Ben Dubhchraig, Ben Oss, Ben Lui and Beinn a Chleibh - 31/05/14

Guest munro-ers on this day were: Sally Champion, Sean Watters, and Claire Tochel 

We took the advantage of having 2 cars with us to do the Ben Lui ridge leaving one at each end and avoiding the long road walk/hitch hike at the end of the day.

The forecast had been for a near perfect day, but as we approached the starting point, we were disappointed by the low hazy cloud. 

The start of this walk was not particularly easy to find, and we needed to cross a river and also a railway line (which apparently was strictly prohibited). But we found the track eventually which for the first wee while was wet and boggy and through the trees.

But as we ascended the clouds cleared and by the time we were through the trees the sun was burning down on us. The climbs to all the munros were pretty straight forward, though most of them were pretty steep and peaky - no plateaus. So we climbed up and down, up and down, up and down, and finally up and down (struggling to remember any defining features). We mostly stopped and had a snack at the top of each one. The descent back to the bottom from the final munro was a lovely and interesting path along a river through sparse deciduous woods. It was a lovely day out in the sun with great views and not bad company.

River crossing

Picnic at the top

The last bits of snow still about

Sally cooling down on the way down.

Cac Carn Beag (Lochnagar) - 17/11/13

We have got a bit behind with this blog so as I write this post it is well over a year since we climbed Cac Carn Beag - thank goodness for photos to help jog the memory.

It was my first time in this part of Scotland and interesting to see the uniquely different landscape - big and fairly barron with beautiful stags roaming all over. Most of the hills are fairly rounded, though this one we climbed was a bit more interesting.

It had been a relatively last minute decision to head to the hills having spotted a good 'chance of cloud free Munros' on the mountain weather, and we stayed in relative luxury (compared to a tent) in a B&B in Braemar. So after a good hearty breakfast we set off up the hill with clear blue sky all around. From memory, it was not a particularly steep or challenging hill, though quite a long walk. The views of the cliffs walking up were fairly spectacular and the last bit was a sort of horse shoe plateau one had to walk around. I do remember fairly well that once on top the winds were fairly brutal and cold!

It was a circluar route and on the return we dropped down fairly quickly and there was a long flat walk along the shores of Lochnagar.

Video from Sailing trip

Sailing Muriel from Mallaig to Knoydart

Here are a few pictures from our voyage with dad's boat Muriel. We launched at the White Sands of Morar (very beautiful spot just south of Mallaig with a good slip) and spent the first night there. Next day we sailed in the Sound of Sleat stopping off at Ardvasar before heading into Loch Nevis. Stayed in the bunkhouse at Inverie and had a fine evening in the Old Forge. Weather was turning very wet and windy the afternoon of the following day so we sailed to the head of the Loch, making a pretty exciting passage through the narrows about half way down which were running at full bore, before holing-up for the afternoon in a very nice bothy. Lots of drowned rat type walkers arrived throughout the evening which made for a good atmosphere and cosy sleeping - I think they were all a bit envious of our proper food and bottles of wine!

As forecast weather was much improved the following day so we had a good sail back round to Morar. We arrived there a bit ahead of the tide (at low tide the entrance to the inlet is covered with breaking waves). So we anchored for a while in a bay just around the corner and had a brew aboard the boat then when for it. It was still quite exciting getting in as we caught a wave for a while - the boat was however very well behaved and controllable and the only thing to hit was sand. Once in we followed the meandering river channel as best we could in to the slipway.

On our way home we had a quick division to climb Meall Ghaordaidh to the north west of Loch Tay.

White sands of Morar

sailing the in the Sound of Sleat

Looking into Loch Nevis

Head of Loch Nevis

Kyle Knoydart

 

 

 

        

Schiehallion - 4/08/13

Bidean and Stob Corie Sgreamhach, Glencoe, 20 July 2013

Mid heat wave we decided to ignore all advice to avoid going outside due to the heat and went to Glencoe. Got there in record time by leaving in the cool of the evening at about 10 pm. Got to a packed Kings House camp site at about midnight and woke everyone up by inflating our new air bed (oh yes) and swearing at midges (one of the worst attacks I've known). Got up and left early enough to avoid the embarrassment of people knowing that it was us who disturbed them...
Loaded rucksacks with as much water as we could carry and decided to go up Bidean via Stob Corie nan Lochan and back via a 2nd munro ( Stob Corie Sgreamhach), descending through the beautiful Lost valley. The way up through the valley to Corie Lochan was stunning with many little potholes that looked perfect for a dip - hoped there'd be similar in the Lost valley on the way back down...

Looking back into Glencoe

Swimming pool

 

 

Stob Corie nan Lochan

       It was strangely quiet at this point - only passed one other party until we were well on our way round. We were thankfully in the shade most of the way up but once we were on the ridge shady spots were few and far between so we stopped and drank at every one - it was very hot with a slight breeze that came and went.

Top of Bidean, Corie nan Lochan behind, Rannoch Moor in ackground

Sgreamhach

Sgreamhach on right, Buachailles in background

Maddy with Aonach Eagach, Mamores then Ben Nevis behind

Top of Sgreamhach looking back to Bidean

Lost Valley

Swim time

 With bodies still generally over heating on way home we also had a very refreshing dip in the Orchy at Bridge of Orchy.