From Infiniti to beyond...well Mona Gowan anyway

Having secured a 48-hour test drive in an Infiniti QX70 SUV, I headed North with Winter seemingly on the Aberdeenshire horizon. I didn't arrive at my intended destination, due West of Scraulac, until 1300 so I did not hang about and headed straight up the Western slopes of this outlier. The weather was closing in and once on to the level slopes of Scraulac, I was being assailed by snow and hail. Rather than head North into the inclement weather, I dropped down and circumvented the head of the coire, taking an Easterly approach to the bealach between Mona Gowan and the Carn. I could see the massive cairn on the top of Mona Gowan and once on to the bealach, the wind blasted me. I didn't hang about and sped up the final slopes to the large cairn. Here, I took refreshement but now that it was 1435, I headed back the way I came. I scared off numerous grouse and Winter hares, before eventually descending to the car at 1545. The road had changed so quickly and I took my time driving over the hill and down into Strathdon, before heading to see my granda. A short but excellent pad across some relatively wild land.

Carn na h-Easgainn

A tiddler just South of Inverness and one that I had spied en route or coming back from business. Being quite fit after my Munro outing a couple of weeks ago, I donned the shorts and took off up the track and past Lynemore, an idyllic wee setting. The land rover track is a bit of an eyesore but takes you steadily up to within several metres of the summit trig point. Here, the views North-West to the Fannaichs, North to Inverness and South to the larger Cairngorms are a reward for such a short trek. I deviated North for 200m to find the cabin, which was unlocked. A huge amount of wood, a stove and some fairly luxurious seating would see this being an ideal place over a Winter's night. There was even a cludgie. I ran back the whole way to the car and done in about 75 minutes. An easy Graham with some excellent views.

Cnoc Coinnich - the return

In January, sleep-deprived and a father after 2 weeks, I was given permission to head and do a hill. I chose this one in very Wintry conditions. Snow, ice and hail. It was a hill, where I almost succumbed to serious injury if not a fatal outcome. Luckily, a slip over a crag ended only battered pride, buttock and face but it really made me think about my role in the new family and how I'd be much better alive than dead. So I swore to my wife I couldn't go back out until the Spring.

I took the opportunity to re-acquaint myself with said hill in much more benign conditions. It couldn't have been a more different day. Up and down in 2.5 hours. The wind was howling once up on to the broad ridge and the views over to the Lochgoilhead Grahams and Beinn Bheula were stunning. As was the view from the precariously situated cairn down Loch Long. Distant hills over towards the Cowal peninsula also looked impressive, even at this range. I took some refreshment in the lee of a small cleft, just below the summit and returned to the car in quick time. Great to be back out again.