This last month I've been focussing on putting together my wild camping kitlist. Whether I'll get much done over the summer I don't know yet, but my main aim is to be sorted for some proper expeditions in early Autumn once the nights are a bit darker and the midgies have receded again.
Beinn Sgritheall
Date: 31st May 2009
Distance: 9.8 miles
Time: 6.5 hours
Ascent: 3,498ft
Munros: Beinn Sgritheall
Weather: Hot, sunny, hazy
Route: View on OS Maps
Famous last words: "It's only three hours up and down." This is no doubt true if you approach from Arnisdale, have a masochistic love for scree and it isn't a scorching 27 degrees in the glens. Anyway, an utterance of the hillwalker's prayer over a dram of Ardbeg the night before had clearly done the trick and we had another glorious day.
The Saddle via the Forcan Ridge
Distance: 10.4 miles
Time: 8.5 hours (including lunch, snoozes, scrambling etc)
Ascent: 5200ft
Munros: The Saddle, Sgurr na Sgine
Corbett: Ben a Crois Chaolais
Route: View on OS Maps
The west coast wonder weather continued on Saturday despite a somewhat cloudy start. Aiming to have the majority of the tough climbing and scrambling done before the sun became too ridiculous we were on the road from Morvich before 7:30 and were the second car to arrive in the layby close to the plantation by the A87 at NG973138.
Munros North of Glen Lyon
Date: 24th May 2009
Distance: 12 miles
Time: 5 hours
Attendees: Me
Munros: Carn Gorm, Meall Garbh, Carn Mairg and Meall na Aighean
Weather: Sunny spells, cold gusting wind
Route: View on OS Maps
It's a wonderful feeling: leaving the house in brilliant sunshine, a hint of a frosty dawn still lingering in the air. The quiet roads were a joy and in no time at all I was off the A90 and winding my way through the backroads of first Angus and then Perthshire. A dash up a deserted A9 got me to Aberfeldy and then it was a matter of following the Glen Lyon/Bridge of Balgie signs until, having negotiated my way down the narrowest of single lane roads, I found myself at the car park below the telephone box in Invervar just a few minutes before 8:30am.
Braeriach
Date: 16th May 2009
Distance: 16.5 miles
Time: 9 hours
Attendees: The Stocket Hillwalking Club
Munros: Braeriach
Weather: Cloud at 800m, high winds
Route: View on OS Maps
The trundle around to Aviemore was long, and largely uneventful and, though the bus driver was dubious, we were eventually on the right road heading past Loch Morvich up towards the ski centre at Cairn Gorm. Jim was also doubtful but we turned into the car park opposite the walk start and were soon booting up under austere but definitely brightening skies (NH985073).
Broad Cairn & Cairn Bannoch
Distance: 15 miles
Time: 5.5 hours (including breakfast)
Munros: Broad Cairn, Cairn Bannoch
Start: Car Park at the Spittal of Glenmuick
Weather: Beautifully clear, cold start but later overcast
Route: View on OS Maps
So, sometimes it's good to shake up the normal routine of a weekend. After going to see Star Trek with friends I got back and looked up on a velvety blue sky shimmering with stars. The summer triangle was creeping above the horizon and looking at my laptop the weather forecast promised a continuation of this clear spell at least until midday. MWIS concurred with the eastern hills being given an 80% chance of being cloud free during Sunday morning.
Delivered from Dreish
Date: 3rd May 2009
Distance: 9.3 miles
Ascent: 977m
Time: 3hrs 10mins
Munros: Mayar, Dreish
Route: View on OS Maps
After a Cairngorm's epic on Saturday I wanted something more civilised on Sunday. After a lazy morning, a trip into town to buy a pair of sunglasses (replacing a …
Into the Heart of the Cairngorms
Date: 2nd May 2009
Distance: 21 miles
Ascent: 5000ft
Time: 8hrs 15mins (including stops)
Munros: Carn a' Mhaim, Ben MacDui, Derry Cairngorm
Meteorology: May-like (rain, hail, snow, wind, sun in equal measure)
Route: View on OS Maps
A typical Bank Holiday forecast promising a mix of sunshine and showers, though decidedly better on the east, meant I abandoned grand plans for a trip up to Assynt and the Far North, and instead returned to (almost) familiar ground in the Cairngorms. In fact, as I got held up behind another driver doing 45mph on the A93 at 7:15 in the morning, I reflected on the fact that this walk would very much be on new ground. I'd been over Beinn Bhrotain last year but that had been in cloud. I was hoping today to get a proper sight of Glen Dee and the giants at the heart of the Cairngorms.
Ben Vane and Beinn Ime
Time: 7hrs 15 mins (including 1hr 45 mins of stoppage!)
Distance: 12.5 miles
Ascent: 1520m (4,988ft)
Munros: Ben Vane (916m), Beinn Ime (1011m)
Meteorology: Hazy sunshine, cool wind on summits, later heavy showers
Attendees: Many, but myself, Dave and Peter completed the walk
Route: View on OS Maps
A weak sun lights the dull, grey waters of Loch Lomond as the Inversnaid ferry plies across from a far shore wreathed in cloud. The long drone of a piper starts as the guests climb the jetty up to the Inveruglas visitor center where a car park is already struggling to contain the early starts. Here we are, adding to the multitudes, booting up and then heading across the road towards the Loch Sloy turning. The Sloy hydro station stands silent as we troop down the road, a multicolour line of troops marching to do battle with the hill.
Clachnaben
Distance: 7.9 miles
Time: 4 hours
Hills: Clachnaben, Mt Shade, Threestane Hill
Meteorology: Fine early spring day with plenty of sunshine
As others have shown after the disaster that was Saturday, Sunday on the east side of Scotland was a beautiful day. Sunshine, blue skies and a frosty nip higher up. This was to be my first expedition in the car so something reasonably close by was selected. Inspired by L111CHT’s interesting route to Clachnaben we headed to the second car park, just by the AA Call Box on the B974 road towards Fettercairn (NO893650).