Bothy bagging in the Cairngorms - Day 3 and 4

 Day 3 - I ascend over the hills from Loch Callater to Loch Muick where the next bothy is located. I enjoy a few Beers, sitting out by the loch until the sun goes down. Then I get the fire sparked up inside the bothy.

Day 4 - Walked along Loch Muick to the Spittal of Glenmuick and went in search of Shieling of Mark bothy, walked up the Glen for about 3 miles but couldn't spot it so returned to the spittal of Glenmuick and walked to Ballater (8 miles) where I caught the bus home.

Bothy bagging in the Cairngorms - Day 2

Day 2 - Had breakfast in the bothy before walking 9 miles back to Braemar where I grabbed supplies from the shop before making my way to the next bothy at Loch Callater. 7 miles.

Bothy bagging in the Cairngorms - Day 1

I begin a three day adventure, backpacking through the Cairngorms, visiting several bothies en-route. The original plan was to visit the highest village, Tomintoul but due to frosty condictions Plan B (for Bothy) was initiated.

Day 1 - Got bus to Braemar, walked 6 miles to the Linn of Dee and a further 3 miles to the first bothy, Bob Scotts. Some other people were there so I pitched the tent up outside before joining them for a drink. Afterwards I stayed up for a while and made a small campfire outside, using an existing firepit.

Please note, I have since been informed that campfires are not permitted at the Bob Scotts bothy or anywhere in this area. I apologise to have offended anyone, lesson learned.

Ben Ime and The Cobbler

Beinn Ime is the highest munro of the Arrochar Alps, in the southern Highlands of Scotland. The Cobbler is a Corbett which is often climbed by tourists.

Date walked: 11/09/2015
Time taken: 6 hours
Distance: 11 km
Ascent: 1325m 

 

Beinn Ime is the highest munro of the Arrochar Alps, in the southern Highlands of Scotland. The Cobbler is a Corbett which is often climbed by tourists. Day 2 in Arrochar and I set off to bag The Cobbler and Ben Ime, planning to finish at Inverarnan. I lost the path after descending Ben Ime's North face and after a long descend on rough, pathless ground I eventually finished at Inveruglas by Loch Lomond instead. It was a long strenuous walk for me as I was carrying a heavy rucksack with my tent and camping gear.

Ben Narnain from Arrochar

Beinn Narnain is a mountain in the southern Highlands of Scotland, near Arrochar. It forms part of a group of hills known as the Arrochar Alps, and is a Munro. 

Munros included on this walk: Beinn Ime, Beinn Narnain
Date walked: 10/09/2015
Time taken: 5 hours
Distance: 13 km
Ascent: 926m

I travelled to Arrochar on a Thursday afternoon and arrived about 1pm.

The plan was to ascend Ben Narnain, Ben Ime and Ben Arthur (The Cobbler) over 2 days and wild camp.

I had some lunch by Loch Long then began my hike to the summit of Ben Narnain, stashing my 65L pack in the trees. I made it to the summit by half past 4, took some pictures and videos then immediately made my way back down.

It took about 3 hours to reach the summit and just under 2 hours to get back down to Arrochar.
I was back down at Loch Long by 6pm and pitched the tent by Loch Long.

The Affric Kintail Way from Inverness

The Affric kintail Way is a 44 mile long distance walk from Drumnadrochit to Morvich in the Scottish Highlands. I started from Inverness, along the Great Glen Way adding an extra 18 miles to the journey, covering approximately 62 miles (20 miles per day) through Thursday to Sunday. I carried all my gear and camped out every night before catching the bus home from Morvich on the Sunday morning. I completed the trail in late August 2015.

Date walked: 27/08/2015
Time taken: 3 days
Distance: 99 km
Ascent: 598m

Southern Upland Way - Dalry to Sanquhar

The Southern Upland Way is Scotland's first and only official coast-to-coast long distance route, running across the country from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea. From Portpatrick on the west coast the route runs 341 kilometres to Cove and Cockburnspath on the east coast.

This stage is probably the longest and one of the most exposed sections of the whole walk, much of it across open moorland. The rewards are fine views and the feeling of remoteness and solitude. There are some minor roads where vehicle pick-ups could be arranged.

 A 26 mile weekend walk on the Southern Upland Way spending Friday night at Newfield Farm in Dalry and Saturday night at Polskeoch bothy where we had to share the bothy with a dutch couple. Walked in August 2015.

Date walked: 07/08/2015
Time taken: 2 days
Distance: 41 km
Ascent: 1033m

Lairig Ghru - Braemar to Aviemore

Friday 31 July - Sunday 2 August 2015

Just a very brief write up of the walk I did last year from Braemar to Aviemore. 

So we caught the last bus to Braemar Friday evening and arrived in Braemar just before midnight.  We immediately began walking in the dark towards the Linn of Dee, walking for about an hour before finding a small camping spot by the river.

On Saturday morning we set off bright and early about half past 8, making it to the Linn of Dee for about half past 9.  We had a sit down at the car park and made a brew there before making our way deep into the Cairngorms.

It was a long day and we eventually reached Coylumbridge campsite (2 miles from Aviemore) at about 10:30pm.
The weather was reasonable for most  of it, just one heavy shower as we approached Corrour bothy.

https://get.google.com/albumarchive/100408387173570597610/album/AF1QipOKqGcua5vIn5n4IZX1-wP4PPUj3RnTssbr1gI7

Date walked: 31/07/2015
Time taken: 12 hours
Distance: 30.5 km

The Trail of 7 lochs from Inverness

A 60 mile solo backpacking hike starting and finishing at Inverness, 3 days walking, 2 nights wild camping. The official trail is 50 miles long and starts on South Loch Ness, taking a circular route through remote areas of South Loch Ness and passing... 7 lochs. There is no official starting point so I started (and finished) from Inverness. Completed in June 2015. The plan was to camp for a third night but due to excessive rain, I lost interest on the final day and rushed back to Inverness to catch the train, skipping 1 of the 7 lochs.

The Cowal Way in May

The Cowal Way runs for around 90 kilometres along the length of the Cowal peninsula. It begins at Portavadie in the southwest, where the ferry runs from Tarbert in Kintyre, and includes forests, waterfalls, the shore of sea-lochs and hill-passes along the way to end at Inveruglas on the shores of Loch Lomond. It passes through rugged countryside rich in wildlife. From Inveruglas a ferry across the loch enables a link with the West Highland Way, so with the possible link to the Kintyre Way via the Portavadie Ferry, the Cowal Way could be one link in an epic walk through Scotland. Another option is to link from Arrochar with the Three Lochs Way which leads to Balloch. 

The route was devised by Jim McLuckie of Glendaruel and Colintraive Community Council.

Date walked: 23/05/2015
Time taken: 3 days
Distance: 80 km
Ascent: 500m