Beinn Dubhchraig and Ben Oss 21 July 2020

A fine day in the southwest Highlands and a chance to bag these two Munros, which I’d wanted to climb for a long time. The approach from Dalrigh is on good though boggy paths all the way, initially through a patch of remnant Caledonian forest, then alongside a stream and waterfalls. The path rises steadily up the flank of Beinn Dubhchraig from the east, and then an easy climb south leads to the summit at 3,205’ with a panoramic view of Loch Lomond and the Arrochar Alps. Then back down to the bealach and a more strenuous ascent up the flanks of Ben Oss, which from its 3,373’ summit has a close up view of Ben Lui in the foreground, with an array of peaks stretching north across Glencoe and the Black Mount as far as the Ben Nevis, clear of cloud for once. The descent requires a reascent of the bealach before the boggy path back to Dalrigh. A day of sunshine and white clouds before high cloud rolled in ahead of an approaching front. Munros #247.

An Socach (Deeside) 20 July 2020

At last ! Back in the mountains, and the spacious horizons of the eastern hills, in fine, breezy and showery conditions interspersed with sunny glimpses. A pleasant walk in from the Invercauld entrance on the A93 lead to heathery slopes up to the 2km-long summit plateau of An Socach, with the summit at 3,097’ being at the western end of a very gradual stony incline. Views north to a rather dreich and showery Cairngorm massif. Munro #245.

No hillwalking yet .........

10 June - So this is the week that we should have been in Ullapool - the weather today up in the Northwest is typically dreich, but there have been a couple of good days, so it's possible that we would have been able to tackle Fisherfield. Let's hope that the mountains open again as Nicola S gradually eases the lockdown, and we can salvage part of the Munro season...….however, the mountains will still be there when things return to normal ……..

Spring 2020..........

As of early May 2020, we have now been on coronavirus lockdown for 6 weeks. This has unfortunately coincided with an amazing, warm, dry spring in the Highlands, and as I write the sun continues to blaze down. My Cuillin completion trip for later this month has already been cancelled, and our June trip to the Northwest has a large question mark hanging over it... desperately hoping that the lockdown is eased sufficiently to allow some hillwalking, bearing in mind that it doesn't involve large crowds, it allows social distancing, and we can go self catering! In the meantime, I am consoling myself with the amazing photos that are currently being posted on Twitter, and dreaming of future times when Scotland is accessible once again. Here's to future Munros...….

Sgurr Thuilm and Sgurr nan Coireachan (Glenfinnan) 25 Jan 2020

An early start to the 2020 season..... an unseasonably mild week, with melting of most of the lying snow preceded my day with a Steven Fallon group. Daylight being at a bit of a premium in January, we started from Glenfinnan shortly after first light, with broken cloud and a southerly wind as we headed up the glen, subdued but striking winter colours in evidence, and meeting some very tame Red Deer stags for company. We walked anticlockwise to take advantage of the prevailing wind, most of the exposure being on the ridge as we descended. We ascended into cloud at around 650m and we stayed in cloud for the rest of the day, so no views. Sgurr Thuilm was the first Munro of the day at 3,159', and a few snow patches lingered near the summit. The walk to the second Munro is preceded by several significant "bumps" or false summits, but eventually we climbed up fairly steep rocky slopes which levelled out to the trig point and shelter on Sgurr nan Coireachan, fractionally lower at 3,136'. Unfortunately the views of Loch Arkaig and the West was obscured, but the wind was less than forecast. The descent was steady, and walking out we just beat the darkness back to the car park. Munros #244.

Beinn Bheoil and Ben Alder 20 Oct 2019

A very good day, with a dusting of snow and at times awesome views. We headed first up the slopes of Beinn Bheoil by a very good path then steady slopes, and the cloud was brushing the summit on arrival at 3,343'. En route, my first Brocken Spectre! This is a person's own shadow in the mist, it only happens when the sun is shining through mist or fog. Slightly eerie. Then, an expansive walk down to the bealach below 2,600' and a steep but interesting and varied climb up onto the edge of the Ben Alder plateau and the exhilarating views coming and going, very extensive, of both the extensive summit area, and the wider expanses of the lonely country around this part of the central Highlands. The summit has a large cairn and shelter at 3,766'. Very satisfying to get this group of 6 remote Munros finally bagged, logistically they are fairly challenging. Overall, typical autumn weather, with some superb clear sunlit views at times in the clear seasonal light - and less precipitation than expected! Munros #242.

Beinn Eibhinn and Aonach Beag (Alder) 19 Oct 2019

The first day of a camping (!) trip with a Steven Fallon Group. We put our tents up by Culra bothy having cycled in the previous afternoon - rain overnight gave way to a chilly day with a N breeze and some shower cloud that fortunately mostly held off, and allowed intermittent views of the west/north section of the Ben Alder range. We ascended the initially steep unrelenting slopes of Carn Dearg, and then the bouldery slopes to its summit at 3.392'. There then followed a pleasant mainly high level walk, with an airy East Highland feel, across the extensive plateau to Geal Charn, 3,714'. We then progressed on to what would be the two new Munros for the day for me, which are fairly close together, and are seen very well from the earlier peaks - the shapely Aonach Beag and then via the (at times very windy) ridge to Beinn Eibhinn, respectively 3,655' and 3,609'. We had dramatic views especially in the later part of the day, as the clouds broke up and fragmented a little in the fairly strong wind, and more distant views encompassed Ben Lui and the Crianlarich peaks to the south, and to the west as far as Glenfinnan. An enjoyable, bracing day, unfortunately rounded off getting back to the tents and our attempts at hot food and keeping warm, serenaded by the roaring of Red Deer...... Munros #240.