silver

I did.

Have you tried Arthurs seat?

Once the season was over I hoped for the following. 1-Kettlewell, Vigurs and Flynn would re sign 2-We would get a good manager 3-We would sign a proven goal scorer 4-Andy would re sign Well so far Kettlewell, Vigurs and Flynn have signed on the dotted line. What I think has been the best manager we have had since joining the SFL is coming back. Colin McMenamin has signed for us. So far 3 out of 4 from my wish list have come to pass so absolutely no complaints from me. I just hope Andy will stay and maybe the fact that Derek is coming back may just be the persuasion he needs to hang about for next season. The future is looking rosy if you ask me.

Suilven and Stac Polly are well worth doing. A bit to the north from where you are going but if time allows Stac Polly could be done in a few hours. Well worth the effort. Assynt is a wonderful area for hills.

People driving around in mobile igloos.You must have seen them,they are the ones with all round frozen windows with just a little piece of the windscreen in line with the drivers eyes scraped clean.

The Afghan by Fredrick Forsyth. Not read any of his books so I decided to give it a go. A good enough read but I was dissapointed with the way the plot and book was written. 4/10

I wanted to get out today but its been horrible.With children the last thing I want to do is sicken them with cold,wet weather.I had hoped to maybe go to Skye and go up Ben Aslak and give them all a taster of Island hills but it was not meant to be.

Back in 1997 I bought a book called 'The Grahams'.For those who do not know they are the 224 mountains in Scotland between 2000 and 2500ft.The beauty of the hills are that they are accessible during the winter months when poor weather and short days prevent trips out to more remote and higher peaks. I have done a few and I did the latest today which is called Carn na h-Easgainn.We set off from a layby near Tomatin and headed off up hill along a good track for around 3 kms.We followed it as far as a large hut before heading north west towards our target hill which at this point is not visible.Initially the going was wet then good before what can only be described as a bit of a trek over countless peat hags,the likes of which I have not come across before.Eventually though we crossed the final one and started the final ascent over easy angled slopes to the summit. The trig point came into view and as often is the case the wind became stronger as we reached the top.It was quite cold as well.The views were not superb but good enough.To the south the Cairngorm summits were clear but did go into cloud as we descended.To the north and west the view was less clear as most tops were in cloud.We did have a good view of Inverness and the Kessock Bridge. We did not stay long and we chose a different route for our descent.Being high up gave us a good view for a better way out and this allowed us to avoid the peat hags. Not much wildlife about but we did see quite a few grouse and the odd mountain hare.Most had a white winter coat on already.A large flock of Fieldfares as well at the start. Today was a great example of why doing just Munros is foolish in my eyes.The weather forecast for the high ground was not great so many may have opted not to go out but the 4 of us found a hill which still allowed us to get a view and work a bit for it.We went to an area few frequent,we saw no one all day and did see plenty to make it interesting.Over the winter I will do more I hope.

Well the forecast was not too bad for today so we decided to get out and about once again to try and enjoy a bit of late autumn sunshine. I had bought a new OS map ( I love them when they are new and shiny) and had looked at doing a hill near Tomatin,but instead opted to head out to a hill called Beinn Bhuidhe Mhor which is 548m high.Not huge but it was a hill I had seen many times whilst crossing the Kessock Bridge.It lies roughly south east of Clava and conveniently has a hill track running almost to the summit. We set off and soon the views opened up and by the time we had reached the top I was really impressed with the view,it really is superb.It stretched from the Sutherland coastline,all along the Black Ilse then upto the Beauly Firth.Across the water to the east you could see all along the Moray Coast.To the south Bynack More was out of cloud with the summit of Cairngorm just covered.Ben Wyvis was clear but further west the distant hills were grey looking. All in all it shows that its not all about bagging Munros.Just getting to somewhere not visited before can be equally as satisfying.I was also suprised by the number of people out walking to the top as well.In all I counted 7 others out and about which suprised me as I thought we would have the place to ourselves.We didnt stay long at the top,a bit blustery and cold to say the least. To cap it all off we saw a red squirrel and really best of all a juvenile wild cat.I have not seen one for ages and was a real treat to see. The attached photo was taken at the top beside the trig point-not sure why but its a bit dark?

Its a cracking day today.Just drove up the road and Ben Wyvis is sitting against a backdrop of a clear sky.If anyone is out today then lucky you.

Interesting to read people looking for friends to go walking with.Have those who feel that way ever considered walking by yourself?. When I started the thought of going with a group never entered my head and as such I have done 99% of hills by myself. Plenty of advantages in it as well as you are self reliant and can go as fast or as slow as you like.You dont have to worry about others getting cold and wet and worry as to whether they want to go on or turn back. So many advantages.Its nice to go with some people as I found out recently,but give solo walking a go if you feel you are capable enough.

633 squadron. When I was young I grew up on a diet of commando comics and films such as The Dambusters,The Batlle of Britain etc.I saw 633 squadron on tv the other night and taped it.Fantastic.A fabulous fim score as well.

Went out again today,albeit to a munro I did 12 years ago.I had to take out a lady who is almost 70,my wife and 2 eldest boys.I opted for Carn na Caim just east of Dalwhinnie. An easy walk out following the track up hill then a relatively gentle ascent over the plateau to the summit.A round trip of 7 miles took 6 hours though!. Loads of wildlife about.Ptarmigans and mountain hares getting ready for winter with the changing plumage and fur,red grouse,ravens,fieldfares,buzzards.I saw a large stag bellowing away and also a tiny field vole.Makes the trip more interesting with things to look at. The views were very good from the summit.To the north west a lot of snow was on the high ground but nearer to me just Creag Meaghaidh had a dusting on the top. It was very cold on the top. A good walk for someone wanting to get to do a munro,but do it in good visibility as its not a place to get lost in the mist as it is a vast featureless plateau on top. Despite it being a great day I only saw 2 other people.

I went out today with my wife and my 8 year old boy.I woke up at 7am,looked out of the window and decided the weather looked good enough so we were off. We went up Glen Affric and parked at Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin before heading up Gleann nam Fiadh.Our target was Tom a Choinich (3645ft).The tops were in cloud but I felt it would lift and sure enough as we finally got to the summit it was clear. I had been up this one before 12 years ago,it was a cold misty day in June but despite it being October it was a pleasant day. I was delighted for my boy as it was his first Munro.It was a walk not too far short of 9 miles and a big hill to get under his belt and I am really proud of him for achieving it. Gleann nam Fiadh is not often used as a route up the hills further along,but it really is spectacular as you are hemmed in on both sides by steep sided slopes leading upto some wonderful ridges.I have been up both sides and it is hard work but wonderful to do.

What I liked about the programme 'Mountain' was that it simply wasnt about climbing a hill then walking off.It had enough in it to interest non hill walking people as well such as the geology,people who live in the area the hills are in etc. I thought it quite funny when he was in the primary school and tried to pronounce the names of the hills on Skye. The Inn Pin looked scary,glad I have got it done and out of the way! I was pleased to see he went off the beaten track a bit and did Suilven.I did it a long time ago.We set off up Glen Canisp around 5am in thick low cloud.It looked like it was going to be an awful day,but as we got to the col on the mountain the cloud magically dissapeared and we had the most glorious view imaginable.It is the only time I have ever experienced such total cloud inversion as far as the eye could see.Poking out of the cloud was Quinag,Canisp,Cul Mor/Beag,Stac Polly and even as far away as Conival. It truly was a spectacular sight.If you have never done it and are in the Assynt area then do it as it is a superb mountain.As we descended we met lots going up who by then had missed it.We felt lucky to have got up early Looking forward to next weeks episode.

Not the day I went up Ben Chonzie!.It was a day in February many years ago.I had been up Beinn Mhanach the previous day and it was cold and snowy.By the next day when I went up Ben Chonzie the day had turned to torrential rain and driving winds.I was by myself and didnt fancy it but as I was their I thought I would give it a go.A fairly easy walk in,but by the time I got to the summit plateau/ridge the weather had to be some of the worst I have ever experienced out on the hill.I quickly found the fence line which leads directly to the summit.I decided I would leave a large rock on one of the posts where I would have to take a bearing to find the exit point for the descent.I did this then set off into the teeth of a howling gale. To be honest I was not happy,no one else was about and being out on a day like that was madness.In what seemd an age I found the cairn and turned around and walked off.I dreaded the thought that my marker stone had been blown off,but thankfully it was still in place.I took a bearing off but despite pacing could not find the exit track so I had to to return to the fence and try again and luckily found it second time of trying. I recall seeing nothing more than a solitary grouse that day!. Its funny but even though I have been up countless hills I can recall every trip.

I did Ben More and Stob Binnean about 11 years ago.Then I had lots more energy and I did the two outlying tops as well. It was a lovely October day with great views down Loch Tay and The Ben Lawers range. I walked out to the start from the YH in Crianlarich then trudged all the way back.A long day but enjoyable.I remember wanting to go up Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean the next day but it was pouring down when I got up so I got back on the train and went home. Pick a clear day to do it and you will be rewarded with some great views.

Shoe laces that snap. You are busy pulling them tight then 'snap' and you fall back.Gets me every time.