Tales of walking, running and mood dependent, maybe other random stuff!
With the winds gone and the Sunday golf finished for the season, I was willing to forgo my usual social Sunday run in favour of a hill day. That said, neither of us were filled with enthusiasm as we drove out the road, in two minds as to whether we stop in Tarland for Pressendye … Continue reading Sgòr Mòr, showcasing the Cairngorms
Our plans for the day were upskittled by a very iffy weather forecast. After much debate, we’d pretty much settled on a lower level day of little or nothing (walk up the Devil’s Staircase followed by a mosey about Fort William) when a last look at the Met Office heralded a change. We made a … Continue reading Càrn Mòr Dearg
Following a spy on social media, we each adopted a munro to support some research being done by the James Hutton Institute: https://munro-biodiversity.hutton.ac.uk This required us to visit our chosen munro and take soil samples from three designated points (or close by should the vegetation not match that specified). Having carefully planned some hills for … Continue reading Mountain Heights, Hidden Depths (Soil Survey) incorporating Beinn a’ Chaorainn, Beinn Teallach and Meall Dearg
Waking after a great night’s sleep (the best this week), I felt a little trepidation at the prospect of the day ahead. On one hand I was optimistic, today would see me complete the loop. On the other, the distance was daunting - 23 miles, furthest I’ll have gone in quite some time! Staying in … Continue reading Borders Abbey Way: Hawick to Melrose (Day 4)
We’ve been hoping to get amongst the hills for a few weeks, but something has always stopped us. The inclement weather, me not getting up early enough, or illness. We contemplated Loch Lee last weekend but Bruce wasn’t feeling 100% and listened to the voice of reason (ME!), opting for a flat walk at Ballater … Continue reading Testing the Legs at Loch Lee
I was going to title this ‘long weekend’, but it wasn’t really as we didn’t leave home until Sunday. Late weekend may be more apt? However, having been corrected on pronunciation recently, I’d like to recognise that the three munros were all ‘Mealls’, pronounced differently to ‘meal’ according to Walk Highlands. The First: Meall Buidhe … Continue reading Three Mealls (not breakfast, lunch & tea!) 🤣
Inverness to Dores Setting off from Inverness this morning I was apprehensive for a couple of reasons, the first being the distance with it being anything between 18 and 23 miles depending on which guide I looked at (the guide from Gemini Walks suggested 23 miles, I hoped they were exaggerating as my longest run … Continue reading Loch Ness 360, Day 1: Inverness to Foyers
Our original plan had been to do this hill on route to our accommodation yesterday, but the spectacular weather led us elsewhere. Today was a Gairich day instead, the recent dry weather coupled with the forecast for rain later in the week, alongside pretty high cloud meant the potential for good views. Having parked at … Continue reading Gairich, Loch Quoich: Boggy trudge was worth it!
Having felt yesterday to be quite a steep, tough ascent, I reconsidered this opinion on today’s hill. Known as the second munro of the Aonach Eagach ridge, most people do it as part of the ridge walk. Having previously disclosed my dislike of exposure that was never going to happen, and so we found ourselves … Continue reading Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh: Low mileage, quite some effort!
First day of our holiday, we stopped off at Layby 87 (A9) on route to our destination. Unsure how conditions would be following the snow a couple of days ago, we were fully equipped for winter with crampons, ice axes and microspikes, alongside the obligatory spare gloves etc. Suffice to say the pack was heavy! … Continue reading Càrn na Caim and A’Bhuidheanach Bheag: ‘Boring’ hills, beautiful in the winter!
Clare, happiest outdoors! 