ACROSS ARDGOUR This all began with idly gazing at the road map. On the other side of Loch Linnhe from the Fort William road, and south of Rathad nan Eilean – the Road To The Isles – there stretch westwards those rocky and sparsely-inhabited peninsulae leading all the way to… Continue reading
“All the gear and no idea”! After learning to ski earlier this winter, I decided that it was about time I tried out ski touring. After all, I could ski a pisted blue run now – how hard could it be? Mike (a far more experienced skier than I am) was… Continue reading
Catherine had read the weather forecast. She took “Saturday will be a wet day” rather too literally, by going full-length into a stream as the advance party of 6 walked up Corrieairack Pass. Praise be to General Wade, for the changing facilities at his nearby bothy ! … Continue reading
The Forcan Ridge of The Saddle and Beinn Udlaidh There haven’t been many good weather weekends this winter, so when the forecast for the 1st weekend in March referred to 70% chance of cloud-free Munros in the Northwest, a long drive beckoned… The Scottish hills are plastered with huge amounts… Continue reading
The first whiff of passable winter conditions enticed Messrs Ferguson Dixon Carrier and Diggle up to Braemar on a Friday night with high hopes of doing a nice easy Grade II / III route on the magnificent Lochnagar, and ticking off the first route of the year. We enjoyed the… Continue reading
Climbing at Wharncliffe Wharncliffe ? ……………… Wharncliffe ? Is that a relative of Heathcliff ? Well there are some similarities, for sure. Pennine moorland, a swarthy appearance, an unapproachable nature. and an element of deception. However Wharncliffe is the younger of the two – having been climbed… Continue reading
GETTING OUR GOET Southern Highlands, 30 November and 1st December 2013 From Glencoe to Loch Earn is 52 miles. It must have been a tough journey 400 years ago, crossing the trackless Rannoch Moor on foot, when there were no roads at all in the highlands (and no effective law,… Continue reading
Wednesday 20th Nov saw me and my lonesome self driving up to the top of Wrynrose pass with the intention of walking over to Wetherlam via Swirl How. I was informed by the MWIS forecast that summit temperatures would be around 0 degress but with winds blowing at a constant… Continue reading
PINNACLE RIDGE 22nd November The big smooth slab below the ‘finger” offered few possibilities for traction under its light covering of snow. At this point Various Stratagems were implemented to maintain upward progress, and indeed the rope came out. … Continue reading
This was the summit of Great Gable on Sunday 10th November, just emerging from a light mist. As usual, climbers and hill-goers gathered for a 2 minutes silence at 11.00 am. The occasion originates from the Fell and Rock Club, who installed a cast bronze war memorial on the summit… Continue reading
