Skye Trail - Kyle of Lochalsh to Rubha Hunish

The Skye Trail is a challenging, unofficial long distance route through the stunning landscapes of the Isle of Skye.

The trail covers 128 km of tough terrain including spectacular mountain and coastal scenery. It follows much of the celebrated Trotternish Ridge and also passes under the very shadow of the jagged Cuillin, the finest mountains in Britain. There are remarkable but almost unvisited coastal cliffs, steep trails above high drops, and the haunting ruins of deserted villages destroyed in the Highland Clearances.

Skye Trail is the 11th long distance route I've completed in Scotland and it was my last long distance walk of the 2014 season. Plans to walk it had been discussed about a year earlier while walking the East Highland Way. Skye would be visited late summer 2014 with one or two others and would be an epic adventure, backpacking with all the camping gear, all prepared for a week in the wild.

Unfortunately for my Youtube followers, I did not make a video of the trail.  However you can view the photos here: Sky Trail 2014

Date walked: 30/08/2014
Time taken: 8 days
Distance: 157 km

Mount Keen from Aboyne with a 65L pack

I started from Aboyne at 10:30 am and headed out to Glen Tanar on foot, reaching Glen Tanar visitor centre an hour later. I continued walking using the Walkhighlands description as my guide, stopping at the Half Way Hut for lunch en-route.

I arrived at the base of Mount Keen at 3:40pm and began my ascent to the summit which took me about an hour 20 mins. Conditions were good, a little windy at the top. Came straight back down, had planned to camp on the grassy area at the bottom but there was a group of kids there so I just went back to the half way hut, had Supper and wild camped by the river Tanar. The following day I walked back to Aboyne and caught the bus back to Aberdeen.

It took about 11 hours in total, that included stopping for lunch for an hour and doesn't include the camping.

Munros included on this walk: Mount Keen
Date walked: 23/08/2014
Time taken: 11 hours
Distance: 33 km
Ascent: 795m

Ben Macdui from Braemar

 A day on the hills with Gary, Moray and Gavin, bagging Ben Macdui from the Linn of Dee.

I walked to the Linn of Dee from Braemar on the Friday evening and camped by Derry Lodge Friday night.  In the morning I met up with the others as they passed Derry Lodge.  We bagged Ben Macdui, Derry Cairngorm and Cairn na maim. A 19 mile hike. My 12th munro.

Munros included on this walk: Ben Macdui, Derry Cairngorm
Date walked: 09/08/2014
Time taken: 10 hours
Distance: 38 km
Ascent: 1068m