Swello Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 49 minutes ago, The Chlamydia Kid said: Wish I’d got round to this earlier. Planning on doing it 10 June but every where decent looking around Balloch and Pitlochry is booked. Pity. Looks some cracking places. I’m going to give Inveraray a look now. To me - the best combination of straightforward vs nice scenery is probably Lochnagar which is a stunning day and feels epic without being too long and is on a constantly good path - it also has the benefit of lots of interest on the way up and down which helps when you've not done much walking (and it comes in around 6 hours to follow Invergowrie Arab's sensible advice about walk length). It's a busy hill as a result but I would recommend it - and Deeside has a lot of nice places (eg, Braemar or Ballater) to make a weekender out of it... Hill Porn: Boring, obvious stuff - if the cloudbase is likely to down below the level of the summit (check the excellent easy to read forecasts on MWIS) - think twice about it. Even easy hills are a different story in cloud. Busy hills tend to lots of side paths that people have worn in - and it can be easier to get lost than you think... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invergowrie arab Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 2 hours ago, The Chlamydia Kid said: Wish I’d got round to this earlier. Planning on doing it 10 June but every where decent looking around Balloch and Pitlochry is booked. Pity. Looks some cracking places. I’m going to give Inveraray a look now. One of the benefits of global warming and international terrorism, is that more and more people are holidaying in Scotland. worth looking at airbnb. Despite their morally questionable business model I'll happily pay them and see the depopulation of the Highlands than pay to stay in another tartan carpet, no Wi-Fi, bus tour infested Bespoke hotel. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrybiy Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 Had a great day out on Sunday at Beinn a'Ghlo which I ruined for myself. I struggled and nearly gave up in the first few hours as it was on the back of 4 hours sleep, a large kebab and a few beers. I battled on though and got to the end just as I was getting pissed of at the sun and nearly running out of water. After that I was desperate to get home so I quickly got changed in the car and drove off. It wasn't until I was back in Dundee that I realised I'd left my boots and shorts outside the car. There was no way I was going straight back for them that day. In desperation I got in touch with someone from Monzie farm and they said they'd have a look but I've not heard from them. The worst thing is the boots were great but I've no idea what kind/make they are and I've only got this very poor cropped photo of them. In the highly unlikely event that any of you recognise them then let me know. I'll probably go back to Tiso this weekend to see if they've any idea. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sujan Azad Parikh Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 On 29/05/2018 at 13:51, Swello said: I did go alone - as I don't know anyone else with a packraft* (boat that weighs a couple of kg and packs down to the size of a backpacking tent) and this trip really depended on that due to it being half walking and half paddling. The best time to go is when there isn't too much wind - I had various alternatives worked out in case the conditions mean that rafting was a non-starter. They are incredibly tough little boats (you can do serious whitewater in them if you (unlike me) have the skillz (see the vid at the bottom which is the same model as mine) - but they are slower than a kayak or canoe and if the wind is strongly against you, you would be quicker walking in most circumstances. *If anyone has one let me know! For everyone else, get one, you'll thank me once the blue bits on the OS Map become a possibility... Great job man no doubt and kudos...I am looking for a similar kind of adventure...Tired of this urban life, need a break. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50/50 Winner Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 I climbed my first munro today, Mount Keen. It was tougher than I thought it would be, the heat was a killer on the way up. The walk down was great though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priti priti priti Patel Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 (edited) Booked to come up to Glasgow in July inspired wholly by this thread. Will be my first Munro(s). Can anyone suggest a munro easily accessible by public transport from Glasgow with reasonably priced accommodation nearby? Was thinking of basing myself in Tarbet and getting the ferry across to Ben Lomond but the accommodation is all £150+ per night. Edited May 31, 2018 by Margaret Thatcher 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 22 hours ago, Margaret Thatcher said: Booked to come up to Glasgow in July inspired wholly by this thread. Will be my first Munro(s). Can anyone suggest a munro easily accessible by public transport from Glasgow with reasonably priced accommodation nearby? Was thinking of basing myself in Tarbet and getting the ferry across to Ben Lomond but the accommodation is all £150+ per night. Actually trickier than you'd think and none of these are ideal first timers. I'm assuming camping is out the question? There are lots of Munros that are near public transport - but not so many that would be a good idea with no experience due to navigation challenges, technical difficulty or length of walk. Some possibilities that you might not have considered (I'm sure others will have other ideas). I don't know anything about your fitness levels, etc - so ca' canny 1) Beinn na Lap. Might be an obscure choice but it is one of the smallest munros and has a high start, so although pathless IIRC, it's a straightforward option on a clear day (assuming you can read a map to a basic level). You can get the train straight from Glasgow to the best station in the world, Corrour Halt, it's a short walk to the hill and there is a youth hostel right there at Loch Ossian which is a stunning spot. Not the most exciting hill in itself - but would be a fun expedition. Corrour. 2) Ben Cruachan . Classic hill (although whether it's a lot for a first one is open to debate), you can do it straight from the train station and I'm sure there will be b&b's and bunkhouses in Taynuilt, Dalmally, Loch Awe or Tyndrum (and even Oban). 3) Cairngorm. Train/Bus to Aviemore, regular service bus takes you to the ski car park, Straightforward enough walk on a clear day but possibly not a great place to be on a changeable day (don't head up there if the cloud is down unless you have the navigation chops though). Lots of accommodation options locally. 4. Ben Nevis. f**k it - if you're going to do a first one, do the biggest one with all the tourists Fort William is a train or bus job and there are lots of accommodation options. The main issue with the Ben is the navigational dog-leg required to get to/from the summit when in the cloud so (despite the fact that all sorts of people do it every year with no problem), i could only recommend it if there was high confidence that it was going to be cloud free... My photo of the Ben (although this was the Carn Mor Dearg route, not the tourist) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invergowrie arab Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 (edited) Accommodation in rural Scotland is getting wild these days. I wouldn't mind paying 100 quid a night but vast majority of highland hotels are utter shite. Consider airbnb, youth hostels ,camping etc (remembering the summer east Loch Lomond camping ban). If you go midweek you might find decent deals on Groupon/itison. The fact is Scotland north of the central belt is essentially full/extortionate in the summer holidays. I do most of my big away days April/May and September/October. Jun -August is just ridiculous for accommodation unless you are camping. Most of the start points for hills aren't all that near the train station. It would be possible to do Beinn na Lap in a day and back to Glasgow using public transport. Same for Beinn Dorain from Bridge of Orchy. Your nest bet IMO is Ben More and if time permits adding on Stob Binnein from Crianlarich. Munro's accessible via public transport here http://steverabone.com/MunroWalker/munros_by_public_transport.htm Edited June 1, 2018 by invergowrie arab 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyerTon Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 8 hours ago, invergowrie arab said: It would be possible to do Beinn na Lap in a day and back to Glasgow using public transport. Same for Beinn Dorain from Bridge of Orchy. Beinn Dorain is a good one as it starts straight from the train station at Bridge of Orchy. With both these hills by train though, there's quite a big gap between the trains. For Beinn Dorain, it's about 8hrs between the trains, so you would as well bag the other Munro - Beinn an Dothaidh. A fairly easy walk I remember, you've got the Bridge of Orchy Hotel there as well. If going by train, from Glasgow Queen St. it's 2hr 25 to Bridge of Orchy and 3hr to Corrour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrybiy Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 On 30/05/2018 at 00:21, derrybiy said: Had a great day out on Sunday at Beinn a'Ghlo which I ruined for myself. I struggled and nearly gave up in the first few hours as it was on the back of 4 hours sleep, a large kebab and a few beers. I battled on though and got to the end just as I was getting pissed of at the sun and nearly running out of water. After that I was desperate to get home so I quickly got changed in the car and drove off. It wasn't until I was back in Dundee that I realised I'd left my boots and shorts outside the car. There was no way I was going straight back for them that day. In desperation I got in touch with someone from Monzie farm and they said they'd have a look but I've not heard from them. The worst thing is the boots were great but I've no idea what kind/make they are and I've only got this very poor cropped photo of them. In the highly unlikely event that any of you recognise them then let me know. I'll probably go back to Tiso this weekend to see if they've any idea. The good folk at monzie farm returned these yesterday and I didn't need to go all the way back. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONKMAN Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 Did Geal Charn today, after drinking a stupid amount of wine last night. Was rough and can’t say I enjoyed the walk too much 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chlamydia Kid Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 I was supposed to be going up Schiehallion on Saturday based on Invergowrie Arabs recommendations. However my female companion was freaking out about weather warnings the night before so we ended up going up Ben Vrackie which doesn’t count as a Munro, so I’ve not done one yet. Was actually quite hard going towards the end, pretty steep. Had a fair sweat going. Still it was enjoyable, was on the hill for about 7am and up the top by about 9am but could barely see a thing as it was so misty. Parts of the journey you couldn’t see more than 10ft in front of you. Is visibility usually worse early doors? If I’m doing them I’d rather be first up in the morning so I can avoid any other human contact. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.A.F.C Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 It's totally variable but mist usually burns off in warmer days. It can also come down quickly which is pretty scary. Quite fancy camping on a hilltop somewhere and seeing a sunrise. It must be pretty spectacular.Sent from my SM-G950F using Pie and Bovril mobile app 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 (edited) On 11/06/2018 at 22:44, D.A.F.C said: It's totally variable but mist usually burns off in warmer days. It can also come down quickly which is pretty scary. Quite fancy camping on a hilltop somewhere and seeing a sunrise. It must be pretty spectacular. Sent from my SM-G950F using Pie and Bovril mobile app Totally recommend it - took my kids camping on a local hilltop the other weekend and we were quite lucky (apart from the being awake at 5:30am bit) as the cloud was still in the valley... Edited November 21, 2019 by Swello 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONKMAN Posted July 6, 2018 Share Posted July 6, 2018 Sunrise over the Solway from Criffel this morning. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mon_The_Fife Posted July 6, 2018 Share Posted July 6, 2018 Back in Scotland for a month and keen to do some hiking whilst I’m here. Already got a plan to do Ben Vorlich (loch Earn) and the Pod of Glencoe next week. Got another day to spare around Glencoe, can anyone recommend a day hike? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 Was on holiday on Mull - took the opportunity to do Ben More as I've never had a view from the top in all the times I've done it (I'm on Mull a lot) - also my daughter's first munro, not bad for an 8 year old It wasn't a cloudless day (in fact, the clouds weren't that high above the summit) but the visibility was amazing after a week of North winds- I'm used to seeing Rum, Skye, Jura, etc from various places on Mull - but to see Uist fairly clearly must rank as the furthest I've seen from a hill... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frazzyAKL Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 On 06/07/2018 at 21:58, Mon_The_Fife said: Back in Scotland for a month and keen to do some hiking whilst I’m here. Already got a plan to do Ben Vorlich (loch Earn) and the Pod of Glencoe next week. Got another day to spare around Glencoe, can anyone recommend a day hike? If you are only going to have a limited time then why not go for one of the big ones, either the Aonach Eagach ridge or a day on Buachaille Etive Mor. Haven't done either yet but heard really good things about both. Especially with the weather being so good at the moment. https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/aonacheagach.shtml https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/buachailleetivemor.shtml Alternatively, for an easier hike I could suggest Buachaille Etive Beag, its a fairly easy walk up to the bealach then you can decide if you want to take in both Munros or just one. https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/buachailleetivebeag.shtml The Lost Valley also a cracking walk, but not involving any hills. https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/lostvalley.shtml 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frazzyAKL Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Did the Carn Mairg Circuit from Invervar just north of Loch Tay yesterday. Weather was amazing, almost too hot, but it's a cracking round of hills and on a clear day like yesterday the views are second to none. There was a river just down from the car park that was good for a swim afterwards, if anyone is planning on doing this round in the near future with the good weather still here I'd definitely advise taking a towel and heading down there afterwards. One thing of note, the walk highlands guide reads "On leaving the summit retrace your steps briefly; you can either head over the west top or bypass it on the north side to begin the descent down the long ridge on the south side of the Allt Coire a'Chearcaill. There is a clear path down this ridge which has great views of Glen Lyon ahead" Watch out here, If you head over the west top, this to me on the day read as though you should head S straight after, this is not the case and takes you off on what looks like a ridge but actually isn't, way off track. What you really have to do is head almost NW to find the ridge path, which isn't clear here. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arbroath36 Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Climbed west Lomond ( just because it would be rude not to ) from the bunnet stane on Saturday night, steep climb, loving this sunny weather. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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