HOT WEEKEND

Braeriach from Lurchers

Saturday and Sunday we enjoyed hot, cloudless conditions on the Cairngorms. Maybe too hot! But we shouldn't complain as Tuesday all is changing to cooler and wetter conditions. Nice to be out on the tops again. Saturday it seemed we had the whole of the Cairngorms to ourselves. Not a soul seen all day apart from a few bikers on the ski road.

Time for a morning dip

On Saturday we headed up the road to the Sugar Bowl and up the Northern ridge of Lurchers Crag. Before heading to the summit there was time for a cool swim.

Lairig Ghru from the top

Western crags of Lurchers 

Coure an Lochain

Caperts of beautiful  Trailing Azalea on the long ridge to the top. We even managed a sunbathe on the summit of this 'deleted' Munro.

SUNDAY 31 MAY

Loch na Binne swim

Another hot day on Sunday but strong winds on the tops so nice and cool. Another morning dip in one of the lochs up the hill. We then headed up the long, broad Northern ridges of Cairn Gorm. Ww saw no one again all day.

Strath Nethy

Loch na Binne

Bynack Mor

Loch zmorlich from the Northern slopes on Cairn Gorm

IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK!

The beautiful Dotterel, Cairngorm plateau yesterday

10 weeks of not being on the mountains is the longest time in my life, and that's a fair few years! Friday 29th May was a day that we were allowed access to the mountains again here in Scotland. That is, if you live around 5 miles from any hills. The Scottish government and SMRT's published the guidelines this week. Phase 1 of coming out started 29th May.
Some folk may say 'you're so lucky living near the mountains'. My reply, as always is 'Luck didn't land me in The Highlands. Hard work, commitment, scarifices and determination have given me nearly 30 years of living in these wonderful places'.

Loch Avon Basin

Feithe Buidhe slabs

It was with great joy that I set off by bike from my house on Friday and cycled up to the Coaire Cas carpark in glorious early morning sunshine. The snow gates are closed at Glenmore still. I've cycled up the road many times over the last 10 weeks which keeps you fit, especially when carrying camera equipment weighing 3kg. I am proud and glad to state that since restrictions set in over 10 weeks ago we have only used the car on 3 occasions and that was for the 5 minutes drive into Aviemore for shopping. All my exercise bike rides and walks have started from my front door. Today was no exception.

Bike ride from the house to Coire Cas carpark

Glorious morning 

I took a wander over the Cairngorm plateau after a visit to Coire an Lochain, a familiar route. Once up on the plateau via the Twin Burns it was so warm, no hot! Clear skies and hot sunshine for the rest of the day. I only saw 3 solo walkers all day. On my way over to the Feithe Buidhe area I got a wonderful 20 minutes with a single Dotterel. This beautiful migratory plover  travels the long route from West Africa for breeding on our hostile (sometimes) high Cairngorm plateau. A ground nesting bird that is a delight to see and only found on the high tops in The Scottish mountains

Female Dotterel

Beautiful markings

Just 20 minutes later the plateau was filled with the beautiful call of the male Snow Bunting. Another one of our special birds up here. The male changes its plumage in the summer months and very different markings from the female. There's nothing quite has lovely as the singing of a snow bunting on the hills.

Male Snow Bunting

Female Snow Bunting

I had lunch at my favourite viewpoint of the entire Cairngorms. Stunning views of the Loch Avon basin. I sat and drank out of the Feithe Buidhe waters, pure magic. 2 litres went down very easily in the scorching hot conditions. Apparently Aviemore was one of the hotest places in the UK at 27 C.

Fiacaill Coire Sneachda

Even the reindeer where high up on the plateau today. Savouring the cool snow patches, a common sight when it gets hot up here.

Reindeer cooling off

Bemused by humans

Back down to the carpark. Day topped off with the beautiful Ring Ouzels around the ski area. A fab whizz back down the ski road on the bike. A grand day out. It's  great to be back!

Loch Avon beaches

Traling Azalea

Ring Ouzel

See you soon

RESTRICTED ACCESS - WEEK 9

Osprey's looking fine in the sunshine

At last there is light at the end of the tunnel. Well a glimmer of hope at least. This week the Scottish government have started Phase 1 of getting back to some kind of normality. From 28th May we can exercise freely (including mountain walking) if you live within 5 miles of the countryside. So great news. I can get back on the hills. Looking forward to that. Meanwhile it's been another great week for wildlife. Weather wise there were some beautiful evenings after cloudy, dull mornings. Toward the end of the week we had high winds and the first serious rain for some weeks.
A small selection of images from this week.

A pair of Goldeneye

Ring Ouzel with a snack

Lapwing looking fine in evening sun

Cairngorms from the Dava Road on a gorgeous evening, Wednesday

Loch Insh, hotest day

Loch Morlich in beautiful evening light

Loch Morlich & Meall a' Bhuachaille

Another hot day on a bike up to Coire Cas carpark

Great cloud formations

Mute Swan

Ducklings galore

Male Goldenye

Eyes in the back of your head?

nothing like a good scratch

Nice clouds on the Burma Road

Stratspey from the Burma Road

Bluebells

Lochindorb

Mallards are beautiful

RESTRICTED ACCESS - WEEK 8

Mother Greylagg with here goslings

Week 8 of our restrictions to the mountains. Some cold weather still at the beginning of the week and a very gradual rise in temperatures by the weekend. More biking and wildlife as usual. Getting a fair amount of mileage under the belt. Down in England the Westminister government started to relax restrictions but not here in Scotland. Although there is now some talking going on between the various mountaineering bodies and  MRT's with some hopeful  re-opening and access to our mountains coming soon, maybe. Only change  so far up here is we can now exercise more than once per day, a start I guess. So, as usual, here's a few images from this week to brighten up your week.

Always a crowd pleaser

Spring in full swing with plenty of young fledgings about on the water and in the air. A brilliant time of year for wildlife and with some dry conditions and sunshine it's always a joy - restrictions or no restrictions.

Slow melt in the coire

Four Spotted Chaser

Juvenile Song Thrush

Willow Warbler

Burma Road

Loch Pityoulish

Evening bike ride

Mountain Pansey

Fresh snow at the start of the week

Trailing Azalia just starting to flower

Common Sandpiper

Song Thrush with a snacklet

Mallard ducklings

Golden Eye

At least someone can still go climbing