Oban Bothy Loch Morar

Rum and Loch Morar from An Stac.


Oban Bothy, Loch Morar.

Excellent stay in Oban Bothy, a wonderful Bothy on the shores of the vast Loch Morar in the West of Scotland on 31st May 2010. Seldom have I enjoyed such magical surroundings!

Although a basic shelter, it does what it says on the tin! We support the Mountain Bothies Association who maintain these shelters and would urge you to support their efforts.

We walked in from Loch Arkaig through Glenpean, and returned over the two munros making up the Corriehully Horseshoe. Whilst staying at the Bothy we climbed the graham of An Stac, one of the most remote hills in Scotland.


Loch Morar from Oban Bothy.


Bothy fire,Oban Bothy, 30th May 2010.


Oban Bothy on Loch Morar.

Climbing in Italy

Climbing in Italy.

A fantastic walk on the mountain above Toscalano on Lake Garda, Italy. Quite a scramble climbing on the South East ridge of Mount Pizzocolo, but the views from the summit are tremendous!


Walking in Italy.


Toscalano, Lake Garda.


Walk Italy!

Wild fungi in Perthshire St Georges mushrooms

Wild fungi in Perthshire, St Georges mushrooms.

Although St Georges day is celebrated on 23rd April, it's normally a few more weeks before the mushrooms named after him are ready to harvest in Perthshire, Scotland.

On tonights walk, 26th May 2010, I struck lucky and harvested a fair collection of this wild fungi and look forward to wild mushroom risotto! I can't match the culinary skills of Michelin Star Chef Jeremy Wares who will no doubt have wild mushroom risotto on the menu this week at the Anglers Inn and Restaurant, Guildtown, Perthshire, Scotland. I'd thoroughly recommend you give it a try!

No maps on this post I'm afraid!


St Georges mushrooms picked Perthshire 26.05.10.

Highland Clearances village of Ulgary Glen Moidart

Highland Clearances, village of Ulgary, Glen Moidart.

It is always sad to come across the ruins of a once thriving settlement, empty and bare as a result of the Highland Clearances. This one in Glen Moidart, the township of Ulgary is no different, with the former inhabitants long gone to the harsh conditions in Australia. I always think though of the children running around the houses - a hard life but with plenty of fun thrown in.

Our walk that day took us over the Grahams of Beinn Gaire and Croit Bheinn before returning down Glen Moidart. We looked long and hard at the ridge that would have taken us on to the wonderful corbetts of Sgurr na Ba Glaise and Rois-bheinn but decided that it would have been a step too far, a very good decision at the end of the day. It is certainly a good route to tackle the corbetts from Glen Moidart, as described in Derek Jarmans article in Scottish Mountaineer, May 2010.

Map by Bing Maps.


Ridge to An t-Slat -bheinn.


Rois-bheinn from Glen Moidart.


Ulgary township, Glen Moidart.


Ulgary, Glen Moidart.

To search for a cottage in this area of Scotland, click on the Cottages4you ad on the right under Cottages Scotland.

Tirga Mor Isle of Harris Scotland

Tirga Mor, Isle of Harris, Scotland.

Tirga mor is a lovely walk on the Isle of Harris, one of the best islands for walking in Scotland. We combined the walk with Oreval to make one of the most memorable walks in the Outer Hebrides, as quoted by the author of 'The Grahams' Andrew Dempster.

Take a walk on the Isle of Harris using Google Earth.

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Crail Harbour Fife Scotland

Crail Harbour.

A lovely day in the East Neuk of Fife last year visiting Crail Harbour and many other wonderful places with Sandy from Tour Scotland!


Seagull in Crail Harbour.


Crail Harbour, Fife, Scotland.

Close encounter with horses in Cona Glen

Close encounter with horses in Cona Glen.


Grazing pony in Cona Glen.


Horse power in Cona Glen!


Pony in Cona Glen.

Wild Flowers in Scotland

Wild Flowers in Scotland.

One of the great pleasures of walking the hills in Scotland is spotting the myriad of wild flowers blooming at different times of year. These flowers were pictured during our weekend walking in Ardgour and Moidart on 1st May. It was a sheer delight seeing drifts of primrose and wood anemone.


Primrose.


Wood Anemone.


Scottish Wild Flowers.

Beinn Gaire and Glen Gluitanen from Croit Bheinn

Beinn Gaire and Glen Gluitanen from Croit Bheinn.

Lovely walk over the Grahams of Beinn Gaire and Croit Bheinn and back through the narrow gorge at Bealach Na Lice in Glen Gluitanen. Moidart may not have the Munros, but it provides challenging walks and no crowds!


Descending to Glen Gluitanen from Croit Bheinn.


Bealach na Lice.


Gorge at Bealach na Lice.

Camping by the River Moidart

Camping by the River Moidart.

Last weekend saw some welcome sunshine whilst camping by the River Moidart. A beautiful spot enhanced by deer visiting during the evening. A hard day walking on Beinn Gaire and Croit Bheinn saw a welcome tin of cider whilst cooling feet in the River. I apologise for any pollution caused!


Deer by our camp site on River Moidart.


Camping by River Moidart.

Beinn Gaire from Glen Forslan Ardgour Scotland

Beinn Gaire from Glen Forslan, Ardgour, Scotland.

A wonderful walk on Sunday 2nd May 2010 over the Grahams of Beinn Gaire and Croit Bheinn in Ardgour in the West of Scotland. Starting from Glen Moidart, our route took us past the lovely Loch in Glen Forslan up the steep slopes of Beinn Gaire, translated as Laughing Hill.

A lovely ridge walk over to Croit Bheinn followed, sighting a herd of red deer, and with spectacular views down to Loch Shiel. The return journey is a delight, with gorge walking, carpets of primrose and wood anemone, and Highland Clearance villages thrown in for good measure.

A brilliant day with the views to Rois Bheinn being the highlight of the day!


Loch in Glen Forslan from Beinn Gaire.


Rois Bheinn from Beinn Gaire.

Click here for map from Bing Maps.

Cona Glen from Stob Mhic Bheathain

Cona Glen from Stob Mhic Bheathain.

Saturday 1st May 2010 saw us cycle up the majestic Cona Glen to climb the Graham of Stob Mhic Bheathain. The weather wasn't too kind as we passed Inverscaddle Cottage to gain the lower part of the Glen. The oak woods sheltered abundant patches of primrose and wood anemone, and some lovely waterfalls took our minds from the rough track.

Gaining the higher part of the Glen brought us to some fine stands of ancient Caledonian Pine, a real pleasure to view. Red deer crossed the hillside with an ease that we can only envy!

The hill itself would be an excellent walk on a nice day, with a circular route taking us over the unnamed top at 706 metres. We will definitely return to sample the grandeur of Cona Glen.


Cycling in Cona Glen.


Stalking Ponies in Cona Glen.


Stob Mhic Bheathain from Cona Glen.

Map by Bing maps.

Should I walk further in Scotland

Should I walk further in Scotland?


Above Loch Beoraid.


Near Prince Charlies cave, 3rd May 2010.

Loch Beoraid Scotland

Loch Beoraid, Scotland.

In all my walks in Scotland, rarely have I seen such a beautiful Loch as the remote Loch Beoraid near Loch Morar in the West of Scotland. We were passing the Loch to climb the remote hill, Meith Bheinn, classified as a Graham, between 2000 and 2500 feet. It may not be the biggest hill in Scotland, but it sure felt like it today!

Map by Bing Maps.


Loch Beoraid near Loch Morar,


Loch Beoraid, 3rd May 2010.

Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis 3rd May 2010

Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis, 3rd May 2010.

Lovely view of Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis today, 3rd May 2010, driving from Glenfinnan to Fort William. A lovely day, but cold I'm sure on the highest mountain in Scotland!


Ben Nevis, 3rd May 2010.


Ben Nevis range, 3rd May 2010.