Cuillin - Sgurr a’ Ghreadaidh and Sgurr a’Mhadaidh 31 Aug 2019

I was quite nervous about the first day of my Cuillin trip, these Alpine-style mountains have always been a major impediment in my mind to a possible Munro completion. The weather was suitably oppressive, with cloud and rain, and the ridge wreathed in low cloud which persisted through the day. We headed up towards the central section of the ridge guided by the excellent Dave Buckett, and at an appropriate time after a steep ascent, we put on our harnesses and helmets and proceeded to climb/scramble up these 2 adjacent Munros that are usually climbed together. I found the whole Cuillin experience harder then I expected, and the summits and cairns are small and airy, although we were in mist so couldn't see the drops. These two Munros, at 3,192' and 3,012'were my first two of the trip, and this day was the shortest and retrospectively the easiest of the three. Munros #233.

Glas Tulaichean, Carn an Righ and Beinn Iutharn Mhor 7 June 2019

A brief ridge of high pressure, and the chance to climb a couple of East Highland peaks that I’ve wanted to conquer for a while. Starting from Dalmunzie Hotel on a cloudless morning, I headed up the Land Rover track that climbs up the shoulder of Glas Tulaichean, and almost reaches the summit at its highest point. From here it is a short climb to the trig point at 3,448’and extensive views to Beinn a’Ghlo and the Cairngorms. Descending west, stalkers paths lead up to the Bealach and then the steep slopes of Carn an Righ and the bouldery summit cairn at 3,376’. From here, a traverse around the slopes of Mam Nan Carn leads to the slopes of Beinn Iutharn Mhor and its plateau and cairn at 3,428’, the most north-westerly of the three so the best views to the Cairngorm giants and the Lairig Ghru. The cloud filled in during the day and the wind picked up, rain followed in the evening after I was down at the car again An enjoyable high-level traverse, typical space and big skies in the eastern Highlands rugged yet connected summits. Munros #231.

Maol Chean-dearg 24 May 2019

A cloudy breezy day to start with, but the cloud base lifted steadily and cleared the tops completely just after we started our descent. A walk up the glen to start with with the Coire Lair Munros to the east and Torridon to the west, both hidden in cloud, then a zigzag path up to the bealach and a fairly steep climb up scree slopes and boulders to the summit plateau at 3,061' just in the cloud - but we got a view of the main Torridon ridge as we descended, and the cloud lifted into blue sky for superb sunlit views of the dramatic ruggedness and sheer rockiness of the west Highlands. Munro #228.

A’ Ghlas-bheinn 23 May 2019

A cloudy and quite windy day, with the cloud down on the summits, but dry at least and the cloud lifted a little during the day, from 600m to about 750m. The route started at Morvich, and wended its way up the Glen through birch woods and up onto the open hill, as far as the Gates of Affric where the path steepened and ascended a couple of steep rocky sections, before traversing the bumps and undulations of the summit plateau, eventually leading to the cairn at the northern end at 3,012’. Dramatic views through the shifting cloud of both the summit cone and of the western end of Glen Affric. The weather was inclement enough to make the walk a bit bit of a challenge, without being dangerous, the path being obvious right to the summit itself. Munro #227.

Ben Hope 20 May 2019

The most northerly Munro. A showery day, but the cloud base lifted progressively during our ascent of this isolated Munro - the summit at 3,041’ was in cloud, but on the descent the cloud base had risen to 600m and we had extensive views of the landscape of the far north - rugged rock and lochans. Munro #226.

Am Faochagach 19 May 2019

Fairly cloudy and showery conditions but we were fortunate as the cloud lifted off the summit during our ascent, so we had some views, albeit cloud down on the Beinn Dearg group and on the Fannichs. A boggy ascent though less so than usual, due to the recent dry weather. The summit plateau enlivened by a group of 4 Dotterel. The cairn is at 3,130’, Munro #225.

Sgurr Choinnich and Sgurr a’Chaorachain 20 April 2019

More cloudy today with some drifting hill fog that tended to disperse as the day went on. A cycle in on a fairly rough and stony track, with the cloud down onto the summits. Then an interesting river crossing and an ascent in an anticlockwise direction, with the SW wind gusting and the ridge in cloud. The summit ridge was edged with a considerable cornice of snow, but as we reached the top of Sgurr Choinnich the mist shifted and fragmented allowing views down into the corrie between the two Munros, and across Loch Monar to the Strathfarrar peaks. The clearance lasted until we reached the second Munro, Sgurr a'Chaorachain, which being the higher was above the cloud, which was lapping in the glen below. A long but gradual descent took us down to the track and the bikes. Munros 224.