Ben Lui 4

(8.6.13) Beinn Dubhcraig, Ben Oss, Ben Lui, Beinn a’Chleibh, 9.5 hours, 19.3km,ascent 1654m

With Barrie, Colleen and Lucas on a hot day with amazing views. Did the two car trick, leaving B&C's car at the end of the walk and drove to Dalrigh. After 0.5k after going over the bridge and through the gate we stayed on the path before realising we should have turned right and gone across the field. Corrected ourselves and walked through the beautiful pinewood forest, coille coire-Chuilc, a remnant of the original caledonian forest and then out onto the open hillside. Very hot day even at 9am. The burns were a welcome relief! Climbed up via the Allt Coire Dubhcraig SW onto the ridge and turned left, SE over to Dubcraigh 978m. Returned down the ridge then descended W down rockier ground to reach the Bealach Buidhe. Headed SW up the path on the grassy slopes to the Northeastern top then the summit of Ben Oss 1029m with great views to Ben Lui. Had a wee break here before descending down SW to the bealach Creagh Dhubh. No path here, but on a beautiful day like this I just picked a direct route through the boulders to the bottom of Lui. It looked pretty steep from here but we zigged-zagged NW up  Ben Lui’s South Eastern slope to the summit 1130m. Lui looks absolutely amazing from this side.
One last effort saw us descending SW down the broad ridge to the bealach then zig zagged up the path a short distance to the summit of  Beinn a'Chleibh 916m. Returned to the bealach above Coire Fionn. We descended down towards Glen Lochy finding a cold water stream which was a welcome relief  and found a Most of the walk had been done in temperatures around 26° Nightmare walk out - seemed both endless and boggy - we were good little walkers and waded under the bridge rather than cross the railway, reaching the cars was such a relief. Wonderful day out in perfect conditions.  Couple of weeks before the walk I had a bad dizzy spell after loud pressure and tinnitus. I was abit apprehensive as I also felt pain in my ear however this nervousness was proved to be dumfounded as I felt okay. Paracetomol and ibuprofen were taken and i experienced some slight pain in the ankles but apart from that okay.

Glenfinnan to Knoydart through walk

(17.5.2013) Glenfinnan to Corryhully Bothy, 5km. 1 hour ish

Arranged for tam to pick me up at 2. Picked me up at 3. Cheers Tam ;-). Set off with Paul on our way tae pick up steve. Banter was flowing as we rocked intae Muthill. Hello to Helen then we were off, west by Loch Earn then North through Glencoe. Stopped off at Fort Bill for a chippy. Filled up at the petrol station to the amusement of some wierdo smiling at us. Maybe we’ll see um in his Y fronts doing yoga in front of the bothy fire in the morning.” I quiped . Rocked up to the Glenfinnan hotel for a quick jar. Banter with the manager who Tam kent (he’s played a few gigs there.) then we were on our way up through Glen Finnan at dusk guinness in hand as Tam cracked open the 12 pack. After an hour of great banter we caught site of corryhully bothy in what little light there was. Walked in hoping it would be empty but an old guy was snoring away. Steve got the fire on the go as we sorted our gear. Fired outside on the bench and got stuck into the rest of the guinness and whisky as the banter flowed aboot the outdoors, mountains and life. Paul highlighted the classic but dark plight of dolphin rape.

(18.5.2013) Corryhully Bothy to Sourlies Bothy. Average 20mile/32km/10 hours

In the morning I awoke with a slightly sare heed. There was a faint muffle of “ I hope you’s put money in the donation box.” We found out it was the estate owner. Chatted away to the old boy aboot mountains. He was like “you couldve woke me up if id kent yis had bevy.” Packed up after breaky, left a wee donation in the bothy money box then we were off. The weather was cloudy with outbreaks of rain as we started the initial climb. It was steep and hard going and i was concerned about prevoius tinnitus and pain in my ear. I also had back pain as we walked. The weather was overcast with slight rain. Followed the landrover track in a NE direction which climbed slowly up towards the Bealach a’Chaorainn 471m. We struggled with this climb, well I did and soon we were descending down Gleann a’ Chaorainn with good views down the glen. The descent was pretty boggy and felt endless, following a faint path. Random banter still flowed particularly the word Niddrie was thrown aboot a few times.  Further down a river crossing had to be negotiated over the Allt a’ Chaorainn. The path was closed in Glen Dessary forest so we headed E following the River Spean. This was a total bog fest and paul went baw deep in the bog much to our amusement. The bog was like a loch at times as we crossed over the fence over up by Strathan and onto the Land rover track at Loch Arkaig. Me and Tam waited at the footbridge for the others to catch up. Tam cracked open his last can of guinness, much to my jealousy. After a quick bite to eat we headed NW along the track passed Glendessary Lodge. The distant jagged knoydart peaks opened up in the horizon. At Upper Glendessary we took the path SW over from A’Chuil bothy. Crossed the footbridge over the River Dessarry  and followed the path through Glen Dessarry forest which followed the river. This made a nice change of terrain. By now all of us were feeling pretty fatigued as we climbed up and up out into the edge of the forest. Another bite to eat and the waterproofs were quickly slapped on as we began the last push NW to Sourlies bothy. The path followed the Allt a’ Ghiubhais to the Bealach an Lagain Duibh and W meandering  through the rocky pass Mam na Cloich’ Airde. The path zig zagged passed Lochan a’ Mhaim and over rocky terrain before Loch Nevis came into view. Then there was the long descent down by the Finiskaig River. At this point we were all pretty happy to see the bothy in the distant as we had been walking for nearly 10 hours. Hunger and fatigued had well set in as we trekked on auto pilot. On the shores of Loch Nevis the bothy grew closer. The smell of the sea filled the air and sheep grazed close by the ruins of Finiskaig. Entering the bothy we were greeted by a friendly face, Dave, who was trying to get the bothy fire going but unfortunately the bothy fire wasn’t playing ball. Dave was an Englishman who had been paid off from his job and decided to walk from coast to coast, East to West. Got my gear sorted before cooking up some noodles for scran. Went looking for water later and found a dead sheep in the stream above the bothy therefore decided to go further along and higher up.  Later we got the banter on the go as the rest of my red wine got tanned. Whisky was consumed in copious amounts.

(20.5.2013) Sourlies bothy to Inverie 12km average, ascent 550m

Woke up in the morning after a mixed nights sleep. Rain battered off the tin bothy roof.  Packed up, had breaky, said to Dave we would meet him for a pint then we were off. Followed the coast line around the head of Loch Nevis and NE across marsh land over to the ruins of Carnoch Village. Crossed the river Carnoch over the dodgy bridge and started the steep climb up by the Allt Carnach. By this point Dave steamed passed us as we struggled with the climb due to our heavy packs and the sun beating down.  We eventually made it to the top of the Mam Meadail pass and stopped for lunch. Chatted to a Glasgow boy as he was passing through. Dave had lunch with us and I asked him if he was a fan of Prisoner. Don’t think he’s watched it.  From the top of the pass around 550m we could see Inverie in the distance. Descended W down the path following the Allt Gleann  Meadail, over the footbridge and along by the Inverie River. Inverie was in the distance as fatigue was beginning to kick in but we finally go there. Set up our tents at the campsite then we were off for a great night in ‘the Old Forge’  Banter and tunage flowed as Tam and Paul played a cracking set with a great sing song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr5jkYGo4hY&t=39s

The Pentland Hills

(28.4.2013) Scald Law 579m, 3 hours

Scald Law on a lovely, spring like, snowy day. Me and Neil walked up from the car park layby at the A702 just before Silverburn. We headed up to the summit of Scald Law & returned the same way.

Ben Challum

(22.9.2012) Ben Challum, 998m, 5hours 30 min, 10km

Parked on the layby , west side of the A82 just north of the turning for Kirkton Farm. Began the walk by crossing the road and following the Kirkton lane down over the bridge and along the track to the Farm and then past the priory of St Fillan. Left the West Highland way and followed the path uphill and crossed the railway. Picked our route in a NE direction up and around the grassy humps and bog and over the number of fences and stiles.  Followed the fence up the last push with south top. By now the views are beginning to really open up, with a great views back down to Strathfillan and the great peaks of Ben Lui. Headed to the 998 summit before returning the same way. Sunny and cloudy with great views. Only reached the south top as the guy I was with did not want to go any further.

Beinn Dubh (Loch Lomond)

(26.5.2012) Beinn Dubh - Glen Striddle horseshoe, Luss, 657m, 12km, 5 hours

Got the citylink from Edinburgh to Glasgow and then onto Luss. Walked down to the bay at Loch Lomond and then back up where crossed the footbridge, through the kissing gate and headed NW up through a field. Passed through trees and then the ascent continues up the bracken-clad ridge. The ascent levels off briefly climb then continues more steadily up the ridge; eventually a fence climbs up from the left and the path follows it for some distance, crossing to the other side at a stile. A small cairn marks the top of the ridge,Beinn Dubh at 642m, whilst just a short distance further on the head of Loch Lomond comes into view, whilst the mountains of the Arrochar Alps look magnificent. The ridge loses definition in a mass of peaty ground. Headed left SW, above the steep ground of Coire na h-Eanachan to the E then onto the small cairn that marks the highest point of the circuit, a Graham summit at 657 metres with Coire Carlaig to the NW. Had good views of Glen Douglas and down to inverberg at Loch Lomond. Descended SE follow the path past another cairn and across a shallow dip to reach Mid Hill. The route down follows the southeast ridge which is better defined with steep slopes dropping to Glen Striddle on the left side.  Cross the fence at a stile and finally head through a gate in the drystone wall. The minor road up Glen Luss is reached just beyond. Turned left down this road, crossing the bridge over the Striddle Burn. Continue along the road for almost three km back to the start of the walk. Returned to Luss over the A82 footbridge.

My first walk since being diagnosed and I felt okay even though previously I had suffered with bacK pain and vibrations when walking. The weather made the walk.

The Pentland Hills

(28.4.2012) Carnethy Hill 573m, 10km, 4.30 hours

Me and Neil started at the Flotterstone car park and ranger centre. Headed West ascending the ridge onto Turnhouse Hill  and then SW descent and re ascent to the summit of Carnethy Hill. Descended West  around 130m of height to the bealach, again marked by a fence. An old right of way - the Kirk Road. Then North to the Howe before the tarmac road beside Loganlea reservoir. The road runs NE beside the Logan burn to reach the larger Glencorse reservoir and then SE back to Flotterstone.Weather cloudy but clear and rained at Glencourse Reservoir.