Some thoughts and reports from outings...
Blogs from some outdoor adventures.....
After three long demanding days in the mountains, we decided to pick something less demanding for our last day. Our legs were tired and energy levels low so we got the map and books out and started looking for a nice easy hike in the northwest highlands (or so we thought). Beinn Sgritheall was chosen – wasn’t a long walk in and looked like a relatively short outing. Fast forward to the next day and our notion of what “less demanding” meant was changed for ever !! A super steep pull up the screes of the mountain saw us inside a cloud with a knee jarring descent to look forward too!! Absolutely knackered we eventually headed home…. And we nicknamed this hill “The Steepest Hill in Scotland!!” (I have heard other names for this which I cannot print!!) Ten Years later – two days off work and we had endless adventures options to pick from . This time my companion changed from my brother to Gerry and the plan was to paddle into Barrisdale Bay and head up Ladhar Bheinn. However strong winds made our decision to go with a plan B instead- something around Glen Sheil. As I still had a few Corbetts to do so I suggested Beinn Sgritheall and its neighbouring Corbetts. A long drive saw me meeting Gerry at Arnisdale and we then drove to the road end at Corran to leave my car to save us a couple of Kilometres walk back at the end of the day (more to come on this one!!). Back at Arnisdale we were soon on our way towards the Bealach Arnisdale. The weather was lovely with the sun shine breaking through and the water of Loch Hourn Shimmering behind us, things were looking good. I was really looking forward to seeing the “magnificent view” from the summit, one which Hugh Munro once said “was the finest viewpoint from any hill in Scotland”. The pull up to the Bealach wasn’t as bad as last time (legs were fresher!!) however the eastern shoulder was steep and scree filled – much as I remembered !! Soon we reached the eastern top and the hill looked superb. The top was free of cloud and the sea views were fantastic. However – sods law soon kicked in and about 10 minutes from the summit, the clouds rolled in and on reaching the summit I was treated to the same view as last time – the inside of a cloud!! The wind was picking up a little now too so with a lots of climbing still to do we set off heading back to the bealach for some lunch! We met a few shepherds here who were rounding up their sheep and we watched the other member high on the mountain side doing their stuff – effortlessly hiking across the rough terrain. Next up (an I meanN UP!!) was the Cobett Beinn na h-Eaglaise. If we thought the Munro was steep then we were about to find out what steep really was. Virtually a vertical wall of moss and grass for over 200 meters!! I wouldn’t want to descend this! But it was short lived and we were now on summit two of the day with just one more Corbett to go. It was on the descent of this hill that I realised I had left my car keys in Gerrys car – oops…. So used to doing this, I had just done this on autopilot – so much for having two cars and saving some time at the end of the day!!! Beinn nan Caorach was the third and final peak and was also the hardest! Not technically but more mentally. I was feeling a little weary and needed some jelly babies. The weather was also deteriorating and we were soon being soaked and blown about as we reached the summit. A short sweetie break and on with the waterproofs and we set about carefully picking our way through the crags on the descent! The day wasn’t over yet as we still had a fair old romp to get back to Corran – or really Arnisdale as my car was pretty useless in Corran now!! The rain picked up and the only thing that raised our spirits was that the hundreds of deer that were low down were equally as wet but also intrigued at our soaked appearance!! Eventually we got back to Arnisdale and the best thing now was that we didn’t have to drive all the way home – we were headed to The Cluanie Inn….. The White Corries End of October and the clocks were going back… Bliss , an extra hour in bed… However the first significant snows had hit Scotland’s Mountains and the forecast for Sunday was looking rather good…. Bags packed the night before and the alarm was set for 5.30am (well 6.30 body clock time!). Feeling rather good when woken by the alarm (mainly due to the extra hour factor) I sprung out of bed and set about defrosting the car whilst making some porridge and getting set to go. -3 degrees and the skies were clear as I headed north on the A9 aiming to meet Gerry at Choire Collie at a leisurely 0830 am. Arriving in unison we discovered out first problem of the day – finding a parking spot!! The place was heaving and it seemed a few cars had been there overnight judging by the frost on the windscreens. Subsequently we met a few people coming back down form the bothy after an adventurous evening. Winter gear on for the first time this season and we were soon saying our hellos to the Wee Minister and not long after started heading up the slopes of Stob Coire Gaibhre. The snow line was reached and the landscape turned white with the monochrome landscape contrasting the bright blue skies. What a day it was turning out to be. After stopping for a small time on Gaibhre, we were soon heading up the 15th highest mountain in Scotland. The snow was laying a few inches deep and the rime was plastering the boulders. From our viewpoint the Grey Corries lay before us with The Aonachs and Ben Nevis providing a suitable back drop. The slight breeze that had greeted us on Claurigh was now disappearing and the sun was beating down. I had to delayer and was soon striding along the ridge in my base layer, felt more like the Alps than Scotland! Days like these live long in the memory and we just took our time enjoying the views as we made our way along the ridge. To the south the great mountains of The Mamores, Glencoe and beyond were all instantly recognisable. Eventually we reached our final peak of the day – Stob Coire Easein and decided to leave Choinnich Mor for another day, a great excuse to return! The day wasn’t over yet though as we still had a fair bit of walking to do. We had managed to park at the parking spots nearer the gate so decided to take the old tram line back to the car. A nice route although one of the burn cross resulted in me slipping and face planting the rocks – I was thirst anyway so took the opportunity to have a wee drink J What a grand day J Killiecrankie to Vrackie One of my go to mountains is Ben Vrackie and I’ve explored lots of variations from the Moulin side, be it in daylight hours or in the hours of darkness, however I am ashamed to say I have never explored the hill from Killiecrankie. In fact I don’t think I have ever visited Killiecrankie despite driving past it numerous times every month!! What swung it this time was the magnificent display the autumn trees were putting on. On another trip north with work, I was in awe of the colours as I swung onto the dual carriage way, the woodland on the hillside wouldn’t have looked out of place in New Hampshire! Waking on a drab Sunday morning I switched on the TV to catch the weather and it was suggesting the drabness I was seeing out of the window was soon to change to blue skies and sunshine! Feeling the need to feed the rat, I set about doing some chores in the morning with the plan to head off to Killiecrankie around lunchtime. This I did, and my timing was good with the clouds starting to part as I past Pitlochry and my mountain before taking the right hand turnoff for Killiecrankie! Parking was limited at the visitor centre as many others had obviously had the same idea, although not many were headed where I was going!! The hill walk starts opposite the visitor centre and is just as well sign posted as it is from the Moulin side. Off I strode and the views soon opened out in all directions – the wonderful autumn colours around Killiecrankie were superb and the mountain view of Beinn a Ghlo started to appear as I gained height. I good path takes you over some fields and there are a few styles and dykes to cross on the way up. I reached a junction in the path and as opposed to heading over towards the lochan I took a left as I wanted to head up the subsidiary top of Meall an Daimh. Now if you don’t like heather bashing – then this route is not for you!! The path is ok for about 500m but you need to strike off up hill and at this point it’s a wade through the heather until reaching the top! One of the main attractions about this route is the solitude that is encountered and I had only met a few other walkers on the path up from Killiecrankie. As I headed for Meall an Daimh, I wasn’t expecting to see another soul, but nearing the summit I was surprised to see a couple of walkers making their way down towards me. As they approached I immediately recognised them as regular contributors to the walkhighlands forum, it was Weaselmaster and Sick kid – great to meet you both!! After a nice chat we set off on our ways , hope you got home ok folks. On reaching the top of Meall an Daimh the heather shortened and the grass took over. The views were amazing, Beinn a Ghlo and the other Perthshire hills looked absolutely brilliant with the lovely blue skies over head. It was a superb autumnal day and after taking an hour or so to enjoy the solitude on the minor summit I soon set about striding to the summit of Ben Vrackie, which wasn’t so quiet! Understandably so, many people had taken the opportunity to hike in this glorious autumn weather! A little drink and bite to eat on Vrackies summit and I started to descend over pathless ground towards Killiecrankie again. The sun the starting to lower and the rays of light hitting the Perthshire Landscapes was grand. I was soon on the path and heading back to Killiecrankie. I still had about an hour of light left and decided to head down to explore the soldiers leap. It was amazing, the colours in the woodland were perfect and the crowds had dispersed by this time. There is a real feeling of history here and after reading a little about the history ,it was nice to visit a small part of were these battles had occurred. I’ve decided I will be coming back next Autumn to spend more time in the lowlands to see where Bonnie Dundee led his army against the Redcoats… Can’t recommend it enough – well worth a visit Heading onto a ferry to go hiking always seems to get me excited and adds a little more adventure to the day!! My pal, Steve had been up helping me at work in Oban for a few days and was keen to head up a Scottish hill. Although being born south of the border, Steve has always considered himself Scottish have Aberdonian parentage and had been asking for years to accompany me on an adventure.
So 0630am, and we were up and waiting to board the ferry to Mull. The weather was good and we soon set sail towards The Sound of Mull! Coffee and a couple of bacon butties devoured and we headed up onto the deck to view our objective for the day – Dun da Ghaoithe! The clouds were starting to form but things still looked good, albeit with a deteriorating forecast!!! The drive to the start of the hill was short (very short) and we were soon striding up the road towards the masts. Unfortunately the cloud had arrived and by the time we reached the first mast, we were well and truly in the Scottish mists!! Waterproofs on and we headed onwards away from the road and on more familiar hillwalking terrain!! Navigation heads working now saw us reach the first top of Mainnit nam Fiadh…. Then something strange happened! The light changed and for the next 45 minutes the cloud floated down below us and our target summit was revealed. This gave an extra spring to the step and we soon found ourselves on the top of Dun da Ghaoithe with excellent views and mists swirling all around. Its not very often I get this luck!! Our 45 minutes of good luck was soon up and as we left the summit the clag and mists enveloped us again as we headed back the way we came! The drizzle started and by the time we returned to the car , the waterproofs were dripping. However we felt we had scored a goal with the clouds parting at the top and were a happy couple of hikers J Back to the ferry terminal and time for another coffee and some carrot cake and the ferry home. Then a long drive for me but a train trip for Steve back to London!! A fine trip and a fine mountain (from what we saw in 45 minutes!!) The Tarmachan Ridge
When the forecasts all suggest cloudy summits, you feel like you’ve won when you reach the top and the clouds part for you!! That’s what happened on our wee trip along the Tarmachan Ridge late in the summer. Arriving later than our usual crack of dawn timings we took a mornings amble up to Mall nan Tarmachan and then over to the highlight of the ridge – Meall Garbh and the short ridge beyond. The summit was in the cloud all the way up but as we approached the summit, it was almost as if someone flipped a switch for our arrival and the clouds parted allowing us to look over the top of the cloud layer and bath in the sunshine. We then continued to Meall Garbh and whoever flicked the switch for our arrival at the Munro then decided enough was enough and flipped it back with the clouds rolling bac in over the top of us. Back before lunchtime we headed back home to gain some well needed brownie points but still had a grand adventure on the hill. First up was Stuc a' Chroin, a month later I went up its neighbour :) - Not the usual ascent (or timings ;) lol Summer holidays – fantastic!! I had managed to time mine just after the summer weather finished!! Spending the day with the kids, I was able t head for the hills once my better half had returned from work. With the nights drawing in a little, I couldn’t travel too far and decided I wanted to tackle Stuc a’ Chroin. I have been up Ben Vorlich so many times, I decided that I would try and head for Stuc instead, but didn’t have time to combine them. I also decided that if time allowed, I would come back over Ben Our en route back to the car. The forecast was an improving one and I was hoping for a sunset summit on Stuc a Chroin, with fantastic vistas over the southern highlands! Setting off and things looked promising and I strode up the familiar Vorlich path , almost missing the path for the Stuc! Met lots of people coming off Vorlich bu when on to the path for Stuc a Chroin, the numbers disappeared and I experienced some lovely solitude. Reaching the head of the Glen and the views opened up over the Trossachs, with some fantastic crepuscular rays over towards More and Binnein! Stuc a’ Chroin was looking good too from here and I had a spring in my step J That spring was dampened slightly though as when I reached the bottom of he hill, the mist rolled in and the summit disappeared! My timing wasn’t so great this time and for the next hour or so I was looking at the inside of a cloud!! Reaching the top, I decided to linger to see if the cloud would dissipate…. It didn’t!! so I headed back down and due to the time spent praying at the top, my plans for Ben Our were postponed and I managed to get to the car just before a head torch was required! Much fun even though the summit views weren’t very good …. Autumn arrives - and the ascent of Vorlich!! I had been planning a hike up The Cruachan Horseshoe, but the with the weather swinging in from the west, I decided on a Munro closer to home (and the east) to avoid the low cloud and rain!! Driving through thick fog until Crieff, I was starting to think I may get lucky with an inversion on Ben Vorlich. However , by the time I reached St Fillans, the fog had cleared and I made my way to Advorlich , to start the familiar trek up Ben Vorlich. The weather was good and the cloud stayed away. As always the issue of layering made me stop about a million times to delayer, then relayer!! The effect of the wind cannot be under estimated at any time of the year, and this trip really showed this effect as I sopped and started, putting jackets on an taking mid layers off numerous times J Reaching the summit, the sun came out and the views down the strath, over the fog were fantastic. Soaking in the sun on the summit ridge , I had to pull myself off the ops and started to head back down before the approaching weather front arrived!! A few hours later and I was drenched in Oban Marking the end of the superb weather Scotland experienced in 2018, me and the wee man headed for Fifes top adventure spot - The Elie Chain Walk and had a great time :) |
WilkieMurraySome thoughts and reports from my outdoors activties... Archives
August 2017
Categories |