Schiehallion Sunday 14 Nov 2010

On route to Schiehallion "The Queen's View"

This is the 4th time on Schiehallion and never had the complete view but hope this is the beginning of the first of the good winter hill walking days. Just the usual start from the Braes of Foss car park which follows the well constructed path by The John Muir Trust a job well done I will add

On the John Muir path up Schiehallion

At about 800m we disappeared into cloud which there were a few glimpses now and again but that was pretty much it til we came back down, so hence the lack of photos today.While standing at the summit waiting for Paul a raven landed right beside me, these are big  boys like and quite scary as was just a huge black shape out of the cloud as was all by myself, think it thought I was dinner.
Myself at the Summit Rocks

Tweeting from the Summit

After leaving the summit at about 900m the wind whipped up and was blowing the snow around causing Paul to remove his glasses which was even worse cos then he was totally blind, the words I heard were he could see diddly-squat, not the best ! Anyways back at 800m and out of the cloud and almost out of the snow it was like a different world and an easy descent back to car. So maybe next (5th) time lucky to getting the complete view ?  I did the feeling that some hills just don't like you and don't want you on them.

Ben Tirran (The Goet) Sunday 7 Nov 2010

Have climbed Ben Tirran many times as only a half days walk and as was out the night before it was the perfect choice. Not really a great deal to this hill but views up Glen Clova & Doll are beautiful and the climb looking down on Loch Wharral is also stunning, the skiffing of snow just adding to it. To top the day  we got the closest view we have ever had of a flying Golden Eagle but of course by the time pulled camera out and got it set up eagle was quite a distance away.

Glen Clova & Glen Doll

Looking down on Loch Wharrel

Golden Eagle in the distance

Mount Keen from the summit of Ben Tirran

Meall Lighiche 31 Oct 2010

 Meall Lighiche

Started walk at a car park on the A82 just before the actual village of Glencoe and followed a private road that leads to a B&B and farm. After reaching and crossing a bridge the path now takes a detour to avoid the two houses. Once past the farm sheds we continued up the Glenn-leac-na-muidhe to where the good path ends and turns S. To reach the ridge of Meall Lighiche we had to cross the main river, which was harder than the picture suggests as it was deep in places and fast flowing.

Crossing the River

After the climb up to the NE ridge the views open out and the view back to the cloud drifting over the Clachaig gully with the autumn colours was stunning.

Looking towards the Clachaig Gully

Once on the main ridge it was a steep pull up grass slopes to reach the cairn on Creag Bhan where there were great views to Sgor na h-Ulaidh.

Sgor na h-Ulaidh from Creag Bhan

From the cairn on Crag Bhan we followed the line of iron fence posts to the summit cairn.

Sitting at the Summit

Looking down Glen Creran with the Isle of Mull in the distance

South Ballachulish & Loch Leven

Looking at Clachaig Gully, Aonach Eagach & Bidean nam Bian

After leaving the summit to return by the same upward route we were rewarded with the great view of the twin peaks of Beinn a' Bheithir all the way back down the ridge.

Beinn a' Bheithir

Another great day out this year and knew Glencoe would never fail !

Cat Law 24 Oct 2010

Could not have a hill blog and not include the hill that I look at every time I come out my front door. I think I first walked this hill when I was 10 but definitely remember climbing it for a sponsored walk aged 12. There are many ways to walk up Cat Law but since I had to take my dogs today and the older of the two has slight arthritis in her spine it was the best path for her also coming today was my dad. Started from Balintore where there is a great double track all the way to the summit, so really on a clear but very cold & windy day like it was it's very straightforward.

Looking towards the Cat Law

Looking to the west

On the summit with Poppy & Rosie

Looking east towards the sea over the Long Goat

Looking South over The Crandard to the Strathmore Valley

Although a short day today there were great views of Dreish, Mayer, Glas Maol, Creag Leacach, Glas Tulaichean, Ben Lawers, Schiehallion & many other hills. Another great walk on the Cat Law.

Marsco, Isle of Skye Sunday 10 October 2010

A last minute decision on friday night was to head for Skye on saturday morning and walk sunday, we did not want a huge day as had an early start to work on monday (4 hour drive home as well) but boy did we make the right choice! Had decided it was to be Glamaig or Marsco but I have always wanted to do Marsco as have a painting of it by Jean Thomas from Portnalong, the late great hill man Pete's widower.

Marsco from Sligachan

There are a few different ways to tackle this hill but we decided to use Andrew Dempster's route in the book The Grahams, as the walk in from the starting point at the head of Loch Ainort is shorter than starting at Sligachan and given the rain that Skye has had over the summer the less time walking over wet boggy ground the better and it would also mean finishing earlier too. After parking the car at the lay-by we followed the burn up Coire nam Bruardaran (Corrie of Dreams) with the red deer stags bellowing all round about us, to reach the bealach at 320m where the jaw dropping views of Corbett Garbh-bheinn and ClachGlas on Bla Bheinn came into view.
Belig, Garbh-bheinn & Clach Glas on Bla Bheinn

From the bealach it was up the steeping & narrowing SE ridge with the views of the black cullin ridge  appearing all the way up. At around 650m the ridge flattens out before a slight dip and another short pull up to a short narrow arete which leads to the summit cairn.
Sgurr nan Gillean & Summit Ridge of Marsco

On the summit ridge looking towards The Red Cullin 

Pinnacle Ridge on Sgurr nan Gillean

The views from the summit are some of the best from any mountain in Scotland especially on a day like what we got. Our descent route was just the ascent in reverse with brilliant views looking towards Bla bheinn and Loch Scavaig.
Looking to wards Bla-Bheinn & Loch Scavaig

 

Beinn a' Ghlo Sunday 26 Sept 2010

Beinn a Ghlo (Carn Liath) From Monzie

Had not planned climbing Beinn a Ghlo today but when travelling up the A9 from Pitlochry the hill was so clear and was shouting "Climb Me". Started at Monzie and had already decided to walk the three munros in an anti clockwise direction therefore almost getting the hill to ourselves. This route does make for a long walk in but as I have done in a clockwise direction it feels like an even longer walk oot. The path is pretty good and leads to the base of Airgiod Bheinn.

Airgiod Bheinn from approach path

After a fairly steep pull up Airgiod Bheinn the whole of the mountain comes into view. We sat down here for a drink and a Golden Eagle came over Carn Liath caught a thermal or two then disappeared from sight.

Watching the Golden Eagle disappear

Carn Liath and Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain from Airgiod Bheinn

From the top of Airgiod Bheinn there is a slight drop then a climb up to the first munro of Carn nan Gabhar.
Looking at Carn nan Gabhar from Airgiod Bheinn

From the summit of Carn nan Gabhar a descent west leads to a fairly short sharp reclimb to the summit of the second munro Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain, where the view to Carn Liath is fabulous.

Cairn Liath from Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain

After another descent south and a climbing traverse east, south, then east again we finally reached last munro of the day, Carn Liath.

Looking back to Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain from Carn Liath

From the summit of Carn Liath a steepish descent leads down a scree path and back to the approach path  to Monzie. Was an absolute fantastic day !

OS Bing Map of Our Route

Arkle Sunday 5 Sept 2010

Arkle from Loch Stack

Have had our sights set on Arkle since passing by it to climb Foinaven last May they both have the same starting point just past Achfary at the start of the private road to Lone bothy. Once past the bothy but still on the track we passed through the boulders which are almost like a gateway  into a small plantation.

Boulder Gateway

Ben Stack from above plantation

After climbing out of the plantation we reached the small cairn that marks the route up Arkle, this route continues unrelenting to reach Meall Aonghais but all the way up has great views. At this point we stopped for something to eat and were entertained by two ravens showing us their flying skills but I really think they wanted our lunch, also at this point you get the first glimpse of the Arkle ridge in front of you.

Watching the Raven & the Arkle Ridge

At 758m just further along the ridge is where you get the real first view of Foinaven and the real summit of Arkle

Arkle's narrowing ridge & summit

Foinaven from Arkle

After leaving point 758m the ridge begins to narrow and at one point just before the summit narrows considerably. The day was warm and sunny but rather windy and the wind was as usual much stronger(gusting 50-60mph) higher up, when we reached the very narrow  point we had to crawl along and traverse ledges to reach the wider summit plateau (not for the faint hearted) but the views from the top were well worth it, mindblowing !!

Foinaven and looking out to the Sea

The Summit Cairn

A VERY windblown me at the Summit

Looking back at the ridge

The descent was just the same as ascent but with great views to the Corbett Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill. A truely magic day and I think the best of the year so far. Sutherland is pure brilliant !!

Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill.

Beinn Narnain & Beinn Ime Wed 1 Sept 2010

Not climbed these two hills in a long time so as Paul off on holiday and me on day off decided a mid week hillwalk was on the cards I remember climbing these the first time and there was no car park at Succoth as there is now. The new path now seems to draw one towards the improved path that runs between The Cobbler and Beinn Narnain but we wanted to climb the Cruach nam Miseag ridge so after a bit of looking found the path that leads up the old railway blocks as the start has become a little overgrown. Once on ridge the views open out to Ben Lomond and Loch Long and the first glimpse to The Cobbler always blows me away.

The Cobbler

Loch Long

Just below the Summit of Beinn Narnain we stopped for a bite to eat and to admire the Spearhead on Narnain and The Cobbler, awesome !

The Cobbler & Beinn Narnain

Myself with Ben & Loch Lomond in background

After a wee easy scramble up the spearhead we  reached summit of Narnain where after that followed  a considerable drop and reclimb to Beinn Ime.

Beinn Ime from lower slopes of Beinn Narnain

Beinn Narnain from Beinn Ime

The descent goes back to meet the newly well constructed path between Beinn Narnain and The Cobbler then it leads one down beside the buttermilk burn and in between the gigantic Narnain Boulders and back to the car park.