Braeriach

Brindled high upland is the apparent English translation for this hill. I prefer the Gaelic Braigh-Riach (I think!). Fresh from a Munro only 3 weeks ago, the unprecedented summer weather meant that the opportunity to head North again couldn't be turned down. I was up at 0330 (also unprecedented) and away by 0345, where surprisingly roads had a few cars on them. Once past Perth though, the road was more or less to myself and I arrived at the Allt Mhor car park in Glenmore in relative silence. I changed quickly and was away by 0630. The initial road walk allowed me time to get some salted crisps down me before what would be a hot day.

It was actually quite chilly (9C) in my shorts and t-shirt but the skies were brilliant blue. I was up at the Chalamain gap within 40 minutes and chose to ascend the bypass path since I was not keen to repeat the awkward climb through. This allowed me early sight of the shoulder of my intended mountain. It had been 18 months since I'd run through here with Darren on an epic 50-km day down the Lairig an Laoigh and up the Lairig Ghru. Being back here brought back that familiarity but total respect for an area that I adore. I feel like I belong in the Cairngorms.

I skipped over the stepping stones at the river and began the ascent of the hill proper. 250m ascent in a 1-km distance showed that it was relatively steep but the gradient soon levelled off, although the boulders meant for careful treading. Eventually, I was high above the Lairig Ghru and staring across to Carn a Mhaim and the Devil's point, which were dwarfed by the massif of Braeriach. I scared a ptarmigan and its 2 chicks and it did its best to persuade me to follow it, with its fake injury. I naturally avoided the chicks and eventually the ptarmigan had led me a good 50m up the hill before it flew back to re-join its young family. Wee wildlife moments like that stick with you forever. I was now looking over the vast Garbh Choire and then at the summit. I moved round to the coire lip and sat taking in the amazing view and peace. The wind was both cold and wondrous.

My return down the hill was complete with those hoping to ascend before it got too hot. I was back at the car 4.5 hours after setting off with another Munro, 25km, and a fantastic hill experience.

A-Ghlas Bheinn

Finally at the 3rd time of asking! It was a day in the hills for me and after some fantastic weather, I was glad that the gods did not play with me. Indeed, the weather was ideal for a long run in the hills, not too warm but plenty of visibility. I was running light and expected to take several hours, with the possibility of either combining it with the Corbett Sgor Gaorsaic, or the Falls of Glomach.

My intended hills were in the distance and the track made for excellent running, really right up to the bealach an sgairne. From there, it was a much steeper trek but with excellent views over to Sgor Gaorsaic and beyond.

However, it was becoming increasingly clear that if I was to combine Gaorsaic and this Munro, it would be a double-back exercise and I didn't really fancy that. If anything, a long run over the bealach from Morvich would be a good run so I made the decision to continue on to the Falls of Glomach once over the summit. I rested at the summit, my 254th Munro. I enjoyed some food and drink before reluctanctly setting off down the mountain.

Once down at the excellent path, I headed East and down towards the Falls of Glomach. It was doubtful that I'd be down this way again so I wanted to really take this part of Scotland in and wasn't to be disappointed. The photo doesn't do it justice but the drop down into the gorge was impressive, especially considering there hadn't been rain for several weeks. In Winter, this would be something else. Maybe I will come back!

All that remained was to re-trace my steps back up to the bealach and head back out and down the path back to the car, with a 21-km route completed in just under 3.5 hours. A superb outing and good to finally compleat all my Kintail Munros.

Sgurr Fhuaran - in between the sisters

I had tried to tick this hill off on three separate occasions, all coming from the South and over Spainteach. This time, I set off from Loch Shiel and started up past the deer fence, having parked at the camp-site. I was trialling my new Berghaus poles, which I had used on the LM27 race and they were excellent in getting up the relatively steep plod. Already the views were great with my intended destination just sticking out back down the glen. This was an airy walk/run, which was quite spectacular and had great views back to the Saddle, across to the South Glen Shiel Ridge and over the large body of water to the North-west. As the snow fields were present near the top of Sgurr Fhuaran, I chose to descend straight off the North-West ridge back to the glen floor. It was a brutal descent and very tough on the knees. I got back to the car in 3.5 hours, with some serious ascent of 1200m in that 7.5 mile distance.

Beinn Tarsuinn

Fisherfield. One of the last wild places in Scotland. I had long waited to run into this area from Incheril and I wasn't to be disappointed as the day evolved. I was running light and hoped the weather gods would behave after yesterday's washout on Beinn Eighe. Being so far into the wild and at the mercy of the elements makes such approaches slightly riskier. I need not have worried, although windy at the top, I was warm with the gear I took. I was really staggered by how desolate and wild this area was. Profoundly beautiful too. Although I only hit the summit of Beinn Tarsuinn, it was great to hit 252 and have 30 left to go. I mulled over the Mullach to the North but at 31km, it was a long day out and I wasn't keen on extending it too far into the early evening.

An Socach, Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan & Mullach na Deiragain from Cluanie

It had been a full 9 months since my last trip up into the big boys. This time, I had a 53-mile ultramarathon under my belt, having finished the Fling two weeks previously in 11 hours 48 minutes. I was going light and with running shorts. I had long wanted to go back to the three Munros I had missed out on since the trip with Darren into Glen Affric in August 2015. The plan was to go from Cluanie, through the glen and into Alltbeithe Youth Hostel, before starting the climb proper. I ran/walked all the way down to the Alltbeithe and could see the hills opening up around me. Nice little footbridge to go over before I nipped past the YH with barking dogs.

I deviated round a fenced woodland and began the steady climb up to the bealach. Eventually I joined a decent path, and within 2.5 hours, I was on my way up to An Socach. The views down into the glens of Affric are beautiful; it feels incredibly remote here. I could see Munros that I had done a couple of years ago and the high ridge, which connected them, Beinn Fionnlaidh and Mam Sodhail.

The dander up on to An Socach was simple enough but it was cold so I layered up and had some food. The return to the bealach saw Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan in all its glory, large snow patches still visible on its North face. It took a wee while to get to the top of this hill but the views over to Ben Attow and down back to Loch Cluanie were amazing.

I did consider leaving Mullach na Deiragain out as I didn't have much food left and knew that once out there, it was a long way back to the car over rough ground. However, it looked too good to miss out and I was keen to grab Munro 251. I could come back for Sgorr Gaorsaic another time, perhaps via A Ghlas Bheinn. I got caught in a short rain burst as I headed along the ridge but once out at the summit, this was as wild and remote as it can get. I took a moment and looked back to what had been. Rather than retrace steps back up and over, I descended into the glen a little and eventually dropped to the  flat coire floor before the climb back up to the bealach between An Socach and SnC. Once there, it was a quick romp down to the SYHA, where I was able to re-load my food stores with crisps, chocolate and coke. Wonderful. Somewhat unwillingly, I began the walk/run back out to Cluanie and arrived back at the car within 7 hours of starting out. Not bad going for a 25-mile trip and 1700m ascent.

Beinn Liath Mhor

I had my eye on a horseshoe round this Munro with Sgorr Ruadh and the colossal Corbett, Fua Thol. However, although I left a glorious Inverness, as I began the drive down from Achnasheen it was clear that the weather was not so fine here. I was going light and packed my trousers and down jacket into my small 20-litre rucksack, heading up the small road in shorts and my Brooks GTX trainers. The first view to the Corbett looked immense but the clag was very low. As I slipped through the hole in the fence, I took to the path proper and made my way up on the coire floor at about 300m. From here, i could make out the lower half of Bein Liath Mhor but that was all. I figured that by keeping to the coire floor and running the distance of the glen, by the time I started the ascent up on to Beinn Liath Mhor, the weather may improve. Unfortunately, it didn't and I got a bit of a soaking though I was running well and felt warm and happy. Before the final climb past the reservoir at 750m, I donned my trousers as the wind has escalated. The climb was great though q airy at times and the water poured off the path. I didn't fancy returning this way as a slip could be costly. Given that the weather wasn't great, I made the decision to only to Beinn Liath Mhor and return over the ridge. Once up on the summit, the wind was pretty mental so I donned all my gear and hunkered down behind the large cairn for sustenance.

I sent a text to my wife and then was on my way. The traverse over the ridge was enjoyable but I couldn't see much. It wasn't until I was descending to the coire floor that of course, the clag lifted and some sun shone through. I could now see most of the impressive crags of Sgorr Ruadh and some of the Fuar Thol buttresses. Too bad!

The light was pretty stunning looking over and beyond Fuar Thol and the snap below was probably the best to capture this fantastic arena. I made it down to the path, stripped off an enjoyed the 5 km run back to the car, getting round in just over 3 hours. A really enjoyable Munro despite the fairly rubbish weather.

Beinn Fhada

The long hill and so well-named. To get here involved a tortuous trip, where initially I would wild camp. However, inclement weather the night before put paid to that I sought a bed under cover, with eventual success over on Skye. I thus set off from the Kintail Mountain Rescue lodge at 0845 with a slightly heavier pack than I would have preferred. Nonetheless, I wanted to test my fitness by running the level and downward aspects of the route. It was a great path and one often forgets how good Munro paths are. I was up at the bealach within 45 minutes and began the zig-zags over into the coire. The impressive cliffs rose above me and this hill is very picturesque, with a vast coire floor sitting at about 600m. The path wends its way into the coire and then the final rise up on to the shoulder of Beinn Fhada occurs. At this point, 75 minutes into my sortie, the weather changed considerably so I stopped running and changed into my heavier clothing as the rain lashed down.


I made my way onwards up to the final summit, which was still a good mile from the coire lip. As I reached the circular trig point, the weather changed again and I could see some great views, with the broad mossy plateau of Fhada opening up. I took my time at the summit, having a bite to eat. As time had passed by, I decided I would leave A Glas Bheinn for another day, possibly combining with the Graham, Carnan Cruithneachd. My descent was quick and I was back at the car within 4 hours. An excellent smash and grab considering the poor weather for July. Another M-point in the bag.