The Ring of Steall

Had a few days to contemplate this trek with Daz and Graeme. Possibly one of the best days on the hill but doing this in anything other than good weather does not do justice to such a classic. We were rewarded with our patience on what proved to be a lovely day for it - snow above 800m and dark clouds meant that the contrasts of the day were really emphasised. The Ben accompanied us round the whole route and dwarfed us. Anyone on the CMD arete would have been in for an interesting route.

G and D found a couple of the scrambles very 'airy'. The second on Devil's Ridge was exposed but for me, the awkward clamber over a part of the Saddle is still my most precipitous moment. Skye awaits next month of course when it'll be an entirely different KOF.

The view looking back from Sgurr a Mhaim to the Devil's Ridge is quite stunning and an A3 colour glossy is 'en train'! Add in the piquancy of the wire bridge and the crossing of the Steall falls and you have a perfect cocktail of a hillwalking day.

Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach

After the Walkhighlands meet, I was feeling slightly fragile. 5 pints of Red Cuillin had gone down well 12 hours previously but I had a wee, sore heid. I popped a Co-codamol and began the walk up Gleouraich. The stalker's path is supreme and the initial steepness isn't too bad because of that. Fantastic views across to Sgurr Mor and beyond help. Things plateau'd out at 840m but I still had a last plod of 200m up to the beautifully perched cairn. The North face of this hill and its neighbour plunge away into the glen below and no doubt will hold snow for quite some period to come. It is a fair descent to the bealach and you really earn the 2 Munros here. A lovely sheltered cairn allows for lunch to had with views across the South Glen Shiel Ridge. I heard a dog barking at this point and could not for the life of me work out where it was coming from - until i remembered that I had changed my ringtone on my phone. Mum. Ko'd from work, puir sowel. I bounded down off the hill and found a great path back to the day's starting point. No doubting the effect of medication but the hills help too. Couple of great days in the Munros again. The 200-mark approacheth. The 12 in Skye in May will add to this considerably. Fingers crossed for good weather and next time take the Sun cream, Kev.

Creag Meagaidh - majestic and apt medication

Was invigorated after a 4 day trip to Iceland (not with the mums though) and had taken in some of the most wonderful scenery ever. I was quite sad coming back to Scotland after the spectacular beach at Vik in the South. I needed a great Scottish mountain to cheer me up and as the day was warm and sunny, Creag Meagaidh was the medication. I set off quite late in the day but the sun followed (and roasted) me through Coire Ardair. The cliffs, lochan and remarkable nature of that glacial cleft never fails to amaze me. It is one of the best coires in Scotland. My plan was to grab the summit then return over the South side of the cliffs and take in a couple of airy shots. I wasn't to be disappointed. Taking Meagaidh in from this angle, really does it justice and I sat out on a couple of the airy tops beside some small cairns, erected by the more courageous (or daft). At this point, a partner in crime would be useful but I wasn't going to try a 10-second shot and run for the vertiginous perch just in case I flew off the end - what a photo that would be. The trek back to the car felt like a bit of an anti-climax after the grandeur of what had gone before but I still had the Walkhighlands meet to look forward to. Furthermore, the Vik inhaler was no longer needed - Scotland isn't a bad place after all, is it?