Cruinn a Bheinn

At only 35 minutes from the house, I have long put off the idea of taking in Cruinn a Bheinn and combining the West Highland Way. However, as part of Highland Fling training, I could see a route of a few miles which would take in the Graham. My plan was to go light and head from Rowardennan up on to the Ptarmigan ridge and rather than the final push up on to Ben Lomond, deviate to the North. From the bealach, I would head up and over the Graham, before making for the land rover track and down towards Cailness. From here, it was only a 5-mile run back along the WHW. So, on a fine and cold morning, I left the car and starting running to the wee path a kilometre from the car. I couldn't remember the statue on the edge of Loch Lomond but it was very pretty.

What wasn't pretty was the hard going up the Ptarmigan ridge for a couple of kilometres. Pretty much 650m straight up. Although I pushed hard, it was 45 minutes until I reached the bealach between Ptarmigan and Ben Lomond. The glorious sunrise over Glasgow was immense but my iPhone didn't capture it very well. Loch Lomond stretched away in the distance with its islands on a beautifully serene morning. It was very cold up on the bealach and I didn't hang around. I headed down the ridge, taking care not to lose my footing over thick, grassy tussocks. I was surprised by how much descent there was down to Cruinn a Bheinn. Somewhat disheartened, I began the walk back up on the Graham and I struggled a bit up this, with the relatively quick pace catching up with me. Within 1 hour 30, I was on the Graham summit. It has to be said, the view is splendid with the Arrochar Alps in full view and an impressive Ben Lomond N face coming into sight. This would be a nice spot for a wild camp.

For me though, I had a quick bite and it was off over the bogs to make for the land rover track. This was the least favourite part of my trip out and once on the track proper, it felt a relief to change out of soaking socks. I changed my sock, took off my trousers and began the run back to the car. I dropped down quickly on the zig-zags to Cailness, before heading back to the car on the WHW. In 5 months, I'll be running the other way so it was a good chance to recce the terrain. I was a little surprised by the up and down nature of the 5 mile stretch and once again, this highlights to me not to go out too fast along the relatively fast and flat part between Milngavie and Balmaha. I ran past Rowchoish bothy and enjoyed the peace of the woodland in Winter. I only saw 4 people in that 5 mile run and doing the WHW in Winter must be the way to go for peace and solitude. I was back at the car 3.5 hours after setting off with stats of a 21km trip and 1079m ascent.

Andrewhinney Hill

The Winter bothy trip this year saw Over Phawhope bothy being elected. Initial head count was 4 but flu and family commitments did for Craig and Darren, respectively. Thus, Graeme and I hatched a scheme to take in the ridge from Bodesbeck Law to Herman Law, which included this Graham. The M74 was out of service so the drive down took me through Peebles, Innerleithen and then South through the windy roads. I met Graeme as agreed at 1000 and we dropped one of the cars off at the road end, before ascending up on to Bught Hill. I hadn't seen Graeme for some time so we had plenty to catch up on as per usual. In fact, before long we were up on to Bodesbeck Law and we hadn't even got to more serious matters such as Dunfermline FC's form. The sun threatened to cut through the clouds but it would be a full hour before that would happen.

We continued onwards and followed the fence more or less to the end of our route. The best part of the walk for me was the part between Bell Craig and Andrewhinney Hill, where the views opened up to White Coomb, Loch Skene and the Grey Mare's Tail. The Winter scene was truly splendid. That area truly is wonderful and I must get back there again.

We continued on towards the Graham and unfortunately strayed in Scotland's football faux-pas. Pink shirts and shite form meant more of the same dross results under wee Gordy, a likeable but ultimately out of favour manager. When will he get the push?

After Andrewhinney Hill, we began the march over to the 4th Donald of the day, meeting a chap who bade hello but moved on quick. We eyed three hills in the distance - were they the Eildons? One to confirm.

The summit of Trowgrain was impressive, more so than the last hill and within 4.5 hours, we had dropped down and over Cossar's Hill in a snow flurry.

The short drive back to the car saw us exchange day sacks for the heavy sack and us both carrying extra wid into the bothy whereupon we met a work party of 5. Davie, Bryan, Kenny, Beth and Kevin were welcoming and plied us with sloe gin liqueur, the best toasties ever and good banter. At one point, Kenny started talking about the 'little people' and it was at this time, sentence structure disintegrated. I retired at 2300 and had an excellent sleep albeit the head was a little sore the next morning. I intend to come back to this bothy for Ettrick Pen as my last Donald. Cheers G!

Craignaw & Mullwharchar - into the wild

A chance to head to Glentrool and into the wilds of the Southern Highlands. I had been down here previously to bag the Merrick, as well as some of the other Donalds and Grahams including Lamachan Hill and Curlywee. So, it was an area I returned to with some fondness. I had originally planned to do this trip and break it up my wild camping. I wasn't sure where I would camp and would just see how things went. As it was, I got away from work at noon and was ready to start my walk at 1355. Could I get round the 3 Donalds (including Dungeon Hill) and back by nightfall? 

I took the path to the sign for the cut-off just after the gate and came across an unusually felled tree - lightning strike perchance. From here, it was a nice path across the bottom of Buchan Hill, which finally turned the corner and up into the coire. The river was flowing fast and I began to worry about the crossing at Loch Neldricken. At times, the path was very boggy but it quickly took me up to the plateau and the crossing became apparent. Large stepping stones required care but I was across without event. From here, the walk around the loch and below the crags of Craignaw was very pleasant and the sun emerged. Views back to the Merrick were lovely and the loch lapped at the water's edge - you'd be hard pushed to find a better beach!

The hard work began up the gully and I was keen to find the memorial to the two pilots who died in 1979. About 200m SW of the summit, I came across the cairn/memorial, with some plane wreckage. It would have been a beautiful spot had it not been for the events that happened here many years ago. I continued on to the summit of Craignaw and the view across to Dungeon Hill was stunning. My next objective, I made the awkward descent off Craignaw and over to the Deil's putting green. The afternoon was disappearing and once up on to Dungeon Hill, the sun had disappeared too. I made my way down to the bealach between this hill and Mullwharchar. It was 1730 and I was feeling a bit tired - I hadn't had proper food since a kitkat at 1500, and lunch had been at 1100. I decided to boil some water and have some coffee and porridge. Having had my breakfast, I made the decision that I would bag Mullwharchar and make for home. 

The weather deteriorated once at the summit but fantastic views to Loch Doon and back down Loch Enoch perked me up. Caffeinated too more likely. I began the long tramp back to the car but it wasn't long before I was on the Rig of Enoch and the good path back down. I reached the car at 2015, without need for the head torch. It had been a beautiful trip into a very wild place. The terrain was incredibly rough with good paths at a premium. But, I think this is what made it so special.

Corra Bheinn

What developed from being a day with low cloud turned into one of those rare and memorable experiences on the hill. A family holiday to Mull meant that I had earned a wee trip up one of the Grahams still on my outstanding list - of which there are many. Emma and baby would drive round to Bunessan for buns, drop me off in Glen More and then come back and pick me up after cake consumption. This gave me a window of approximately 2 hours so it was shorts and fell shoes once out of the car. At 6C, I left my jeans behind the old bridge so that if i was down before my wife arrived, I wouldn't get cold.

I took off up the decent path which runs to the Loch (Scriodain, I think) and then made for the obvious SW shoulder. At about 200m, I disappeared into the clag. Given the time constraints, it was head down and go for it, while avoiding some of the crags. At about 500m, I could hear what sounded like motocross and eventually located the source as being a large pool of frogs writhing around in ecstasy. Did they know what was about to happen? At about 550m, I could feel the sun burning through and as I climbed, I looked West hopeful of a cloud inversion and views. I was not wrong and was delighted at the views to Ben More. Getting to the summit trig point and the vista was quite incredible, with Skye on the horizon but the Ben More-A Chioch ridge the star of the show. It was roasting and I enjoyed the sun for 10 minutes before receiving a text that the buns were dry and she was heading to collect me. I was loathe to leave but hastened down the hill and back to the waiting wife within 1 hour 45 minutes. An absolute belter of a hill especially in those conditions.

Doune Hill & Cruach an-t-Sidhein

Another truly stunning day on these two Grahams. Hard work going in from Invergroin and back but worth it all the same. I think Cruach an-t Sidhein is very under-rated with fantastic views. The view back over to Beinn Eich, Loch Lomond and the crags in the foreground made for a majestic scene. Views to Mull and Arran were breath-taking. I had anticipated being out for just under 4 hours but by the time I completed the round, it had taken almost a full five hours. I'm not sure what the ascent would be in total but certainly over 1000m and I felt it. I was almost over-dressed for the occasion and there was heat in that sun. A great way to round off the Luss Grahams.

Beinn Eich

A truly stunning day. I cheekily drove up to the bridge just before Edentaggart and managed to get a space. This meant a quick ascent up on to Beinn Eich and as I climbed higher, the views were incredible. Initial views back to Loch Lomond were pretty but the main event was the fantastic vista from the top of Ben Lomond, Ben Lawers range, Stob Binnein and Ben More, the Cobbler and Ben Ime, which dominated proceedings. Ailsa Craig was also visible. The wind from the East was petrifying and I was glad of my balaclava and three layers. How I would have loved to go on and nab the remaining two Grahams here but I had promised Mrs P I would be back before noon. And so I was, after a tremendous day on the hill.

Beinn Bhalgairean & Meall nan Gabhar

These two had been mooted by Graeme the previous week and there looked to be a wee weather window in between various storms raging across Scotland (Gertrude I believe). We approached from Succoth and parked a couple of km off the main road, which we were thankful for later. It was a bit of an eyesore with various deforestation in view for several km. However, once up to 350m, our main hill came into view - there were some impressive crags on Meall nan Gabhar but we kept that for last. We cut up into the forestry in search of a way through and found a small cairn with path ascending. Once over the deer fence, it was a kilometre trek across relatively uninteresting terrain and now in the clag, we just continued onwards until a nice, final rise and steep wade on to the summit. The cairn was near the wee drop, which on a fine day would have been a beautiful perch. As it was, at 636m, it was cold enough to drop down and then take lunch in the lee of the hill. Peshwari nan and coffee - an unusual breakfast but lovely nonetheless. W

We returned to the land rover track relatively quickly before the unpleasant hike up via another deer fence to the Allt. From here, it was a long and unrelenting hike up on to Meall nan Gabhar for my 55th (and Graeme's 50th) Graham. We flirted with descent off the NE face but it was too steep for me and I didn't entertain it for long. Our return so us descend between some great crags, while laughing at barreling snowballs heading down the hill. The walk was a sore one towards the end as we had been out 6.5 hours and ascended over 1000m in deepish snow. We sank a half pint back at Tyndrum and it was good to catch up with Graeme, while planning future trips.

Fiarach - the dog's kahunas

Graeme D had referred to this hill as the dog's bollocks. Therefore, I decided to take Winnie to see if she agreed with me. Given that the forecast was for rain, snow and wind, I didn't think Winnie would be that keen and by the time I had got her wee jacket on her, she looked less than impressed. The walk up and over this fine wee hill had highlights including lochain Fiarach and a beautifully perched summit, of which there were few stones on the cairn. I could only speculate what the views over to the Crialarich hills would be like. Winnie was just delighted to be returning to the car, while I was glad to kick off my new year with another Graham.