Images

Trip

Glen Coe; Aonach Dubh 'Big Top' (E1) and Aonach Eagach x 2 A great sunny weekend in Glencoe, Scotland. On Saturday we climbed 'Big Top' on the Aonach Dubh buttress of Bidean Nam Bian - a 450ft (4 pitches) steep, exposed climb with the hard part right at the very top. Martina lead the crux-pitch. Gavin and John S. were on the same route behind us and some of the pictures below are of them and another party on the "Big Top". On Sunday we did the classic Aonach Eagach ridge scramble- when we got to the end we were enjoying it so much, we turned around and did it again!

Glen Etive; Beinn nan Lus and Meall Garbh A fairly long day climbing two remote Grahams east of Loch Etive. I cycled in on a rough track from Bridge of Awe down the east side of Loch Etive with some glorious views down the loch. Turned east to ascend Glen Kinglass gradually on the bike before stopping about 10km up the glen and ascending the Grahams individually. Fine, if a bit hazy, views all round in good sunny weather. Long may it continue!

 Meall Ghaordaidh, Stob a'Choire Odhair Munros

Some short walks and climbing trips over the last couple of weeks. Spring has arrived and summer sunshine feels as if its on the way!

Sgiath Chuil (Munro) near Crainlarich Back to Scottish hills and in fine weather a wee half day trip up this hill with nice views back to the bigger Ben More and Stob Binnein.

Spain -Costa Blanca A week based in a villa near La Nucia in the Costa Blanca. The weather was warm and sunny all week- a perfect break from the wet Scottish spring! The group sharing the villa comprised Jon and Jaqi, Gavin and Edi, and Martina and I. Armed with the new RockFax climbing guidebook to the area our aim was to fit in some long mountaineering rock climbs and some walking as well as the some of the many bolted sport routes on the limestone rock. We managed this and climbed on the Penon rock beside the resort of Calpe, the Puig Compagno mountain, sea cliff routes at Moriara and one at Toix called Magical Mystery Tour, local crag Echo Valley and a very enjoyable scramble on a rock crest at Bernia. All in all a great week!

We have photos collected here.

Far north Scotland Backpack Whilst Martina went to help at the Rhanich farm in Northern Scotland for her 13th lambing, I went out backpacking and day walking in the far north. I traversed a cluster of three 2,000 ft hills north of Ben Wyvis camping wild and made some day trips in Strath Connan and Glen Affric. After meeting up with Gavin at Achnasheen we ventured into camp in driving rain and hail south of Achnashellach. Next day we walked over three Munros (Maoile Lunndhaidh group) in wild, windy and glorious wintry conditions before settling down to camp west of Loch Monar. Our next day we climbed the remote Munros of Lurg Mhor and Bidean a Choire Sheasgaich in fairly vile horizontal hail conditions. Our return to the tent and walk out must rank as one of the wettest ever(!) in extreme sogginess. A grand trip though!

Dundonell North West Scotland Orion Mountaineering Club Easter meet on the north west coast at the Smiddy Hut near Dundonell. Quite good, bright windy weather for the 3 days we were up there and we managed some rock climbing at Reiff, walking near Ben Mor Coigach and in Torridon and also some beach exploring. The Smiddy hut is an excellent small cottage in a great location at the foot of the hill An Teallach and is a good base for all sorts of outdoors activities.

SC Gully Stob Coire an Lochan After a sunny, cold weekend where I went for a walk up Beinn na Gucaig, a hill north of Glencoe I decided to try some winter climbing with Craig. We drove up to Glencoe with snow falling and lying down to the road. Luckily the weather cleared as we reached the crags of Stob Coire an Lochan and we could at least see the crag. SC Gully was plastered with deep fresh snow and made the approach feel more like wading than climbing. The ice was a bit thin underneath once the snow had been brushed off but it was a fun route which we enjoyed in unusually still, quiet conditions.

Queensberry hill near Moffat Brian's day walk recovering from a cold. Strong winds but clear air on this stand-alone rounded hill in the south of Scotland. Visited a good bothy called Burleywhag. Also included a photo of us climbing indoors at Ratho climbing wall near Edinburgh with Gavin.

Cairngorms Ski Touring A day ski touring on telemark skis. We used our ski skins to climb up beside the Cairngorm downhill ski area to Fiscal Coire Cas. The Cairngorms have a huge amount of snow- as much as I have ever seen up here as it hasn't been blown off the plateau yet. After a rest here at about cloud level we set off round the northern corries of the Cairngorms over the undulating terrain. We had views all round at times and there was a great atmosphere to the day. The descent down Lurchers gully was excellent with good deep snow covering the rocks. Brian took a few falls on his telemark skis and lost one ski out of sight down the gully. Martina eventually managed to fish it out stuck in a crevice by the stream.

GlenShee Skiing We enjoyed a lovely sunny day on the ski slopes at Glenshee, Scotland. The ski resort was enjoying ski-able conditions and there were certainly large crowds there to experience it. Snow cover was a bit thin but there was still plenty of skiing. Martina hired downhill gear and Brian skied with his telemark gear.

Ben Challum, Crainlarich The snow is still lying and the hills are white! I walked up this Munro past the West Highland Way (long distance path) and local forest walks onto the long undulating foot slopes. Passed the curious - and a bit disgusting - sight of a severed deer head complete with antlers. Mmmm deer hunting/stalking has never had much respect in my opinion and this reinforced this view. There was fresh wind blown powder snow lying but not much older snow. Wind speeds increased on the final summit ridge and it just about reached that stage of blowing me over. Thankfully the summit was calmer and provided excellent panoramic views around and up north to Glencoe.

Meall a' Bhuiride, Clach Leathad, Blackmount Martina, Gavin and Brian on a lovely winter's jaunt with more snow than yesterday and great views. The Scottish highlands at their best today. We walked up from the Rannoch Moor, past the West Highland Way long distance path then up onto Meall a' Bhuiride with extensive views. This hill is the summit for the Glencoe ski area which looked to have lots of snow today- if a bit icy! We carried on for a horseshoe circuit over the top of Clach Leathad and great views down to the lochans on Rannoch Moor. Our descent was quick as we found a steep snow slope to deposit us beneath the east ridge of the hill.

<---- I liked this sign- seen on the approach walk !

Ben Vane, Loch Lomond A quick mountain trip up above the snow line onto this popular munro with good views of the neighbouring Arrochar Alps and Loch Lomond. Snow level was high at about 2,500ft but I had my crampons and ice axe out above that as the snow was quite hard. Great views all round.

Islay and An Cladach Bothy The aim of this trip was to walk into a bothy called An Cladach on the coast of the island of Islay off western Scotland with Gavin and Edi.

Our weekend started with a fine 2 hour ferry trip over from mainland Scotland to Port Ellen in Islay. It was 9pm, dark and wet by the time we landed and Gavin and Edi decided to stay in Port Charlotte with Edi's sister Alice. As Martina and I were determined to walk in to An Cladach bothy that night we were driven to the nearest road point and -somewhat reluctantly- stumbled out into the wilds. On the map it is only about 5km into the bothy but the going is tough with squelchy boggy ground and visibility of about 5 meters with our head torches through the rain. Two hours later we made it to the sea and now the search was on for the bothy, some shelter and the possibility of a fire to dry us off. Our first search down the coast didn't prove successful and I made matters worse by falling into a river. Strangely enough I didn't feel any wetter! We reversed our route and decided if we didn't discover the bothy this time we would walk all the way back to the road. Luckily enough Martina found it right by the sea and we staggered in to the dry haven.

The bothy itself has 5 wooden bunks, a fireplace, a cooking area and a most excellent view across the sea to the island of Jura. It oozes character with buoys hanging from the walls, lobster pots outside and has obviously been renovated with loving care by the Mountain Bothy Association.

We had a long sleep in and awoke to the sound of waves crashing on the beach outside. Gavin and Edi arrived soon and we had another raging fire on the go with the help of Gavin's fire starter skills! That day, Gavin and I went over the hills to the south whilst Martina and Edi wandered down the coast to MacArthurs point and lighthouse. A gale force wind from the north added excitement to the day.

Our walk out was into the teeth of the gale and it was interesting for Martina and I to see the terrain in daylight! Three otters were spotted just offshore- my first otters spotted in Scotland. We heard news that the ferries were cancelled for the day so we had an extra day on Islay! Gavin and I leaned into the wind and visited the beach of Lossit Bay which had real atmosphere with waves crashing against the shore. Martina and I spent the night at the Port Charlotte Hotel for a bit of luxury and it rounded off a great (long) weekend.