The Mountain's Silhouette

Hiking and backpacking in the mountains of Scotland

Creag Meagaidh

Distance: 23.77 km
Ascent: 1318 m
Time: 7hrs 12mins
Munros: Carn Liath (1006m), Stob Poite Coire Ardair (1053m), Creag Meagaidh (1130m)
Weather: Early cloud giving way to sunshine, very strong winds on top
Route: View on OS Maps

Autumn by Loch Laggan

Autumn has definitely been making its presence felt in the east of Scotland with wind and rain blowing through constantly during the past week. Meanwhile, over in the west there had been reports of high pressure and clear, though windy, conditions. With a good forecast for Sunday (and after missing my alarm on Saturday) I was up early and speeding across towards the west.

Bruach na Frithe

Distance: 14.34km
Ascent: 914m
Time: 5hrs 07mins
Munros: Bruach na Frithe (958m)
Weather: Early light rain giving way to sunshine, very strong winds on top
Route: View on OS Maps

"The Cuillin... they will never look the same for very long, now blue, now grey, now silver, sometimes seeming to retreat or to advance, but always drenched in mystery and terrors" -- H. V. Morton

Waterfall and mountains

Jock's Road

Distance: 26 km
Ascent: 1000 m
Time: 7hrs 37mins
Munros: Tom Buidhe (957m), Tolmount (958m)
Weather: Early light rain giving way to sunshine, very strong winds on top
Route: View on OS Maps

With twenty-one Stockets aboard the bus (after pick-ups at the Bridge of Dee and at Stonehaven) we made our way down the A90 to Glen Clova. Initial sunshine in Aberdeenshire soon gave way to less pleasant conditions into Angus with dark clouds sitting ominously over the hills and glens. After a break at Stracathro services we made our way through Kirriemuir and then out onto the narrow road to Clova.

Bynack More and Cairn Gorm

Distance: 28.8 km
Ascent: 1553 m
Time: 7hrs 37mins
Munros: Bynack More (1090m), Cairn Gorm (1245m)
Weather: Hot sunshine, light breeze
Route: View on OS Maps

After what seemed like interminable weekends of rain, wind and general unpleasantness, yesterday’s weather was warm and sunny and so in the …

First Camping Trip Review

Looking back at my camping trip last weekend I've been checking out my weights and kit list to see how things worked out, what will be in the bag next time, what can be left behind and what I have still to purchase. My total base weight before adding food and water was just over 7kg. In total (though I didn't weigh my full bag with food and water) I estimate that I carried in just under 8kg from the Linn of Dee. Looking at my GPS report this weight doesn't seem to have hampered my level(ish) trail pace very much, although going uphill was a different matter. Still, it definitely wasn't debilitating and I was able to cover 15 miles carrying the heavy bag which I am pleased with.

Wild Camping in Glen Dee

A Wild Camp in the Cairngorms

Tags: munro Slug: a-wild-camp-in-the-cairngorms Author: Nick Bramhall

Distance: 37.15 km
Ascent: 1390 m
Time: 8hrs 10mins (excluding the camping bit!)
Munros: The Devil's Point, Cairn Toul, The Angel's Peak
Weather: Day 1, clear and warm, Day 2, early sunshine, cloud above 1100m, late warm and humid
Route: View on OS Maps

At half-past six in the evening and with a boot full of gear I headed out of Aberdeen towards the sunny west. There were clouds about but the sun was shining and the air was warm as I drove through Braemar and out along the road to the Linn of Dee. The sunshine over the Dee was beautiful.

Eastern Affric Munros

Distance: 20 miles
Ascent: 7,000ft
Time: 9hrs 10mins
Weather: Brilliant sunshine, strong, cold northerly wind
Route: View on OS Maps

The day did not start well. I slept through my alarm and woke up at 7am with the wind blowing a hoolie outside and the cloud low and ominous over the grey city of Aberdeen. My hand left the warm comfort of the duvet only long enough to pick my laptop up. From under the covers I re-read the MWIS report for the North-West Highlands and watched the BBC Scotland weather report. Had last night's reading of the same information been a dream? Would I really find the sun if I headed for the western hills? Well, apparently I would! The report still insisted there was an 80% chance of cloud free Munros and visibility improving over the course of the day.

Ben Lui Group

Distance: 28.2km
Ascent: 1772m
Time: 7hrs 40mins
Weather: Sunshine with cloud building later, warm but breezy
Route: View on OS Maps

I had a late start today but the forecast was good and with the summer well on its way daylight was never going to be an issue. I started walking at 11:20 from the excellent walkers car park at Dalrigh. I dropped down to the West Highland Way and followed this as it passes the farm buildings. It was lovely walking, with the sun occasionally coming out, a slight breeze keeping the midges away, and a good clear track to the follow. As the WHW turned away to Tyndrum I continued on the landrover track that left the woods and continued west along the course of the Cononish.

Buachaille Etive Beag

Time: 3hrs 8 mins
Distance: 8.79km
Ascent: 920m
Munros: Stob Coire Raineach (925m), Stob Dubh (958m)
Weather: Early cloud and mist, clearing with sunshine later
Route: View on OS Maps

I wanted something short to round out my weekend in Glen Coe and after perusing a few reports and …