FLIES, FLOWERS & FRAZZLED

IT WAS ANOTHER SCORCHER IN THE HIGHLANDS AGAIN. THOSE OTHER PESKY BEASTIES, THE CLEGGS WERE OUT IN FORCE TODAY AS I MADE MY WAY UP MULLACH NAN COIREAN IN THE MAMORES. AT LEAST THEY KEEP YOU GOING FAST UP HILL. A LOT OF FLIES AROUND TOO TO ANNOY YOU EVEN MORE. FLOWERS ARE SUPERB AT THE MOMENT WITH GREATER BUTTERFLY ORCHID, HEATH SPOTTED ORCHID, FRAGRANT ORCHID, YELLOW SAXIFRAGE AMONGST MANY OTHERS. QUITE A FEW DRAGON FLIES OUT ENJOYING THE WEATHER TOO. LOOKS LIKE THUNDERY SHOWERS CREEPING UP HERE TOMORROW

CMD ARETE

It was another very hot day in The Highlands. Sue & I were up on the Carn Mor Dearg Arete of Ben Nevis.. After a clear skies morning the cloud, unfortunately, came in and so w lost the views of the north face. Still good fun though.

BUSY BEN

The Ben was very busy today with constant streams of folk up and down the pony track. Angie, Anne, Pete, Dennis, David & I toiled up through the heat but there was a moderate Easterly so kept it cooler than of late. It was a bit chilly on the summit in cloud but it did break up late afternoon and another glorious sunny end to the day.

SCORCHER

It has been a stunning, hot day here in The Highlands. I nipped up Cruach Ardrain whilst on my way back down from the North. Great hill to do straight from the train station at Crianlarich and only half day walk. The skies were totally clear after early morning cloud which was very atmospheric. The air clarity was superb. On the way up the corrie I spotted this beautiful Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii). They are the largest of the dragonflies in Scotland and only have a lifespan of a few weeks. There seems to be lots of flies around too on lower slopes in this hot, windless spell we are enjoying. Didn't see a sole on the hill today.

BEN NEVIS

I had a group of six on The Ben today. The forecast was for sunshine but it stayed rather cloudy for most of the day. It did lift late pm to about 900m. Cold on top, not much snow left now. Footpath work as now progressed to the bends on the zig-zags. Hard work in the colder days.

Latest pictures from Skye are below. We had a great spell of weather on Skye. Looks like a warmer spell next week.

THE COBBLER

Back down South today and the great wee hill of The Cobbler near Arrochar. Andrew and I set out in the rain, cloud and wind. We had a late start and by the time we neared the summit the clouds lifted and we had sunshine! Timed perfectly. Andrew from Australia had a taste of proper Scottish weather today.

SKYE FOR A DAY

A short trip to Skye for Anne, Isabelle, Amanda, David and Andrew today. It was a very wet morning so we nipped into Talisker distillery while the rain eased, better wet on the inside. We went for a afternoon walk up into Coire Laggan, beneath Sgurr Alasdair. We had sunshine and some nice views. Quite cool higher up.

EAST, FOR A CHANGE

Today Anne, David, Andrew and Amanda were with me on Meall a' Bhuachaille in the Cairngorms. This was every ones first Scottish hill and everyone did well getting to the top of this wee gem. No views on the summit but the cloud did lift on the way down.

BACK TO THE BEN

Ben Nevis again for a chnage of scenery today. I had a group of five on the pony track. We had a wet, very low cloud morning but the clouds cleared on the descent. Some wonderful cloud formations on the way down and warming up nicely. The footpath work on the zig zags is progressing well, soon be a nice tarmachadam road to the summit.

BEN ASLAK

Last day on Skye, another fantastic day. Graham bagging on Ben Aslak which overlooks Kylerea and wonderful views to Knoydart. Great hill for a short day, definately not short on views.

CUILLIN FROM ELGOL

Kim and I had a lovely low level walk from Elgol today. We dodged the showers and had some sunny spells. This is yet another superb short walk with smacking views of the Cuillin with a great wee coffee shp at the end.

SGURR NAN GILLEAN

Martin and I were up on Sgurr nan Gillean today. Another fabulous day, looked a bit ominous earlier in the morning, feeling cold and some cloud with a spot of rain, but soon clearing and beautiful skies once more. Lounging around on the rocks before going over to Sgurr na h-Huamha, the final summit of the Cuillin ridge if you're doing the whole thing. Today we were content with sitting around and taking in the views. We spotted a male ptarmigan on h-Huamha, rare to see ptarmigan on the Cuillin.

QUIRANG

Kim and I went to the Quirang today. One of the best low level, short walks on the Isle of Skye. Striking rock formations around every corner! It was another beautiful sunny day. Ther North West coast of Scotland the best in the British Isles me thinks!

BLABHEINN

A beautiful clear, sunny day again. With a light Northerly airfow the clarity was superb. Martin and I were on Blabheinn, probably the best view point for the whole Cuillin ridge. We sat on the summit for over one and a half hours it was so good! And no midges!