6 walking days, all with clear weather, and a total of 12 Munros climbed - taking my total to 27. All really enjoyable in different ways - the first trip in cold, clear weather, still with significant lying snow patches, and excellent distant views. The second trip much warmer and more hazy, less snow and easier high walking conditions, and 2 Munros each day, the West Fannichs being the most challenging with the long walk in - a real sense of the space and silence of the wilderness of the Northwest.

Buachaille Etive Beag - Stob Dubh and Stob Coire Raineach 4 June 2010

4 June - another fine day for the 2 Munros on Buachille Etive Beag, and a steep path starting near the car park led to the bealach, then the first summit, Stob Coire Raineach (3,034'). A ridge led to the second Munro, Stob Dubh (3,143'), with excellent views across to Bidean nam Bian, and Ben Nevis and the Mamores behind the Aonach Eagach ridge. Also views of Buachaille Etive Mor, and Glen Etive. The car-car time was exactly 4 hours.