20/12/14 - Blencartha via Sharp Edge - (me, Bowden)

Met up with Steve at J16 at 7:30am (the morning after the works xmas do - I'd driven home at about 11, Steve had stumbled home at about 3am). We arrived at Blencartha shortly after 10am, we were pretty disappointed at the lack of snow - Steve had crampons and ice axe at the ready, but there would be no need of them today, which was lucky for me as I had no winter equipment and had been somewhat nervous about whether I'd be able to reach the top if there was too much snow. In fact the sun was out and it was a beautiful, warm and clear winter morning.

It was pretty steep right from the off. Steve's hangover was starting to kick-in and I stated to think that my new thermal leggings and (synthetic) insulated jacket were going to be a bit hot (I'd been stocking up on new gear for my trip to Scotland in Feb).

After a while it struck me that one of the benefits of the lack of snow was that we'd be able to go scramble up Striding Edge - Steve quickly agreed.

We started our ascent and while we were never that far from the path, it was a long, steep, exposed, windy and wet ascent. There were frequently no obvious foot or hand holds and on several occasions I was genuinely concerned - especially when I had to climb back down one section which I feared was too high and may result in getting stuck half way up. There was also a particular section which involved going over a slab which leaned over and down over the edge of the ridge and offered no obvious hand holds for reassurance (I later discovered that this was the 'bad step').
I was relieved when we got to the top, but it was fun never the less.

The rest of the walk up Blencartha was open and straightforward. There were some snow patched at the top, but nothing which warranted winter gear.

The walk down was long, but simple - though my newly bought GPS did clarify/correct us on the route a couple of times.

Overall, the walk was over too quick, but the beer and chips in the pub couldn't come quick enough.

GPX File

25/10/14 - Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge - (me)

Set off early and arrived at about 9:15. Weather was pretty poor. The path was busy, but I got a pace on and the bodies thinned out as I passed everyone and got higher. Eventually I reached Striding Edge, the weather had got worse, visibility was reduced, it was raining and the wind was quite gusty. I decided to continue along the top of the ridge as I knew I'd be frustrated if I took an easier route. I kept my body low, ready to drop to the rock if there was a sudden gust of wind. The drops to the side didn't phase me, but I did start to tire as I got toward the top. I was largely on my own, but there were the occasional other people in the distance.

It was foggy and extremely windy on the summit of Helvellyn. I kept moving but the rain soaked me through my jacket and trousers and I started to get cold. I thought I saw the turning down to Swirral Edge, but particularly given the visibility and weather it looked treacherous and I couldn't quite believe that it could be the route of descent. I carried on walking, leaning into the wind at about 30 degrees. After a few minutes I realised that I must have missed the turning, my map was drenched and close to being reduced to tatters. I was unsure whether to continue the long way over Helvellyn, but wasn't sure of the route. I was reasonably concerned at this point of getting lost and or suffering in some way from exposure to the elements - so I decided the safest thing to do was to return via the way I'd come. (I realised however that I couldn't have been too worried when I passed 2 other walkers and was too proud to discuss things with them!)

Luckily the weather cleared slightly on my return and I now saw the turning down to Swirral Edge more clearly - it stopped looking so treacherous and I saw some other people had just descended via that route. Bizarrely, as soon I dropped down over the edge, visibility improved further and the wind and rain reduced significantly. I clambered down and soon started to warm up . It also started to get quite busy. I'd not stopped for a break at all at this point, but still felt quite energetic (maybe it was the cheese and lime pickle sandwiches?), so I took in Catsye Cam and carried on over the top to make my descent,

My socks were sodden, but my descent was easy enough (inspired by being passed at high speed by some mountain bikers, frustrated by having to walk only shortly behind some yobbish lads who'd just descended, but despite their surroundings seemed to think it appropriate to be kicking lager cans down the street and into people's gardens!), and I was surprised at how quickly I arrived back at the car.

GPX File

22/09/14 - Bein Narnain - (me, Conners, Steve)

Started the last day with questionable energy levels. We parked up and set off - I knew it was going to be steep and involve some scrambling so I was unsure how far we'd get. Andy, as always, was ready with a range of Garmin devices - I was starting to see the benefits, but unlike Andy, only as a backup to a map rather than as a means to gather numerous bits of (largely depressing), data.

The going was steep and relentless, there was a clear set of targets but not much in the way of a path. The patches of scrambling were fun, but Steve was a little unsure of things. This was particularly the case on the final section up Beinn Narnain which was very exposed - you just had to keep going and not spend long looking down. However, no-one complained and sounded any great foreboding or annoyance.

Views from the top were spectacular, especially looking west as the loch opened up to the see and the islands beyond. The Cobbler also looked spectacular, we ll worthy of further attention even though it's not a Munro.

We neither had the time or energy to take in Beinn Ime (it's becoming the case that every walk I do, I fall short of doing the full route).

The walk back was enjoyable until the last mile or so as we wound down the steep path and the pain was apparent in all our knees.

Eventually we arrived back at the car and set off on the long journey home. I drove to Glasgow and then handed the keys over (for the first time of the weekend), and was able to sleep most of the way home.

Munro - Bein Narnain

GPX File

21/09/14 - Lochnagar Range - (me, Conners, Steve)

We woke early and stiff to consume more fried breakfast and make more sandwiches. We made the northward trip to Balmoral in very good time but it wasn't clear how much walking Andy (and particularly), Steve would be up to doing. However, we set off our "truck" in good spirits. It was surprisingly, and disappointingly busy, and the ascent was steady and constant, but the weather was shaping up to be well and joints and muscles were warming and loosening too.

Once we took in Lochnagar I worried that people would want to turn back, but without deliberation we continued on our planned route. We were rewarded by a realisation that the work was largely over and we were now walking on relatively level ground. What's more the crowds has disappeared and we had the world to ourselves.

We followed the path along, but opt to move from the path to take in Carn a Choire Bhoidheach which was such a non-descript ascent and summit that it hardly felt like a Munro. But it did involve a return to the path which was steeper and less easy to traverse.

We enjoyed a bit of a bathe in a mountain stream and continued on in the now glorious weather.

It's disappointing, but we skip Carn an Sagairt Mor because  irrespective of energy levels I get worried that we'd going to run out of daylight. I wonder when I'll be able to return to pick off this Munro and whether I'd need to repeat the entire route in order to do so.

We dip down and the rise to Cairn Bannoch. The sun is now slowly descending and the expansive vista is taking on an evening glow. We're completely alone and a significant distance from any civilization. The mountain hares are the only local population. We take in the boulder strewn (and potentially ankle twisting), Broad Cairn. From here, it's all about descent, which is long and gradual.

The path descends to the side of Loch Muick and as the sun sets we're treated to a view of a doe and 2 foals skipping away from us. We pass a stunning Loch side House which I later learned was Queen Victoria's bothy.

The final mile was arduous (as it always is), and we make it back to the car with just a couple of minutes of daylight left. We stop for some pub food (a hearty home made lasagne), in Ballater and then undertake the long drive back to Kenmore. On the way back a couple of deer nearly meet a timely end as they run out in front of the car.

Munro - Broad Cairn, Cairn Bannoch, Carn a'Choire Bhoidheach,  Lochnagar

GPX File

20/09/15 - Meall nan Tarmachan to Ben Lawers - (me, Steve, Conners)

We travelled up on 19/9 (the day Scotland voted to stay in the UK (potentially fortunately...)). We stayed in an apartment on the Taymouth Estate. The morning consisted in fried breakfast, sandwich making and then a drive up to Ben Lawers car park. The mood was jubilant and somewhat overly confident.

We added Meall nanTarmachan at the beginning of the route on the basis that I'd found I'd covered routes quicker than the routes advertised themselves as.

The walk to the top was steep - the banter and confident displayed in the car soon dissipated and I started to regret adding Meall nan Tarmachan to the start of the route.

We soldiered down Creag an Lochain, it was steep, off path and hard work. We then walked round the reservoir and started the proper route. With no path through the very boggy terrain we opted to skip Meall a Choire Leith and head straight for Meall Corranaich - i.e. straight up the side of it, with no use of path. This was hard slog. The banter was now aimed firmly at me and my choice of routes - I started to worry that people weren't enjoying it. However, we eventually got to the top (with Andy counting down nearly every metre with his GPS), found the path and the collective mood picked up as we started to walk along the ridge.

We soon took in Meall  ??? and even Ben Lawers was a breeze in comparison to what we'd already dealt with. However, we didn't have the energy or remaining daylight hours to continue so we headed back to the rather than continuing on the rest of the route to the Lawers Hotel. Regrettably there was a reluctance to take in Bein Ghlas on the way back, but even I was very tired by the time we got back to the car.

We drove to the Lawers Hotel, had a well deserved meal and pint and then had an early night. Main lesson learnt - don't extend the route at the beginning and don't take short cuts off path....

Munro - Meall nan Tarmachan, Meall Corranaich, Ben Lawers

GPX File

23-24/08/14 - Coniston Old Man, Dow Crag - (me, Luca)

Luca and I went out for a trek with our tents etc in back packs, our first wild camp in the hills. The first objective was Coniston Old Man. The was surprisingly hard with our packs on - far harder than other recent walks in the hills. But the weather was good and views were excellent. There was also a lot of interest (and excuses to stop), in the old quarries which the path meanders through.
Once we'd reached the first peak we carried on to Dow Crag where the number of people reduced significantly and an enjoyable scramble was required to reach the top (we ditched our bags to make things a bit easier and more pleasurable).

The plan was then to go to Seathwaite Tarn, hide our gear and carry on to Wetherlam and then return later to Seathwaite Tarn to camp. However, were were pretty tired and it was quite a bit later than planned. On our way we stopped for some hot soup (heated on my new stove), at which point we had about 15 minutes of rain (the only rain of the whole weekend).

We located a decent spot to camp, it was level, but very stony - not sure if it was natural or mad made. We hid our gear and trekked about half way up Grey Carrs before tiring and going back for more soup. We then get more energy and got about half way up the steep incline to Grey Friar - before running out of day light.

It was a cold, but very starry night and we were completely alone in a beautiful valley - except for a lot of sheep.

I woke up before Luca. I walked 50 yards up the hill to the point where the sun was reaching and the walked down as it gradually lit the valley. When the sun hit the tent I woke Luca, burnt some beans for breakfast and set off. The second day didn't involve any large hills, but instead went through and round them. We tried to take a few shot cuts - which may or may not have been successful, but they did start to get Luca feeling comfortable making decisions about direction and route.

We stopped at a stream to fill our water bottles (we were making good use of some water purifying tablets), and I realised why you're always advised to carry 2 compasses - mine slipped out of my bag and into the stream. Luckily, I'd heeded the advice and did actually have 2 compasses!

I made some poor assessments along the way and I was unsure about our location and correct route for some time. I was a bit concerned that we would struggle to get back without running out of food and good humour, but Luca remained focussed and kept me going (not being patronising here, it's true!)

Eventually we found a good path and arrived in Coniston. Had a beer,crisps and a scone (to top the cost up so that I could pay with my card!).

GPX File

02/08/14 - Snowdon, Ranger Path - (me, Luca, Steve, Hayley, Conners, Rachel)

This was a dry run for the "boys trip"to Scotland in September (with Conners and Steve), but their wives came too (Dani was packing for the holiday), as did Luca (which made me very proud).
The path surprisingly quiet, but visibility was very poor and progressively cold and windy. Luca was storming ahead - no-one else could keep up.

The wind was really howling as we reached the level section before the final ascent. We saw a dark shape through the mist and heard a bizarre whirring, howl. We were allquizzing over what it was - a tornado was a popular choice - when we realised it was the train!

We got to the top and went for a coffee (!!!). Met a guy in the shop, he had a massive scar on his face and seemed friendly, but a bit off-centre. He claimed to the park warden. He also claimed to be on the from of OL6 map. I checked when I got home and he was, so I felt guilty for doubting him.
We were turfed out of the shop after just a few minutes because it was so windy they were "evacuating".

Weather cleared on the way down. Completed the walk in a fairly swift 4 hours. Went to a pub for a pint on the way back - Luca was quiet but uncomplaining (outwardly at least)

GPX File

06/07/14 - Bow Fell, Crinkle Crags, Pike O' Blisco - (me)

Forecast was terrible and Luca was too tired (after running 1500m race at Sports Day), but I wanted to do a ridge walk with some scrambling to I drove up the Lakes again.

I was a bit late arriving (though it only took 2 hours) and struggled to park, but set off with enthusiasm, especially as I could see the whole circuit around the valley laid out before me. It was much quieter than Scafell Pike and the setting was more picturesque. I was pleased with my speed and consistency and while there was some hail on the way up White Stones / The Band it was obvious that the weather wasn't going to be a problem.

I decided to take in Bow Fell - which turned out to be further than expected, but provided great views of Scafell and made me realised just how close I was to the walk I did the other week. I then carried on through Crinkle Crags, doing as much scrambling on the way as I could. The weather was gorgeous by now and I was pleased with my progress and energy levels.

I carried on and witnessed a team of path makers - large bags of rocks had been dropped (presumably by hellicopter), for them along the way. I decided no to Great Knott (I think I was concerned about the time, but not so sure now - I should have done it), but carried on to Pike O' Blisco.

And then came the only tiring bit of the walk - the trail down the seamingly endless steps. Luckily this was followed by the most gorgeous vista over the valley, all drenched in late afternoon sun.

GPX File

28/06/14 - Scafell Pike - (me and Luca)

The walk was an offset for me to not having Scotland to look forward to any more. Also, was a good opportunity to get Luca walking up a hill with me. Set off from home later than planned as I was kept up lateish the night before by work issues. We were on the road by 8am, rung by work on the way....

Luca forgot his waterproof jacket (shock!), so had to pick something up in Keswick. Luca said he didn't need it, but I said we'd see.....

Parked up and was immediately strung by how busy it was in comparison to Scotland. We struggled to get anywhere to park.

Set off on walk. Weather was warm, cloudy, but rain wasn't forecast. We started at a steady pace, but Luca seemed to be making a lot of excuses to stop and in truth quite a few people are passing us on the way. However, he says he's enjoying it, so it's all good.

The map is a little tricky to follow - there are so many hills and paths and my map reading seems to be falling short. Hills in Scotland were more pronounced and the paths fewer. It took me a long time to work out which hill was Scafell!

The last stretch is a bit of a slog. The peak is crowded and very cold, especially as the cloud descends.

We start the walk back, weaving through the hills as Luca doesn't want to do any more peaks than necessary. However, he's on good form.

We stop at the bridge to fill our bottle with the stream water - which is incredibly clear. Luca drinks a lot and we'd nearly run out.

We get back to the car having completed the advertised 7 hour walk in about 5.5 hours. We have some tea in a nice hotel and then drive home.

It didn't rain.....

GPX File

Solo walking trip to Scotland - end of trip thoughts

Looking back at the posts, I seem to have had a lot of negative things to say, but I still remember the time as being very special. It was definitely the right thing to go on my own as I didn't have to worry about keeping anyone else happy and could just do whatever I felt like. It's strange to spend that amount of time on your own, but not at all unpleasant or lonely (apart when on the beach and completely out of contact with everyone - i.e. no texting).
I kept roughly to plan and covered a hell of a lot of miles. But most of the walks were cut short in one way or another. I also spent far more nights in hotels than I planned. And had more restaurant meals than planned.... My illness and shoe issues really didn't help, but I worked around them as best I could.
The main learning was that next time I'd stay in hostels - wild camping is too iffy in terms of whether you get a good nights sleep, but staying in hotels all the time felt too much at odds with the 'back to basics' nature of walking in the wild.

13/06/14 - Glen Etive - (me)

I feel very tired today. It's drizzling. I want to have the spirit for a long walk, but I don't.
I drive through Glen Finnan and stop off at the statue and viaduct (I get a glimpse of the train). I also stop at Glen Coe to take some more pictures, but it's thick mist and I can't see the mountains at all.
I've decided to drive down Glen Etive (where they filmed Skyfall), and take a wander round. It's 14 miles of single track through (not particularly attractive), forestry commission land. I'm not feeling much love for it. I arrive at the end and the Loch is pretty unimpressive and the car park is a litter ridden site full of rough campers. I chat briefly to some Geordie lads who are camping there and then return to a Lochan I passed on the way in to go for a stroll.
It's incredibly wet, so I turn back before too long and set off for home.
I stop for macaroni cheese at Tebay and I'm home for 7pm.....

12/06/14 - Arisaig - (me, Rory)

I'm pleased to be spending a day sea kayaking as it will give my feet a rest and someone else can take responsibility for what we do/don't do. However, it starts suitably stressful by me having to rush breakfast down and then cover a 1.5 hour journey in about an hour - why don't they serve breakfast earlier?
Rory will be my guide for the day, in my party of 1.... Luckily, he's a wonderfully likable young chap. We set off around the coast, stopping off on islands and in bays and watching seals and birds as we go. The sea is incredibly calm, beautiful and the whole thing is remarkably relaxing.
I do some more GoPro footage (this turned out to be the only video that I took that anyone was remotely interested in, and I'd take a fairly thorough blog through the entire expedition....).
By the end of the day I ache immensely and quickly decide against any idea of wild camping on my final night. Especially as it's now drizzling and I desperately need a hot shower. Luckily the adjoining hotel has a room. I sit and enjoy a couple more whiskies (a Laphroig and a Lagavulin - it takes me ages to work this out after - both really peaty and very nice).
I continue reading 'The Call of the Mountains' and then bed.

11/06/14 - Tom na Gruigaich - (me)

I wake up to take the tent down pre-6am. I feel very tired and generally pretty dreadful. The sore on my foot was also making me hobble. I start the drive to Torridon and have to stop on the way for a kip. Luckily I find a cafe in Torridon, have scrambled eggs on toast (not on the menu, but the rustle it up for me anyway), which picks up my mood somewhat and stops me wanting to go straight to the hotel where I'm staying that night. I also pick up a book in the cafe called 'The Call of the Mountain' by Max Landsberg, this also inspires to continue with my planned walk for the day - or at least to start it.

I start the walk up Beinn Alligin (Tom na Gruigaich), with low expectations of how far I'd get, but I manage to get to the top and feel OKish. I feel reasonably tempted to continue to Sgurr Mor (though not even slightly tempted to continue as far as 'The Horns'), but the weather closes in, the ridge looks quite exposed and I think better of it. By the time I reach the bottom I'm glad I did, as I'm stumbling quite badly and generally struggling to lift my feet in a coordinated manner.

I have a great drive to the Leterfinaly Hotel on Loch Leven - going through Glen Shiel and past Eilean Donan castle is amazing.

The Hotel is nice, the room has a bizarrely over configured Victorian bath suite. I have an average steak and a couple of nice whiskies (Talisker (nice and peaty) and Dalwhinnie (too sweet)) and even go for a pleasant sunny evening stroll on the Loch.
And then bed.

Munro - Tom na Gruagaich

GPX File

10/06/14 - Sandwood Bay - (me)

Had another full Scottish breakfast at the hotel and drove north to Kinlochbervie (stopped off at castle ruins on Loch Assynt on the way). It was raining when I arrived so I cooked up some tomato soup on the stove (only time I ended up using it), and bided my time till it stopped. Also made some cheese sandwiches for tea. The sun makes a tentative appearance so I set off for the beach, with tent and overnight gear in my rucsac.

It's a few miles to the beach, which turns out to be about as stunning as expected. There's a couple of other people on there, but it's so big you hardly notice. I find a fantastic spot for the tent - in among the dunes and hidden from the beach itself. I go for a bit of a walk on the cliff edge, but after that the lack of purposeful and necessary activity makes feel a bit hapless. I go for a paddle. The water isn't that cold and is a pure Asiatic blue - except where the water comes in from the sea loch, where it's bog brown and really very warm. I then end up packing up my tent, deciding that with no alcohol, nothing to burn, or cook I'd be better off going back to Loch Assynt to camp. So I pack up the tent and bolt back to the car. I'm really not sure if this is a smart idea or not, but I know that unless I get a shift on it will be really late by the time I get back. By rushing, I make my feet twice as sore as they were previously.

On the way back the rain starts again so I stop at a little restaurant in Kyelsku (they do fantastic local food -  I have scallops). I then leave for Loch Assynt (it's kind of stopped raining now). 3 deer run out in front of me and I have to break to avoid hitting them. As I park up the car I see a stag watching me from on overhanging cliff above me. I plan on drinking a beer at the site and having a small fire, but the midges are so bad, that I need to rush then tent up and jump inside. I can see the 3 deer about 100 yards away, watching me from the edge of the Loch. Overall, I'm quite freaked by now. I can't even watch them to see how near they're getting because the midge are bothering me so much. To top it all I realise as the wind starts that my chosen location is very exposed to the wind. And I start thinking that I'll need to get up early so as not to bother anyone who wants to see the castle first thing. Result of all these concerns is that I hardly sleep a wink.....

GPX File

09/06/14 - Loch Assynt and Quinnag - (me)

Set off from Glencoe pre-7am. Drove alongside Loch Ness through Inverness to Ullapool. Had a full Scottish Breakfast and bought postcards and presents. I then drove further north to Loch Assynt.

I parked on the A894 and started to walk to the Quinnag Corbetts. Realised after a while that I was going anti-clockwise rather than clockwise so I really struggled to get up the first hill - steep, steep heather. Had a bit of a scare with a deer about half way up. It was nestled into a rock and didn't want to budge - I go fairly close to it without realising it. Had to do quite a detour to get round it as it really didn't want to move.

After reaching the summit of Sail Gorm (where I encoutered my first grouse and then baby grouse), I started up Spidean Coinich but some really heavy sideways rain came in and I didn't feel that I could proceed. Shame. In hindsight I should have waited for a bit.

I was planning on camping next to the castle on Loch Assynt but it was chucking it down. I went for a nice steak and chips at a rather posh Lodge and then took a drive through rich, dense and almost prehistoric valleys and sea coves - it was like the land was still forming.

I ended up booking into a hotel in the Summer Isles. As I did the skys opened and it turned into quite a nice evening. I went for a walk down the road (past numerous dumped and rusted bits of farm machinery), on the very rugged coast, being watched all the time by seals. I wore a new pair of walking shoes and realised when I get back that I'd ripped a great hole in my heel!

GPX File

08/06/14 - Bidean nam Bian - (me)

This was to be the first day of my first walking trip to and tour of Scotland. I became ill the day before I set off.... I was due to set off at 6am, but didn't leave till 7:30. However, the journey was excellent and I was parked on the A82 and walking up Bidean nam Bian by 1:30pm.

The main thing powering me along was adrenaline. I tried to ignore the fact that I was actually feeling pretty rough. I realised after about 30 minutes that I really needed to calm down. Luckilythe views were excellent and the air was crisp and clear. I could see the ridge line laid out before, it was both intimidating and exhilerating.

There was a lot more snow about than I was expecting - I wasn't expecting any. It covered the path (somewhat dangerously) in a number of places and led to some precarious snow-ridge walking.

I felt I was running short of time so I decided not to take the (really quite short) walk up to Stob Coire Sgreamach (I really regret this now!).

The path down from the col was completely covered and so the journey down into the valley was interesting.... I ended up trying to take a straight line into the snow and the walk down the middle of it where I thought I could see some steps. I slipped on my arse and needed to use my walking pole (stuck between my legs) to try and steady and steer myself. I survived.

Ate in Glencoe and camped in Red Squirrel camp site.

Munro - Bidean nam Bian

GPX File

??/02/14 - Ben Lawers (attempt) (me)

Well this was the walk which started my fascination with hill walking, and walking in Scotland in particular. It was just a few days earlier while travelling to a family holiday that we'd been in a cafe somewhere in the Trossachs and I'd been looking out the window at snow capped mountains and had asked a waiter what a particular mountain in the distance was. He replied that it was Ben Lawers, one of the "Munros". He explained (very briefly) a little about Munros being any mountain over 900m in Scotland, and something about this resonated with me. I looked it up later on Wikipedia  and became increasingly interested.

The family had been on an increasing number of walks over the past few months and Luca and I had done the Sandstone Trail the previous year. But I started to hanker for something bigger.

Later the same day we arrived at holiday home - it was at the foot of that same mountain - Ben Lawers. It looked high but achievable. Some of the literature in the house detailed a walk which could be done up to it's summit. Later in the week I got the OK from the rest of the family to set off early to attempt a walk to the summit.

Ash dropped me off on a farm track (I'd planned the walk on an OS map), and I started my ascent. I passed a farmer who smiled at me and said that he'd be surprised if I managed to make it to the top, but I carried on regardless, through the mud and later the snow. The path seemed to wind inefficiently, so I stomped up in a more direct route. The snow was deep and there was a melt - I could hear (and feel), the water cascading down the mountain under my feet. I was wearing gaiters, but they were too small for the purpose, my boots weren't waterproof and my waterproofs were cheap and causing a lot of sweat. But I was having an adventure.

The summit started to feel unachievable (but I knew it had always been very optimistic), but I reached a track which remained quite flat and took me back in the direction of the house. The snow here was even deeper. Each step was hard work, as my feet plummeted to knee height and deeper. The sun appeared briefly, followed by wind and snow. The views appeared and disappeared. A hare ran and showed me it's white bottom. I was smiling and laughing at the pointless (and potential danger) of my venture.

I sat for a snack and pondered if I could proceed to the summit, but didn't think about it for long as I soon became very cold - I was sodden. I was at a suitable point to start a descent - I did so hastily.

The going was slow at first, but soon became quicker as the snow cleared. It was all going well as I walked down by the side of a glorious mountain stream, but soon got more difficult as I started to go through a forest area where a significant number of trees had fallen and made progress very very difficult. I was only a mile or so from home, but it was getting difficult to make any progress. I made it out of the forest, but was then hampered by muddy and barbed wired farm land.

Eventually I made it to the road and back to the house.

Later I felt tired, but elated. I soon started making plans to return to Scotland, to take on more of these Munros, hopefully with more success, but no less enjoyment.