Wednesday 12 June - 2024 Schiehallion

On 27 August 1977 we stood on Schiehallion's summit with our one year old rescued Border collie, Morag. It was one of our earliest Munros and her first. On Wednesday we again climbed Schiehallion, had the summit to ourselves and remembered the wonderful 13 years we had with her, on and off the hill.

It was a cold morning so we didn’t hang around and made quick progress over the moor to gain the stony ridge.

At a large cairn we met the two people ahead of us, the male of the duo announcing that fifty years of smoking wasn’t helping his second ascent. His wife was carrying a full pack while he had cleverly lightened his load by not carrying anything. We left them resting at the cairn and were soon crossing the quartzite boulder field leading to the summit. 

It was hard to believe that it was 47 years since we last stood here.

We didn’t linger long on the top and descended in improving weather. Late starters were met lower down most saying ‘hello’, some passing by grim-faced or head down. Some appeared to think I was their ‘pal’… 

We eventually found a decent spot away from the busy track, had tea and rolls in the sun then dropped off the ridge and so back to the car. An enjoyable day with happy memories of times past.

Note: Our 1977 ascent was by Gleann Mor starting from Glengoulandie Farm on a reasonable path, followed by some heather bashing to reach the start of the east ridge. These days, most will start from the attractively located carpark at Braes of Foss as we did today. £3 a day with free, clean toilets. The awful Beauly to Denny transmission line has industrialised and degraded the landscape here. 

Monday June 10th - A wet start

Off on our travels again but the weather isn’t settled enough to entice us very far north, so we’ve stopped off at our usual spot near Loch Tay for the time being. Apparently, snow has fallen on the hills on seven consecutive days but not here as far as I can tell. Not yet!