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Archive for the scottish hikes Category

a night time stroll up a munro - to catch the sunrise.

16/02/2012 by admin.

‘So where are you going tomorrow’ my wife asked, to which I replied with the usual showing on a spare map plus the assortment of grid ref’s, etc, etc, along with the promise of a phone call which I have to admit I sometimes forget until I’m back in the car and surrounded by the phenomenon of ‘no reception’.

The map I produced was a very tattered OS 33, spare due to the areas on it that constant soaks have turned it into a blotted mess, particularly around the five sisters to glen Affric area where I have failed miserably to forget the ‘the monsoon day’. Unfortunately, it is joined by three other occasions where similar conditions did test my waterproofs to their limits. But they are but a mere easily cured itch compared to the numerous grand days I have had around kintail.

For a start the drive down the A 87 is a magical experience, especially past the clunie hotel, to which I have ferried many a hitch hiker. As you descend down through the steep sides where the rived delves into a short tunnel before tumbling in a series of astonishing water falls to the battle site. But your eyes will not be on the river, but the high mountains that tower either side of you, and especially of the pyramid shape of the saddle to your front. For here it is the Munros that dominate the scene like alpine secrets where light threads it tentative rays into the deep glen, over the rippling waters of the river and the heather that cling’s to the rocky slopes for dear life. All of this will, if you allow it, allure you into a false sense. No a real sense of mellow beauty where your eyes are seldom on the road (and perhaps the reason for the many lay-bys and numerous Car Parks) where time slows as your swept on the gentle current down the long straight to the lay-by conveniently positioned opposite the one series of mountains that had thus far always been covered in cloud for me.

Pure paradise - Winter snow in the Cairngorms

11/12/2011 by admin.

After a drive through blizzards, then under clear skies lit up by a full moon, I finally arrived at the cairngorms to be greeted by a traffic jam. Not a traffic jam as southerners experience around London on the largest toll free car park in Europe but more of a wait for the hard working park staff to clear the roads. Did not have to wait long before our line of cars slide and slided up the steep road leaving a few stragglers along the way until we all parked in a nice long line beside the ski centre underneath the glow of sunrise with the bright moon hovering over Aviemore, both it and the sun starting to cast the grey oranges over the skies cloud. carry on reading about my trip here.

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Beinn a ghlo above Blair Atholl

17/11/2011 by admin.

Do not know why but as I drove down the A9 on a -5 cold early Sunday morning to atholl, unheeded by any cars (a miracle) I was feeling guilty. Guilty of nothing in particular, just the usual married man stuff , of me going off for some fun while the family are stuck at home sort of guilty. It could be that just because today was the first in many months when it did not rain or was very windy but then again my days of taking them places does seem to be over, as they would rather ‘hang’ with mates then parents now. It is the ‘Can’t live the parent’s day’ I am really waiting for, feels like it will never arrive. But back to the guilt stuff, don’t know if anyone else ever feels it, but if today was guilty day for all walkers then I saw at least another 20 odd cars around parked in the going munroing places, so I guess I’m not totally alone. To read and see more photos click here.

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Lochnagar

17/11/2011 by admin.

Lochnagar – it is quite a funny name when you look into it, for a start, reading it as it is you get the impression that perhaps the name came from an old Giza who once lived in a wee cottage by loch Muick, who was perhaps feared due to having an ability to moan people to death or nag. Whereas if you look at its Gaelic meaning ‘Hill of laughter or noise’ you get the impression of an old Giza who lived in a wee cottage by Loch Muick who was perhaps a bit of a comedian and had the ability to lighten the hardiest of moments. To read more and see more photo click here.

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Ben Avon - A secret

26/10/2011 by admin.

Another walk I did a few weeks ago, had planned to do this walk purly to verify if you could see the moray firth from its summit, but found a heck of alot more then that - read on here.

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Highland panoramic’s and pipers stone above cromdale

23/09/2011 by admin.

Despite the west coast having major rain tantrums these past few weeks, me and the pup did manage a few walks be it not to exciting rugged mountain terrains of knoydart and torridon - well its not as if they will go any where soon!!! Instead we visited the heights of Ben Rinnes, that promonent peak rising above Aberlour and as I found, offering a view over Moray which is, in my humble opionion, fantastic from the coast all the way to the cairngorms and of most of the distilleries running along River Avon.

Second little outing was to the Hills of Cromdale, much talked about in my coming guide book and well worth a side visit if only to see the pipers stones, the memorial cairns on the summits and to walk the hallow soil of the battle site.

But beware, for on days when the wind howls and the rain falls in heavy sheets it is said that the piper, a man named Hamish, tends to appear before unsuspecting walkers, tempting them to follow him to where he fall amongst his comrades…….!

I’ve also made a panoramic of the battle site and the stone which is now uploaded to my freebies page along with some other highland images - most are quite large and might take some time to download.

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Circular hike around Slioch

02/09/2011 by admin.

Finally the monsoon is showing signs of moving on and the west coast of Scotland is open once more to her wonderous views - much to my pleasure. read report of the trip here.