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

Ben Macdui and Cairngorm from Aviemore

A weekend in Aviemore, camping at Rothiemurchus. We caught the bus from Aviemore to the Ski-Centre Saturday morning. Climbed Ben Macdui and Cairngorm then finished back at the Ski Centre, caught bus back to the campsite.

Munros included on this walk: Ben Macdui, Cairn Gorm
Date walked: 19/07/2014
Time taken: 6.5 hours
Distance: 17.5 km
Ascent: 932m

The Moray Coast Trail - Sun, Sand & Seagulls

The Moray Coastal Trail is a waymarked long distance trail in north-east Scotland that covers almost the entire 50 miles of Moray's coast, linking the settlements (Forres, Kinloss, Findhorn, Burghead, Hopeman, Lossiemouth, Kingston, Garmouth, Spey Bay, Portgordon, Buckie, Findochty and Portknockie) between Forres and Cullen. My friend and I walked the trail over 3 days and 2 nights, staying overnight at campsites.

Date walked: 11/07/2014
Time taken: 3 days
Distance: 88 km

White mounth munros circuit from Ballater

Munros included on this walk:
Broad Cairn, Cairn Bannoch, Carn a'Choire Bhoidheach, Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, Lochnagar
Date walked: 07/07/2014
Time taken: 11 hours
Distance: 29 km
Ascent: 1228m

I completed the White Mounth Munros circuit in bust boots, started from Ballater and walked 8 miles out to Glen Muick. From Glen Muick I wandered 2 miles along Loch Muick to Glas-allt-shiel bothy where I had lunch before starting the big ascent by the waterfall to bag Lochnagar, Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach, Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn.

It took me 11 hours in total, I must have walked about 26 miles, a long day but got great weather for it which was a bonus. I had the mountains all to myself only passing 1 person who was out for a jog. I had planned to make it back to Ballater for the last bus but later realised there was no way that was happening. Luckily I managed to get a phone signal and called a mate to come and pick me up, which cost £30 for the privilege. If I had known it was going to take me as long then I would have brought my camping gear.

Loch Ness 360

A 79 mile (approx) walk around Loch Ness
starting from, and finishing at Inverness Castle.
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After an un-satisfying 7 day trek of the Rob Roy Way, a wet and wearisome experience, another short hike was required to lift the spirits.

Initially I was considering the Trail of 7 Lochs, a 50 mile long distance route which runs in a circuit between South Loch Ness and the East Highlands.

I soon stumbled upon a webpage documenting the Loch Ness 360 trail, a 79 mile (approx) walk around Loch Ness starting from, and finishing at Inverness Castle.

As I had previously done the Great Glen Way and parts of the South Loch Ness Trail, I already knew most of the route and the hike would be easy to follow.