Hillwalking Thread

[Benjamin_Nevis]

Nevis was my first munro, by the tourist path. Because i was new to it all, I thought it was amazing. I've since been back twice, once adding it to the Aonach and CMD and then up by Coire Giubhsachan. The latter both get onto CMD via it's east ridge which is absolutely superb. 

Anyways, on holiday now and on the countdown to Skye for 3 nights camping, then a week in Dornie. Anxiously watching the forecast 

[Swello]

In a week, I went from climbing the busiest hill in the UK, to climbing 3 of the least frequented hills in the country. I was heading for THE VOID - the empty place north of Kintail that I've never known what to call. I was going to base myself near Maol Bhuidhe bothy which is probably as far from a public road as you can get in the UK - so that meant I was going to be using my bike to help make the most of time.

The bike in from Killilian along Glen Elchaig is fantastic until you get to Iron Lodge at which point there is a long, steep climb to the high point of the path that isn't ridable - and the part from the high point to the Both varies from perfectly rideable (for about 25 metres at a time) to swamp. Before I took on the hellish part, I dumped the bike and headed up a disused stalker's path to get to the summit of Faochaig, which was easy going but was cold and fairly miserable in the cloud (which was the case for the whole weekend from this point).

Maol Bhuidhe shouldn't exist as it ridiculously remote - and getting there is a nightmare from any direction but I was glad to see it and leave the bike.

I never sleep in bothies when I can help it - so I chucked my tent up and waded the deep river (Ling?) that flows East-West here to climb Ben Dronaig. I'm not sure the hill is ever done from this side any more - but there is another disused stalkers path that makes it a bit more pleasant. It was about 6:30pm when I reached the summit and I was knackered/hungry, so I headed straight back. Once I dropped below the cloud, tomorrow's target Aonach Bhuide looked a bit scary behind the bothy.

Normally I would sit in the bothy and have my dinner but I was soaked and chilled, so I got into my sleeping bag to warm up and had dinner in the tent.

The weather was worse on Sunday morning, so I canned my plan to find a route up Aonach bhuide from the North as it is very steep, has lots of cliffs and visibility was crap - instead I climbed it from the SW which was a lot safer. 

All that was left was the bike out - the first bit was a long, rough descent over 3 or 4km, which was great fun if you like that sort of thing - my brake rotors were smoking by the time I reached Iron Lodge but it was all rideable. The final bit was along one of the nicest glens in Scotland - even if it wasn't green yet and it was raining, it was still a pleasure.

The opposite of a touristy walk this one - a really tough weekend but satisfying to get 3 nightmare hills done in one trip.

[invergowrie arab]

Cheated my way round Strathfarrar this weekend by climbing 3 on the Saturday and returning for Sgùrr Fhuar-Thuill on the Sunday.

I might have made the gate next month with the extra hour but made decision to do it over two relaxed days. Much better option IMO as Strathfarrar is well worth a second visit and taking your time over.

 

[Swello]

Nice one - is that picture looking west to Loch Monar?

[invergowrie arab]

2 hours ago, Swello said:

Nice one - is that picture looking west to Loch Monar?

Yeah. From Sgùrr a' Choire Ghlais 

[Swello]

14 hours ago, invergowrie arab said:

Yeah. From Sgùrr a' Choire Ghlais 

So if I've got my bearings - the scalloped ridge in the centre of the background is the one coming from Meall Mor, the remote Top of Lurg Mor - that's a wee target of mine for this summer all going well, so it's interesting to see that.

[CarrbridgeSaintee]

Some day up Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers on Friday.

To say I was a sweaty mess on my return to the car would be a huge understatement.

Anyway, two more munros in the bag.

Munros so far:

Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn)

Ben Nevis

Ben Lomond

Ben Ghlas

Ben Lawers

 

Looking to do an easy one some time in June.  Anyone got any recommendations?

 

 

[Swello]

12 minutes ago, CarrbridgeSaintee said:

Some day up Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers on Friday.

To say I was a sweaty mess on my return to the car would be a huge understatement.

Anyway, two more munros in the bag.

Munros so far:

Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn)

Ben Nevis

Ben Lomond

Ben Ghlas

Ben Lawers

 

Looking to do an easy one some time in June.  Anyone got any recommendations?

 

 

If you like that area  in particular - Ben Vane (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochlomond/ben-vane.shtml) is a nice wee standalone one with no navigational issues in summer.

If you want to go further afield than the SW Highlands - happy to give some recommendations also. 

[CarrbridgeSaintee]

25 minutes ago, Swello said:

If you like that area  in particular - Ben Vane (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochlomond/ben-vane.shtml) is a nice wee standalone one with no navigational issues in summer.

If you want to go further afield than the SW Highlands - happy to give some recommendations also. 

Thankyou mate; Ben Vane sounds ideal

 

[Kejan]

Apologies, steamrolling in a bit without reading too much, but can anyone recommend somewhere I could bag a couple of munros close to Dundee-ish? I've done most of the ones near Angus ; so was thinking maybe somewhere around Perth-ish area? I've done Meall nan Tarmaichean a wee while ago ; but hoping to bag a couple more before I depart bonnie Scotia on Wednesday.

Also, somewhere with easy-ish parking - I read something about Ben Lawers hotel charging you? Or if you do a few, someplace where the car wouldn't be too far away from to walk back to.

Cheers!

 

Edited May 25, 2023 by Kejan

[Swello]

16 minutes ago, Kejan said:

Apologies, steamrolling in a bit without reading too much, but can anyone recommend somewhere I could bag a couple of munros close to Dundee-ish? I've done most of the ones near Angus ; so was thinking maybe somewhere around Perth-ish area? I've done Meall nan Tarmaichean a wee while ago ; but hoping to bag a couple more before I depart bonnie Scotia on Wednesday.

Also, somewhere with easy-ish parking - I read something about Ben Lawers hotel charging you? Or if you do a few, someplace where the car wouldn't be too far away from to walk back to.

Cheers!

 

Schiehallion would be handy enough and it's easy to park. Ben Chonzie is also close and lot of people climb it (wasn't a favourite of mine). Ben Lawers from the main car park is free as far as I'm aware - Lawers hotel is only if you're starting at Lawers village and doing a bigger circuit.

[vikingTON]

Any recommendations for a camping mat (any kind) that is both compact and reliably comfortable? 

I thought I was on to a winner with a ludicrously lightweight and deep Trekology inflatable mat, but it has clearly developed a slow puncture of some form (not that slow - it fucking deflates every hour). 

[Swello]

8 hours ago, virginton said:

Any recommendations for a camping mat (any kind) that is both compact and reliably comfortable? 

I thought I was on to a winner with a ludicrously lightweight and deep Trekology inflatable mat, but it has clearly developed a slow puncture of some form (not that slow - it fucking deflates every hour). 

Sleeping mats are something I've never been 100% happy with over the years - I found the Thermarest neoair ones too "crinkly" even though they were light and comfortable - so i never got a great sleep on them. I would recommend you look at Exped - their mats are excellent in my experience (and my winter mat is an exped down filled one). My only complaint was that as a side-sleeper, they are less comfortable than if you sleep on your back.

In the last couple of years, I've finally cracked it with the Sea to Summit Etherlight XT - unbelievably comfortable for something that weighs bugger all. It's expensive though as anything that's light and good is - but it feels robust to me.

 

[Ya Bezzer!]

Don't suppose any one knows the condition of the highlighted old military road over Black Mount.  Was thinking about walking it and avoiding the crowds on the WHW.

It looks quite indistinct from the satellite maps and I don't want a to walk through a boggy hell.

[invergowrie arab]

On 25/05/2023 at 16:21, Kejan said:

Apologies, steamrolling in a bit without reading too much, but can anyone recommend somewhere I could bag a couple of munros close to Dundee-ish? I've done most of the ones near Angus ; so was thinking maybe somewhere around Perth-ish area? I've done Meall nan Tarmaichean a wee while ago ; but hoping to bag a couple more before I depart bonnie Scotia on Wednesday.

Also, somewhere with easy-ish parking - I read something about Ben Lawers hotel charging you? Or if you do a few, someplace where the car wouldn't be too far away from to walk back to.

Cheers!

 

There is a car park for Ben Lawers where you can no Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas and you can push on to Meall a' Choire Liath and Meall Corranaich if you are feeling fit. You only need to park at Lawers Hotel if you are doing the Eastern 3 and even then its only a fiver.

Within 90 mins of Dundee you have everything from Glenshee to Dalwhinnie to Crianlarich. Probably around 50 munros.

On 27/05/2023 at 14:33, virginton said:

Any recommendations for a camping mat (any kind) that is both compact and reliably comfortable? 

I thought I was on to a winner with a ludicrously lightweight and deep Trekology inflatable mat, but it has clearly developed a slow puncture of some form (not that slow - it fucking deflates every hour). 

Have been using my Vango Trek Pro for years with no issues. Its not super light but is compact and for 30 quid has been bomb proof so far and self inflates in a couple of minutes.

[Swello]

8 hours ago, Ya Bezzer! said:

Don't suppose any one knows the condition of the highlighted old military road over Black Mount.  Was thinking about walking it and avoiding the crowds on the WHW.

It looks quite indistinct from the satellite maps and I don't want a to walk through a boggy hell.

From memory, it's hardly there at all (but you can usually follow the line of these overgrown military roads easily enough if that's your thing) - it probably won't that boggy at present but it would be a rough walk that would probably add an hour to ninety minutes onto your day. Telford's road that the WHW uses over to Ba Bridge superseded it a long way back (early 1800's), so that section of Caulfield's road wasn't preserved in the way that the section from the Kingshouse over the devil's staircase, etc was for example. 

[Ya Bezzer!]

2 hours ago, Swello said:

From memory, it's hardly there at all (but you can usually follow the line of these overgrown military roads easily enough if that's your thing) - it probably won't that boggy at present but it would be a rough walk that would probably add an hour to ninety minutes onto your day. Telford's road that the WHW uses over to Ba Bridge superseded it a long way back (early 1800's), so that section of Caulfield's road wasn't preserved in the way that the section from the Kingshouse over the devil's staircase, etc was for example. 

Yes, I have experience of these Rannoch area map paths that are 'hardly there at all'.  Hence me asking about this one.  

I don't mind rough stuff but I like to know what I'm getting into and maybe this is one for less hot weather.  Think I might walk this one later as a circuit from Bridge of Orchy rather than going all the way to Kinlochleven.

[Count Mongo del Fantastico]

On 27/05/2023 at 14:33, virginton said:

Any recommendations for a camping mat (any kind) that is both compact and reliably comfortable? 

I thought I was on to a winner with a ludicrously lightweight and deep Trekology inflatable mat, but it has clearly developed a slow puncture of some form (not that slow - it fucking deflates every hour). 

At present I own 3.

Alpkit Cloud Base - cheap(ish), packs down very small, and pretty comfy. No insulation though.

Nemo Tensor Insulated - pricey, but pretty comfy, warm, and packs down almost as small as the Alpkit. Love this one.

Robens Iceshield 55 - kind of a midway between the other two and my preferred option until I bought the Nemo. Decent insulation and pretty comfy. Bit bulkier packed than the other two, but not too pricey (less than £100).

[Swello]

The full traverse of the Rum Cuillin is one of the classic Scottish big mountain days (with a big report to match, sorry ) and it's been on my list for years - and with the settled forecast and a free weekend coming together nicely, I finally attempted it. The Small Isles ferry leaves Mallaig at 7:30am, so a van kip in a layby near there was needed on Friday night and I was at the Ferry terminal for 7am. 

The trip out to Rum was a pleasure and I sat on the deck with a coffee enjoying the view with Knoydart, Skye and Eigg all all looking magnificent and I saw more dolphins than I've ever seen in Scotland before. Given the unbelievable weather, I was expecting it to be busy, but there were only 8 of us on the MV Loch Nevis and I was even more surprised when only 3 including me got off at Rum.

After wandering past the infamous Kinloch Castle, I picked up a good path that went through some re-generating native woodland up to a little hydro scheme. This was the end of the easy bit.

Soon I was up at the beginning of the ridge proper as I approached Hallival. The heat was already pretty oppressive and I was deliberately taking it a lot easier than usual as flaking out on this walk would be pretty serious. I could see most of the days walk stretched out before me and the number of low bealachs and the steep drops and re-ascents were looking quite intimidating

Hallival done (and the first horrible slow, very steep, scrambly descent later) and I was onto Askival, the high point of the Rum Cuillin. Lots of tricky route finding to get up the steep stuff - but the views from the top on a day like this were sensational all round.

I spoke to the only other person that I saw on the hill at this point - but he was heading down and not doing the full ridge. I was honestly surprised by how quiet it was as there is a fairly short window of opportunity every year to do this walk in daylight. The drop down off here was really difficult and it took a lot longer than the climb had - it also spat me out at the low point of the ridge, which was a bit dispiriting as I was fucking roasting by this point.

Trollival was the nicest summit of the day (and one of the pointiest in Scotland I'd say) - and a slightly unnerving one to get onto as it was more exposed than I was expecting - the downclimb on the way back was interesting.

After yet another tough descent to another low bealach - I headed up (knackered by this point) what felt like a huge climb onto Anshivall, 2nd highest hill and another Corbett. I had a rest for the best part of 45 mins which is very unusual for me but the heat was getting to me and I was feeling pretty shit.

The final hill (the other) Sgurr nan Gillean was the easiest part of the ridge but by this stage it was 6pm, I was on the very last of my water and just wanting to get down to Dibidil where I planned to camp so I didn't hang about.

The climb down from here to sea level was a fucking nightmare - the very worst thing to have at this stage of the day as a mistake would have been really bad and I was losing the plot slightly by this point. I had been out of water for about 45 mins and I heard one of the best sounds you can hear on a baking dry day like this when all the streambeds are dry - the trickling noise of a spring. It took about 10 mins to fill my Platypus back up to 2 litres and in that time, I was eaten alive by midges - so I canned all thoughts of using my tent that I had carried all the way and decided I was staying at Dibidil bothy even if it was packed. I was delighted when I finally saw it.

As bothies go, this is up there with the best and I was genuinely astonished when I finally staggered up to the door and the big bolt lock was closed - it was empty - yaas!. I felt terrible and as I had been so hot I hadn't eaten much over the day and so I had to force myself to have a cup a soup and half an hour later when I had changed and cooled down I had my normal freeze dried packet meal and felt back to normal. I also had a miraculous 4G signal, so I watched the CL final on my phone and got the hip flask tanned.

I set up for a kip - but as common with any time I've slept in an empty bothy, I had an absolutely terrible sleep (and the no curtains and light at 4am didn't help), so I was up at 6am and ready for the 9km back round the coast to Kinloch and the ferry back at 10:45.

I said goodbye to my midge free luxury holiday cottage and started round the coastal path that is usually a swamp but after the last few weeks was merely a bit damp (and I was able to fully enjoy it even if it was spitting with rain by now).

I was at the ferry slip with an hour to spare, so made myself a coffee and relaxed and then enjoyed the cruise out to Canna and back to Mallaig (and the huge Calmac Burger went down well). This will be (once I've recovered) one of my favourite ever walks - not easy but for folk that like an epic, there aren't many better.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 12 by Swello

[GTG_03]

Has anybody stayed at the crask Inn? Was thinking of camping there and maybe climbing Ben klibreck, any tips? Best place to start and best place to park? First one for me so I'm looking forward to it.