ANOTHER HOT DAY

The last day of July and the sun still shone very nicely indeed. I had a nice day out in The Mamores, up the north ridge of Stob Ban which is a quiet and more interesting way up than most guide book routes. Then it was over to the Devils's Ridge and onto Sgurr a' Mhaim. This is a nice shortish day with lots of interest. It wasn't quite as hot as yesterday and a wee bit more cloud earlier in the day so very pleasant. At least the cleggs have died down, they seemed to be everywhere last week. A lot of cars racing up and down Glen Nevis, cycling a bit of a nightmare this time of year!

LEDGE ROUTE & CMD ARETE IN THE HEAT

Even more hot sun today. It was quiet again on Ledge Route, having the whole route to myself. Clear skies and some swirling cloud added to the atmosphere. The sun though soon burnt off the remaining cloud and another beautiful clear day with hot sun. I avoided the hoards on the Pony Track by sticking to the rim of the north face as much as possible until the final few metres to the summit. Quickly heading down to the CMD arete and peace again. Some nice flora in bloom high up on The Ben including Alpine Mouse ear, starry saxifrage and bladder campion. Still some big snow patches left  in Observatory Gully, Point Five Gully. Another hot and sunny day forecast tomorrow.

SIZZLING ON SUILVEN

Another hot and clear skies day in Sutherland. It was our last day on this trip and we ended in style on one of  the  most spectacular mountains in the NW Highlands, Suilven. From many angles this relatively low altitude mountain looks impregnable but it is easily ascended via the bealach between the two summits. The walk in is very beautiful, we chose to walk in via Glen Canisp which is a two and a half hour walk on a good track and paths. Usually the approach gets a little boggy before the final climb up to the bealach but with all this dry and hot weather recently the bog was firm and a pleasure to tread. We went up the two summits, the lower summit at the Eastern end is an exposed scramble for 10 metres. We reluctantly finally descended and returned to Lochinver via the Falls of Kircaig path which feels much more remote and with even more stunning views looking back. A long day but fantastic weather

AN TEALLACH

It was a bit disappointing weather wise today for Karen and I but we had a good traverse of An Teallach. This is my favourite mountain in the whole of the UK but unfortunately we saw very little above 800m, although it did stay dry and we did get  a few glimpses of the spectacular pinnacles, corries and crags that this mountain holds in abundance. It was a cold day with a strong wind blowing from the north at times. Apparently it was a clear sky day just a few miles off to the west and east.

KINLOCH HOURN TO GLEN SHIEL

Another fine day with some cloud cover  as we traversed over from Kinloch Hourn and into Glen Shiel. No one seen all day today.

KNOYDART IN THE SUN

Start of a few days trekking into some remote country up north. Today Karen and I set sail from Mallaig to Inverie and then walked over the Mam Barrisdale into Barrisdale Bay. Onward to Kinloch Hourn and overnight in the welcoming of the bunkhouse/tea shop run by the friendly manager, Joe. We had beautiful hot and sunny weather after mid day. It was still hot even into the early evening. 

SUNNY SUMMER STROLL ON LEDGE ROUTE

The cloud base soon lifted today  and by early afternoon the sun was breaking through so I had a quick jaunt up Ledge Route on Ben Nevis. It was a lovely temperature, hardly a breeze all day and lovely to feel the sun on my face again. I had the whole of the Ben's north face to myself, well so it seemed, I saw no one at all. A quick descent back down to the Aluminium works in a decent time, just over 4 hours up and down. The weather forecasts are now saying dry/sunny until the weekend at least. If you checked out the forecast last Saturday it was telling us a pretty dire week, rain and wind most days!

A BIT DAMP

Today felt like the beginning of the wet period which is forecasted for next week. Low cloud and outbreaks of rain through out the day today.  Some flora to brighten up the page, heath spotted orchid and yellow saxifrage in abundance just now!

                                                                                                                    

ESCAPING THE RAIN

Final day walking for my group on their tour of the Highlands. We took the short bus ride to Glenfinnan and went up one of my favourite hills in Moidart, Sgurr Guibhsachain above the south shore of Loch Shiel. The forecast wasn't very promising but we enjoyed cloud free summits, very little wind and no rain until we were only half an hour from the end and The comforts of The Glenfinnan House Hotel. We saw no one on the hill all day, only the midges. 

STUNNING WEATHER ON SKYE

What a beautifully stunning day on Skye for my group and I . We had a lovely low level walk from Kilmarie through Glen Sligachan and ending in the Sligachan Hotel. This popular route goes through some spectacular scenery with the Black Cuillin ridge on one side of the glen and The Red Cuillin on the other. Really clear air, blue skies and hot sun made for vibrant colours and clarity for great photo oppurtunities.  It would have been a brilliant day for being on the mountain tops. What better to end the day with a pint of Cuillin beer in the Slig beer garden?