Beinn Donachain

This was originally meant to be the first Corbett of the year with Graeme but the cold blast of air from the Arctic meant that the A9 was impassable for Graeme. I would be on my own. As I had just passed Crianlarich, I quickly calculated what I hadn’t done in and around Tyndrum. Beinn Donachain from Glen Orchy would be the target.

I drove towards Dalmally then up Glen Orchy to the Eas car park. A couple of campers were there and had probably had a very cold night. I pushed off at 0755, hoping for a sunrise over the hills to the South. This bore fruit. It was a very pleasant walk up the through Caledonian forest, and a great place to return in summer for a camp with Martha possibly. The climb up to the edge of the forest was a delight and now Beinn Laoigh came into view, with the sun rising. 

The final part of the climb saw me emerge above the Heart loch, with a calming walk round and over to the summit proper. From here, the views to Cruachan and beyond were fabulous. I sat and took it all in, really at one with the hills. The descent was lovely and I arrived back at the car by noon. A super wee hill.

Badandun Hill

On the 19th Dec, I headed North to the folks for my cousin’s 40th up in Macduff. I checked to see what hadn’t been done and spied Badandun Hill, in Glen Isla. The rain was tipping it down, it had been pretty miserable but I decided to wait it out for 15 mins and then go for it. This was a fairly straightforward yomp up the hill and while I got the occasional view North to the larger Cairngorm hills, it was claggy. Within the hour, I was at the summit just as the snow started. I did not hang about. I had my trail shoes on and just ran back down the hill, at the car 90 minutes after I set off. While the hill wasn’t particularly interesting, I liked the area for its solitude. Must return in summer.

Beinn Lochain

Graeme had long been planning the Corbett Beinn Bheula, while I had spied Beinn Lochain across the Glen. As it was, we made a plan to combine both if Sadie was up for it. At 14 months, I have had to be patient with her so we don’t adversely affect her joints. She’d been out with me in the week to Brattleburn bothy and seemed well-equipped to try a larger hill. 

We met up at Lettermay near Lochgoilhead at 0830 on a glorious Sunday morning. Conditions were excellent and we settled into the week’s events of which there were many. Parent’s health, marital status, and bothy canine fears. Heady stuff. But for all the strife in life, the hills soothe. And today was a day of healing. 

The walk up to the loch was very pleasant and we stopped to take some fuel on board before the steep climb up to the Graham. It was unrelenting but the views rewarded us. As we levelled off, a notable cold wind made us don layers. Autumn is here and Winter is not far away. One of my favourite times of year. The dogs seemed happy and we eventually found the 3-stone cairn. A signal that this hill is not well-frequented though it should be. We descended rapidly back to the loch and I decided Sadie had done enough, while Graham and Luna continued on for the Corbett. An uncomplicated trek back to the car and a fabulous wee day out with good company. 

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.