Rannoch Moor - Inveroran to Kingshouse and back, 27th May 2012.

After a hot and very slow drive to Bridge of Orchy, myself and Lorna pitched camp just past Inveroran and managed to enjoy the afternoon sun. Thankfully it was quieter than I thought, and choosing a spot by the river was easy. Just one other couple on our side of the bridge, a lone walker and a Belgian couple on the other. 

Even though we arrived about 3.30pm , it was still very hot and the occaisional breeze was welcome (as were the cold beers I brought!). My concession to Lorna for her introduction to wild camping was, a) to drive to a camping spot and, b) to bring some folding chairs! I was glad we did so that we could enjoy the good weather!   

We didn't start cooking till about 8pm, and it wasn't long after, once the sun had gone down over the horizon, that the midges appeared. At first they weren't too bad, and the fire and the smoke from the      b-b-q kept them at bay. However I was eventually beaten, even after Skin So Soft and repellent were applied. So at about 11pm I retired to bed.       

We got up at about 7am to swarms of midges outside the front of the tent. Headnets were needed to survive as we prepared breakfast up at the road above the bridge where there was a little more breeze and sun to keep them away. It wasn't long before they started to go away so it wasn't the worst midge experience I've ever had. 
We moved the car up to the car park at Victoria Bridge, and set off across Rannoch Moor, following the West Highland Way. We didn't see that many people on our journey out to Kingshouse, just a small group at Ba Bridge and a few guys heading back to Victoria Bridge. The views across Loch Tulla to our right were amazing, and as we went along, Blackmount came into view over our left shoulders. Soon we were at Ba Bridge, the halfway point before the second long drag up the the high point above the Kingshouse, and the long descent past the Ski Centre to the Kingshouse Hotel itself.
There was a young Stag, hind and calves wandering amongst the gardens of the few houses that are at Kingshouse, seemingly at ease with the passing of hordes of tourists and walkers.        

Young stag wandering around happily outside the Kingshouse Hotel.
After a hot sweaty walk over the moor, it was time for a pint and lunch. However I went into the walkers bar and ordered my drinks at 1220 and it turns out they're not licensed till 1230! So I had a long 10 minute wait for my well earned pint. Whilst waiting we got chatting to a guy doing the "way", and it turned out he was a tanker driver working out of Grangemouth and had some interesting and enlightening stuff to say about their fight to retain their terms and conditions and how unlicenced and unregulated rigs wait outside the plant for loads to be brought out to them, I'll leave you to decide. 
   

After bidding farewell to the tanker driver, we went outside so Lorna could dip her bad ankle in the cold water. As we did we got talking to a couple on their honeymoon - camping at the back of the hotel  - and had just spent a week in Aviemore. It turned out the guy was ex SAS, so we had a short ex army blether and bid them farwell as we set off back for Rannoch Moor.

No trip to the Kingshouse is complete without another obligatory shot of Buichaille etive Mor at the head of Glencoe. It always looks impressive, no matter how many times you see it.

Walking back to Victoria Bridge, it was evident that the vast majority of people we saw heading north along the track towards Glencoe, were either foriegn or of an older generation. That's not to say we didn't see any Brits, or young Brits at that, but they were the minority, at least today.

At the halfway point, Ba Bridge, we really need some extra water. The bar staff at the Kinsghouse kindly fill peoples bottles for them, but we drank it all in the heat, so I scrambled down amongst the rocks beneath the old bridge to get some fresh water. It was tempting to jump into the natural pools that form there and I reckon it would make a great wild camp (despite the midges) with your own pool thrown in!
From here we battered on till we got back to Victoria Bridge, where we jumped in the car and went back to our original camping spot where we cooled down in the river before getting changed for the drive home.    
  

Stob Binnien, 20th May 2012.

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Catbells-High Spy-Dalehead Tarn, 12th May 2012.

As Lorna was looking for an "easier" type of walk to continue her very slow rehabilitation back in to hill walking and more, we opted for a route I've often seen on the way to Borrowdale and Scafell. Catbells can be seen as you drive out of Keswick and out to Borrowdale and although not very high, always looked like it would be a walk with some great views. 

We drove out to Portinscale and on to the very small car park at the start of the Catbells route near Skelgill. The long undulating ridge gives you great views over Derwent Water, Keswick and beyond. In fact skiddaw and Blencathra were also visible the day we were there.  

A minor challenge for Lorna was the scrambly section on Maiden Moor, easy for the rest of us, but tricky when you still have a stiff and still painfull ankle.   

Looking back to Skiddaw in the distance.

As we made the top of High Spy, we could see the crags below Dalehead with Hindscarth beyond. From here we descended through Eel Crags to cross the stream and over to Dalehead Tarn.

Looking back to Eel Crags before crossing over to Dalehead.

At Dalehead Tarn there are several walled shelters which seem suitable for a spot of wild camping. Sadly there was some rubbish stuffed into the walls and a recently left arrangement of two fresh banana skins!
TAKE YOUR RUBBISH HOME!

After lunch, we headed north, descending along the path following Newlands Beck, which itself has loads of tempting picnic spots next to several waterfalls en route.

Looking back up Newlands Beck with Dalehead Crags on the right and High Spy and Eel Crags on the left. From here, it is a straightforward walk back through Little Town and back to the car park at Skelgill.

Glentress, Mountain Biking, Sunday 22nd April 2012.

My first proper visit to Glentress today, and I can't believe I've never bothered to come before! The place is excellent. There's showers, a bike wash, shop, cafe and loads of parking. Okay it's a whole three quid, but that's all you need to pay if you forgo the bike wash (£1) and the showers (£1) but it seems daft not to use them. Myself and Ian basically rode the Blue route a couple of times (in fact we may have missed some bits it's that long) but it's just the right level of downhill and technicality for me.   

I have read that some think the new "Peel" cafe is a "monstrosity", although to me it fits well into the surrounds and is a great facility, along with the showers. Prices are what you would expect, and again you don't have to spend a fortune.

 

The place did get busy, but there was always space on the trails and there's a sociable feel to it all.
I can't wait to go back, and of course it's always more fun if there's a crowd of you racing down through the trees!

 

Highest wild camp in Britain - Ben Nevis summit, 14th-15th April 2012.

After lots of talk and crazy ideas, I finally realised an ambition of mine to camp on the summit of Ben Nevis this weekend. Myself and Ian left the North Face car park at about 3pm (ish) on Saturday afternoon and headed up to the top car park, from where we struck off up to the Halfway Lochan to gain the tourist path. At this point, the forecast, "isolated snow flurries and light winds" started! We didn't see that many folk, just onr guide and his clients coming down after climbing "Good Friday", I think and  two guys who'd done "Gardyloo Gully". Everyone else was the usual mixed bag the prepared and not so...     

Ian approaching a gloomy, deserted summit.After the Red Burn, the snow became more consolidated, but once off the zig-zags the going became heavier with a slight crust over a softer layer making the going (with a large pack) really hard work. At one point it almost became map reading time as the cloud closed in, until we spotted the next cairn and avoided the faff of navigating in bad weather! You have to wonder, is it foolhardy or brave for the "samba/jeans/anorak" crowds to go out there in such changeable conditions? I know my view, but they must look as incredulously at us (in our finest), as we do at them in their sports-fashion outfits!     

An even gloomier, deserted summit. Not the clear skies and stunning views we had hoped for. We did see a couple more climbers just topping out on Tower Ridge at about 7 - 7.30pm, and then two more that seemed to come from the North East Buttress/Observatory Ridge area and passed our tent as they (had to now with the visibility) navigated their way off the plateau. Once we had the tent pitched and extra layers on, it was into the sleeping bags and time to cook. Phoning home had to be done over by the Trig Point, which was a bit nippy in the wind, and then run back to the tent! Around 8.30 ish a group of "Three peakers", arrived at the summit so we spoke to them for a while from the comfort of our tent, before we wished them farewell.   

After dinner (ready mix pasta, hot chocolate and a flapjack), we decided to take a look outside the see if visibility had improved, and to walk off dinner! Sadly, there was still lots of broken cloud, although some stars could be seen. No lights down at the CIC Hut, but Corpach was visible. The wind still came and went and it was hard to tell if it was actually snowing or just spindrift. The after dinner walk, consisted of peering over the edge into Tower Gully and running round the summit shelter a few times - mainly to keep warm!      

After a "cool", but not too uncomfortable night (2 baselayers, 2 pairs of thermal leggings, 2 pairs of socks, down gillet, belay jacket inside the bag with my feet in it, hat and gloves) on my self de-flating mattress, I eventually got up around 7.30 am. The sun had been up since 6, or earlier, but it was a little warmer in my sleeping bag than a few hours prior so I had a lie in. A quick breakfast of flapjacks, chocolate and banana in hot milk, was followed by another jog around the summit shelter to get the blood flowing! 

My early morning view from the tent door. At this point some more 3 peakers arrived, but with a difference. They were cycling between all 3 peaks, and then riding to London in time to do the Marathon on Sunday 22nd! 

So, after breakfast we were up and out to enjoy the morning sun and the stunning views from Britains's highest mountain. It was still a bit nippy, but another couple of laps around the shelter soon got the blood flowing again and it was time for some kodak moments. 

A much better view of Tower Ridge (and a bit of Tower Gully), with the Ledge Route and Carn Dearg to it's right. Pity about my shadow in the picture though. With crampons on we felt much safer wandering around near the edge.

Carn Dearg again, and Tower Ridge in front, all the way down to almost the CIC Hut.

The CMD (Carn Mor Dearg Arete) looking amazing in the spring sunshine and Aonach Mor and the ski area behind.

Ian and myself at the summit trig point getting some warmth from the sun. Despite appearances, there was still a chilly breeze.   

A couple of young "Three Peakers", Dan and Lewis from Peterborough, who appeared and had a chat with us. Well done lads, and I hope you stayed awake for the drive home...

Ian making his way down over the boulder field to the start of the arete. Although most of the rock was covered, there was still a slight crust on the surface of the snow, so even going downhill was energy sapping. It also got a little warmer as we got some shelter from the NE Buttress.  

Another layer off, and it was down to business on the arete. We met one guy on his way up, so no real trench had been formed to speak of, and with heavy packs we had to be carefull about how we place our feet between rock and fresh snow.  

Ian on the arete with Carn Mor Dearg, the highest point, in the distance.

Another slog up the summit of Carn Mor Dearg! We did see a team of two making their way up towards the base of the arete below the abseil posts area. I think there is a climb there, but not sure of the name?   

The arete and summit of the Ben looking  very alpine.

Ian on Carn Mor Dearg.

Myself and "Mac", on Carn Mor Dearg. Just one small subsiduary top to cross and it's all downhill, back to the CIC Hut path, the top carpark and down to the North Face car park.    

One last view straight across to Number 5 Gully in the centre, Ledge Route to it's right, the two Castle Gullies and the Castle itself.