Walk Glencoe

29/09/2024

27/09/2024

Bidean nam Bian totally Rocks‼️🤩👌
Particularly when there’s a fresh sugar coating of snow on the Top❄️🏔️

Superb day out in Glencoe with awesome company. I was joined by Simon, Lesley, Richard, Jude, Catherine, Jim, Scott, Bridget and Rosie and we had an absolute blast💥👍

20/09/2024

Sgurr Eilde Mor⛰️, Binnein Beag⛰️, Na Gruagaichean⛰️ and a very exciting scramble up Binnein Mor⛰️ via the northeast Ridge😍

One of the reasons that I love walking in the Mamores quite so much is for the abundance of different route options.
This is particularly the case towards the Eastern end, where you can string together Munros in a great variety of different ways😎

On Wednesday I was joined by Jude, Jonathan, Catherine, Rosie and Pickle as we did just that.

I had read a mention about Binnein Mors northeast ridge, Sron a Garbh-Choire, in an old Ralph Storer guide book quite a long time ago and it sparked an interest then.

There are no less than four ridges which converge on Binnein Mors lofty summit yet it’s only the well-travelled north and south ridges which carry a path.
It was never the plan from the outset to tackle the northeast ridge yet it was in the back of my head and I would always rather follow a route where few others have travelled before if possible.

Descending off Binnein Beag and discussing the different route options it was Rosie’s eyes which lit up when I mentioned about a possible Scramble. That was the decider!🧗‍♂️🤩

Perhaps a cautionary note here; this is not a route that I would reccomended if you feel uncomfortable on steep and exposed ground‼️

Accessing the foot of the ridge is perhaps the hardest part and much care is need to avoid dislodging rock. Crags bar a direct ascent and it’s necessary to come up from the northern flank on a rising traverse.

Once up to a levelling however, the setting is incredible, and the upper section of the Northeast Ridge sores skywards quite alarmingly.
At first glance it would be very easy to look up at the precipitous narrow rock crest and turn straight back around again😲
On closer inspection however, a direct ascent of the crest looks more manageable and, for about 150m the scrambling is simply superb. The easiest line is no more than a grade 1 and never feels too exposed but harder options are available if this is your thing.
Towards the top however, the ridge narrows even more and to stick to the crest here would be a much more serious proposition.
We bypassed the crest here on the left (south) side.

Like any scramble, it’s not something you would want to do in wet or windy weather but, in the lovely warm dry conditions we had it was a sheer delight. Similar in its nature to Ledge Route on Ben Nevis or sections of the Forcan Ridge in Kintail but not as long as either😍

The route tops out where the north east ridge converges with the easy north ridge and all that remains is a short and easy clamber across the rocky arête that leads to the summit which, in my opinion, is the finest viewpoint of any of the 10 Mamores Munros.

Everyone, myself included, was buzzing at having completed the route.
Jude likes anything which has a bit of ‘edginess’ which this has in abundance.

Our day finished with a late afternoon stroll out over Na Gruagaichean, savouring the ‘to die for’ views along Loch Leven and the great tangle of surrounding peaks⛰️😍

A superb, 🔟 out of 🔟 mountain day and made all the more enjoyable by sharing it with such an an experienced team who are happy to humour me when I spontaneously suggest ‘add-ons’ or some ‘off-the-beaten-track’ route🤣🙏



08/09/2024

Corriehully Horseshoe - aka Harry Potter Munros💪⛰️⛰️🥵☀️

Some like it Hot!😎

Yesterday I was joined by Dani, Tina, Sharon and Karen as we sweated our way around this fabulous circuit of 2 Munros at the head of Glen Finnan.

Arriving long before the Harry Potter enthusiasts and Trainspotters, it was eerily quite as we set out from the Glenfinnan Monument NTS car park.
The low-lying mist provided a mysterious feel and minuscule water droplets clung to every surface, in particular, the spiders cobwebs which covered the trees and grasses like a scene from Arachnophobia!🕷️🕸️😱

The mist soon dispersed and the full heat of the sun had us rationing water and gobbling up chocolate treats before they could turn to liquid🌞🍫

For sun-lovers, this was the perfect day and not one to race around in search of that 1st place Strava segment or Kudos for achieving some record time.

The pace was briefly forced to hasten on the summit of Sgurr nan Coireachan when we were plagued by swarm of flying ants and deers keds!

Like an oasis in the desert, the pools of the Allt a’ Choire Charnaig provided the idyllic, post hike spot to cool off and rest tired feet!☺️👌

I had a fab time yesterday and it was my absolute my pleasure to spend the day with these like-minded and ever-so-slightly crazy ladies🤣

Thank you all for joining me 🙏

08/09/2024

West is Best,…..except that we were in the East!🙄🌫️😕

On Thursday I was out with Catherine, Campbell, Scott, Jill, Becky and Toffee🐾 on a circuit of the 5 White Mounth Munros of Lochnagar⛰️5️⃣.

Possibly the only part of the country that was shrouded in thick mist; we saw little more that 100m in front of us for 8 out of the 10hrs that we were walking.

On Thursday, Lochnagar (or Cac Carn Beag to give the summit’s formal title), failed to deliver the goods.
For those that can translate Gaelic, the formal title seemed perhaps more appropriate‼️💩🤭

Some consolation was the wonderful company and the ever-impressive falls of the Allt Glas Shiel😃

Reason to return again in better weather?🧐,…oh I think so☺️

Thank you to all who joined me🙏

04/09/2024

Ben Nevis CMD arête⛰️☀️😎👌

The summit plateau of Ben Nevis was perhaps the busiest place in Scotland last Saturday🤪

For Julie, Harry, Chris, Naomi, Sue and Katie however, we found relative calm and simply supreme conditions on our approach via the, ever-impressive, CMD arête😄

A huge well done to the whole team who, after deducting 30 minutes summit photo queuing time, made it round in a swift 8 1/2hrs💪👏🙏

28/08/2024

Perfect conditions for a stroll out over the two Munros of Buachaille Etive Mor this morning⛰️⛰️🌤️😃

Honestly folks, if you’re put off by a rain symbol or suggestion that there might be a light breeze you’d never get out.

The forecast was obviously ‘iffy’ enough to deter a few as, our original group of 6 was depleted to just 2 by the time today came!🤷‍♂️

What this meant was that Catherine and Gareth got me all to themselves and, as it happened, conditions couldn’t have been more perfect🤪

Warm, dry, just the gentlest breeze to keep the midgies at bay and some simply breathtaking light on the hill as the sun burst through the scattered cloud.

We decided to walk the circuit ‘back to front’, not for any particular reason and, ‘Third Munro Round’ Catherine and, experienced hill walker Gareth, were back to the car in just 6 hours.
And this was taking 30mins out the day to gorge on blaeberries!🫐😋

Back at the cars nice and dry we felt particularly smug when the rain started just as we pulled away😛🌧️

Thanks both for joining me and Thanks Pickle🐶🐾 for leading this one, allowing me to enjoy the fab weather, fab scenery and even better company🙏

25/08/2024

South Glenshiel Ridge - 17-8-24⛰️7️⃣💪

It was a very hardy team who turned up bright and early at the Cluanie Inn last Saturday.

Unperturbed by the less-than-ideal weather forecast, Dawn, Philip, Jon and his two sons Alexander and Matthew arrived, already clad in full waterproofs.

For the third summer in a row I’ve walked with Jon and his boys during their annual holidays to the Highlands and, for the third summer in a row, we’ve been unlucky with the weather🙄🌧️💨

Anyone who’s walked the 7 Munro’s of the South Glen Shiel Ridge will know that it’s a long and arduous day even in good weather.
When the weather is not so good, it requires some real grit and determination which the whole team had in abundance.

On our west to east traverse, fuelled on by Chocolate Digestives and, with the psychological driving force of knowing that the Cluanie Inn and promise of warmth and refreshments was getting ever nearer, the summits fell one by one😅

Whilst the weather was no great, it was not biblically bad all day and the wind was at least on our backs for the most part.

As ever, the pics in this post are from those fleeting moments when we weren’t hunkered down, heads beneath layers of Goretex, but you’ll see that there were at least a few glimmers of hope.

The shortcut that I offer at the end of this walk saves a huge 3.8km/1hr of walking and, if you don’t mind some very rough going underfoot, I would recommend to anyone to take out the map
and check it out😉🗺️🧭

On more than one occasion this short cut has been the difference between making it down in time for food or missing out and going hungry🥲

Thankyou so much to everyone for joining me on this tough day and particularly to Jon for providing my transfer to and from this walk.
Without this logistical support I would be unable to continue with the guiding☺️🙏

25/08/2024

Beinn Sgulaird & The Essex Boys- 21/8/24⛰️😃

The best of the weather came on Wednesday when I was joined by good friends, Randel, Neil and James who were up visiting from the sunny, south east corner of England☀️

In the last few weeks back at home, anything less than 25 degrees has felt like a chilly day and so when Neil declared “I’ve only packed shorts” I was moderately concerned🤣

The boys were staying in Appin and so Beinn Sgulaird was the obvious choice being right on their doorstep and offering a fairly short day yet with stunning views.

Equipped with 3 rucksacks stuffed full with little more than sugary junk food we set off.

The enthusiasm lasted until the first little descent and reascent where followed much swearing and buffoonery!🤬

With a little coercion we continued up into the cloud and some fine mizzle.
There was nothing to see and, whilst not bad weather, compared to the Essex tropics, things felt moderately unpleasant.

Waterproofs on, we continued up and, on the rockier terrain, the lads seemed to be enjoying themselves more.

For a brief moment near the summit, the clouds momentarily parted and suddenly, it became clear to everyone the reason why we hillwalkers do what we do🌤️😵

On the summit we destroyed more calories than the finalists at the American Grill and Steakhouse ‘eat as much as you can’ competition.🥩

Randel nearly choked whilst trying to eat a Bakewell Tart whole before James stepped in and, with some quick thinking, punctured the centre of the pastry casing making a breathing hole!🥧🤣🤣🤣

The shenanigans continued on the descent with Neil slip-sliding his way down the saturated grassy slopes whilst we watched on,…hoping, just hoping,…….sorry Neil😘🙏

You can take the boys out of Essex……..

Thanks Mofos; it’s been a long time since I’ve laughed this hard!😂

25/08/2024

BlackMount Traverse Yesterday💨🌧️💪😃
Stob a Choire Odhair⛰️
Stob Ghabhar⛰️
Creise⛰️
Meall a’ Bhuridh⛰️

Life has been a bit frantic this last 10 days and I’ve fallen very behind with the social media and walk reports🤦🏼‍♂️
This is not to say that I’ve been sat idle however and, undeterred by some fairly apocalyptic conditions, there has still been many adventures😎

Working in reverse order,..the last of 5 challenging hill days came yesterday when Tina, Sharon, Jonathan and Vicki joined me on a BlackMount Traverse.

Often tackled as two seperate day walks, it is perfectly possible, by following a linear route, for fit hill walkers to bag all 4 of the BlackMount Munros in a single outing😬

The day started well and lured us in to a false sense of security with Stob a Choire Odhair and
Stob Ghabhar ticked off✅ in fairly benign conditions and a mix of sunshine and showers and some beautiful ‘blue sky’ moments.

Things deteriorated from here however and, just as forecast, some seriously challenging conditions followed!🌧️💨😲

The monstrously steep climb up to Clach Leathad was dispatched in swift fashion and the 1.5km stretch out to Creise along the plateau was covered virtually at a run🏃‍♂️in 50-60mph winds, driving halestones, sleet, a very poor visibilty.

Diving down through the cliffs and into the lea of the wind was but a brief blessing before we stepped into the breach once more as we bounded back up to 1100m to tag our final summit of Meall a’ Bhuridh!😅

Huge congrats to Jonathan as this was Munro number 182 for him,…the countdown is well and truly on💯⬇️

It was not the weather to lounge around on the summit and we flew back down to the cafe in under an hour to a welcome hot chocolate and to strip off wet gear😮‍💨😮‍💨☕️💪

Well Done Team🙏

16/08/2024

The Monar Big 5 (Part 1)⛰️😎🚵💪

There’s good reason why so often these Munros get left till the very end of one’s Munro Journey😅

Unless you happen to live at the foot of the mountains, they will inevitably involve a very long drive, an overnight stay where accommodation is extremely limited, a long and arduous cycle on tracks which are barely cyclable for all but the most hardened Danny MacAskill-esque riders, rivers crossings, you name it,….

And that’s not to mention the shoogly bridge where only the most acrobatic will dare to cross.

With some challenging weather forecasts and a good spattering of yellow weather warnings⚠️, we calculated a plan to tackle these Munros on Monday and Wednesday.
With 60-70mph winds and incessant rain, Tuesday was never going to be a sensible option to attempt anything.

I met up with Campbell, Anne-Marie, Tom, Jude and Jacqui at 10am on Monday at Attadale Gardens to tackle Lurg Mhor⛰️ and Bidean A Choire Sheasgaich⛰️ (aka Cheescake).

The late start played huge dividends as the wall of water and lightening show we drove through in Glen Shiel was quite something to behold⛈️🌩️🌪️🫣

After a few initial bike problems we were off and, thankfully, the rain had abated a little.

For the next two hours there was much toiling and an equal amount of pushing and peddling.
Only the very strongest cyclists will manage this ride in without having to get off and push for at least part of the way,… I am not in this category!🚵‍♂️😫

Once beyond Bendronaig Lodge and Bothy we left the bikes and set off on foot. The actual walking part of this Munro circuit is fairly straightforward and the time from leaving the bikes to returning to the bikes, having visited both Munro summits, was only about 4-5hrs.

An extension however, to include Lurg Mhors outlying Top, Meall Mor, is anything but straightforward!!!
Expect exposed Grade 2 scrambling on slippery, lichen-encrusted slabs and convoluted route finding to bypass the difficulties. Imagine the hardest sections of the Aonach Eagach but without a well defined route and with heaps of loose rock and you’ll get some idea.🫣

Returning to the car about 8 1/2hrs after setting off, we all were tired yet elated at having scratched off these ‘very tricky to get to’ Munro’s.

It should be noted that Walk Highlands estimate a time of 16hrs or 2 days for this pair (presumably without bikes) which seems especially pessimistic!🧐

On the cycle out, poor Tom got a puncture which meant even more pushing was required.

With all of the pushing and a strong head wind I calculate that the bikes saved maybe 2hours but little more.

A rest day would follow before Wednesdays even bigger adventure…….⛰️⛰️😎

10/08/2024

Plan B today and what a splendid plan it was if I do say so myself🤓⛰️🌤️

The Ring of Steall was never going to happen today; not in 55mph winds!!💨
The scrambly crest of An Gharbhanach and the narrow ridge-top path of the Devils Ridge is exciting enough in fair weather never mind in gusts strong enough to knock you sideways!😳

I hope that the young folk who we met in the car park, who were adamant that this was their objective, had a change of heart or aborted their attempt!🫣

Anyway, back to our plan B and the objective of Stob Bàn and Mullach nan Coirean was a very sensible alternative for a great number of reasons.

Catherine, Donnie, Pickle🐾 and I had an absolute blast today and we were soo happy that the day wasn’t scuppered completely.
We were treated to plenty of breathtaking glimpse down into Glen Nevis and over to Ben Nevis, across the trough of Loch Leven towards the back side of the Aonach Eagach and further afield to Beinn a’ Bheithir,..it really was stunning😍

A 10/10 day that ended with Victoria Sponge and hot Tea in the The Highland Soap Co.® Perfect👌

10/08/2024

Huge thanks to John from Anam Cara Guiding for leading the intrepid team of 7 over all four of the Grey Corries Munros on Thursday🙏💪

This is a long tough day but, in favourable conditions, the views are to die for😍

Well done everyone⛰️

10/08/2024

Seana Bhraigh from Oykel Bridge🚵‍♂️⛰️😎

Earlier in the week Jonathan, Jude, Chris and Catherine joined me for a bike and hike into the solitary Munro of Seana Bhraigh.

Usually approached via a very long walk from Inverlael, coming in from Oykel Bridge and with some pedal power assistance, makes this an easy half day walk.

Just 8km and 700m of ascent on foot follows a steady 40minute cycle.

My first time in Strath Mulzie and my first time visiting the pristine, Old Schoolhouse Bothy and it did not disappoint.

Hopefully one of the crew will be happy to share some of their pics showing the inside of the bothy complete with ‘old skool’ desks and ink wells and black board, still inscribed with authentic simultaneous equations and familiar French phrases📚🎓👨‍🏫

Thanks everyone for joining me on this unexpectedly super-enjoyable day😄🙏

30/07/2024

Caption This?🤪🦶💬

28/07/2024

Ben Lawers 7 - Saturday 27th July⛰️7️⃣😎

Yesterday I was joined by Scott, Iain, Jean, Stuart, Julie and Vicki as we enjoyed a fine walk over the 7 Munros in the Lawers group.

Taking little more than an hour per Munro at a comfortable pace, there really is no easier way to make a big dent in your Munro tally.

With a 600m high starting elevation, Meall a’ Choire Leith ranks as one of the quickest Munros to ascend and, beyond here, good paths follow almost throughout.

Big Well Done to Scott for notching up the big 💯on his round and Stuart for clicking over the half century⛰️7️⃣💪

Thanks everyone for joining me in the sunshine and for your wonderful company🙏

25/07/2024

Bidean nam Bian totally rocks, even in the wet!⛰️🌧️😁

Shehraz and his two sons, Shahbazz and Harris joined me yesterday in Glencoe and put in a big effort to bag themselves two new Munros⛰️⛰️

Huge welll done to the family team💪👏