The Loch Lochy Munros

Jen gave me a day off from hostel work...with the proviso that I took the dog with me! That ruled out biking and climbing etc so we headed out for a walk. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that we've been here over a year and I hadn't done one of the Munros on our doorstep so we headed out to rectify the situation.

We parked down at Kilfinnan, just as I pulled up there was someone else setting off, looking like they were heading up to the Munros....rats....that meant I'd have to have Dylan on a lead so he didn't slobber all over them and ruin their day. The two walkers disappeared however - they must have headed off down the Great Glen Way rather than up into the hills, Dylan could run free without the danger of annoying other people!


We were soon on the top of the first Munro and it was then I realised I'd been singing "Grace Kelly" by Mika since I'd left the van. I cursed radio 2 for playing it just before I set off. "I could be brown, I could be blue, I could be vi-o-let sky...". Truly awful but it would not get out of my head.

As we headed back down to the bealach I could see the path zig-zagging up to the next summit with some people half way up. Before Dyls spotted them I clipped him onto his leash and followed them up. I clipped his lead on to my rucksack waist belt so I could still use my poles.....genius! With his extra pulling power we romped up the path. We overtook one of the walkers and arrived at the summit cairn at the same time as the other two.


I didn't fancy returning back down the zig-zags and the slog along the forest track so headed off along the lovely ridge towards Sean Meall ..."Am I too dirty? Am I too flirty? Do I like what you like?".... and down to Kilfinnan Falls and home.



Guess what was on the radio when I got back in the van? I might have to change my radio station of choice.

--Matt

Use the flippin' door!

All was quiet on the hostel front so we decided it was time to give Dylan his first taste of wild camping. We thought he might end up ripping the tent in to a million pieces so we didn't stray too far from the hostel - we knew we could pack up and be home in an hour or so if we needed to. We also took the precaution of taking an old (and heavy!) tent just in case he destroyed it.


We headed up to the moor underneath Ben Tee in glorious late afternoon sun with Dylan looking dapper in his new day-glow "you won't lose me in the dark" collar. He was a bit of a pain whilst setting up the tent and running off with various things, but we managed to get the tent up despite his help. The biggest problem was his refusal to use the tent door, he just forced his way under the sides. Cries of "Use the flippin' door!" rang across the great glen for at least an hour.

I was half considering and midnight ascent of Ben Tee but the cloud descended as dusk approached so we settled on playing cards and drinking tea instead whilst Dylan ran around looking for trouble.

In the tent itself he wasn't too bad, it took him ten minutes or so to settle down but he was fine eventually, I even woke up doing "spoons" with him, lovely and warm.

--Matt

Glen Buick Bothy

Some friends of ours recently made a trip up to this bothy when they were staying with us for our recent wedding, and made some very glowing reports about the walk there, so Matt and I decided we would head up there when we had a quiet day at the hostel.

Yesterday such a day presented itself, we had only a few beds to change in the morning and nobody checked in for the evening; to top it all off though it was a fantastically sunny spring day with barely a breath of wind - perfect!

We left the van at the swing bridge at Aberchalder and walked along the canal towards Loch Oich, before heading onto the track leading through the Aberchalder estate. This took us past a beautiful estate cottage before turning right up the steep hillside. Dylan was enjoying every minute of this, his first proper walk since injuring his front left stopper paw a couple of weeks ago. Over the last couple of days he'd made sure he'd impressed on us that he was definitely fully recovered and ready for walks again by chewing everything in his sight - including plastic milk bottles freshly retrieved from the kitchen bin, my new pink fleece blanket and one of Matt's climbing karabiners. Once we'd cleared the debris from the floor for the 6th time in 2 days we decided it was definitely time to take him on a tiring walk.

And so up the hill we headed, Dylan running on ahead chasing bumble bees and eating sheep droppings, us just meandering upwards taking in the lovely sunshine and views across Loch Oich down to the Loch Lochy Munros and north up the Caledonian Canal towards Loch Ness. The path continued to snake its way up the hillside for an hour or so, and then we followed it over the top and into the very scenic Glen Buick. It was remarkable how fast the scenery changed and very soon we felt quite remote, despite having been at the road only an hour or so earlier. The path took us deep into the glen and we were treated to the sight of a few deer bounding away from the path as we approached them. Another hour later we could see the bothy ahead, and were soon opening the door for an exploratory peek. It seems a very well appointed bothy with two floors and a number of rooms with fireplaces, very well kept and would be very cosy on a cold night. We were content to sit outside in the sunshine and eat our lunch while Dylan raced about still revelling in his new-found freedom.


We could have sat there all day lounging in the sunshine but time was ticking on so we packed up, locked the bothy back up and went on our way. Dylan was soon tired - the tadpoles swimming in the puddles along the path were losing their entertainment value rapidly and he just soldiered on back to the van.


We barely had a peep from him all evening afterwards, which is just the way we like him, so will be planning the next outing as soon as possible. The books are right in one respect at least: a tired dog is indeed a well behaved dog!

Jen x

South Shiel Ridge (East section)

The hostel was ship shape and Jen was going to man the fort (woman the fort?) so I headed over to the South Shiel Ridge to do the easternmost 4 Munros (Creag a' Mhaim, Drium Shionnach, Aonach air Chrith and Maol Chinn-dearg) and have a wild camp - our first night apart since married life!

I sat in the van for a good 20 minutes staring up at the ridge trying to muster the motivation to set off up the long approach path, the ridge was covered in cloud but I hoped it would clear by the time I got up there. The plan was to set off late and get the Munro's bagged just before the sunset and have a little camp on the ridge. I nearly just turned around and drove home but I eventually got going, almost.... I'd forgotten my socks, luckily I had spare pair, unfortunately, as I un-balled them I realised that Dylan had got to them before I had.


The approach path eventually zig zags up towards the first summit which was hard going as every alternate "Zig" was head long into a 45mph wind. The first two summits where just a cloudy grey haze but as I approached the third... the clouds cleared, the wind stopped, the sun came out... fantastic views made even better by the sudden revealing.


I eventually made camp on a little spur on the south side on the ridge overlooking the Loch Quoich Munros. This is when I realised I'd forgotten to pack my sleeping bag and worse of all, I brought the wrong gas for the stove so no cups of tea either! I thought my pack seemed light.

I got a few hours of sleep before the cold really kicked in, I lay there shivering for a few hours before I gave in. About 3 am I put my boots back on and went out into the clag to stamp around a bit and warm up. 10 minutes later the clouds drifted away to show a bright starry night and a cloud inversion all around. I spent the next few hours playing with my camera.

View to the north

The early morning moon.

I made the summit of the fourth and final Munro for 6.30 am to watch the sun come up before I headed back down to civilisation and to our Scottish Independent Hostel.

Beats friday night TV.

--Matt

Bolinn Loop (almost...)

We had a lovely sunny Easter Sunday up here so I headed out round the local forest for a quick ride, which ended up turning into a long walk after a visit from the puncture fairy just as I was getting to the good bit...

--Matt

Vicky's Munro Adventure (**Guest Blog**)

Another guest blogger, enjoying Jenny and Matt's wonderful hospitality and beautiful Invergarry Lodge!

We ummed and aahed over when to head to the hills, and fixed on yesterday as the weather did not look so promising for the rest of the week.

I've been exploring Barren Down (Isle of Purbeck, Dorset) recently, but walking the ridge between the two Munros, Spidean Mialach and Gleouraich, is in another league.


Once I had rescued my gloves from Dylan, the ascent began - short and very steep to the top of Spidean Mialach. But the views were fantastic, over South Shiel to the north and Loch Quoich to the south, and the few spots of rain completely disappeared, never to return. There is still some snow along the top, which has drifted quite deep in places, but invigorated by my surroundings and pushed on by the wind, I scrambled on to the second peak, Gleouraich.

The descent is spectacular - you can take giant steps down the path with the beautiful Loch Quoich spread out in front of you. Nature seemed to soften on the way down - the wind less howling, the cold less biting and the gradient less steep.

So, a fantastic walk and I didn't get lost! (which is something - once went up Cader Idris and came down in the wrong valley...). Home to Jenny's veggie meatballs and Helen's chocolate truffles - nice :o)

Vicky x

Beinn Teallach, the lowest Munro ever!

The honeymoon is over and it's back to the hostel routine for us, well, it would have been if the weather forecast wasn't so good! The Inbox could wait a few hours.

Apparently I've let myself go since getting married. Dylan had also been getting fat and lazy whilst my mother was hostel sitting (she treats him too well!) so we both headed over to the Roughburn Munros to have a quick run up Beinn Teallach.

Beinn Teallach is only just a Munro at 915m and has a broad grassy southern slope that would be perfect for a quick run. We took a slight detour through some lovely waymarked forest tracks along a stream (perfect for future dog walks) to the bottom of the hill and then began the slog up to the summit. I was feeling a bit guilty at the top as I'd forgot to pack Dylan any food, but he made up for that by stealing half my cake and covering my water bladder with dog slobber whilst I was trying to set the camera on timer.


It's all downhill from here, literally. The descent didn't take us long, the gentle grassy slopes had a few patches of snow and was a bit boggy in places but was perfect for running down (minus my two falls and Dylan's one). We had a bit of a paddle in the stream to try and clean up before heading back home to the wife.

--Matt

The honeymoon period is over...

Congratulations to the Happy Couple.

There has been a week of celebrations, nuptials and partying here at Invergarry Lodge recently, I am sure all the guests would join me in thanking Matt and Jenny for allowing us to share their special day and for their generous hospitality

The newly weds are honeymooning and have left me in charge…… again. I am taking this as a complement that I did a good job last time and they promised me it would be quiet.

As well as congratulating them on their wedding, I would like to offer congratulations for their first anniversary, as it is a year since they moved to Invergarry and took over Invergarry Lodge. They have achieved a great deal in the year and I know they have many more plans for the future.

It would appear that March is a good month for Mr and Mrs Jenneson and leads me to wonder if there may be another celebration next March !!

I know that everyone who shared their wedding celebrations and all who know Matt and Jenny wish them every happiness for their future together.

Sue (Matts Mum and now Jens Mother in Law) x