EMBRACING BEINN NA CAILLICH

Intentions today was for a lowish level walk on part of the West Highland Way, fortunately the Motorcycle Trials taking place on a section of the path drove us up into the hills and onto the fabulous and quiet hills of Beinn na Caillich and Mam na Gualainn. These two hills lying between The Mamores and Loch Leven give lovely views toward The Aonach Eagach and The Mamores with distant views out to the west coast. Yet another cloudless, warm day. A stiff Easterly breeze to keep from getting too hot so perfect walking conditions and the ground lovely and dry at the moment.

THE BIG DAY

It was another sunny and fine day to be out on the hills. The Ben starting to get into busy mode and not everyone was sat at home watching a certain wedding! Heatwave set to continue into next week even!

ANOTHER BLUE SKIES DAY

The beautiful weather continues and today even better, the air a wee bit clearer so good day for photos. I took a wander up the North ridge of Stob Ban and across to The Devils Ridge on to Sgurr a' Mhaim, a nice shortish day out. The views superb today and another quiet day on the hills, only a few folk out. Lovely day for cycling too and a great bike ride up and down Glen Nevis, plenty of folk out in the Glen just sunbathing below The Ben.  

SUNNY RIDGE WALKS BY THE SEA

It's been fabulous weather this last week or so and today the sun shone all day again. I took the West Highland Train to Lochailort today, the best train journey in the world. One of my many favourite hill ranges on the west coast, Rois-Bheinn on the agenda today. Only a few kilometres from the western seaboard the whole walk over it's many summits is a  fabulous day out. The summits of An Stac, Rois-Bheinn and Sgurr na Ba Glaise all have big descents and re ascents but the miles and metres fly by when the weather is as good as today. The sea views out to the isles of Eigg, Rum, Skye and Mull are mesmerising. Don't neglect the ultimate summit of Druim Fiachlach for the grand finale.  The only sound I heard today were cuckoo, woodpecker, lots of Wheatears, a pair of Golden Plover and just the light breeze. To end a great day out I was rewarded with a Golden Eagle just 50m away from me near the final top, it don't get much better than that, unless you count the pub at the end while you wait for the train?

WET ARETE

A bit of a change in the weather the last couple of days, temperatures dropping and rain, what a difference from the recent heatwave. Today Matthias and Susanah were out with me on Ben Nevis, by the CMD arete. They are over from Germany and finished the West Highland Way yesterday (including Ben Lomond on their rest day). So fit and strong we whizzed around the route. Unfortunately we had constant light rain/drizzle from 10am till 4pm, including some sleet over the arete. Only late in the day did it dry up and the cloud lifted, you can't beat 'em all I guess.

EVEN HOTTER ON THE ARETE!

Back up on the CMD arete and another beautiful hot day with clear skies. Still a tad hazy but another day of strolling around the mountains in t-shirts. Today I was joined by the fun packed Irish folk on the CMD arete onto Ben Nevis. It was the first visit to Scotland's mountains for Lorraine, Susan, Willie, Jamie and Peter. It was getting a bit busy on Carn Mor Dearg summit so we lingered at the rear and enjoyed the solitude. There was a stiff breeze out today so a very pleasant temperature on the tops today. 

CMD ARETE IN THE HEATWAVE

The beautiful summer weather continued today, after some early cloud the sun soon got to work and burned it's way through to leave the summits free of cloud. Sylvia is over from Germany and picked a cracker of a day to enjoy the CMD arete onto Ben Nevis. It was warm with hardly a breeze on the summits and we enjoyed a very quiet ascent, seeing only a couple of folk. It was a tad hazy, but hey, who's complaining! A lot of snow has now melted on the plateau since just last week in these sizzling temperatures. Isn't it great when you can get back with dry gear every day, dry boots and dry rucsac? Cycling home at 7pm in t-shirt. Long may the summer continue!

SUMMER STROLLING

Looks like the hot and sunny weather is continuing right through the Easter weekend. A lazy last couple of days down in the depths of The Central Belt. We took a wander on The West Highland Way yesterday and lunch at The Beech Tree Inn. Busy over the next few days with 3 days guiding over the  CMD Arete in the next 4 days. Don't forget the sunscreen!

CMD ARETE, IN THE CLAGG

Joey, Stu, Glen and Wes were out with me today on the CMD arete up to Ben Nevis. It was a cold and claggy day, cloudbase down to 900m and lower most of the time. A moderate cold wind was producing rime ice on the tops today with the freezing level probably around 1100m. At least it was quiet and we enjoyed the route to ourselves most of the time. Hopefully next week will produce some clear and warm days, so they say.