Broken Mountain - Pictures from Hill Walking in Scotland

Oh dear ...

2011-04-07T18:42:00.001+01:00

It's been a very long time since my last post, but my 2011 walks start in earnest tomorrow with Ben Vrackie and a new Sony HX9 camera. So keep an eye out for more reports soon.

New Zealand Pics

2010-01-05T18:53:00.007Z

It's been a long time since my last post and in fact I've just realised I still need to post some photos from May (which I will do very soon, and in such a way as it looks like they have always been there!). What have I been doing? Working ...

So along comes December and despite our best intentions all we have managed since May is 1 walk in the Pentlands. 2009 was a terrible year for our walking. But all that was about to change. With our legs having forgotten how to climb up hills we were about to set off to NZ to visit family and, in between, do some serious walking. It was tough, but we managed it and here are a few mountain pictures to prove it!

Without a shadow of a doubt, the best mountain I have ever climbed is Ben Lomond (Queenstown as opposed to just outside Glasgow). The views from the top are remarkable (pun intended).

Ben Lomond

View to the Remarkables from Ben Lomond

Surrounded by mountains wherever you look ...

Now many mountains in New Zealand are simply too big for the average person to climb, so I resorted to the good standby of getting close and photographing them!

The iconic Mount Aspiring at sunset

And the even more iconic Aoraki Mount Cook

But it wasn't all hard work

Surfer at Piha on Boxing Day

Piha beach

A Pied Shag

A final word of warning: "Avalanche Peak" is exactly what it says on the tin. Little did I think I would be in a blizzard in summer and restricted to the route I could take because of severe risk of avalanches. But then I forgot, this is New Zealand where place names can be very unimaginative, but generally very accurate!

Lochinver and Glen Canisp

2009-05-10T19:17:00.013+01:00

Taking advantage of a quick break in the weather, but not being so brave as to venture up high (where I would certainly be blown off my feet) our last walk was a 4 mile loop from Lochinver, through Glen Canisp and back round by the river Inver. This took us 2 hours (with many stops for photographs and looking, in vain, for otters). We got back to Lochinver just as the heavens opened, and in time for lunch - for more of which see this post!

Suilven is a magnificent, hypnotic mountain. All the walks we did this week gave different views. It changes shape so much when you look at it from a slightly different angle - if you didn't know it was the same mountain, you'd find it hard to believe. For me it's almost as iconic as Buchaille Etive Mor - can't wait to climb it - perhaps next year?

Cul Mor

2009-05-10T19:17:00.011+01:00

After a rest day to recover from Ben More Coigach (and it was raining so what else could we have done!) we headed off to Cul Mor. Starting early at Knockan Crag, there is a well made stalkers path for a fair bit of the way. We climbed up the east side (pretty steep near the top) and headed straight for the magnificent cairn at the top for lunch. It was bitterly cold, so we took a few photos and then tried to get feeling back into our frozen dead hands before heading to the bealach and back to the car. The rain was coming in behind us and the short time we were at the summit was pretty much the only time the top was clear all day.

Perfect timing, and at a mere 5 1/2 hours there and back a stroll in the park! This climb gave great views of Suilven and Stac Pollaidh.

Ben More Coigach

2009-05-10T19:17:00.010+01:00

We had planned on leaving this walk until later in the week, once we had gained our climbing legs, but we quickly realised the week might be a washout and we needed to take advantage of what good weather we might have. So on the first day ...

Stac Pollaidh, Suilven and Cul Beag

Starting at the Dun Canna car park near Blughasary, we climbed up onto the Coigach range via Speicein Coinnich. The climb up gave us great views of the surrounding mountains, including Stac Pollaidh and Suilven, and even over to An Teallach. The weather wasn't great, but the rain always seemed to miss us. Nevertheless, there had been snow overnight and it was pretty windy, so we didn't linger for long at the top (just enough to get our breath back) before moving on to Ben More Coigach itself. From there our plan had been to go on to Garbh Choireachan but the weather was starting to close in so we came off down towards Culnacraig.

Scary push to the top ...

Our next part of the walk was meant to be a cliff-top stroll back to the car, but the path turned out to be more of a side of the cliff job, and by now the wind was picking up so we turned inland and headed over rough ground to Beannan Beaga and back to the car. Sound nice - in reality it was over 15 miles, nearly 6,500 feet of climbing and a long hard day. Luckily we had plenty of food and water, and for once I was glad we came prepared for the unexpected (as we always do)! I have to confess I was slightly disappointed when I realised that despite all that we hadn't even climbed a Corbett ... the mountains up here look (and feel) higher than they are! Still, at least we got some great views.

Stac Pollaidh

All Photographs © BrokenMountain 2009

Coigach and Assynt Walks

2009-05-10T17:24:00.015+01:00

This time last year we came back from a week in Glencoe with a healthy tan, having climbed mountains all week (until it got too hot and we had to have a barbecue). What a great feeling it was to be over 3000 feet above sea level looking at a cloudless sky and wandering over ridges in a t-shirt (and trousers - no shorts - scared of ticks!) in Scotland. Not to worry - this year was back to form: cold (minus 17 in the wind on the hills), wet (sometimes very, very wet) and windy (gale force, with weather warnings in force!).

This was my first time staying in Ullapool - I've only ever been through a couple of times. We had a cottage on the Braes, near the top of Ullapool hill, with great views of Loch Broom. Anyway - here were the walks we did manage to do. I'll post each separately, and update this page with the links:

Ben More Coigach
Cul Mor
Lochinver and Glen Canisp

And if you want to know where we were eating out then have a look here (One very good pub!)

In the meantime, some photos from the Corrieshalloch gorge:

This was not a walk as such, more an excursion in the tipping rain ... Corrieshalloch Gorge is stunning. A swing bridge takes you over the gorge which must be over 200 feet deep, and a viewpoint hangs out over the edge so you can take photos: you can even see the remains of the old viewing point ... A nice circular stroll takes you back along the other side of the gorge. A good way to spend half an hour or so and a very impressive gorge.

This is one very deep gorge!

Look closely - the viewing platform is top right on this picture

And finally ... just to prove we did actually get some sun (good job you can't see the wind!):

Deer against blue sky

All Photographs © BrokenMountain 2009

Creag Mac Ranaich - my new favourite corbett

2009-04-19T21:41:00.005+01:00

Oh my, oh my, oh my ...

Now I start to remember exactly what walking up mountains is all about: first of all you need a great landscape; secondly you need great weather; thirdly you need the perfect corbett - not too high that you kill yourself, and near enough to stunning hills that you can enjoy the views from the top. Wow!!

Start from Lochearnhead, go up a good path through Glen Kendrum and Creag Mac Ranaich stands impressively on your right. What a walk!

Creag Mac Ranaich on the way in

I only wish my photos could do justice to a view that took in so many munros, including Ben Lomond (too hazy for my lens) and Ben Lui, as well as all the ones below. This truly was a 360 degree view of stunning proportions. I could have spent hours at the top drinking in the views.

Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Croin

Tarmachan Ridge

Yes that really is the top of Ben Lawers ...

Ben More and Stob Binnein

Easter Walks

2009-04-14T19:40:00.009+01:00

Easter weekend, glorious weather, and a weeks walking holiday fast approaching - it's time to get serious. Much as we would have liked to get out every day, we have a garden full of weeds (slightly less full now), but we did manage to get out for a few walks in between.

Stuc a Croin

Now I know its pathetic, but I haven't done any serious walking for a long time now. We set off for a valley walk just outside Callander, along Meall Leathan Dhail. This walk starts from the car park past Bracklinn Falls, and offers great views of Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Croin. The last time we walked along here we had unbelievable views of a golden eagle. Halfway to Stirling however, it was decided that a valley walk would be a waste of a great day and what we should really do is climb something. That something turned out to be Stuc a Croin.

A couple of years ago we did my only double Munro walk so far - Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Croin from Callander - this was not easy by any means, but I agreed to attempt the single peak. I made the beginners error of not eating enough though, and by the time we were halfway up to the saddle I had no energy left. Also, despite a change of socks, my feet were a bit wet after the river crossing (when will they rebuild that bridge?!). We did make it up to Lochan a Croin, but the peak beat me. I didn't even have the energy (or inclination) to take any photos ... sorry about that.

We did see multiple buzzards, a dipper, and a large group of red deer - but no eagles!

Cramond

On Sunday, to stretch my broken legs before gardening, we headed out to Cramond for a walk along the shore. Instead we happily found low tide, and extended this with a trip round Cramond Island. The sun was out, as was most of Edinburgh, and best of all it was nice and flat!

Gorse in bloom on Cramond Island

View across to the Pentlands

Ben Venue

Before 9am, Callander is a quiet, peaceful town. At 3 in the afternoon it is an extremely busy one, with narrow streets and many pedestrian crossings which cause the traffic to back up for miles north along the A84. We could have gone home via Aberfoyle. We should have gone home via Aberfoyle. But we didn't. Apart from that, climbing Ben Venue was very satisfying. For one thing I actually made it to the top!

On top of that we had great weather, and met some really nice people on the way up (it was a very busy hill). We tackled the hill from Loch Achray: through some forest, then up onto the ridge (very muddy at this stage) and along to the summit. We were rewarded with stunning views over Loch Katrine, and across to the hulking mound of Ben Lomond, just visible through the (heat?) haze. A more interesting, but sightly longer, route looks to run from Loch Ard. This is a great hill with lots of variety, and at just the right level of difficulty for me just now. More walks planned for next weekend.

Ben Venue from the start ...

... and from the ridge, slightly nearer the summit.

All Photographs © BrokenMountain 2009

Pentland Snow

2009-04-14T08:43:00.000+01:00

Disaster. Easter has now come and gone, and as you can see from my utter lack of posts, my resolution to walk lots has got off to a flying start ...

So what's gone wrong? Well the weather in January and February was not the best, and, having literally been blown off my feet before, going out in a gale force wind and trying to climb something high is not exactly top of my list (that would be staying in and keeping warm in front of the fire!). And then came the Six Nations, although why I continue to believe that Scotland can actually beat anyone remains a mystery - I would have been better going out. Work, as so often happens, also seemed to get in the way.

But ... after some heavy snow in February we did manage to get out - and a picture of the Kips to prove it.

Another post to follow on a more satisfying Easter weekend, as the push for fitness begins (and finds me slightly lacking ...)

All Photographs © BrokenMountain 2009

New Blog - Old Posts

2009-01-26T21:45:00.003Z

My new years resolution this year was to walk more. There is, of course, an ulterior motive: a trip to Ullapool in May, and the prospect of rather more walking towards the end of the year.

So the goal is this: to get back up to a good enough level of fitness to walk up munros day after day for a week, hopefully enjoying some fine weather in the process.

With this aim in mind, I have set up this blog to record some of these memories, and started it off with some posts previously published on my original blog (now to be exclusively for restaurant reviews). Hopefully the posts here will be not too infrequent, as we aim to get out at least twice a month.

Enjoy!

New Year Walks

2009-01-04T14:15:00.000Z

A new year, and a new resolution - to work less and get out walking more. The aim - to be able to enjoy a week of walking at the start of May. Now it's been a while, so we are starting small - no Munros for a few weeks yet.

First up then was a stroll over Salisbury crags on New Years day (we were up too late to attempt anything further afield). Arthurs Seat itself was way too busy so we contented ourselves with wandering round the smaller hills.

St Anthony's Chapel

Why climb Arthurs seat on a day like this?

The sun did come out briefly, but there was quite a cold wind blowing, and the swans on St Margarets' Loch were certainly feeling the chill!

Swan on thin ice

The next day consisted of a very muddy struggle through Roslin Glen - not entirely satisfying, so search of something a bit more challenging we headed to the Ochils the day after.

A 10 mile walk over some nice rolling hills, through forests and across open (and slightly snowy) moorland on a circular route around Glen Sherrup. The weather was perfect - freezing (literally) and hardly a cloud in the sky; the views were unexpectedly phenomenal, taking in Ben Lomond, Ben Ledi, Stuc a Chroin and Ben Vorlich, and even Stob Binnein and Ben More far in the distance. A great day out was rounded off with the sight of 3 dippers in the River Devon as we returned to the car.

Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin

Great views!

Autumn Gold

2008-11-11T17:15:00.001Z

Some pictures from a recent walk along the Firth of Forth from South Queensferry to Cramond, and back. A good way to spend a Sunday morning.

Gorgeous woodland.

A little sandy cove, a sunny day ... just imagine that it's hot instead of 'bracing'.

It could almost be a golf course. This is Scotland remember, of course it's a golf course.

The road home ...

Glencoe Mountains: some pictures

2008-06-07T16:36:00.000+01:00

The river Coe on the way to the Pap of Glencoe

It's about time to add some mountains, so here are some shots of Glencoe after a week walking in glorious sunshine and t-shirts ... in May ... in Scotland - no, really, it was good weather! (and let us not forget the midges!)

First of all a shot on the Aonach Eagach - we didn't climb this, but a policy of climbing hills nearby deadly ridges is a good way to get the views without exposing ourselves to any danger!

Aonach Eagach from Garbh Bheinn

Buachaille Etive Mor is my favourite Mountain top of all time (so far). I would say favourite Munro, but I don't want to exclude other countries, notably New Zealand. This was part of the view from the top after a stunning climb up through Coire na Tulaich. A fabulous top with loads of high level walking available, and on a day like this, fantastic views.

Stob Na Doire from the top of Buachaille Etive Mor

Next up another view of Aonach Eagach, taken on the way up to Stob Coire nan Lochan. With perfect timing we did all the hard climbing in the cloud, and the sun started to break through just before the top, giving another day of breathtaking scenery.

Cloud clearing on the Aonach Eagach, from Coire nan Lochan

And finally, after a short stroll up Glen Nevis, a view of Steall falls:

An Gearanach from Steall Meadows