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.

Hunt Hill

After leaving mum and dad's, I drove South - initial thoughts were for Mount Battock but I decided I'd head down to Loch Lee and take in the Graham, Hunt Hill. The walk along the loch was wonderful and there was a very pretty graveyard, just 1 km from the start.

The wind across the loch was quite cold for September; I began to run/walk and after an hour, the imposing crags of Craig Maskeldie came into view. The sun emerged and it felt good to be out and in the glens. What little rain was falling soon dispersed with the appearance of a rainbow. Fit bonnie.

I decided to head up the shoulder of Hunt Hill, through the heather. It was a bit of tough yomp but I soon reached the bogs. Aaaagh! The view back to Craig Maskeldie made up for it though, with the Falls of Uinich cascading down the coire in the distance. 

I had about a 1km walk to the summit and eventually approached the small cairn, with very nice views to Mount Keen and Lochnagar. This was a beautifully wild place and heading back to the lip of the hill, the view back to Loch Lee and Maskeldie was stunning. An awkward descent back into the coire, finally saw me attain the path and a lovely walk/run back to the car. An 18-km day in 4 hours. Graham no. 76. One of the best it has to be said.

Meall Mor - Glen Glass

As the new Programme Lead for the MSc in IPC, I was making my way North for student induction. It had been several months since I'd been on a hill and that Cnoc Fyrish with my wee one and wife. Thus, it was I found myself heading past the Black Isle towards Evanton, where the weather was better. I had decided on this Graham, which would be a decent afternoon out and hopefully afford some fine views. I was satisfied on both accounts. I got the lodge gates for just after 1300 and decided on waterproofs from the off, as it was light rain. It was mild enough so just took the small pack so I could run the flats. The first couple of kilometres were nothing to shout home about, through dead forestry but once I could see Loch Glass, it really opened up. Across the loch I could see a large house painted pink!

The ascent of the hill started up an old Land Rover/bulldozer track that wend its way through forestry and as such, it was difficult to perceive the incline. Eventually, I topped out above the trees at about 500m. From here, it was a bit of a heather/bog hop past the wind turbines and on to the shoulder of the Graham proper. The view back to the turbines and the sea was lovely.

After a couple of hours, I eventually made it up to the summit trig point and the vast expanse of Northern Scotland stretched away. I sat and sent messages to Emma to say I was ok and heading down.

I decided to head straight off the summit to the loch and although steep, I was down to the old path in good time. I dipped the feet into the loch for an invigorating soak, then started the walk back out to the car. However, this part of the path was quite overgrown and obviously not used much as I soon discovered an adder sunning itself on a rock. It soon slithered away at rapid pace and I believe that was possibly the first time I have every seen one, with its black and brown zigzag markings. I felt further energised by that chance encounter and enjoyed the run/walk back through the forest and to the car. My 75th Graham in approximately 4 hours.