Scottish weather back to normal....

1 July - after the amazing dry and sunny spring in the West Highlands, June was fairly wet, and the prospects for my possible short visit next week don't look too promising...

Slioch 25 May 2008

25 May - the fairly strenuous ascent of Slioch in sunny conditions. I followed the path from Kinlochewe to Loch Maree, then branched off up the steep slopes on the SE side into Coire Tuill Bhain. From here a further steep pull leads to the summit cone at 3,217', an amazing viewpoint for Beinn Eighe and Torridon, the Fannichs to the west, and north to An Teallach, A'Mhaighdean across Lochan Fada, and the Dundonnell wilderness. 6.5hours there and back with a 3-mile walk in each way along the Kinlochewe river. Fantastic!

Gleouraich 24 May 2008

24 May - the superb fine spring weather continued in Scotland. The ascent of Gleouraich, N of Loch Quoich, proved easier than expected up the excellent stalker's path that ends on the W ridge below the summit,taking a fraction over 2 hours. The summit cairn (3,395') gives a fantastic view south and west into the wilds of Knoydart - the cone of Sgurr na Ciche, with Luinne Bheinn and Ladhar Beinn all visible - and N to Glen Shiel, then SE to Ben Nevis beyond the ridge to Spidean Mialach. Down by lunchtime to look for Chequered Skippers near Spean Bridge - 3 seen.

Bruach na Frithe (Black Cuillin) 17 May 2008

17 May - a long-held ambition finally realised! I stood on the ridge of the Black Cuillin, the most mighty mountain ridge in all Scotland. I flew to Inverness the day before, and drove to Sligachan Hotel for the night - stunning blue skies in Torridon en route with rolls of cloud enveloping the summit ridges of Beinn Eighe and Liathach. Then across the Skye bridge for the first time, an emotional drive through Broadford with its memories to the foot of the Cuillin.
The next morning the clouds were just brushing the tops of Sgurr nan Gillean as I set off up Glen Brittle in a NE wind. I forked off up Fionn Coire then up onto the NW ridge of Bruach na Frithe - a tougher scramble than I expected, with the path skirting boulders and needing hands at times, though not exposed at all. Then, cresting the summit (3,143'), an amazing view of the entire ridge from Sgurr nan Gillean, past the Basteir Tooth and the Innaccessible Pinnacle S to Sgurr nan Eag. I stayed on the top for an hour, riveted by the view including Wester Ross all the way to An Teallach, and E to Kintail. Elated, I descended off the Bealach nan Lice next to Am Basteir, back to Glen Brittle. An emotional day. The photos show the ascent from Allt Dearg house in Glen Sligachan, and views from the summit.

2008 season starts

12 May - well, the weather is fantastic in Scotland at present, especially in the west - so I hope it holds until Thursday 15th for my first foray of the year...

Beinn Eighe 15 June 2007

15 June - another fine day, and a very scenic drive around the coast to Torridon. The "tourist" route up the slopes of Beinn Eighe from the A896 led to some steep and eroded slopes just below the ridge, a difficult and slippery scramble up to the cairn then fantastic views from the summit of Spidean Coire nan Clach (3,188'). The Beinn Eighe ridge in both directions, with the highest peak, Ruadh-stac Mor to the northwest, beyond that to the west Beinn Alligin and Beinn Dearg, with Liathach rearing up to the southwest. An Teallach was visible to the north across Fisherfield Forest. Another stunning summit, just a handful of other walkers on the ridge.

An Teallach 14 June 2007 - at last!

14 June - I flew to Scotland for a couple of days walking, landing in Inverness to clear blue skies. A drive to Dundonnell, amazing clear views of the mountains of the northwest, then I set off up the tourist track S from Dundonnell - up the shoulder of the mountain, following the Allt a' Mhuilinn up the valley, then a steep scramble up the scree slopes to realise a lifetime's ambition - the summit of Bidean a' Ghlas Thuill (3,484')and the ridge of An Teallach lay in front of me across to Sgurr Fiona, with Fisherfield forest to the south, Skye and the Hebrides to the west, and Suilven and Inverpolly to the north. An amazing viewpoint in amazing weather - totally stunning. And I had the summit to myself!