Welcome to my world!: Munros 2014

Taking the High Road

It's April, when after a long winter a young man's thoughts turn to...bagging a few Munros!

I drove north on a Sunday straight after an emotionally charged game in the incredible title race at Anfield, a 3-2 win over Manchester City meant Liverpool held the advantage with only 4 games left to play (City had 6, with 2 games in hand), win the last 4 and the league would be ours. We didn't and it wasn't to be.
I stayed that night in Stirling SYHA, it was becoming a regular staging post for me on my journeys to the Highlands. Checked the MWIS forecasts at the hostel, and it promised to be a settled spell of fine weather for a few days at least. I had big plans to head for hills in the Perthshire area either side of the A9, the road that snakes its way north towards the Cairngorms and on to Inverness and beyond.

My first day I went for a jaunt up Schiehallion, a popular stand-alone hill famed for it's conical shape, visible from miles away across Rannoch Moor. I followed the well-made footpath from Braes of Foss car park, trudging up the long Eastern flank of the mountain, taking in a succession of false summits eventually reaching it's broad, bouldery summit with commanding views over Loch Rannoch. I could clearly identify other hills I'd set my sights on climbing during this visit. Returned to my car by the way I'd ascended. Drove down to Kinloch Rannoch, where there is a nice view of the mountain, and then up the B 847 road to rejoin the A9 to Dalwhinnie, from where I was to leave my car for a few days whilst embarking on a micro-adventure in the Ben Alder hills.
Packing my tent, sleeping bag and two day's worth of food, I cycled along the track to Ben Alder Lodge and past Loch Pattock (where there was a fine view of Ben Alder), it was rough going on the bike the remainder of the way to Culra Bothy, where I set up my tent in prime position to take on the 4 Munros of the Beinn Eibhinn group in one day, then Ben Alder and Beinn Bheoil the next day and cycling back out to Dalwhinnie.

Schiehallion from Braes of Foss

Schiehallion summit ridge

view over Loch Rannoch from Schiehallion

Beinn a' Ghlo and Loch Tummel

Glen Lyon hills

Schiehallion summit

Had a cold night in the tent, the sleeping bag I'd cheaply purchased in Kathmandu wasn't adeqaute for a freezing night in the highland glen. My first objective of the day was to climb the Lancet Edge of Sgor Iutharn (not a Munro, but a shapely ridge, pleasingly narrow high up). Gael Charn was the first Munro of the four. It was easy walking over the next Munro, Aonach Beag, then up the gentle curving ridge to Beinn Eibhinn - the most attractive hill in this group - with superb views towards the mountains of Lochaber. I re-traced my steps over Aonach Beag and Gael Charn then descended the Aisre Ghobhainn ridge and onwards to Carn Dearg and the easy descent back to camp.

Ben Alder from Loch Pattack

morning view of Ben Alder and Lancet Edge from Culra

Beinn Bheoil and Ben Alder

Ben Alder and Sgor Iutharn, Gael Charn

Lancet Edge of Sgor Iutharn, Gael Charn

Lancet Edge

Gael Charn from Sgor Iutharn

Aonach Beag and Gael Charn from Beinn Eibhinn

looking west from Beinn Eibhinn

Ben Alder from Beinn Eibhinn

Beinn Eibhinn

Beinn Eibhinn and Aonach Beag from Gael Charn

Carn Dearg from Gael Charn

Loch an Sgor and Lancet edge in profile

Gael Charn

Ben Alder and Bheinn Bheoil from Carn Dearg

evening sky above Ben Alder

On day 2 of my mini expedition I took the Long Leachas approach to Ben Alder, having to find a safe place to cross the Allt a' Bhealaich Bheithe, then head for the steep ground leading up to the ridge. The Long Leachas is an airy ridge, whilst without presenting any technical difficulties, care was needed where the ridge narrowed in the snow, after a while the gradient eased to leave only the broad slopes to be climbed to reach the summit of this big, bulky hill. The snow depths on the top must have been about a meter in depth because the trig point was almost buried. From the summit I followed the rim of the crags overlooking Garbh Choire, descending steep ground to the bealach and making my way up Beinn Bheoil, pausing for a lunch stop at Sron Coire na h-lolaire, overlooking Loch Ericht. It was an easy walk to reach the summit of Bheinn Bheoil with good views over to Ben Alder, then descending the long north ridge to return to my tent, strike camp and bike out. I cycled back along the path on the other side of the stream - a much smoother ride, and no need to carry my bike over the footbridge down by Loch Pattack. I encountered a few spots of rain on my ride back to Dalwhinnie, good timing I thought.
Returning to my car, I drove the short distance to Newtonmore, booking in for 2 nights at the excellent Newtonmore Hostel even having the luxury of a room to myself!

The Long Leachas of Ben Alder

Long Leachas

Ben Alder summit

Beinn Bheoil, Loch Ericht

Beinn Bheoil

Ben Alder

On my 'rest day' I went for a walk up Creag Dubh, the small but craggy hill to the south of the village, a good walk with nice views

Strathspey from Creag Dubh

Creag Meaghaidh from Creag Dubh

I left Newtonmore and drove down the A9 to the pass of Drumochter, dropping off my bike at Balsporran Cottages, then parking my car a bit further down the road. I was heading for the hills to the west of Drumochter pass, following a track into Coire Dhomain then branching off on a path leading up to Sgairneach Mhor, the first of 4 Munros in this group. Easy walking and no big height losses between the hills, the weather was perfect and the views extensive. These 4 Munros took my tally up to 141 - exactly halfway to compleation.

Checked out of the hostel and drove down the A9 to Blair Atholl and up the minor road to park my car by Loch Moraig, the starting point for the circuit of Beinn a' Ghlo - 3 Munros at the southern end of the Cairngorms national park. These are bulky, rounded hills with broad ridges, but very shapely hills they are and a pleasure to walk on . It's a big day out though - took me 9 and a half hours to do the full circuit, but I wasn't exactly rushing on these hills, taking time to admire the views.

Carn Liath

above Loch Moraig

Beinn a' Ghlo pano from Carn Liath

Beinn a' Ghlo

Carn nan Gabhar, Airgiod Beinn

Airgiod Beinn, Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain

pano from Carn nan Gabhar

looking north towards Cairngorms from Carn nan Gabhar

Airgiod Beinn summit ridge (Carn Liath to the right)

After doing this walk I drove down to Pitlochry, where I'd booked

in at the SYHA hostel. It was Easter weekend and the place was

very busy, I was hoping to see the Norwich vs Liverpool game

that was kicking off at midday on Easter Sunday. After some

discussions with the barmaid in the pub it was understood that the

game would be televised live (good thing there was no Scottish

game on at the time, or East Stirling vs Rangers would have been

on instead!) So I settled down with a pint (was the first customer

of the day) and waited for the game to start.

5 pints and a 3-2 win later, I had a sandwich then walked up to

Ben y Vrackie, a popular Corbett overlooking the town (with the

even more popular Moulin Inn at the foot of the hill). There is a

well-made footpath from the Moulin up to this hill, so it wasn't too

challenging, even after 5 pints. Perhaps after those beers the view

from the summit was even better!

Beinn a' Ghlo from Ben y Vrackie

With not having to be back to work until Wednesday, I could go for
some more Munros. On Easter Monday I left Pitlochry and drove to Glen
Lyon, parked at Invervar and did the 4 Munros to the north of the Glen
- the Carn Mairg group. Tackling these hills in an anti-clockwise direction
all that springs to mind thinking back to this walk is that there was a lot
of snow on the northern side of Meall na Aighean. After doing these hills
I drove to Crianlarich SYHA (a regular staging post for me, either on
the way up or on the way home) to spend the last night of my holiday
before driving home on the Tuesday. It had been a very productive week,
adding 18 Munros to my tally, taking me up to 148.

A surprise August visit

I had a long weekend at the end of August, Bank Holiday Monday
a the Tuesday was my day off that week. It was only on the Friday,
having seen the mountain area forecasts, that I decided to go Scotland
(the forecast for England and Wales was not very good). I drove up
on the Saturday afternoon and stayed that night at the Tarbet Hotel on
the north shore of Loch Lomond. My base for the next 2 nights would
be the By The Way Hostel in Tyndrum.
On the Sunday I parked my car near the Falls of Cruachan station, and
followed the path up to Cruachan reservoir. Instead of skirting around
Beinn a' Bhuiridh (a Corbett), I went up and over this hill (a decision
that would add a lot of time and effort to what would already be a long
day). Descending steeply to Lairig Torran, I then made my way up the
long south ridge of Sron Garbh and on to the Munro summit Stob Diamh

Loch Awe

Ben Cruachan from Cruachan reservoir

Ben Cruachan from Beinn a' Bhuiridh

Ben Cruachan appears as a sharp peak seen from Stob Diamh, along a

narrow ridge

Ben Cruachan from Stob Diamh

Aswell as being a fine summit, Ben Cruachan is a magnificent

viewpoint, and also my 150th Munro!

Loch Etive from Ben Cruachan

Loch Awe from Ben Cruachan

Cruachan reservoir and Loch Awe from Ben Cruachan

Stob Diamh and Beinn a' Bhuiridh from Ben Cruachan

on Ben Cruachan summit

After lingering a while on the summit, I made my way down following

the path down to the reservoir and back down to my car

Ben Cruachan from Cruachan reservoir

I awoke the next morning to find that my car windscreen was covered
in a thick layer of frost - in August!! not complaining though - it keeps the
midges down! After de-icing the car, I drove up the A82, turning off at
Bridge of Orchy and past Loch Tulla to park up at Victoria Bridge.

Loch Tulla

From Forest Lodge I followed the the track westwards to the Clashgour

hut then followed the Allt Toaig, branching off on a path up the south

ridge of Stob a' Choire Odhair. Great views from the summit, particularly
over Rannoch Moor.

Glen Kinglass

Stob Gabhar and Stob a' Choire Odhair

Stob Gabhar from Stob a' Choire Odhair

Bridge of Orchy hills and Loch Tulla

Rannoch Moor

Rannoch Moor pano

Clach Leathad and Meall a' Bhuiridh

Ben Cruachan

Glencoe hills

Stob Gabhar

From Stob a' Choire Odhair, I descended the west ridge to a col between

that one and Stob Gabhar, then made my way up to the east ridge of

Stob Gabhar, named Aonach Eagach on the map, but nothing like as

fearsome as it's Glencoe namesake.

Stob a' Choire Odhair from Aonach Eagach

Aonach Eagach, Stob Gabhar

I descended the south-east ridge to re-join the Allt Toaig path back to

Forest Lodge. It was pleasantly warm down in the Glen

looking back along Aonach Eagach

Glencoe hills and Ben Nevis from Stob Gabhar

Bridge of Orchy hills

Feeling somewhat run-down after 2 big hill days and suffering from a

bout of food poisoning (I blame the fish and chips I ate in Dumbarton

on the way up) I had an early night at the hostel, and hoping to take

advantage of the splendid weather, I was hoping to squeeze a Munro in

on the way home.

Feeling better the next morning, I left the hostel and drove down to

Inveruglas. Parked there and set off along the Loch Sloy track, then taking

a left turn heading for the steep east flank of Ben Vane, with some easy

scrambling higher up.

A Crois from Inveruglas

Beinn Narnain, The Cobbler, Ben Ime

Ben Cruachan and Ben Lui

Ben Lomond

Ben Vane

Having got my hills in, I set off down the road, pulled in at a layby

on the A82 for a snooze, then drove all the way home. To sum it up,

it had been a very productful venture, something that had come about

very quickly and worked out very well (except for getting ill)

Golden Cairngorms Autumn

I had a week off at the end of September and was going to be aiming
for the southern Cairngorms, basing myself in Braemar but breaking
the journey on the way up at the Carronbridge hotel (Stirling was fully
booked, due to the fringe festival). Passed through Stirling and joined
the A9, turning off at Perth for the A93. Parked at the Dalmunzie Hotel
near the Spittal of Glenshee. I followed the path in to Glen Lochsie to
the ruins of Glenlochsie lodge, from there I headed up the broad track
that leads all the way to the summit of Glas Tulaichean. It was a sunny
day, warm and humid, and though clear, not great visibility higher up.
From the summit I descended north-east then north to the Allt Gleann Mor
heading eastwards, I picked up a path leading to Carn an Righ, my 2nd
Munro of the day.

Glen Lochsie

Glenlochsie lodge

Glas Tulaichean

looking east from Glas Tulaichean

Descending the same way from Carn an Righ, then heading towards

Loch nan Eun and following the Allt Easgaidh downwards into Gleann

Taitneach, which would take me back to Dalmunzie Hotel. Continued

over the Glenshee road to Braemar, where I would spend the night at

SYHA.

My efforts over the next two days would be on the Munros to the west
of the Linn of Dee, quite a way from the road, my approach would be on
cycle, carrying a tent and spending a night out to save a return journey.
Parked up in my little spot, and started to ride in towards White Bridge.
There were a few more guys biking in along this track, but they would
be cycling out again that day. Biked in up to the ruins of Geldie Lodge,
where I set up camp before heading off up the hill.
Made my way up to the north-east spur of An Sgarsoch. It was quite a
big loss of height to descend to the bealach, then start the ascent of the
other Munro, Carn an Fhidleir. Came down the north ridge then traversed
the ground below these hills back to my tent. There's a path marked on
the OS maps, but I never located it.

camp at Geldie Lodge

Monadh Mor and Beinn Bhrotain from Geldie Lodge

on An Sgarsoch

Carn an Fhidhleir from An Sgarsoch

An Sgarsoch from Carn an Fhidhleir

Slept well that night, and woke early next morning ready for the trudge up
the bulky slopes of Monadh Mor. Saw a beautiful sunrise, love the
colours at that time of the year. It was quite a nice walk high up, looking
over the plateau to the Cairngorms giants and looking down into the Glen
from Monadh Mor. Made my way over to Beinn Bhrotain, was in the mist
on the summit, but I'd had good views the rest of the way around so I
couldn't complain too much. Headed back to my tent, packed away and
cycled out. Returned to Braemar and the SYHA, happy that I'd got these
somewhat remote Munros in the bag.

sunrise from Geldie Lodge

Golden light on the hills

Monadh Mor & Beinn Bhrotain

ascending Monadh Mor

Cairngorms plateau from Monadh Mor summit ridge

Beinn Bhrotain

Glen Geusachan from Monadh Mor

Monadh Mor from Beinn Bhrotain

Had quite an easy day after my exertions on these hills, met up

with my friend Jac and we went up Creag nan Gabhar - a small

hill with good views of the bigger surrounding hills.

Glen Callater

looking towards the Cairngorms plateau over Morrone from Creag an Gabhar

Beinn a' Bhuiridh and Ben Avon from Creag nan Gabhar

on Creag nan Gabhar with Jac

Getting back to the Munros, the next day I drove down to Inverey and
cycled up Glen Ey to the ruins of Altanour Lodge. Being stalking season
there was some shooting activity in the area, but it didn't affect my
intended route. I had 2 Munros to go at, the first one was Carn Bhac.
From Carn Bhac, I traversed the high ground heading southwards to
then ascend the steeper northern flank of Beinn Iutharn Mhor. Was in mist
at the summit and as I began to descend following the rim of the Coire,
it started to clear up, so I nipped back up to the summit for a cloud-free
Munro! My descent path followed the north-east ridge, taking me down
to where I'd left my bike.It was an easy 8km or so ride down the Glen,
saving a long walk out.
I'd now done all of the Munros in the Braemar area, using a bike for the
more out of the way ones certainly helped.