.....AND ANOTHER SCORCHER IN THE CAIRNGORMS

It was another unreal hot, sunny day with wall to wall blue skies in The Cairngorms. Hardly a breath of wind on the tops and t-shirt weather all day. A lovely romp over the Fiacaill Ridge with views to savour. What a week it's been!

ANGELS RIDGE, THE HOTEST SPOT IN THE UK!

Peter on the top of Angels Ridge

The long walk in to Garbh Corrie with Angels Ridge in the centre

The eternal snow patches in Garbh Corrie Mor

Scrambling above the beautiful Lochain Uaine

The Lairig Ghru & Carn Toul from Braeriach

Angels Ridge in profile

Peter on the top of Braeriach

Blocky scrambling

Ben Macdui, The Lairig Ghru & Angels Ridge in fine Autumn colours

The heatwave continues! Today it was even warmer and The Cairngorms was the hottest spot in the UK, apparently warmer than Barcelona! A fine day indeed for a big day out in The Cairngorms. Angels Ridge on Sgor an Lochain Uaine is one of the finest, remotest and most beautiful easy scrambling in the UK. It's a long walk in from the house but taking the bike up to the Lairig Ghru cuts off a lot of 'walk in' time. I saw no one all the way along the approach until I bumped into a fellow Mountain Leader Peter. He was setting off on a overnight backpacking jaunt and planned to sleep high on the Braeriach plateau. I then talked him into my journey up on Angels Ridge which he hadn't done before. We saw no one the rest of the day until Braeriach summit. Angels Ridge starts at the beautiful Lochain Uaine, one of those lonely lochans up high and remote. This time of year the ridge is virtually all in shade which was a welcome relief as it was in the mid 20's today. After 5 hours or so from setting off we were on the summit of Sgor an Lochain Uaine (Angels Peak for some). We then wandered over to Braeriachs summit. Sitting on the top after 4pm and we were still in base layers and it was still roasting hot with hardly a breath of wind. Amazing. I left Peter for his overnight camp whilst I walked leisurely down to the bike as the sun set on another cloudless, glorious summers day! More tomorrow!!

SGOR GAOITHE BATHED IN SUNSHINE

Fabulous summit views

Braeriach and Loch Einich

Braeriach from Sgoran Dubh Mor

Still enjoying the views!

Clear today

And more views

Today was superbly clear, wall to wall sun and up in Strathspey we enjoyed the warmest part of the UK. Sgor Gaoithe is a fabulous hill giving a very easy ascent but its nice to make a day of it and cycle in along the beutiful glenfeshie. There was a strong wind on the tops but it was still warm and it was baselayers all the way up to the summit. So many options from the main summit. We headed over to Sgoran Dubh Mor for more views of Braeriachs massive bulk overlooking Loch Einich. Summer looks like its arrived and many more days like this to come. Make the most of it!

THE DEVILS RIDGE

Second day out with Espen & Agueda and today we had an easier but still exciting route on the hills. We headed over to the Mamores where there are so many choices for wonderful days out, whether you want a short or long day. We chose the Munro summit of Sgurr a' Mhaim. Great views down Glen Nevis and to the south side of Ben Nevis. The best part of the day though is the wonderful wee ridge descending south from the top, The Devils Ridge. Sounds scary but it's just a narrow ridge walk with a wee bit of very short scrambling. Once again they loved every minute of it despite weary legs from yesterdays top effort on The Ben. This was Espens Birthday present to Agueda and a surprise one a that. Thankfully it was something she really, really enjoyed! they may be back.....

LEDGE ROUTE

Agueda & Espen are up for two days of walking in the Lochaber region. Novices to the Scottish hills but with bags of enthusiasm and fitness levels. We kicked off in fine style on Ben Nevis. I 'persuaded' them that the Pony Track (Mountain Path) would be a bit dreary for them and they were fired up with a scramble on the north face, Ledge Route. We hardly saw a soul all the way up. The cloud lifted to above the tops and we had cracking views. It was quite warm lower down the mountain but into single digit figures up high. The couple from Norway & Argentina living in Glasgow absolutely relished the easy scrambling and brilliant views. We had to mingle with many, many folk on the summit were there was several challenge events. But we whizzed past thousands of folk on the way down and soon enjoyed peace and quiet on the route back down to the North Face car park. The day was finished off nicely with a slap up meal and a few beers in the Ben Nevis Inn. Top day

A BIT COLDER, BIKING

Clouds & sun over The Northern Corries

Edge of the Caledonian Pines

I love clouds!

Great biking trails

And more

Autumn berry collecting

It's been almost west coast weather here in The Cairngorms the last few days. Cloud, rain and even midges! This morning though it was more like Autumn with cooler air, bright, clear skies and some lovely sunshine. Nice morning out biking. There are miles and miles of unfrequented bike trails in The Naional Park. The weekend is shaping up to be a cracker with light winds, blue skies and some fantastic colours. East and West Highlands! That's good news as working over on The Ben Saturday and Sunday.

ANOTHER CLOUDY JAUNT ON THE FIACAILL

Midgy and rocky

Rocky & midgy

These photos look like they are from the Friday 19th September post, they are today's. More grey, more cloud and also today rain, windless and midgy all the way up! I don't recall any other day when I have been along the Fiacaill Ridge (many) when there have been midgies all the way along the ridge! The promise of a clearer afternoon with even a bit of sun never came true, it just deteriorated and by mid day the drizzle turned to rain. Descended down The Goat Track but it was a long way down Coire an t-sneachda before we were out of the cloud bubble.

BIKING GLENFESHIE & SPEYSIDE WAY

Nice single track beside the Feshie

Loch Insh

Loch Utha

Heather if full bloom

Loch Utha

Four Spotted Chaser

The Ospreys have left our shores, back in April

A lovely day today, clear skies morning over the Cairngorms. Lovely temperature for biking. We began with a ride along the newly opened section of the Speyside Way from Aviemore to Kincraig. From Loch Insh to Insh Marshes then returned via Loch Utha and Glen Feshie. Summer isn't quite over, especially when the Dragonflies are still active.

IN THE CLOUD BUBBLE ON THE FIACAILL RIDGE

A cloudy Fiacaill Ridge

...more cloud (and rocks)

.......even more rocks & cloud

Back home from my last stint of work in The Alps. Today it was forecast to be very sunny and leaving Aviemore this morning it was indeed blue skies and sunshine. Meanwhile there was a big bubble of cloud stretched out across the Cairngorms Northern Corries. And that's how it was all day. Still, the Fiacaill Ridge is a great wee scramble to keep you interested. There wasn't a soul around, as per usual in summer. Cold enough for a hat and gloves today. It did look like the sun may break through at one point, but no, just cloud. On the way back across the plateau, in cloud, were a couple of folk wearing jeans, trainers, no rucksack's and hands in pockets (presumably to keep their hands warm)? Back in Aviemore and the sun came out. Sun tomorrow- 90% chance apparently.