Another Munro for Matt

The forecast was dry but cloudy, lifting from midday. Me and my friend Mark changed what we had planned and headed for Gairich, it's only 3015 ft and we hoped the summit would clear by the time we got there.

The path starts off boggy (I sunk to my thigh at one point) and then follows a broad ridge which eventually steepens and weaves it way through craggy outcrops to the summit. You get great views of Glen Kingie on the way up, but not many views from the top as the last 50 metres or so where in cloud. Here's Mark (and Jack the mountain dog) on the top...


Anyway, a good really hill that felt like a proper Scottish mountain, definitely one to recommend. The only problem now is that I've had a couple of good days out this week whilst Jen's was a wash out, it looks like I owe her a few days off next week!

--Matt

A Wet Walk in Callop Forest

The hostel trade is now showing signs of hotting up for the summer, so it’s getting increasingly difficult for us to get days out in the mountains together. The best we can manage is getting out separately, and today I was planning on heading out towards Glenfinnan to have a go at the Glenfinnan Horseshoe, a great-looking round route bagging two Munros along the way - Sgurr Thuilm and Sgurr nan Coireachan. Although it was showering with rain when I left, there had also been patches of sunshine during the morning so I wasn’t too put off. Sadly as I drove closer to Glenfinnan the clouds came lower and lower, until eventually as I pulled up to the car park I couldn’t see a single glimpse of the hills I was planning to walk. Judging the length of the walk to be at least 6 hours’ worth, I decided I didn’t fancy this long a slog in the pouring rain with no views – it’d have to keep for another day. Instead I had noticed a small forestry commission car park along the road so turned around and headed back there.

I followed a large track for half an hour, until a small path led me away up a hill and over a stile. I followed this for a while until I came to the end of the path and what would have been a beautiful view in better weather. I turned around and followed the path back to the main track, but by this time the rain was really hammering down and I couldn’t see the point in going much further, so I turned around and followed the track back to the car feeling very disappointed.

My only consolation was the fact that I’d been able to test out my new Paramo waterproof trousers, which passed with flying colours. That and the fact that I’d stocked up on strawberry bonbons at the garage on the way and still had at least three quarters of a packet left for the drive home. Yum :o)

Jen x

Creag Lundie Slabs and a couple of Munros

The steady stream of visitors that we have had lately has dried up and we've caught up with the jobs that had been stacking up, so Jen let me have a day off.

The forecast wasn't great and I was having trouble deciding what to do with my time off. The sun was out but I wasn't sure how long it would last so I decided I'd head up to Creag Lundie Slabs and have a quick look at the climbing - see if it was worth a visit with Jen and some ropes. The crag is only about 25 mins away, just at the east end of Glen Shiel, and only about 30 mins from the car. We had some guys in the hostel at the weekend trying to break the record for the number of Munros in 24 hours (28), something must have rubbed off on me because I decided I wouldn't take much with me and then I could run back down.


The crag looks really good, maybe not much in the way of protection, but I'm planning on not mentioning that to Jen and I can get her to do the leading when we head up together. I'd already managed to scare myself silly by soloing some of the easier stuff in my running shoes so kept well clear of the main slab, just a flick through the guidebook and a few appreciative nods would do me today.


I headed up to the top of the hill to try and find a nice way to run down. I decided I may as well head up to the nearest Munro, Carn Ghlusaid, and then follow the path down from there, after all, I'd already done half the height. It was a bit of a slog up the steep grassy bank to the summit plateau but worth it, I think it must have been something I said that scared off the herd of 30 or so deer resting at the cairn.

I sat on the top enjoying a light lunch (a mars bar - I was travelling light after all), enjoying the view and considering what to do next - the next munro along the ridge versus the nice path down. After an internal struggle I decided my excuses weren't good enough ("I should get back to do my half of the work" and "This water bladder is dirty, maybe I shouldn't drink from it") I got up and headed along the broad ridge and the stoney slope of Sgurr nan Conbhairean. The wind was picking up by now and I had to don my windproof jacket before I got to the summit (thanks for the hand-me-down mum!). I could see the next Munro along the ridge and it didn't look too far but decided it wasn't going anywhere and would wait until next time. I had a quick look over the edge to try and figure out where the winter climbing was (still no idea) and then headed back down. The path down was nice for most of the way with only one small detour to take in another summit before I got down to the bottom and followed an old roman road back to the start. Best of all, I was back at the van before it started raining.

--Matt

New Neighbours

The peace and tranquility at Invergarry Lodge has come to an end.

I thought the Highlands were supposed to be a friendly place with friendly people, not so our new neighbours - they just turn their backs on us and walk off whenever we try to make friends. Scruffy looking bunch as well, and nosey - always staring over the fence, very rude. The invitation to our barbecue for a nice burger didn't go down especially well either.

We are expecting to receive complaints from our guests about prying eyes and a funny smell wafting over from the neighbours any time now.




In other news, it's been an engaging time up here lately, the recreational activities have been put on hold because the in-laws are visiting and we're working them hard. The garden particularly has received a lot of attention and the chicken run will soon be ready for some inhabitants.

--Matt

The Rum Cuillin

I spent all my saved up brownie-points this week on a trip to the Isle of Rum with some new friends, and it was definitely worth it.


I met up with Mark and Ian early on Thursday and headed across to Arisaig to catch the wildlife cruise boat that would serve as our ferry. A few hours later, after a few short stops to admire some dolphins and a whale or two, we finally left behind the grey-cloud-ridden mainland and arrived on Rum about 12.30 pm to be greeted by glorious sunshine.

As soon as we'd landed we started our long slog up towards the first mountain, Hallival. As we reached the ridge line we could see the afternoon's route ahead of us, it looked like a long way with big descents between each of the summits. By the time we were approaching the second peak, Askival, the cloud was beginning to close in on the island and the interesting scrambly sections up the ridge became slightly more interesting with the greasy rock - our big packs didn't really help.

After descending to about 450 metres we took a well deserved rest and donned jackets before tackling Ainshval and the final section of ridge. It was beginning to get late and we were conscious of the time and we still had a long way to go before setting up camp on the south-west coast of the island. We finally got the tents set up about 9 pm.

After an initial battle with the midges the next morning (they won!) we followed the coast a little way to the Bullough Mausoleum at Harris (a two house hamlet!) and then followed a track, with only one small detour to avoid some highland cattle, all the way across the island. My feet were complaining about the weight of my pack for the last few miles but we got to the beaches on the north coast in great time and set up our camp nice and early with great views across the ocean to the Skye Cuillin.


Ian had brought his fishing gear and headed off to catch us some tea. Unfortunately, all he caught was three packets of freeze dried beef stroganoff, anyway, I've heard freshly caught mackerel barbecued on the beach is overrated.

After a leisurely start and breakfast on the beach we made it back to Kinloch with a couple of hours to spare before the ferry took us home. There wasn't much going on at the tea afternoon in the village hall, but one of the locals offered to lend Ian his canoe so he could have another crack at the elusive mackerel. Ian and I headed out across Loch Scresort towards the ocean, unfortunately even the local's insider knowledge didn't help us and all we caught was a few cans of pop and a Toblerone. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon though, despite the lack of fish.

I've had a great few days on Rum, have seen deer, golden eagles, mountain goats, seals, wild rum ponies, scary path-blocking highland cattle and enough midges and ticks to last me a while. But it's good to get back to the Hostel, just to make sure Jen is running everything up to my standards.

Finally, a word from our sponsors...



--Matt

Biking in Leanachan Forest

We were hoping for another day out cragging today, the vague plan was to head out as soon as all the guests had gone, get a few hours climbing and then come back and try to do all the cleaning before anyone turned up at the hostel (you know, our hostel in the Scottish Highlands!).

When we woke up the weather seemed to have other plans, the ground was damp and it looked pretty overcast. We decided we'd head to the Nevis Range and check out the biking in the Leanachan Forest. As usual, most of the guests had hills to conquer and were all out and about pretty early, we made it to the Nevis range for about 10 am. The sun had decided to come out and it looked like it'd be another great day.

Apparently we were a day too late for the "10 under the Ben" endurance race so we had a look around to see what we fancied doing. Jen was still feeling a little unsure about her "clippy inny" spd pedals so we decided to warm up on the short "skills" loops. Handily they are colour coded like ski runs, we whizzed through the burns and drops of the green, blue and red runs a couple of times, we looked at the black but decided we'd leave it for next time!

Some warm up, I was ready for a sit down and a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake. Unfortunately, we didn't have any tea or any cake so decided we'd head off on the "Cour" route, a 19km blue route through the Leanachan forest. I tried to convince Jen that she needed more weight over her back wheel to help control it, she ignored my advice and I ended up carrying the rucksack. After about 20 minutes of pedalling I was thinking we'd made a bit of a mistake, we'd been on slightly inclining forest roads in baking sun since we'd set off and I was beginning to worry it'd all be like this. 5 minutes later it got a lot better. After a quick downhill blast the route cuts on to some nice fast singletrack that went through the forest (with shade and a nice breeze!) for a couple of kilometers then carved through the open countryside under Aonach Mor. Unfortunately, there were a few kilometers of forest road to get us back to the van, but the route finishes at the top of the skills loop so we had another blast through there to finish on a high.

The route was OK in the end despite the slog along the forest roads, a good introduction to biking at the Nevis Range, now we've got the blue out the way I'm looking forward to trying one of the red routes.

--Matt