Munros Misty and Mellow

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness"...... the literati will recall the first line of Keats' Ode to Autumn; and so as we had passed the equinox, off we went on the last weekend in September for our first autumn trip. Mellow and misty it was. (Fruity I dunno.)

Beinn a' Ghlo is the glory of the Atholl estate behind Blair Castle. It's a huge highway in the sky, twisting and turning, dipping and rising, over three Munro summits and assorted other places.

Brian T brought his friend Peter, so with Phil, Lizzie, Frank and Andrew that made six of us to push steadily up the long constant slopes of Carn Liath. Then along, down, up, along.............

The pleasant ridges tower with steep slopes on every side down to the valleys almost 3000 feet below. A light mist swirled and came and went, hiding the landscape only to reveal it again to our delight. Not bitter or vicious--- definitely a mellow mist.

We got to the third and final Munro at the east end of the massif - Carn nan Gabhar 1120 metres - and the mist co-operatively cleared. The map was unfolded during a contented lunch, to identify Glenshee hills miles eastwards. Carn an Righ, Beinn Tulacheann, and even Carn an Tuirc east of the A93.

Then down down down over the rocky ridge of Airghiod Bheinn.

Lizzie took some cover pics for a CD so we decided to form a group. Not sure whether it should be a Rocky Band (like the one on the mountain) or a "Sound of Music" type male voice choir.

Racked with indecision, the only thing to do was to buy plenty of food and wine, and retire to consult The General.
At Gen. Wade's bothy at Meall Garbh, a nice chap had already arrived with plenty of coal to light a roaring fire. (Who says you can't get staff nowadays ??)
A cyclist arrived to keep the numbers even, and a jolly convivial night was had by all. (In some cases till about 3 am .......apparently).

Next morning, the mist was low, colder, and wet. (Winter's a-comin' .....)

Brian and Peter decided to rest on their laurels and drive to England.

Lizzie picked Ben Chonzie with the aid of a road atlas and a weather forecast.
So after a bit of motoring, we arrived in Glen Lednock and set off up the stony track which leads a long way up the hill, towards the mist still waiting for us at 700 metres.
At the summit, there was sadly no view, but 3 members of Killin MRT brewing up in the shelter and having a day off. They said they had got fed up with rescuing people from Ben Lui after the third successive incident the previous day.

Back at the car, we brewed up ourselves, to have afternoon tea and cake. (I draw a veil over the chocolate drink). It only remained to stop at Penrith for fish and chips, to conclude a mellow autumn weekend.

ANDREW