Meall Cuaich

Hill of the cuaich indeed. Shaz and I had planned to do Beinn a Ghlo for this particular day but due to stalking restrictions, it was a non-starter. So, after Shaz drove us up to the Dalwhinnie area, we set off on a great track alongside a bizarre man-made waterway. This led us to the Power station and continuing the track past this, we reached Loch Cuaich and the small (locked bothy) beside it. I wonder who owns it, it looked in fine condition. We began the gentle ascent on to the shoulder of Meall Cuaich and it wasn't long before we were topping out on the mounded summit, with plenty of company to try and avoid during our lunch-stop. Lunch was composed of the usual for me but Shaz excelled with Brie sandwiches on finger-rolls. Little did she know what dessert I had in store. We began the walk back down the hill and before completely descending, we stopped for a wee breather whereupon I brought out....Cranachan!!! Shaz's lunch concoction had been scooped by a rather luxurious dessert, if I do say so. However, in the spirit of sharing I insisted she have some although I did forget to bring two spoons. Once I had ascertained Shaz's herpes status, I proferred her the 1st taste where she said "I'll try not to let it touch the sides". Honestly. We bounded back to the car and stopped in at the Old Mill Inn for a half pint (which touched the sides) before making our separate ways from Pitlochry. A lovely day which was bitter at the top and Winter is definitely round the corner. For once, a rather uncomplicated Munro and one to remember for the right reasons.

Beinn Achaladair & Beinn a Chreachain

These two hills dominate the view as you come down the A82 from Rannoch moor and I had always looked forward to climbing these. However, I had read much on the boggy approach and so it was that I got ye olde gaiters oot. The forecast was fab but I forgot my suntan lotion (in the basket) and I only had a litre of water - would it be enough?

Whether it was because I hadn't been on the hill for a month or my knee was limiting me, I didn't feel fit at all going up from the farm towards Achaladair. The bogfest didn't make for easy walking but after 90 minutes, I hit the bealach and turned North for the 1st peak of the day. The views across to Rannoch Moor and Loch Tulla were sensational. The higher i walked, the better it got and after a fabbydoo high level pad, I was at my first summit of the day. I took hunners o photaes, had a bite to eat and headed on towards my 2nd hill of the day. The route was clear and I began the taxing stint up towards the summit of Beinn a Chreachain. Feck me, I was puggled. I sat down and had a delectable lunch of penne pasta with courgette, sun-dried tomato and pine nuts courtesy of my lovely. So, began the descent and it was sustained until the bogfest part deux and ultimately, the hop across the river. It was against all my public health nous that I dipped my water bottle and imbibed but I simply had to, I was gasping. Goodness knows when the pathogens will hit me but numbers have been low recently so nowt like giving yerself work. A walk back along the track to the car and I met a fellow padder dae the 'deen - fit like ma loon etc? Great day out but definitely the route I picked rather than anti-clockwise. Just remains to be seen if it will be "Dear Diarama"...

The Cruachan Horseshoe

I had heard several accounts from friends and Romans describing Ben Cruachan and Stob Diamh as a great day out. The entire route taking in several other peaks totalled 1900m in ascent and I thorougly looked forward to pushing myself physically. David C and I headed up and were on the hill for the respectble time of 0845 on a Sunday morning. No mucking about with warm-up's here, it was an unrelenting climb from the roadside and while I was glad I was quite hill-fit, David struggled initially. However, once we made our way up to the reservoir, we began to enjoy the fantastic vista and the peace which goes with it. We started up Meall Cuanail and I decided not to tell David we'd have to go down 70m after topping out on MC at 918m - higher than some Munro's. The descent off MC was tricky but once at the col, we began the final climb up Ben Cruachan's boulder slopes, which really took it out of us - check David's face in that photo - ho ho! We had lunch at the summit and with the clag right in, we felt like we were truly on the top of the world - I suppose at 3758 ft, we were the highest bodes South of the Mamores. We began the descent towards Drochaid Glas and it was very bouldery on the way down. I implored David to check the drops into the wild corries but he wasn't impressed i.e. he asked who coughed or at least that's what I thought he said. We carried on towards Stob Diamh and the views were stunning although looking back, we still couldn't see the summit of our 1st objective. Once at Stob Diamh, we began to relax and enjoyed the walk back down though by the time we got back to the initial steep path down to the car, we were almost running on empty. I turned round and saw David salivating, arms out saying "Fish supper, pickled onions, lard" on more than one occasion resembling something out of Night of the Living Dead. Back at the car, we changed footwear and congratulated each other on a good day's walking and a fine physical effort. I phoned Emma and said "Food, I want Fray Bentos...lots of food". It is only after a day on the hill that one can truly appreciate the finer tastes in life i.e. batter and lard.

Carn Ghluasaid

Or pee lucozade? On our way up to Lewis, we drove through Glen Shiel and stayed at the Cluanie Inn. However, in order to earn our reward of copious ale and grub, we decided to tackle this Munro. This was to be Emma's 10th Munro and as such, she was slightly apprehensive about it and the prospect of being labelled a bagger! The view across Loch Cluanie was fab and the stalker's path was excellent, allowing for rapid height to be gained, although a starting point of 250m may have helped. Before the zig zags up the hill, we had almost trodden on 2 toads and had a go at capturing them. Much mirth was had. Toad-trapping? Better than toot-trapping. The path was brilliant all the way to the summit plateau although by this time, the good weather had given away to rain and falling temperatures. Up until this point, Emma hadn't moaned once and was enjoying herself. Was she now a fair-weather bagger or had she really hurt her back? Cry wolf, Emma....Anyhoo, a summit photo (could be anywhere really) and it was back down the hill which was quick and no doubt the prospect of booze accelerated Emma's descent. It always does, n'est-ce pas? Once back at the car, it was midgey hell and we made a quick retreat to the Cluanie for some fantastic grub and lovely drink. The meal consisted of two great Aberdeen Angus burgers with Monterey Jack cheese, fries and a lovely side salad. Alcohol consisted of Red Cuillin (wonderful), Tempranillo wine and a wee rare whisky from the proprietor. A lovely day out once again and well done Emma on the double figure mark!

Stob Coire Sgreamhach

The intention was to set out and climb SCS via the marvellous 'hidden valley' and take in Bidean Nam Bian on the way down Coire nan Lochan. Theory and practice don't often go hand in hand in Glencoe however and so it proved on this occasion. The ladies dropped Fraser and I off along the A82 and sped away for coffee, cake, lunch and cake. Fraser and I made good pace up into the hidden valley and the weather wasn't bad at all. As we were taking the 1st day's munch, a small tit flew out of nowhere and literally sat a foot away as Fraser fed it bread. I couldn't believe the audacity of the wee thing and it happily sat eating and tweeting as we photo'd the wee bird. We headed on up the corrie towards its headwall and it was about this time that the weather began to close in. Abandon all hopes of a decent summit photo I imagined. As we approached the high bealach, the route became quite precipitous and with the increase in rainfall, the scree was very unstable underfoot. We managed up okay and it was a fairly straightforward route to the summit of Sgreamhach. We didn't hing aboot and decided in 3 stone trouser sets to head back down. The initial decline down the 'gully' was 'interesting' especially when we encountered the white trainer brigade - quelles dongues. We got back to the car park quick enough though we were pretty soaked by this time - once we were chauffeured back to the Bridge of Orchy hotel, I can honestly say that shower I had was one of the finest. As was the beer. And the whisky. A weet but sweet, tweet day.

Meall Greigh, Meall Garbh & An Stuc

I was to be on my ownsome for these 3 Munro's and as such, I took off from Glasgow at the leisurely hour of 0800, reaching the Ben Lawers hotel car park for 0930. I took off down the road and then headed up the private road beside Machuim farm, heading past a shop which said "Horn Carver" - I thought of taking something back for Emma but she would say I had given her the horn so I carried on regardless. The path was excellent and I then set off towards the obvious knoll of Meall Greigh. A steep bugger but it wasn't long before I was on the summit, an hour ahead of book-time. The cloud had moved in and views were at a premium. I didn't hang about and headed down to the bealach, following a fence to start of the incline up Meall Garbh. By this time, I could see Lochan Nan Cat but I don't see how this resembles a cat at all unless it has been run over. The ascent of the 2nd Munro was pretty quick and before long, I was tagging the summit cairn and heading for An Stuc. Having seen photos of this and reading the guide's description of a 'mild scramble', I was slightly apprehensive. Once down to the col, it loomed out of the mist but an obvious path going up the SE flank was evident. Initially, no hands are needed but about 100ft up, it becomes indeed a scramble but no worse than say that of Stuc a Chroin. You certainly wouldn't want to slip but before long, I was on the summit and it was pretty straightforward. Winter would be a tricky proposition entirely. I was glad to be at the 3rd summit (see photo) cairn and I headed down to the Bealach Dubh before cutting down the gully and towards Lochan Nan Splat and then heading for home. Once back at the car, I popped into the Lawers hotel and had an excellent steak pie (done with Ossian ale) and a bottle of Kelpie. An excellent day was had once again. 80 down, 204 to go.

2 Claise to call

I decided to head up and see the foax up in Aiberdeen and rather than the bore of the A92, I headed via Glenshee to hit the hills. The weather forecast was abysmal but I had 4 planned, namely Carn an Tuirc, Cairn of Claise, Tom Buidhe and Tolmount. It was surprisingly nice and I padded over the burn from the car park and headed along the well-trodden path. I was fair pinging it along when I began the steep climb towards the boulder face of Carn an Tuirc and the views began to open up for me from the barns of Bynack More to Cairn Toul. I was at the summit within the hour and was pleased by my fitness for a change. I then decided upon Cairn of Claise next as I figured if the weather got worse, I could come off at this stage. After having a near defecation experience due to a ptucking farmigan, I set off towards the 2nd Munro of the day by which point a large black cloud was descending upon the summit. Not only that, a rather vociferous crack of thunder blasted across the glen. Pant-piddling time. I stood looking at my walking pole and wondered whether I should leave it - momentarily, I considered my last thoughts and if I would know that I was about to be zapped by lightning. The thunder was getting closer. I began running for the summit cairn and bizarre wall of the hill and once tagged, didn't hing aboot. A high level walk round Garbh-coire and I was looking at a herd of deer of about 60-70 pelting it away from me - a lovely sight and the stags voiced their disapproval. I headed round to Sgorr Ghaibre, a Corbett (!) and then began my descent back to the car as the thunder boomed once more and the heavy rains came. It was a fine wee day out and made the journey back to the 'deen so much more pleasurable but it was definitely too Claise to call.