To the Red Bothy
https://www.strava.com/activities/13388214673
D: 9.5km T; 1hr 17mins El: 137m
https://www.strava.com/activities/13388216282
D:9.57km T: 1hr El: 43m
The first bothy trip of the year was chosen as it has a gentle ride in as I have been diagnosed with lime disease so taking it easy. Janet joined Claudia Evie and I. There was quite a head wind on the way in but we stopped a few times to adjust our baggage and generally faff. Wee found the bothy empty. It is generally a quiet bothy not being a NBA bothy. We had a nice tea and took just the right amount of fuel.
Evie did a wee on Claudia’s sleeping bag…..luckily it was inside a bivvy bag.
We had a great tail wind all the way back in the morning.
Excellent. I had a new extra sleeping mat and it made all the difference.
I do t think I over did it.
First hill of the year
Ord Ban 428m Sub 2000
D: 8.56km El: 227m. T: 2hrs 11mins (. 3hrs 40mins )
Well this year will be different. I am going to write up every interesting day out! Deffo. And catch up with past missing ones….now there is a challenge.
So first hill of the year started with a bang…Anne Marie skidded on ice while driving up the road to loch an Eilean and pranged her car on both sides on the wee bridge. More of that later.
We met dot and had a lovely walk through the frozen birch trees to the top of the hill. Once at the top the higher hills just popped out of the mist and returned. Coming and going. We decided to head back the same way and then once at the bottom the day was so nice Anne Marie and I decided to continue round the loch. Glad I bought snacks and hot chocolate from my birthday box. Thanks Kai.
Once back at Anne Marie’s car it was not happy. We managed to get it back to mine but it needed the break down folk to come and take it home. I drove Anne Marie home. Temperatures were dropping freezing fog and more snow on the way……winter is here.
Scotlands Best Gravel under the Snow
https://www.strava.com/activities/13094344530
D: 36.78km T: 3 hrs 57mins ( 5hrs 37mins ) El: 576m
Well it was cold!
We had such a dilemma trying to decide where to go. The forecast was sunny but very very cold. In the end we booked Muir cottage for two nights. Being mid week we had the place to ourselves. There was plenty of wood for the fire so we were lovely and cosy. We picked a route out of the gravel book. Possibly the best gravel track in Scotland it said. As you can see it started well but ended with a 6km push! We cut the route short and headed straight down to the edge of Ballater and took the back road back to the car. It was dark when we got back to the hut.
The next day we headed home via a cake shop. As I was having a bit of trauma over my van and its rust and mot.
Van Drop Return Day Three
Van Drop Return Day Two
Glencoe to Fort William
D: 54km El: 281m T: 4hrs 45mins (8hrs 2mins)
https://www.strava.com/activities/12807331115
Van Drop Day One
Appin to Glencoe
D:40.50 km El: 302m T: 3 hrs 56 mins ( 3 hrs 55mins)
https://www.strava.com/activities/12798973965
This was going to be Claudia and my first adventure since the summer. I had to take the van to get its rust sorted. The garage was near Appin. We dropped Claudia’s car in fort Augustus and carried in the van. after the van drop we followed the cycle path all the way to Glencoe. We stayed at yha and had a meal in the clachan inn. Great day.
Ben Vane
Ben Vane 916m (m)
https://www.strava.com/activities/12546132091
https://www.strava.com/activities/12547984793
https://www.strava.com/activities/12548109781
After a lovely day with Janet and her friends climbing Ben Lomond I decided to stay down in the van staying in one of the parking places on the Lochside under the camping management scheme. The forecast was to be ok but in fact it was pouring down all day, so I hung about as the next day was to be lovely – which it was. I set off on a bike and hike up Ben Vane. I steep 4km up a tarmacked road which made a wonderful decent but was hard going up. then a steep walk up to the summit. which i had to myself – excellent. I thought about another day away but I was ready for my sofa and bed!!
Return to Langdale: Ladies Meet.
We climbed on Raven Crag, (middle Fell Butress Diff) Gimmer ( Ash Tree Slabs VD and D route S) and Black Crag ( the Needle VD and Skye Ridge VD).
Photos a bit mixed up
Small Isles Tour Day Four: Muck
A day of lovely sunshine exploring a bit of muck and then the ferry home. A wonderful natural tidal pool that I must return to.
Small Isles Tour: Day Three
Today we packed up our camp and took the ferry to Muck, a new island for me. Lovely place with an amazing camping spot.
Mountain Days and Photo Nights 