Ben Nevis again.....after 33 years!

2 Aug - An enjoyable day, in typically varied Scottish weather - after a generous invitation I joined our nurse Sue Mansfield and her family in Kinlochleven for the weekend. Our target was the ascent of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, via the tourist track from Achintee. We set off in the morning sunshine, and as predicted cloud gradually rolled in - I just beat the cloud to the summit, and got a view of the Mamores ridge, seemingly a long way below us, but containing 10 Munros! The summit cairn, at 4,409', was very cold and breezy - and crowded! The rain set in in earnest during our descent, and it was back for a shower and dry clothes.....mission accomplished. My second ascent of the Ben, my previous being as a sixth-former in 1981.....so the Munro count remains on 140. Photos JM.

Stuchd an Lochain and Meall Buidhe 25 July 2014

Hot and sunny, write up to follow.....Munro total now 140.

Buachaille Etive Mor ( Stob Dearg and Stob na Broige) 17 July 2014

A fine day and at last I had the opportunity to tackle one of the iconic Scottish Mountains, Buachaille Etive Mor, that towers over Glencoe. It looks impregnable from the A82, but in fact the climb up Coire na Tulaich is steep but straightforward. Once on the ridge, it is a short ascent to the summit of Stob Dearg at 3,353', perched on the SE end of the mountain with dramatic views for Rannoch Moor, round to the Mamores and Ben Nevis, north into Glencoe proper and west to Loch Etive, with Ben Starav and Ben Cruachan visible. The ridge leads to the second Munro, Stob na Broige, at 3,153' slightly lower, via the steep intervening peak of Stob na Doire, not a Munro but it feels like one......again dramatic views throughout, especially as the cloud was lifting throughout the day and Ben Nevis and Bidean nam Bian finally cleared mid-afternoon. Munro total now 138, 3 to go to the halfway point....a few more photos to follow.....

Carn Bhac 21 June 2014

A shorter walk this morning before travelling home, and slightly more showery weather, still with clear summits and some sun. A scenic walk up Glen Ey lead onto the heathery then boggy upper slopes - then a pull up the boulders to the summit of Carn Bhac, 3,104', a fairly isolated Munro with good views both to the main Cairngorm range, and S and E to the Cairnwell range. 5 Munros added in the last few days, makes a total now of 136, only 5 to the halfway mark!

Beinn Bhrotain and Monadh Mor 20 June 2014

An excellent walk over 2 of the remote southern Cairngorm Munros - such a silence and sense of space. We cycled 7km then climbed heathery then stony slopes to the bouldery summit of Beinn Bhrotain (3,796') with panoramic views in all directions. Then down to a shallow bealach and up to the bouldery summit plateau of Monadh Mor (3,652') with dramatic views across the Lairig Ghru to Braeriach and Devil's Point. A return in the same direction saw us back to the bikes as shower clouds closed in behind us - Munro count up to 135.

Carn an Fhidhleir and An Sgarsoch 19 June 2014

Fine, cool and breezy weather for 2 remote Munros west of Braemar, with Keith, Jen and Matt. We cycled down to Geldie Lodge, along the Glen with river and pine trees, then climbed a good path followed by heathery slopes to the summit of Carn an Fhidhhleir (3,261') with spacious and panoramic views to the Cairngorms and Beinn a'Ghlo. Then down 300m and up again to the neighbouring summit of An Sgarsgoch at 3,300'. A pleasant descent and cycle out gave a good day and 2 Munros, total now 133.

Ciste Dhubh 30 May 2014

A superb fine day to complete the north Glen Shiel Munros, a steep climb up the ridge of Am Bathach ( a Corbett) leading on to the ridge proper - after dropping 600 feet to a bealach, the at times narrow and fairly exposed ridge of Ciste Dhubh begins - leading to the small summit at 3.222ft, with superb views today to the Sisters and Brothers of Kintail, also south past the South Glen Shiel ridge towards The Quoich Hills - Ladhar Bheinn - Skye with the Cuillin in mist - and north past Beinn Fhada. And I only met 2 people in total! Munro no 131.....and my swollen ankle appeared no worse for the experience.....Glen Shiel now completed, apart from The Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine.....so 1 more day needed......