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.

Geallaig

En route to aunt and uncle's 30th wedding anniversary in bash, I was desperate to take in a short hill to edge closer to my target of 50 Grahams before baba is born. The forecast wasn't great for late afternoon and the further north I drove, the more bleak it appeared. I chose Geallaig and parked opposite the wee cottage on the B976 (I think). From here, I really motored up the landrover track to the wee post and looked North - it wasn't the best of views but it was still great to get out nonetheless.

 

I contined onwards but unfortunately, it wasn't long before I was in the gloom and could see no further than 30 feet in front of me. Which wasn't a problem as the massive cairn, which encloses the trig point is impossible to miss. I was at the summit within 40 minutes and after a brief refreshment, was back at the car before 70 minutes were up, after a nice run back down. Good to break sweat and edge closer to the magic 50.

 

Lamachan hill and Curleywee

A chance to head South after a meeting on drinking water. Of which there is very little after this prolonged spell of good weather. My plan was to take in the 3 Donalds to the South of Loch Trool but I never got down there until 1340. Despite my best efforts of running along the tracks, it wasn't until 1440 before I started up on to White Hill, just N of Curleywee. And it was a tough slog through tussocky heather, which ended up lacerating my lower limbs. The sweat was pouring off me, while the afternoon was still with no breath of wind. I eventually climbed up on to solid ground, the frustrating and coruscating terrain behind me (until the descent later). I could see the Merrick to the north, imposing and to the east, Mullwharchar was in view. I carried on up to the airy summit cairn of Curleywee and stopped for some sustenance. I could see previous accomplishments in the form of Millfore - a cold day with Craig almost 18 months ago.

The drop down off Curleywee was quick and the ascent up on Bennanbrack was pretty nifty too - looking back to the 1st days' hill and it was a wee belter. From here and on up to Lamachan Hill, was so straightforward but the summit itself is devoid of anything of interest because it is so flat. The cairn was part of a wall which ran West and it was at this point, I had to consider whether I should add on Larg Hill. It would be a round trip of about 4km with some ascent but the time was now 1641 and I knew I had a hard descent ahead to get back to the land rover track. Simple enough down to the two lochains before Mulldonoch but from there down to the track was rough, tough and equally as hurtful as before. I eventually got back to the track and enjoyed the walk back to the car, which was an hour from the summit. A nice but painful day out, these hills require care and a guid pair of trousers I think.

Meall Buidhe blast

I hadn’t done anything since the Lairig Ghru race and with 10 days of rest, relaxation and over-eating, I was ready to get back into the hills. An opportunity arose to grab a quickie on the way back from Dundee and once again, I cast my eye over hills towards Balquihidder – anywhere which allows me to partake at Mhor84 always ranks high. I decided on the Graham just North of Lochearnhead. Meall Buidhe is a relatively easy sojourn, as the track starts at the high point of Glen Ogle. However, it was a hot day with temperatures of 24 degree Centigrade. I went light with only my running sac and even got into my shorts. Lotion in the basket added, hydration sorted and I propelled myself up the zig-zagged land rover track.

After 5 minutes, I felt uber-fit and started to run the flats and even the uphill gradients. Within 30 minutes, I was at the aerial and its white unit imploring ‘please paint me green’. From here, it was a romp across the heather and I was at the summit within 45 minutes of leaving the car. The views from this summit area are exquisite; South sees Ben Vorlich/Stuc a Chroin and Glen Ample; East, you can make out the other Graham, Creag Each, North are the Lawers hills and to the West, Stob Binnein and Ben More were still covered in snow on the Eastern corries. The only downpoint was the horde of flies, which were voraciously whizzing around my heid.

I decided to pop over and grab the Graham Top, which was an easy up and down, largely because the path was pretty good and I was running to escape said chitinous brutes. From here, I bombed off the summit and ran the rest of the way down to the car. I am incredibly fit at the moment and the opportunities to multiple-bag over the next few weeks will hopefully see me add to my Munro and Corbett tally before the hopeful arrival of foetus 1 on January 3^rd. I was back at the car in 1 hour 30.

Welcome to Ben Venue

A few weeks ago Graeme suggested a post-work blast up Ben Venue. Pleasingly, this would coincide with a spell of high pressure and as I headed only 40 minutes North of the house, I knew it would be a great wee trip out. We mused on the approach and opted for the Bealach nam Bo, a historic cattle-drovers route. While boggy at first, the quick ascent into the boulder-field afforded rapid height gain and we had some great views back down to Loch Katrine (Crypto-free apparently) and beyond to Ben Ledi.

Once on to the bealach, the views stretched to snow-clad Stob Binnein and the loch bending round towards last year's Beinn a Choin and Meall Mor. Good times. It took a fair walk up and over to the actual summit and we scared several wild goats en route. Finally, we reached the small summit cairn and could see Ben Lomond, not far off, with Glasgow in the distance. Once we had stopped, the chill set in so we headed for the trig point before seeking respite from the May winds. Settled into a wee hollow, we cracked open an Ossian and some dry roasted nuts. Man, one beer and half a bag of nuts never tasted so good, with views stretching over the Trossachs and beyond. It was really lovely to have a view and spend time catching up before we packed up and headed off down the other side.

Unfortunately, we descended on to a rotten aspect of this hill - the deforestation, which resembles something post-apocalyptic. It's an absolute eyesore and is one of the worst examples I have witnessed of environmental destruction. I am so glad we chose the route we did up this hill as I can't think anyone venturing up this way would look back fondly on this hill. I enjoyed the trip but the destruction left a sour note.