RETURN OF THE DOTTEREL (AND THE SUN) TO THE CAIRNGORMS

Female Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus)

Coire an Lochain and the Great Slab

The slab 'went' about 1 week ago

Lovely waterfall at the Feithe Buidhe

Feithe Buidhe & Ben Macdui in the distance

Coire an t-Sneachda

Male ptarmigan

Beinn Mheadhoin

Top of Jacobs Ladder

Loch Avon and Shelterstone

Coire Domhain

It was lovely to see some sunshine back on the Cairngorm Mountains after a mostly gloomy and damp week. It was a tad warmer too but we still had a few short, sharp sleet/hail showers high up. I went over the Cairngorm plateau to see if the Dotterel had arrived back to their breeding grounds, and was pleased to see they have. Spotted 4 pairs in two different areas today which was really nice. There are still large areas of snow in the Cairngorms, especially over toward Ben Macdui, a lot of the main routes across the plateau ( from the North) to Britains second highest summit are covered in snow so good navigation skills still required, especially in poor weather. As a French couple with their dog found out today, they were following me over pathless terrain heading down to the Feithe Buidhe! At least they got a little insight from me on the wildlife of The Cairngorms and a few tips on navigation (it would have helped if they were carrying a map and compass I guess). Apart from them, it was very quiet on the hill. The Feithe Buidhe is looking wonderful with a waterfall pouring down through the deep snowpack. The Great Slab 'went' about a week ago. Huge amount of debris at the bottom and down at the lochans it's littered with rock and silt. The Goat Track is still completely covered in deep snow. Some great snow tunnels forming. I wonder if they will be as spectacular as last year? Plenty ptarmigan also seen today and the Trailing Azalia is just coming into flower, thats the sign that summer is coming.  Weather looking a bit wet over the weekend but getting sunnier and drier next week.

SANDWOOD BAY TO CAPE WRATH

Sandwood Bay

Am Buachaille sea stack from Sandwood

More beaches

Sun setting on Sandwood

Stunning light

Day two, to Cape Wrath. Torridonian Sandstone

More deserted Bays

Cape Wrath getting closer

Anemone nemorosa  (wood anemone)

Journeys end

Silene acaulis (moss campion)

Cape Wrath lighthouse

It has been a fabulous week of hot, clear weather in The Highlands of Scotland. We've enjoyed hotter temperatures than Spain at times and the west coast saw temperatures hitting 27 degrees. We journeyed to the far north west coast last Saturday for a mini backpacking trip from Kinlochbervie to Cape Wrath taking in the glorious sandy beaches of Sandwood Bay. On Sunday the weather had taken a dive, being much cooler and cloudy. From Kinlochberive to Sandwood Bay it is now a good path, much improved over the years and is a stroll, well with small day sacks anyway. It's been over 15 years since I last walked to Sandwood, one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK. We had the whole place to ourselves, arriving late afternoon. After we pitched the tent and had dinner we were treated to a wonderful sunset. This far north doesn't see darkness till after 10.30pm. Monday morning dawned with light drizzle and heavy cloud. Despite this, the views all the way along to Cape Wrath were clear. We actually enjoyed dry weather the rest of the day. The route along the impressive cliff tops to the Cape Wrath lighthouse is mostly pathless and very rugged with a fair few ups and downs. The Cape Wrath Trail is fast becoming a  popular long distance walk. Most folk take two weeks to do this but it is not a waymarked route and it has many variations. I have guided the entire route three times, many years ago when it was only just conceived and no guidebooks. It is one of the most dramatic, at times remote walks with stunning scenery. Starting in Fort William to the very far North West point of  the British mainland. It takes in some of the finest mountain scenery in Scotland including Morar, Knoydart, Glen Shiel, Glen Carron, Torridon, Fisherfield Forest, Coigach, Assynt and Sutherland.  If you are thinking of walking it unsupported then it requires some thoughtful planning, organisation and probably a big rucksack! We saw no one all day until our final footsteps to the recently opened 'Ozone' Cafe at the lighthouse, probably the most remote cafe in Britain?. Must do the full Cape Wrath Trail again sometime.......

A LOVELY DAY ON BEN NEVIS

The team on the summit

The North Face of the Ben from Tower Ridge

Tower Ridge from the summit

CMD arete clear of snow

Ciste Corrie and Ledge Route

Beautiful late afternoon sun in Glen Nevis

Soft snow on plateau

Despite the big change in temperatures it is still lovely weather up here in The Highlands. In fact it's my kind of weather, not too hot and superb clarity of light in the northerly airflow. Today I was guiding a lovely group of 8 folk from Reading on Ben Nevis. Sunali and her friends had previously walked up Snowdon and Scafell Pike. They have now done the 3 Peaks over 3 years. Now that's the way to enjoy the hills rather than in 24 hours :) . There snow as now receded to the top of the zig zags. Despite the weather forecasts indicating below freezing on the summit, the snow was all very soft by the afternoon. We headed up in cloudy conditions late morning. Timed beautifully as the sun broke through the clouds by late afternoon and we savoured some glorious blue skies and warm sunshine. Very little breeze so it was a superb end to the day. Being a week day it wasn't very busy on The Ben, a good time to walk it this time of year. I think today it may be a lot busier.

HOT & HIGH WINDS ON BRAERIACH

Cairn Toul & Sgor an Lochan Uaine

The summit of Braeriach

Braeriachs Northern Corries

Summit slopes to summit still with snow

One of the spots with no wind!

Ben Macdui from the summit, cairn still under snow

Another very hot day in the Highlands. The west coast getting the hot spots. Aviemore not faring too bad with another 24 degrees. It was a very windy day up on Braeriach, despite the forecast sugesting 45mph winds. It was around 50 with gusts to 60mph for much of the time. The Sron na Lairig ridge seemed to be the windiest place this morning. There were even large chips of cornice breaking off in the wind and flying across the plateau. The bits that didn't hit you in the face were flying higher, melting in the heat and descending as water! Quite bizarre conditions for May really. The calmest places were around the summit area so it was pleasant to sit down and admire the extensive views from the UK's third highest mountain. The snow cover on the plateau is starting to break up with some big areas of bare ground now. Looking across to Ben Macdui and it looks extensive snow above 1150m. Finally the winter gear as been stored away for this season. It was lovely not having to wear gloves, hats and fleeces for the first time this year. Another hot day tomorrow and possibly Thursday. Forecasts suggesting much cooler temperatures by the weekend with a return of a northerly airflow.

HOT IN THE CAIRNGORMS!

Temperatures rreaching 25 degrees across the Highlands today. Summer looks like it's actually arrived early! More to come over the next couple of days. Today it was far too hot in the middle of the day so we set off late afternoon for some biking and birding. A glorious evening. The Ospreys  were enjoying it too.

WARMING UP IN THE CAIRNGORMS, SUMMER IS COMING!

The team enjoying warm sun and rock

Lovely scrambling in the sun

Largely clear of snow

Higher up

Great fun

Fiachaill Ridge

Nick enjoying the scenery

Cairn Lochan across to Ben Macdui, good snow cover still

Cornices melting fast

Pic-nicing half way up

The crack is getting bigger!

Group number 2 from those lovely folk at Cotswold Outdoor in Livingston.  5 more staff and customers on a day out with me today. It was beautiful warm and sunny weather, especially the afternoon when the temperatures rose. We had a fun day along the Fiachaill Coire Sneachda. Folk getting some scrambling skills in and it was nice to have warm rock now, unlike yesterday when we were clad in gloves much of the day. Rapid snow melt off Cairn Lochan on the way down, looking like a burn from just below the summit. Summer is here? Winter is finally over? :)