BIKEING, PUSHING, LIFTING FROM CORROUR TO FORT WILLIAM

Good day on the bike today. I set off from Corrour train station on Rannoch Moor and cycled through to the Lairig Leachach. Good tracks to the head of Loch Treig then it was a matter of hard riding, then pushing through some awkward and wet ground with the occasional lifting and carrying. From the Lairig Leachach Bothy it was a great down hill run on good tracks all the way down to Spean. From Spean back to the Fort there is a very good track to bike on, Wades old military road. It was a cloudy and drizzly day. saw no one at all from Corrour back to the flesh pots of Spean Bridge.

BIG GROUP ON THE BEN

Today we had a big group of 18 on Ben Nevis, all from the Glasgow area. The guys were all raising money for Yorkhill Childrens Hospital in Glasgow. Being mid-week the hill was relatively quiet which made a nice change. Unfortunately the guys never got a view from the summit, the cloud was down to 800m today and chilly on the top. They all got up and down in seven and a half hours. Well done. Thanks too to Brian for help in guiding today.

BELOW THE BEN

A fine day in Lochaber. Karen and I had a lowish level walk up to the CIC Hut from the house, up through the Aluminimum smelter and onto the Allt a' Mhuillin. The cloud lifted through the morning and the sun shone the rest of the day with the summit free of cloud. We carried on up to Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe, we were getting asked from one large group 'is this the way to Ben Nevis' as they were heading over to the Allt a' Mhuillin. From the lochan we had a good run down to the Ben Nevis Inn for a nice cool beer.
My Internet connection is still down so no photos for a wee while.

OBSERVATORY GULLY, BEN NEVIS

A fine day again. I took a wander up to Observatory on The Ben. I found an almost brand new climbing helmet on the path and saw a few climbers gearing up for Tower Ridge so I did my good deed for the day and returned there neglected bit of head wear, gratefully received. It's a bit of a slog up scree but a path of sorts does exist. It was a nice and peaceful walk up to Echo Wall, which does actually echo. Interesting finding various bits of ironmongery from the observatory still knocking about. The big shower clouds never came to anything and it was dry, warm and sunny all day.

LEDGE ROUTE, BEN NEVIS

It was a bit of a damp day on The Ben for my group today but we headed up to out objective anyway-Ledge Route. Even in the gloomiest of weather it is still fab scenery and always interesting. The light rain did disappear and we had a quiet ascent with no one else on the route. This was Giulia and Mark's first mountain, they are from Malta and their highest hill is 400m! They were informing me that they have a friend who as just become the first Maltese person to summit Everest, great stuff. WE made our way down the zig-zags by mid afternoon, watching several 'light weight' (ie no rucsac, waterproofs or any form of extra clothing) folk still heading up the hill, just as an hefty shower came in. It then rained all the way back to the carpark and the cloud lowered to about 200m at times.

LEDGE ROUTE AND CMD ARETE, BEN NEVIS

Back on The Ben and today I was with Mike who's wife had bought him a guided walk on Ben Nevis for his Birthday gift. After some early morning rain and very low cloud, the rain eased off and the clouds slowly started to lift by the time we reached the CIC  hut. We scrambled up Ledge Route, there were only two other folk just behind us on this classic scramble on The Ben. We were well sheltered from the strong SW winds, the views opened up by the time we got onto the plateau. We quickly got to the summit and then just as quickly escaped the crowds and many wheelchairs on the Pony track today then down onto the CMD arete where peace and quiet resumed. The cloud had by now well cleared the tops and we had a nice traverse along the ridge with fine views and some buffeting from the stiff breeze. The sun finally came through on the decent and it was quite warm compared to the rather chilly and damp morning. Mike and I were round in a very fast time of under 8 hours today, well done to him.

SGURR GUIBHSACHAIN

Final day of walking for my group of 8 on their week long trip. We split into two groups today with Lynn and Dave the volunteers for an hill day whilst the rest of the group had an low level walk around Loch Shiel near Glenfinnan. We had a beautiful sunny and warm morning up on Sgurr Guibhsachain, this is the fabulous looking peak which rises from the south shore of Loch Shiel and the backdrop to the Glenfinnan Monument. Another day of really clear air before the next weather front came in and some light rain by the late afternoon.

SKYE, GLEN SLIGACHAN

A very nice day on Skye. We walked through the beautiful Glen Sligachan from Kilmarie to the Sligachan Hotel. Glorious views and warm sun. Just got a shower the final 30 minutes.

OVER TO SKYE

A rather dreich day today but the weather improved by the late afternoon and Skye beckoning for tomorrow. This is the view from Erbusaig near Kyle of Lochalsh. A rather nice spot to stay looking out to the Cuillin.

CAIRNGORMS

This week I'm guiding in the Cairngorms, Skye and back in Lochaber. With an large proportion of folk from the USA we had a short afternoons walk yesterday along the Speyside way to warm up. The weather has been quite nice, sunny and very clear air, not too warm so perfect. Today the group of 8 had a wander up onto the Cairngorm plateau with a tour of the Northern Corries, up onto Cairn Lochain and Stob Corrie a Sneachda. There was a few folk enjoying the climb on Savage Slit as we passed over the Cairn Lochain summit, getting a grandstand view. Quite a few folk out walking too, at last enjoying some sunny skies and great views.

GLENFINNAN

Final day for the group on their tour of The Highlands. Thankfully another dry day and even a glimpse or two of the sun. We went to Glenfinnan today and had a walk up the glen itself which was marred by the ugly new hydro electric access track which has been bulldozed up the beautiful glen, what a shame. Then after lunch we had a nice walk along Loch Shiel.

ANOTHER DRY DAY

                                

After yesterdays rain we were treated to dry weather today and the tops of the mountains on Skye were clear. Only time for a short coastal walk today before heading back to Lochaber. 

THE OLD MAN OF STORR

A very wet and low cloud day on Skye. We eventually settled on a short day of getting soaked rather than a longer day of getting soaked and went up to the remarkable pinnacle of The Old Man of Storr. He was looking very grumpy and moody today. 

SKYE

I'm working for Walkabout Scotland this week, a tour of the Highlands using public transport. After a rather soggy couple of days in The Cairngorms my group of 7 intrepid Highland adventurers got a nice dry day. We had an afternoon stroll from Torrin to Suishnish which gives grand views out to sea and of Bla- Bheinn. 

BEN LOMOND

Today I've been down in the deepest south of The Highlands, Ben Lomond. I was guiding the Wheeler family from the USA, four adults and their children. We had a very nice day on the most southerly Munro. The weather was fine, sunshine in the morning and some high level cloud by mid afternoon. We just got back to the carpark at Rowardenen when a few spots of rain started, how satisfying is that?
Off on a weeks guiding tomorrow, Cairngorms, Skye then back in Lochaber.
Photos to come when I find the cable thingy!