Ardverikie Forest

Coire Mor Chlachair

Summit of Geal Charn

Summit of Creag Pitridh

    A better day promised the weather forecast, so I decided to tackle the 3 Munro's of the Ardverikie Forest. Leaving the car at Luiblea means a long walk in, but the estate roads make for easy going and at least I wasn't submerged in fir trees like yesterday. I had only walked about a mile when the first heavy shower blew through, it was to set a pattern for the rest of the day. My waterproof trousers were "on and off like a brides nightie". the real climbing only starts after Lochan na Earba, the old stalkers path has been well maintained and height was gained quickly from the col a short scrambly few crags were negotiated and good proges was made acoss the stoney ridge. The summit of Beinn a Chlachair was guarded by a mass of boulders, the view extensive as the cloud had cleared just long enough for a few photos. I retraced my steps to the col, descended the stalkers path a little way and took its northern branch for a couple of hundred yards before leaving it to stike upwards to the summit of Geal Charn. The Cairn was huge and acompanied by an unuasul trig coloum. The ground was easy so a beeline westwards brought me down to the Creag Pitridh col. A very short although steep climb and I was on the last summit of the day Creag Pitridh, once again good views. Gentle slopes led back to the outward track and a return to the car along the same estate roads. Today felt so easy in comparison to yesterday, partially the weather but it also felt good to be back in trainers, even if it meant wet feet! A round trip of 20 miles in six and a half hours.

Sandy shore of Lochan na Hearba

The Loch Lochy Munro's

The Upper Cia-Aig Glen

     Another title would have been "Tested Before the Storm", because any sane person would have turned back. I parked near the Cia-aig waterfall. After a bit of a wait as I thought the rain might stop, I set off (in the rain) the route follows a nature trail and then a forest road high above the river, until the path emerges from the forest about 3.5km up Glean Cia-aig. The path from here is really quite sketchy and much bog-hopping must be done before the more obvious path is reached continuing under Sron a choire Ghairbh. I followed this to the col, the Cam Bealach. the wind was very strong blowing through the col like a wind tunnel. The amazing zig-zags lift you easily onto the ridge, however today the wind and rain made for a scary experience. I didn;t linger at the summit, I couldn't stand up!. I retraced my steps to the col and had a long think, whilst I wrung the water out of my Buff Mitts! I was reluctant to leave the other Munro unclimbed. I set off up the thread of a path and although the wind was still driving the rain in it didn't seem to bad. The going was relatively easy if rather steep and before long I was on the summit of Meall na Teanga. I would have liked to return by a different route but the wild and wet precluded this, so I returned by the same route. The burn which had to be crossed in upper Glean Cia-Aig had swollen quite alot in the few hours that had elapsed, but I was able to make a safe crossing. All that was left was the walk out which seemed even longer than the walk in! It managed to stop raining for about half an hour as i was approaching the car. there was probably none left in the sky, it had rained continuously for over 6 hours. I certainly felt like I'd earned these 2 Munro's, I think the approach from the east would be easier and the views better although I didn't get any so who knows.

Beinn a Chaorainn & Beinn Teallach

Summit of Beinn a' Chaorainn

        These two Munro's are to the west of Creag Meagaidh, and are really a part of that group. My route today was from the farm at Roughburn on the Glen Spean road. The path leads up through the plantation, eventually finding a fire break, which gave access to the open hill. There was only a thread of a path here and there. It wasn't long before full waterproofs were required and these stayed on all day. The southwest ridge gave easy walking and what seemed quite quickly I arrived at the first top. the summit of Beinn a Chaorainn was seen through the thin cloud which was coming and going. It had cleared when I reached the top, and continued clear over the next top, although the wind was terrific. I descended diagonally across the grassy and mossy slopes to the cairn at the head of the glen. Steep slopes gave access to the northeast ridge of Beinn Teallach, I followed this ridge to a cairn which marked a false summit, I didn't realise this at first in the dense low cloud. Upon reaching the true summit (one of the lowest Munro's) the cloud cleared giving a great view north to the head of Glen Roy, the paralell roads clear to see. The navigation was easy from here, due south from here would do the trick. It was a good job the weather closed in and the rain pounded down for the length of the ridge, only abating as I reached the flats at the bottom of the glen, a short walk back through the forestry and I was back at the car, just as the rain came on again! This was an easier walk than I anticipated, although  of course there's no easy Munro's

Summit of Beinn Teallach

Glen Nevis

    A n easy day of it today as I drove up to Glen Nevis Hostel from home. It managed to rain from Carslile to Crianlarich, but once on Rannoch Moor the sun started to shine. The hills of the Black Mount were clear of cloud, and nad remnants of snow in the high corries. I stopped for a stroll round the slate quarries at Ballahullish, then again at the Corran Ferry. A quick shop for food in Fort William and then I got booked into the hostel. another tick as I haven't stayed here before! Glen Nevis and the slopes of the "Ben" are bathed in the rays of the evening sun as I type this.  Tomorrow the weather looks mixed so I shall make a dicision  over breakfast regards my hills for the day. At the moment I think the Laggen area, (its more likely to be dry there?)

Planning for Scotland

     The blogs will in the main go quiet over the next week as folk take on the TGO challange. I shall be in the Fort William/Great Glen area myself next week, staying at Glen Nevis Hostel to start with at least. The objective is to climb a few hills if the weather is acceptable! I've got a few Munro's to mop up round there. I'll be on the look out for backpackers as I tramp the hills and glens.  Good Luck to all.

Old Park Wood

Old Park Wood Foreshore

        A half day available today so a short walk beside the Leven estuary, from the shore at Old Park Wood. I've been to the car park before, but never explored the area properly. We walked along the shore, which is a carpet of sea washed turf.  Having stopped and watched Eiders and Shelducks whilst eating our butties, we continued below the limestone cliffs and woodland. We explored the cave, which is marked on the 1:25000 map, but we were surprised by its size. Our route continued round Capes Head and made our way back to the car through the woodland, seeing a Roe Deer at close quarters. The day was very humid, and eventually at about 4.30pm it started to rain! Quite a novelty after such a long dry spell.

Kirroughtree and Dalbeatie

Kirroughtree

       With a forecast for great weather I made a last minute booking at the Youth Hostel at Minigaff (Newton Stewart). The plan was to ride two of the "7 Stanes" mountain bike trails in Southwest Scotland.Having ridden the trail at Ae, I knew the trails would be well and graded for flowing riding, so I waslooking forward to some great fun.  I rode Kirroughtree on Sunday and then Dalbeatie today (monday). Both were good but as widely thought in the mountain bike world, Kirroughtree is fantastic. I must admit that I missed out "The chute", but there's always another time. A great weekend.

Dalbeatie