Ben More Coigach

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

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

New Year Walks

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!

All Photographs © BrokenMountain 2008

Autumn Gold

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 ...