Ding dong, the wicked Humps of the East

17-04-2013 - 23-04-2013

Battenburg cake moorland near Clog Knowe

Originally, the plan had been to go to the far north of Scotland with Cliff - unfortunately he had to call it off because of a family matter. It seemed a long way to go, on my own, with only a fortnight available - I know, I know, there was a time when I would have considered a fortnight  a really long break to indulge for hill-bagging, but now it seems like a bat of an eyelid. However, there was no way that I wanted to be anywhere near the media whilst the Thatcher family were sponging off the state with their paid for pauper's funeral. 

Hump bag

So, I broke a vow and headed off to bag Humps on the east side of the M74 in Scotland. Although the weather has been mixed, I have stayed remarkably dry in the main. However, the wind has at times been vicious.















Here is a carrion crow trapped in a crow trap on a grouse moor. Why are there human beings who routinely carry out unspeakable acts with despicable consequences. It just so happened that the original version of 'Rescue me' was playing on my iPod as I reached the cage...








Just a few pictures from a sample of the Humps bagged. Nowt spectacular.

Well, no idea where this is

Oh, it's here - Penile Heugh

West Cairn, West Lothian's highest point

Route map on Corstorphine hill - needs Harry Beck-ing

Corstorphine hill - Edinburgh

Corstorphine hill tower

Craig hill summit cairn

On the way home

25-03-2013 - 02-04-2013

Curves

Aodann Chleireig

Sometimes I just have to go home for a short while - to wash my socks and read the mail. As you will see from the dates, it took a week to get there. There was the small matter of just a few hills left on each side of the A830, Mallaig road, to complete. And then, there was the temptation of unbagged hills on the way south from Fort William to contend with - mainly around Rannoch Moor and Glen Orchy - with a brief side trip to the east side of Loch Awe (which feels like real GOML country to me, a feeling supported by the angry note stuck under my windscreen on my return from one walk).











Here are some pictures to show that there was a perfect combination of snow on the tops and nothing in the glens - means there is all the fun of snow to play on without the hassle of living in it. Whereas, I kept hearing of things were a bit different to the south, on Arran and in parts of England and Wales. Mind you it was cold - especially when the wind blew. But I am not complaining as the frozen tundra mean I could walk anywhere, with dry feet.

Wind sculpture

Loch Shiel

Na h-Uamhachan 

Rannoch Moor from Glas Bheinn

Water of Tulla and my Dahon by a rickety bridge

Gorton MBA bothy 

Glen Coe from Meall a'Ghortain 

Beinn na Sroine, Glen Orchy - with B Cruachan in the background

Contrasts on B Bhuiridh 

Beinn a'Bhuiridh summit

Trig number S6157 - Beinn Dubh Airigh

Optimistic primrose

Brave or foolhardy?

Beinn Bhreac view

Beinn Bhreac summit

Cold water  - Lochan Allt an Sgadain