Wednesday 3 September - a shelter occupied again

"In Glen Shee and all its side glens, the green hills, the rocky bluffs of varying colour from pink to black, the many fine big burns and the fertile grassy river flats give the scenery a distinctive character and charm" (Adam Watson).

The weather had turned raw as we arrived at Cairn of Claise's top. We spoke with a walker studying his map at the cairn, then noticed the group of three having lunch in the shelter; the same three we'd met on Carn a' Gheoidh the previous day. Their next objectives were Tolmount and Tom Buidhe and they asked us how they should pronounce the names. We had to admit that although we did our best and made every effort get the pronounciation correct, only a Gaelic speaker could make the names sound like music.

As they were leaving in deteriorating weather, one member of the party commented that she wished she hadn't consumed all her hot drinks. Maybe not the wisest thing to do given the cold weather and their day only half done, but I dare say she survived. Most of us do.

Hot tea for us plus scones on jam (no clotted cream!) and a flapjack fortified us and after donning some extra clothing and gloves we picked up the Monega Road for our return to Glen Shee. Thin mist drifted across Glas Maol's plateau changing the atmosphere of the place instantly.

Earlier in the day we had seen an elderly walker suddenly fall to the ground just as he started his descent to Meall Odhar. The fall looked heavy and we feared the worst so set off to help but before getting very far he got up and continued his descent. He must have been fine for we found no body on our way back.

As usual blue hares were everywhere their coats beginning to show patches of white; the first of the winter snows not too far off perhaps. Now that's always an exciting prospect.



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Tuesday 2 September - on the hills of the west Mounth

Glas Tulaichean from Carn Bhinnein


We spent some time at Carn nan Sac's small cairn overlooking Carn Mor, and Creagan Bheithe, dismayed at the sight of bulldozed tracks. Not new to us by any means, but familiarity with vandalism doesn't make it any easier to witness.

Turning away we left the view behind (along with a bag of biscuits it seems, so if you're passing that way soon....) and enjoyed the tramp out to Carn a' Gheoidh where we found a family of three snuggled in the shelter. We sat at the cairn, the emerging sunshine nicely taking the edge off the wind

Carn Bhinnein looks quite distant but is a mere thirty minutes away - a delightful thirty minutes. From its airy top Glas Tulaichean fills the view across the glen while north-west lie Beinn Iutharn Mhor and Beinn Iutharn Bheag. Below the latter's southern slopes nestles lovely, lonely Loch nan Eun. We love these big rolling hills and those east of the Cairnwell, never grow weary of wandering amongst them, always long to return.

All too soon we had to leave. We met two lads a few minutes later and to a "it's a grand day" one could only manage "it's too far for me". He did look to be struggling. A large herd of deer, numbering around a hundred or so, slowly crossed Carn a' Gheoidh's slopes, rapidy taking off when they picked up our scent.

Descending to the car park we met a German tourist and chatted a while. Lovely chap. We said we'd look out for him at the Braemar Games on Saturday. Looking forward to them.
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Monday 1 September - Creag Leacach and a reply to Oss

A poor pic taken using the BlackBerry

A few feet from the cairn on Creag Leacach the wall gave shelter from the wind and the sun beat down. It felt like summer. We spotted an estate vehicle on Shanovan Hill above Glen Brighty. A couple of gun shots rang out; only two, then the Land Rover slowly departed, back to Tulchan Lodge in Glen Isla. presumably.

We were reluctant to move, but move we must if the 943m south west 'Top' was to be visited.

Our boots first trod this Munro Top in July 1978 and having ignored it on more recent ascents of Creag Leacach, we made the short journey to its fine rocky summit. I regret to say that no memories came flooding back but Lynne did remember that our first ascent was via Meall Gorm.

A large herd of deer could be seen on the eastern slopes of Carn Ait; blue hares sat motionless a few feet away, unconcerned at our presence, safe in the knowledge that our pace was no match for theirs. All very reassuring.

Back at the main summit cairn some others arrived. Enthralled by their surroundings they immediately sat down and stared at their mobile phones. There would be no meeting of minds here. We left.

Inexplicably we (oh alright) I missed the well known path which skirts Glas Maol.

I've said before that path junctions are my nemesis and so it proved again today. Lynne assumed I'd decided to go over Glas Maol again and said nothing......

Oss. Thanks for your comment Dave. The WiFi on site is the worst I've ever experienced anywhere. At £3 for the duration of our stay (two weeks) it sounds great value, but isn't. I can't even get onto my blog let alone reply to your comment.

I have been appalled at the standard of the referendum debate and have indeed been animated at times but certainly never energised. I've already voted 'No' - I'm not explaining why because I can't easily respond with no access to my blog.
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Yipee! Hols again

It's hard to believe that another year has passed and here we are, back for the September bash in the Braemar hills.

We're having scones and coffee in the 'van in the Glenshee Ski Centre car park before the final few miles to the site.

The weather forecast is good so there should be plenty of action on the hills in the coming two weeks.


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Holidays, social and 30m steel sculptures

Well, it’s been a busy summer though not in the blogging sense – obviously. After a ten day trip to the Lake District in April various delays meant our planned two month holiday in the Highlands became a one month sojourn. The weather was rather good – in fact very good - though we were too far north to be bothered returning southwards for a trip to Rum and Knoydart as we’d originally planned.

The last days of June were spent at a The Beatrix Potter International Study Conference in Birnam where Lynne was reading, signing books and acting as tour guide for other members from the USA, Japan, the Netherlands and Canada as well as from other parts of the UK. A really enjoyable few days.

Eastwood House, Dunkeld where Beatrix Potter wrote the famous picture letter to Noel Moore. The letter was to become The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

During those few days we celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary. Forty years of climbing, walking and backpacking together at weekends and holidays; often summer evenings were spent rock climbing at a local sea cliff or, very occasionally, at Craig-y-Barns near Dunkeld. Great years.

Immediately following all this social activity we went to the Lake District – a home from home since we met - and enjoyed a ten day heatwave. I was surprised how few climbers were on the crags given the perfect conditions. The fells were pretty quiet too.

Since our return it’s been hedge cutting, the odd day out in the Ochils and generally getting the garden back in order before our next trip in September.

On Thursday we went to see 'The Kelpies', information about which can be found here. We had seen programmes about them, watched videos but nothing had really prepared us for the real thing. They are located only twenty miles away so we'll be back to see them illuminated one winter's night. If you are ever in the Falkirk area go see them. The visitor centre is not due to open until 2015 but coffee and snacks are available.

                           

                            

                         
I've started to upload photographs to Flickr and they can be found here

23 May - green birch, Blackwater

 

 

There are several obvious and popular ways out of Kinlochleven for the backpacker or day walker; all pass through interesting country.

Today we took the path on the north side of the River Leven to Blackwater Reservoir. Reminiscent of the Nevis gorge in places, we strolled through the seemingly endless birchwoods before gaining open ground by Dubh Lochan some two hours after leaving this friendliest of villages. It could be argued that the route lacks variety - birch and oak dominate - but with the sun shining through the fresh foliage, waterfalls sometimes heard but not seen, and the cuckoo for company, you'd be hard pressed not to enjoy every step. A good bridge crosses the Allt na h-Eilde but only the remains of one exists at, I think, (my mind was elsewhere) the Allt Coire na Duibhe. A tree trunk arches over the waters by accident or design, but no such aid was required on this trip and in any case it would be a precarious means of crossing.

There is no access across the dam, or so a sign says, but this was ignored by cyclists coming from the opposite side. I expect this is normal: "My reading isn't very good", another walker, part of a duo plus dog on their way to visit 'the graves', commented.

We returned by our outward route being vastly superior (in my view) to track on the other side of the Leven. It had been a pleasant day but my heart belongs to the heights and exploring the corries, so tomorrow we are for the tops.


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Thursday 22nd May. A Marilyn - Sgorr a Choise

 

 

 

This impressive 663m hill had the feel of Knoydart about it - all rocks and knobbles - though a reasonable path wound its way hither and thither to the cairn which, appropriately for a Ballachulish hill, was built exclusively from slate.

We chose to approach from well up Gleann an Fhiodh and crossed the River Laroch with no difficulty to gain the rough, heathery slopes and were rewarded for our efforts by superb views from the ridge to Bidean nam Bian among many.

The remains of an old fence was followed to the start of the rocky stuff where lunch was enjoyed. We turned our backs on poor despoiled Glen Creran and watched tiny figures on the 'Vair Pair' and boats on Loch Leven. A tranquil scene.

The summit was a place for photographs and identifying peaks near and far; the Paps of Jura and Ben More of Mull were visible.

We have never climbed a Marilyn because it was listed as such and we don't intend to start now. Well, maybe a few. I wonder how many we've done...
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Calm in the Coe

We've had a beautiful drive to Glencoe, the new green of May everywhere a delight.

The recurrence of a chest infection requiring a cocktail of drugs to combat the after effects has delayed departure for almost three weeks. Our reward is a calm evening by Loch Leven with superb views of Bidean and its remaining snow fields.

Ruddles County has also played its part in the settling in process here at Invercoe, one of the friendliest sites we stay on.

The backpacking gear is stowed in the overhead cab so all we need is a bit of decent weather for a trip to Knoydart and Rum perhaps. But before then, a few local hills await.
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Good Luck to: Alan Sloman (and Team), Martin Banfield and Alan Rayner on the TGO Challenge 2014.

Inverie pier

Western Isles arrives at Inverie

Cairn of Claise

Lochnagar

Have a great trip, and I hope you get some of the weather shown in the photographs.