Colmcille Climbers

Have forgotten how to tie figure of 8 due to lack of climbing so headed set off for Campervan trip to Scotland. Started with an 8hr solo trip around 3 hills overlooking Loch Tulla near Bridge of Orchy, with horny stags calling from every corrie.  Joined by Ewan for a few days so to Fannichs and 3 more Meall a Chrasgaidh, Sgurr Nan Clach Gleala and Sgurr Nan Each climbed from the destitution road, and next day a cycle/bog/ridge walk up Strath Vaich to Am Faochagach where stalkers were recovering shot stags with ponies.  Headed for Aviemore and a 20mile 3 hr jog up to Rothiemurchus Lodge, Loch Morlich Glenmore and back via Badiguish to town.

Headed back to Edinburgh and visited the Edinburgh climbing centre one, if not the, biggest in Europe which is amazing with numerous different walls , some of which need to be climbed in two pitches!   

Back to the hills alone and a train trip over Rannoch moor to Corrour station which is in the middle of the wilderness with no public road, only connected by track to a private hunting lodge. The station house is now a SYHA hostel with a restaurant thankfully as I left my sarnies in the campervan at Crianlarich station. A couple of bacon butties and a 6 hr round over a couple more with a 6k walk back along the shores of Loch Ossian and Ossian hostel.  Back at the station house I had a full venison meal (hinds taste better I was told) and a doze on the huge sofas in front of an open fire to await my train home. Train journey takes only 1 hr but is a stunning trip with deer everywhere.  

Sandra flew to Inverness and we went to the NW Highlands with days spent on the remote Ben Klibreck, Ben Hope which is the most northern munro, a drive around the north coast and down to Conival and Ben More Assynt .  150 miles on single track roads and only met 2 cars but were dodging bambies everywhere. Superb views and will definitely return for a more sedate trip.

Missed most of the bad weather thankfully   but on Monday the weather changed so we selected the easy Ben Wyvis and ended up in 6” of frozen fresh snow. Great time of year to visit highlands.