31st December 2009 a lovely sunny afternoon in Perthshire

31st December 2009 a lovely sunny afternoon in Perthshire.


31st December 2009 roads cleared.

Best Ten Hill Walks of 2009 in Scotland

Best Ten Hill Walks of 2009 in Scotland.

In no particular order apart from the last one which is definitely Number One!


Stac Pollaidh, 18th September 2009.


Summit trig Ben Bharrain, 22nd February 2009.



An Grianan, Sutherland, 16th June 2009.



Sgurr Mor Fannaich,13th September 2009.


On An Teallach, 17th September 2009.

Sgurr Fiona, An Teallach.



Morven and Scaraben, 1st July 2009.


Beinn Mheadhoin, Cairngorms, 29th June 2009.


Conival and Ben More Assynt, 12th May 2009.



On Sgorr Tuath, Beinn an Eoin, 10th May 2009.



Suilven - Top Walk of 2009 - 11th May.

No question that our favourite walk of 2009 was the ridge of Suilven from Elphin returning to Elphin. What a day!


On the ridge of Suilven, Sutherland, Scotland.


Ridge of Suilven looking East.


Reflections on Suilven from Elphin.

Walk Ben Vrackie Perthshire Scotland

Walk Ben Vrackie, Perthshire, Scotland.

Christmas Eve walk on Ben Vrackie, Perthshire, Scotland.

Can't think of a better companion than a bottle of Macallan Fine Oak single malt Scotch whisky!


The Macallan Fine Oak.


The Macallan with water!


Ben Vrackie in Perthshire, Scotland.


The Macallan at the Summit!


The Macallan on Ice!


Walk Ben Vrackie, Scotland.

Cold day 28th December 2009

Cold day 28th December 2009.

Lovely sunny day in Perthshire today but very, very cold! Went to check on my pals chickens this morning and the metal gate was frozen shut! Even one of the eggs had cracked!


28th December 2009.


December 28th 2009.

Boxing Day walk in Perthshire

Boxing Day walk in Perthshire.

Nice walk in the snow today with my wife and daughter in Perthshire.


Walking on Boxing Day 2009 in Perthshire.

Climbing The Black Hill Sidlaws Christmas Day 2009

Climbing The Black Hill, Sidlaws, Christmas Day 2009.

Lovely day to climb The Back Hill in the Sidlaws, Perthshire Scotland with my family!


Christmas 2009 The Black Hill, Perthshire.


The Black Hill, Christmas 2009.

Macallan on Ben Vrackie Pitlochry Scotland

Macallan on Ben Vrackie, Pitlochry, Scotland.

A fantastic 50th birthday on Ben Vrackie, Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland shared with a lovely 15 year old Macallan Fine Oak. Superb!


Moulin Brewery, Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland.


Ben Vrackie, North Perthshire, Scotland.

A Macallan moment, Ben Vrackie, Perthshire, Scotland.

A Macallan moment, Ben Vrackie, Perthshire, Scotland.

A perfect 50th birthday! A super walk on Ben Vrackie, Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland on 24th December 2009. Helped on by a Macallan 15 year old Fine Oak, it really made my day! OK it's not a munro, but certainly one of my favourite corbetts and the best choice for the snowy conditions today!

Thanks to my good friends Doug, Allan and George for coming along in difficult conditions. Amazingly, as we descended, I met my hero, Andrew Dempster, who wrote the guidebook to the Grahams ( mountains between 2000 and 2500 feet in Scotland - I've 17 to go ) as well as one of my very favourite guide books, Classic Mountain Scrambles in Scotland! Unbelievable! As I kindly passed him a Macallan, he returned the compliment with a pint in the Moulin Hotel. A great end to a great day.

I've still got the evening to enjoy though!


Ben Vrackie, Perthshire, Scotland.


Yours truly with Andrew Dempster, Moulin Inn, Pitlochry, 24th December 2009


Macallan on Ben Vrackie, Pitlochry, Scotland.


View from Ben Vrackie, Perthshire, 24th December 2009

Sunset in Perthshire 23rd December 2009

Sunset in Perthshire 23rd December 2009.

Sunset from my village in Perthshire on 23rd December 2009.

The distant hills, that I see every day are the munros of Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Vorlich. I'd love to be descending them now!

View of garden 23.12.09

View of garden 23.12.09

Wintry view of my garden on 23rd December 2009, the day before my 50th Birthday!

Winter Walking in Scotland to Loch Pattack

Winter Walking in Scotland to Loch Pattack.

There are many wonderful places for winter walking in Scotland where the remoteness makes it extra special. The area around Loch Pattack is one of them!


Winter Walking in Scotland.


Winter Walking in Scotland, River Pattack.

Maol Bhuidhe Bothy in Highlands of Scotland

Maol Bhuidhe Bothy in Highlands of Scotland.

Nice trek through from Morvich past Falls of Glomach to Maol Bhuidhe bothy, taking in a couple of Grahams, Carnan Cruithneachd and Carn na Breabaig on the way. From Maol Bhuidhe we climbed An Cruachan, before heading over Beinn Dronaig to Bendronaig Lodge. Out over Creag Dhubh Mhor to Achintee and a waiting vehicle. A great 3 days in the heart of the Scottish Highlands.


Hanging around near Bendronaig Lodge.


Bothy at Bendronaig Lodge.

Getting away from it all in Scotland next year

Getting away from it all in Scotland next year?

Get away from it all in Scotland this New Year

Get away from it all in Scotland this New Year!

Ben Alder and the Lancet Edge Scottish Highlands

Ben Alder and the Lancet Edge, Scottish Highlands.

Loch Laggan in the Highlands of Scotland

Loch Laggan in the Highlands of Scotland.

In 'Glenbogle country' in the Highlands of Scotland, the drive along Loch Laggan is a pleasure whatever the season. The hills surrounding this lovely Loch hold many memories!


Creag Meagaidh from Loch Laggan, Scotland.

Creag Meagaidh acts like a magnet to climbers and walkers alike. There are three munros along the ridge, with Creag Meagaidh being the highlight of the walk. We once climbed it along the South ridge from Moy when the snow was up to the top level of a dry stane dyke! We actually walked on the dyke for a good part of the way up the ridge! A very tiring day which saw us descending in the dark!


Binnein Shios from Loch Laggan, Scotland.

The two grahams of Binnein Shios and Binnein Shuas make for a delightful walk above Loch Laggan. Again starting from near Moy, climb Binnein Shuas first, followed by Binnein Shios, thereafter dropping down between them for a pleasant walk back along the side of Loch Laggan.


Beinn a Chlachair from Loch Laggan, Scotland.

Not my best hill walking day on Beinn a Chlachair as I'd left my walking boots at home and ascended through soft snow in my brogues! They say that you learn from your mistakes!


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