June 2014
Skye At last the time had come to complete the "Munro's" and a two day trip to Skye was set.
Sgurr Mhic Choinnich Parked at the end of the Glenbrittle road just beside the campsite and headed up the path towards Corie Lagan and to the An Stac screes. There are a few ways through the scree but it is still a battle, I found it better to stay on the bigger stones which eventually come out on the ridge.
From there you turn right and have a short descent before scrambling up the rocks. That was the easy bit because now there is a short steep climb with a fair bit of exposure before the summit itself is reached.
The return route is tricky as that steep ascent now has to be reversed, after that it is fairly straight forward back to the ridge and down the screes again and back to the campsite.The photo on the left shows the scrambling part from the top of the screes to the summit of Sgurr Mhic Choinnich

Am Basteir Started this time at Sligachan where there is a well made path opposite the Mountain Rescue Post, this leads to a couple of bridges and into the Basteir Gorge. But to get into the gorge it is necessary to ascend the steep slabby stones, and I just found this a difficult route finding exercise, but after a few false moves I did get into the gorge and headed left towards the scree. There are a few paths up on the left side, but as always scree is hard work but it does take you onto the ridge between Sgurr nan Gillean and Am Basteir.
From the bealach it is up the ridge on the right, some of this ascent is on slabs and they can be slippy, quite soon there is a short vertical drop, it is tricky and a rope helps, especially on the return. After that it is a short scramble to the summit. The day I climbed this hill it was misty and a bit wet, maybe just as well I couldn't see all that exposure, but it did make photos impossible.

August 2012
Knoydart I have waited a while to visit "The Rough Bounds", but can't put it off any longer.
Kinloch Hourn to Barrisdale To get to the car park there is a 22 mile drive along narrow single track road with many ups and downs and in the final 3 miles or so there seems to be less passing places and the corners are a bit scary.
The private car park costs £2 per night and the owner also runs a small tea shop which is very welcome before setting off.
The whole route in (about 7 miles 3 -3 1/2 hours) is easy to follow, a bit rough in places and there are a few smallish hills to ascend.
I was lucky in that the weather was perfect and the views over the loch towards Sgurr na Sgine and the Forcan Ridge are excellent, and quite soon the first sight of Labhar Bheinn comes into view.
Some houses appear on the opposite bank and a bit further on the path joins the Land Rover Track close to the boathouse, now there is only 1 mile to the bothy and campsite.
The bothy is very good, 12 bunks, cold running water, a toilet and best of all electric light. Even if all the bunks are taken there is space on the floor for sleeping bags. The campsite opposite is a bit rough, but campers can use the facilities of the bothy especially to escape the midges. Great place, and at only £3 per night for the bothy and £1 for the campsite, super value.

Ladhar Bheinn The way I climbed it was on leaving the bothy, cross the bridge and turn right along a well trodden path towards the hillside, the path from here zig zags up the hill through ferns and round the shoulder into Coire Dhorrcail, the path is well made and when you come to the Allt Coire Dhorrcail, cross over and climb the grassy slopes towards the ridge. Once on the ridge, there is a path, which although there is a bit of handwork will take you to a split, the right goes to the summit, the left is a way down. It is only a few yards from here that the quite unexciting cairn of the summit lies, the trig point is a little further on, but this is the highest point.
On the descent I walked south east to the lowest point and dropped down rather wet and slippy grass into Coire Dhorrcail, from there it was a matter of following the stream back to my route of ascent.
Unfortunately all the time I was on the ridge and summit there was low cloud, and it was not until I dropped into the Coire the tops cleared. (The story of my life) Many of the books send walkers other ways, and it looked to me that they involved a bit more climbing and some of the descent a bit hairy, so I felt that the way I went was as easy as possible

Meall Buidhe and Luinne Bheinn Again from the bothy, over the bridge and follow the path to Inverie as far as the high point on the Mam Barrisdale where there is a large cairn marking the path to the summits.
My intended way up was over the south east ridge to the summit of Luinne Bheinn, but the mist was quite thick so I followed my planned line of descent, a line of old metal fence posts up to the wide apron between the two peaks. From here I turned south west over very rough ground and eventually to the summit of Meall Buidhe, the cloud was still down so I quickly returned to the head of the coirre and started up Luinne Bheinn.
As I was half way up the shoulder the mist cleared and I was treated to spectacular views of the surrounding mountains poking their heads through the clouds, the sight was amazing and in all my years of hill walking I have never seen such a fantastic view.
Now on the summit of Luinne Bheinn, with a clear sky, I was able to enjoy the scenery denied me so far on this trip, and it was worth the wait.
Still it was time to go, and I dropped down the south east ridge towards the Mam Barrisdale, there was a path for most of this way but I lost it near the bottom, but the main path was visible and the rest was easy. From here back down to the bothy at Barrisdale.
Overall, a good day out, quite a lot of rough ground and following the fence posts was decidedly muddy, but the views were worth it all.

July 2012
Sgurr Dearg Started this one from Glenbrittle Memorial Hut and followed the path uphill heading for the ridge, the path is quite good until the shoulder is reached then it becomes very loose and zig zags a bit, some handwork is required here too.
It soon levels of a bit until the next part where unfortunately for me the mist came down, so unfortunately no views,so it was follow the faint path, again some handwork needed.
Quite soon however the peak was reached and the great lump of rock which is the Inn Pin looms from the mist, it is certainly an impressive sight and nerves of steel are required to ascend the exposed east ridge and abseil the west side especially in conditions on that day.
The return route can be made either by the Coire Laggan Scree or the route of ascent.

July 2012
Sgurr nan Gillean I set out from just beside the Mountain Rescue Post at Sligachan and followed the path which crosses two bridges and into Coire Riabhach, around here there is a split in the path, and the one for the peak is to the left towards steeper and rougher ground.
From here and to climb up to the south east ridge involves quite a lot of loose rocks, boulders and sheer determination is needed to get there, but once on the ridge the views begin to open out and the task ahead looms.
Ahead there is a bit of exposure and scrambling in places and my advice is don't look down, needless to say there isn't a lot of room on the summit but the views are wonderful
Descent is the same as the way up, but take care on the first few places until you reach the main lower ridge.

June 2012
Sgurr na Sgine The next day saw a great improvement in the weather with bright skies and sunshine.
I parked in a lay by on the A87, crossed the road and onto the very well made path which quickly takes you up to a height of almost 500m, from here simply follow the path to the split, right for the Forcan Ridge or left to where I was heading; the Bealach Coire Mhalagain between the Forcan and Sgurr na Sgine.
Turning south here, there is a faint path over some quite stony ground all the up the hill to level grassy area below the ascent towards my target.
Sgurr na Sgine has three tops, and of course the Munro is the most far away one, it is easy to reach and there are wonderful views over many hills including Knoydart, Glen Shiel and even Ben Nevis.
To add a bit of variety, I returned by way of Faochag, this hill looks almost impossible to climb from the road, but there is a well made track all the way down, it is quite steep in places but is easy to follow and gives excellent views of the Forcan Ridge all the way back to the road.

May 2012
An Socach New Munro's are getting further away, so I made a two day trip to the Shiel Bridge area and stayed at the SYHA Ratagan Hostel.
On the first day I awoke to the sound of my worst enemy; rain, it wasn't heavy so I made my way to Killilan, parked there and cycled the 8 miles up Glen Elchaig to Iron Lodge.
A good part of this road is tarmacked, then becomes a Land Rover Track, there are not too many uphill parts and the scenery is well worth the effort.
By the time I got to Iron Lodge (about an hour) the weather had not improved, the tops were all covered in mist but I'd come this far and carried on. From here the path narrows and there are a few steep, loose sections up to Loch Mhoicean, from here it is across the grass and take a north easterly direction to the bealach just north of Meall Shuas, then a little level ground before the steep pull up to An Socath.
From about the bealach the weather closed in and it became a map and compass job, pity really but that is how it is sometimes.
Return was back down the same way, and just as Murphy's Law dictates the sum came out as I arrived back at Iron Lodge. The cycle run back to the car park was quite easy as there was more downhill than coming in.
Quite a long hard day, but worth the effort.

September 2010
Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith and Mullach an Rathain
These were two hills I had been avoiding due to their reported exposed nature and the need for some serious scrambling, but as things turned out my fears were unfounded and the day proved to be one of the most enjoyable I have had for a while.
I drove up to Kinlochewe on a Friday afternoon and stayed in the bunkhouse which is attached to the Kinlochewe Hotel, it is a bit basic with bunks three high, nowhere to sit and shock horror no tin opener. But the showers were good and parking was easy.
The walk itself starts at a parking area on the A896 and up a well constructed path, higher up the path turns right and after a couple of minor scrambles over rocks you arrive on the col of the main ridge Turn left here and climb over two rather bouldery tops before reaching the ascent of Spidean a' Choire Leith. This part, like the whole walk is on an easy to follow path but does have one or two very mild scrambles but nothing to get excited about. The descent to the next col involves following a very loose and sometimes exposed path, but it very soon brings you to the choice; Scramble or Not to Scramble. My decision was easy, the path on the south side.
Although this path is narrow there are no difficulties and I found it quite exhilarating, winding below the pinnicles and finally arriving close to Am Fasarinen at 927m and the perfect lunch stop.
The final pull was to Mullach an Rathain is quite easy and along a good path to the peak at 1300m. Excellent views all along the route.
The descent into the corrie starts a few metres beyond the summit and goes down a very loose zig zag path onto more stable ground near the stream and eventually onto the road some mile and a half from the start point.
A very enjoyable day which I highly recommend.

Sgurr a' Mhadhaidh, Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh
The next five hills are part of the Black Cuillins in Skye and start in Glen Brittle.
Starting from the SYHA in Glen Brittle the path follows the burn into Coire a' Ghreadaidh and towards Coire an Dorus, from here it is up the scree towards the coll. The going here is quite loose and need at little care.
The route up to Sgurr a' Mhadhaidh is a bit awkward at first but soon levels a bit but still is a scramble to the small cairn at the summit, the reason for a small cairn seems to be that there is no room for anything bigger. Just a short stop to take photos and off to the next top.
Once back on the coll the ascent to Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh is just as difficult at first, but there is a path quite soon which bypasses a tower of rock to the right and leads to the summit of Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh. Again a very narrow ridge and certainly not roomy enough to accommodate many climbers posing for photos.
Return is by the upward route, through the loose scree and back on the path to the Youth Hostel.

Sgurr Dubh Mor, Sgurr nan Eag
Starting this time at the camp site in Glen Brittle there is s path twards Coire Lagan and then branches right across the moor towards Sron na Ciche and Coir' a' Ghrunnda, the going to the entry into Coir' a' Ghrunnda is easy, but that is about to change.
The path I took was to the left and close to the rocks, not too bad at first but as you gain height it involves a bit of scambling and rock hopping to reach the lochan.
Again I stuck to the left side of the corrie and climbed the ridge, from here it is over an easy peak before dropping down and scrambling up Sgurr Dubh Mor summit.
Back down and heading towards Sgurr nan Eag, this involves negotating some ledges and following a path to the left side and onto the ridge and the rather fine cairn at the summit.
The return is back the ascent route, staying to the rocks on the right this time and back to Glen Brittle.

Sgurr Alasdair
Again starting at the camp site in Glen Brittle and the path towards Coire Lagan and the Loch Coire Lagan, this is passed on the left side. Now the biggest challenge of the day is in sight "The Great Stone Chute"
This is mass of loose rocks and scree and although there is a path through it, the going is very tiring.
I found it easier to keep to the bigger rocks on the right side, but going is slow up the gully to the coll. From there it is a bit of a scramble up to the summit of Sgurr Alasdair but the views from here are spectacular.
Return is back down the Stone Chute and into Glen Brittle.

May 2010
A' Mhaighdean, Ruadh Stac Mor, Beinn a' Chlaidheimh, Sgurr Ban, Mullach Coire Mhic Fhrearchair and Beinn Tarsuinn.

This trip was made to the Fisherfield area, which is near Ullapool and Dundonnell, This was to one of the most remote parts of Scotland containing Munro's.

The walk begins at Corrie Hallie, which is at the road side of the A835 and follows a land rover track then an often muddy path over the hills to Shenavall Bothy The bothy is one of the most popular in Scotland as to climb these hills usually means at least one overnight stay.

The bothy has two rooms downstairs and a large area for sleeping upstairs. The setting is fantastic with mountains all around and plenty of wildlife everywhere.

There was plenty space when I visited, over the three nights there were only a maximum of three of us at any one time.

Next day I left at around 9.00am to walk A' Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mor, this meant a total of four river crossings, but as conditions had been very dry I was lucky with the water being only ankle deep.

The entire path to the start of the climb could not have been better and was easy to follow to the bealach between the two hills, then simply head down and up to the summits. The weather was a bit misty but a couple of clear spells made the effort worthwhile.
From Ruadh Stac Mor the desent was north then north east back to the path and return to Shenavall.