Cat Law

Having driven up to Stonehaven the day before to get my tattoo of Winnie courtesy of Ela at Fehu Ink (what a legend she is), I spent the night in Kirriemuir at the hotel. I had a reasonable sleep given the discomfort, and after a good breakfast, I drove down to Balintore castle. A stunning building over 160 years old. It’s being renovated and really will be something once restored.

I walked back along the road to Auldallan farm then began the walk up through the field and on to the path that would take me up to Cat Law. A very pleasant meander with views below 450m across to the North Sea. However, at the summit, it was still clagged in. It was very peaceful and temperate. I didn’t hang about and was down at the car in a little over 2 hours; steady pace for a 6-mile walk with approx 400m ascent. Lovely part of the world.

Hill Of Wirren

Has it really been 18 months since I’ve been on a Graham, now re-named Fiona’s? With 2024 my Munro compleation year, all focus had been on those. Now, I can relax and just take hills en route to family and friends. Thus, Hill of Wirren was the Graham most local to my folks. I parked at Millden and more or less followed the track to the top. A cold day with decent visibility to the sea, Clachnaben and Mount Beattock. I ran back down and completed the trip in a little over 2 hours. Fine outing.

Duchray Hill

Not quite how I'd planned spending my birthday weekend and strangely, almost 2 years to the day that I'd been up this way for Mount Blair. Mum had been in hospital a week or so since her emergency operation for her strangulated hernia. I was due to pick her up from the hospital so I set off early, and arrived at the parking area for this hill. The trees had been felled since I was last up so I decided to head in via the estate track, then up on to the hill proper. I enjoyed the walk/run but the weather never improved and it was an exercise in clag and map-reading. I hit the summit and returned the way I came, getting back to the car within the 1.5 hour mark. Not a classic but perhaps my mind was not receptive. Nonetheless, I felt much better for having done it and felt far more relaxed heading to Aberdeen to pick up mum.

Epic failures and successes on Stob na Cruaiche

Happy New Year - on 2nd January, I attempted a rather ambitious trip up this hill in fairly difficult conditions underfoot. I had long planned to bike into the bottom of this hill, skirting Black Corries Lodge and I wasn't to be disappointed in this regards. The views were incredible and this hill in Winter is a must. But a good level of fitness is definitely needed - only 3 weeks after Covid, I probably gave myself too much to do. 

I parked at the wee turn-off just opposite Glen Etive, keeping the car into the side for folks to pass if need be. I was away by 0915 and had a couple of close calls with ice on the road. There were a few folks taking photos of the Buachaille, which looked amazing and i would take my own photo later on the return. As it was, I stopped often to take in the beautiful scenery. 

I cycled on to the Black Corries Lodge and then had to come off the bike to bypass over deep snow, around the Lodge - this hadn't had any vehicular transport on it so was slow-going until back on the Land Rover track. From here, it was a joyous cycle up on to Meall a Phuill, where i left the bike just short of the summit. I estimated from here, it was about a 4.5-km yomp up over Stob Nan Losgann, then on to my ultimate objective of the day. What I hadn't bargained on was the very soft snow and while I had hoped for some more frozen snow underfoot, this just didn't happen. I began to tire not far off SNL summit, and realised it had taken me an hour to walk 3km. I was due back home by 1500 to meet friends and if I had continued on to Stob Na Cruaiche, I would have been deeply unpopular. This was frustrating as I could see the summit, about 1.5km in the distance but given the terrain underfoot was still deep snow, I decided to head back. Can always come at it from Rannoch in more welcoming conditions. I took another photo of the views - just stunning.

I returned down the hill and back up to Meall a Phuill to collect the bike. All that remained was to enjoy the descent back to the head of Glen Etive and take in the wonderful majesty that is the Buachaille.

Birthday boy on Mount Blair

A trip North to see the folks and get the car MOT'd; while also getting my birthday presents from my folks meant that I was heading via Glenshee for a small present to myself - my 80th Graham. As I had to be up at Kintore for 1430, I was looking for a short up and down - at just under 5K for the return trip, this would do the job. And what a cracking wee run I had up it too. Had some great views across to the larger Cairngorms where snow could be seen on the tops. I was up and down in 40 minutes. Fabulous wee pad and a fine way to celebrate any birthday.

 

Sgurr Mhic Eacharna & Beinn Bheag

The high pressure that was present over Scotland end of August meant that a wild camp over a West coast hill (or three) was in the offing. It had been a mad couple of weeks at work since our return from our week in Cromarty and I was badly in need of some contemplation time. I was heading North towards Fort Bill and had a few options planned but decided to take the short Corran ferry hop over to Ardgour for the evening. Literally 5 minutes and we were across, where I followed the small convoy round towards Garbh Bheinn. Truth be told, I hadn't fully explored the books for this route but had an idea of taking in the Graham and the Corbett with a summit camp somewhere looking West. It was just after 1700 so I had a few hours light but I didn't hang about, especially as the midges were looking for their last feed before the first frosts. I started off on the path but decided to head up the slopes of Sgurr Mhic Eacharna and evade the insects. The bothered me until about 400m, when a beautiful wind popped up. A good 40 minutes of hard walking so me begin the high level walk over to my first objective - I hadn't actually realised Mhic Eacharna was also a Graham - what a bonus!

By now, the wind was freshening but I was really enjoying the walk and the views to Being Bheag and now into the Coire of Garbh Bheinn were gorgeous.

I descended fairly steeply off Mhic Eacharna and noted a couple with a tent perched over towards the Coire - they looked settled and dinner was cooking. The fast disappearing sun was just heading down behind silhouetted Garbh Bheinn and I began the steep plod up Being Bheag - little hill, my arse. 

However, I got into a good rhythm and before long, I topped out on Bheag, my 79th Graham. The sunset was really developing now, with the lochain below Garbh Bheinn catching the last light.

 

All that remained for the evening was to set up camp and find a place where I might get reception and send a message home that all was well. About 300m further on from the summit of Being Bheag and I found a relatively flat area at about 700m elevation. With the sky being clear, it was going to be cold and I would pay for not having taken my thick sleeping bag. I set up camp, had a couple of beers and sent a message home before watching a fantastic sunset. Eigg and Rhum were visible as were the other glinting lochains over Ardgour; Beinn Resipole was also poking up - my solitary Corbett in this area but tomorrow would change that. It was a cold night but the views more than made up for it.

Meall Fuar-Mhonnaidh

February Exam Board at UHI - my first as Programme Lead for the MSc in IPC. Went well (I think) and I promised that I'd get a hill done en route back to home. I had booked an AirBnB in Drumnadrochit and the lady I stayed with was very pleasant. I was away early at 0600 and round to the car park before this Graham, coming at it from the well-used approach near Bunloit. I set off with head torch on and it wasn't long before I realised how boggy this hill is. To be fair, there had been an absolute splurge of rain for weeks so Scotland was practically molten. However, once I got up high enough to see some lovely shades of pink across Loch Ness, the ground had begun to firm up with some snow and ice higher up. This was an enjoyable wee hill and although I never got any summit views, the view back along the Loch with the sunrise more than made up for that. I was back at the car by 0930 and home by 1230, collecting bonus points for also collecting wee Martha from school. Graham number 77 and another one in the set.