Glenshee Hills (20/02/10)
Carn an Tuirc, Cairn of Claise & Glas Maol
Works Hillwalk 2010
Bheinn Ghlas & Ben Lawers
Lakes, 23-25/09/11
Seathwaite and Buttermere
Linn Of Dee (24-26/05/13) Carn an Fhidhleir/An Sgarsoch/Beinn Bhrotain/Monadh Mor
Sat: Carn an Fhidhleir/An Sgarsoch (28KM on bike + 16KM on foot)
Sun: Beinn Bhrotain/Monadh Mor (16KM on bike, 21KM on foot)
Beinn a Bhuird and Ben Avon (01/06/13)
Clockwise, 15KM by bike + 22KM on foot
Loch Quoich Munros (07-09/06/13)
Saturday: Sgurr Mhaoraich. (14KM Foot, 995M Ascent)
Sunday: Gleourich+Spidean Mialach+Gairich (10KM Bike, 24KM Foot, 2350M Ascent!)
Beinn Chabhair, An Caisteal & Beinn a' Chroin (30th Nov & 1st Dec)
Walked from Crianlarich along WHW late on Saturday, reached Beinn Chabhair at dusk, descended to bealach in the last of the light, camped. Did An Caisteal & Beinn a' Chroin on the Sunday, then walked back to Crianlarich via the A82.
Stob Binnein 28/02/14
Met up with the Bowland Pennine MRT (from Lancs) on Friday as I know one of them. They were based out of Crianlarich for the weekend to do some winter training. On the Friday, they headed up Stob Binnien. White-Out on the way up Binnein from the bealach.
Glencoe (10-11/05/14)
Cabey's Birthday Followed By The Sgorr Nam Fiannaidh and then Pap of Glencoe On Sunday
Ben Chonzie & Schiehallion (23-25/05/14)
Loop anti-clockwise from Loch Turret Saturday with good visibility then Schiehallion in the pishing rain on Sunday
Lurg Mhor and Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich (01-03/05/15)
Left vehicle at Strathcarron Hotel, beer and food in pub (Skye ale on draught!, and good food). Left pub 21:30 and walked until 11PM towardwards Bendronaig Lodge before pitching up. We were planning on camping at Loch Calavie on Sat night, but having seen the well appointed bothy at Bendronaig (complete with toilet and wood pile), and given the poor forecast overnight and sunday (high winds and rain), we ditched camping gear at Bendronaig and returned there after doing the hills (I still camped, but in shelter of bothy!!). Lots of snow for time of year, but did not require winter kit. Would be a different matter tackling any Munros from the north as pics show.
Maoile Lunndaidh, Sgurr a Chaorachian, Bidean an Eoin Deirg and Sgurr Choinnich
Parked down at Achnashellach and cycled 3KM back up the road. Headed over railway and then up the glen by bike on a superb track. Dumped the bike in the swamp at the 2nd rope-bridge crossing (bottom of my 3rd Munro for today).
Continued up the track to Glenuaig lodge on foot, and then out across the bog to get to the slopes of Maoile Lunndaidh. Did this via the waterfalls, then around the top of the corrie to Carn nam Fiaclan, and Fuar-tholl Beag and then down (very steeply) to the two wee lochans before climbing Sgurr a Chaorachain via Lochan Gaineamhach.
Chaorachain is a pretty bland summit, Bidean an Eoin Deirg is a finer top so took a detour out and back. (If I was doing this again, I would climb direct to Eoin Deirg summit via its steep scrambly NE ridge instead).
Continued on to Sgurr Choinnich (weather closed in) followed by a fast descent on a decent track to the bealach and onwards to the access track and bike.
Funny how a swamp looks the same after a few hours - behind which hillock was by steed? Walked across the swamp and onto the highest hillock I could find, so I could look back towards the road - there it was!
Midges were hellish! A nice 15 mins downhill cycle back to the van!
Re-located for the following days intended hill, shower, pie dinner, (several) beers and bed (knackered).
Maol Chean-Dearg
Just as cheery Geoff had forecast, the rain was on early doors, I waited until it passed (as forecast) setting off at 10AM.
Went in via MTB, massive drainage ditches alert! I came to the conclusion that some of them (max 12") were made by mountain bikers while the ones 12-24" were made by folks that hated mountain bikers! I pussied the massive ditches to avoid a pinch flat! Met a group in the (well appointed) Coulags bothy that I had met pre Christmas at our club's hut in Crianlarich - small world.
Carried on on the bike and ended up carting (shoving) it all the way up to the bealach (Maol Chean-Dearg/An Ruadh-Stac) Before ditching it to carry onwards on foot. Bloody windy on the initial slopes of Chean-dearg (lady heading down assured me it was less windy up top). Pleasant views opened out in all directions and the lady was right re the wind!
Headed back down and then onwards to An Ruadh-Stac, done this beforehand in winter, but its by far the most impressive hill of this pair. Started up the initial slopes, but the wind was taking me off my hoofs. It was blowing across the ascent slope, gusting 60MPH+ decided it was not worth it so headed back down - potential big roll off An Ruadh-Stac if you were to tumble!
Found the bike again (must remember to mark its location!). Descent VV technical, can't claim to have ridden it all cleanly! reached glen in good time. Cycled back to bothy (sole remaining occupant asleep), continued onwards to awaiting van. Temp was 27deg, van was roasting. Shower and food then back homewards.
Advice re bike: only cycle in if you enjoy the drainage-ditch challenge! I do, but after roughly 1000 of the blighters I was sick of em!
Fishfields & Fannichs Linear Route (02-05/10/15)
Poolewe to Aultguish Linear via Fisherfields and Fannichs. Got train/westerbus to poolewe Friday 2nd, arriving in pub 7:30PM. Beer and food and then a 4:15hrs walk into Carnmore bothy. Up the next morning and out over the fisherfields, descending down to Loch an Nid and walking to Lochivraon bothy for the night. Up Sunday morning and direct to the ridge, and my 1st Fannich. 6 More Fannichs that day, and then a high camp. On the Monday, did the last two Fannichs and down via the Gorm Lochan to the A835, a trot along the road to the Aultguish and a citylink bus and train back home. 14 Munros nailed. 90KM and just under 6000M of climbing. All pics Xperia Z3 smartphone (had enough weight already without camera!)
