Christmas Day 2019
Helvellyn 950m
https://www.strava.com/activities/2955571189
A better day today than yesterday, we decided to get straight out and have our walk and then come home for our presents and cooking our dinner. Lovely walk and not too crowded.
Christmas Eve pootle in the drizzle
Well it was a late start but the day was pretty dreick. A very quiet Christmas for Joe and I but it was a nice warm up for our planned walk up Helvellyn tomorrow. 
First Hill after my tumble
https://www.strava.com/activities/2876223841
Cnoc Dubh 588m
D: 8.6km El: 217m T: 1hr 54 mins (2hrs 34mins)
This felt like a break through my first proper walk, The path i initially went up would make a good single track on a bike, then there was forest track until the view point and the tower. I decided to make my way across peat hags to the summit. it was a very flat top which was hard to identify the actual top. But great views to Ben Avon, the Lecht and the Ladder Hills.
Tomintoul and the Cromdales 
Benn Rinnes 
Heavenly Harris
Beinn Dhubh: 506m Beinn Losgaintir 436m
D: 13km Walking Time: 3hrs 47mins El: 579m
https://www.strava.com/activities/2737048979
This was our second mountain walk on Harris. Joe had hurt his knee coming down from the Clisham horseshoe and so had been resting it, he thought it would be worth a go. This hill seems big enough to be a challenge but not too big. And even better we could set of from the van. The van was parked in a little car park with some toilets and water. the sign said maximum 3 vans we had a partial view of the sea and Joe had a great spot for his tent.
We set of walking along the road looking back at Luskintyre beach, there was a lovely slabby scramble up to Sron Godamuil, on to the summit of Beinn Losgaintir and then a smashing walk along the ridge. the descent down was hard going, steep, hot and midgy, but a grand day out and Joe’s knee survived.
Beinn Dhubh 506m
Luskintyre beach from the walk along the road
Looking towards Beinn Losgaintir and Beinn Dhubh
Along the ridge
Beinn Losgaintir summit
Looking towards Tarbet
Beinn Dhubh Uisgn530m
Uisgneabhal Beag 729m on the right, Oireabhal 662m on the left and Tiorga Mor 679m on far left.
Clisham Horse shoe
The bridge to Scalpay
The Grahams…
A hot steep midgy descent 
Clisham Horseshoe
Mullah an Lange 614m. Mulla-Fo-Thuath 720m. Mulla-Fo-Dheas 743m. Clisham 799m
Distance: 15.95km Time: 5 hours 12mins ( 9 hours )
https://www.strava.com/activities/2728829311
We were blessed with such wonderful weather, should we go the direct route up and down or should we go for the whole horseshoe. Really it was no contest! My legs were not feeling as strong as the day we did the big walk in Torridon back in May so I knew the last bit traversing round to the start after the descent from Clisham would be a challenge and it was! But it was a fine round and well worth the effort the views from the top were amazing we could just make out St Kilda.. I was pleased to see the van!
Our Camp for the night
View from the van
Tour of the Cairngorms Day Four
https://www.strava.com/activities/2691240309
We got up and thought heck we may as ride back to Feshie and complete the circle! I took my full susser and we abandoned all the gear. We had a leisurely ride to Loch an Eilein. A picnic and then an ice cream. We then went round the road you road passed the bothy where we swept it out and removed a bag of rubbish. We found a great bit of single track down to the road up to Feshie where we picked some chanterelle mushrooms. Back home we had roast lamb the mushroom in cream and veg. and a opened a celebratory bottle of Champagne!
Must go and check out better tyres…..after more pinch punctures.
Tour of the Cairngorms Day Three
https://www.strava.com/activities/2685479770
At some point during day two we decided we might as well ride back to Aviemore rather than go to Kenny’s and ride back on the mighty Honda. It was a good plan as the weather was lovely. After a shower at the hostel and a nice meal oput the night before we felt quite revived. I had ridden bit of the ride before but not all of it. We had many more stream crossings. Never have I done so many! We found a Loch to have a fish and a brew but the midges were bad and it was too calm this time so no fish were caught!
We had a few mechanicals…kenny broke his chain we fixed it on the road…later after Ryvoan bothy I got another pinch puncture. There was a man passing who helped us change it, which was very good and the midges were horrendous. After a pint at Glenmore lodge and a ride down the road we had a chippy tea…..another great day.
Tour of the Cairngorms Day Two
https://www.strava.com/activities/2685479770
The day started with breakfast and then a second breakfast in the bothy cafe. Today the tracks were beautiful dry and lovely. The day started sunny warm when the sun was out but cold in the wind. After yesterday we were a little tired and glad of the thought of better tracks. It was a long climb up to the water shed but mostly not too steep to ride. At the top we saw rain coming but managed to out ride it for a while. It got quite windy towards Loch Builg..we stopped along the quite nice single track to have a fish. It was too windy and he didn’t catch anything this time. We then sped down the valley back to Tomintoul with the wind and rain in our faces. It was almost as bad as the day from hell but only for a couple of hours. Once at Tomintoul we pitched our tent at the hostel camp ground and went to the clock tower for a meal. Another lovely day…….
Tour of the Cairngorms Day One
https://www.strava.com/activities/2683023566
D: 44.83km El: 489m T: 5hrs 1min Av Sp: 8.9km/hr Max Sp: 48.6km/hr
It had been a bit of a terrible weather week for Kenny’s holiday but after a few days faffing, buying tyres for the van and doing bits of work we decided to do something. We packed our bike packing gear and drove Kenny’s car up to the car park at the end of the road up to Glen Feshie. We were lucky the weather was dry. We went up the north side of the glen avoiding the river crossing but having to negotiate the washed out stream bed. The glen was lovely and so was the single track and the new bothy. We went inside this time. Luxury! After two very tricky river crossings we reached the single track. The last time the weather was dry and it was mostly ride-able. But this time it was much wetter. Boggy and deep stream beds to cross. We were getting tired and as we didn’t set of til late it was getting later. I think Kenny thought he had bitten off more than he could chew! Once we reached the track we were lucky the wind was behind us and the rain held off. It was a lovely ride down to Braemar. We reached a Inn at 8.30 that was still serving and had a fantastic plate of venison stew. Kenny checked the hostel and booked two beds. Which was good as by now it was raining and very late. Only me and another woman in the girls dorm. I had a good nights sleep. Kenny on the other hand was woken up at 6am by his dorm mates! A great day.
Inside the new bothy
Crossing the washed out stream.
And then a river crossing number one
The single track was very hard work this time as it was much wetter.
A very weary kenny. 😀
River Crossings and Bridges down Glen Kinglass
https://www.strava.com/activities/2671632971/segments/66889320087
It was the first night of Kenny’s holiday. We had planned a trip to Mull but as the forecast was for 50 mile an hour winds and rain we decided to postpone. Luckily the airb&b let us reschedule for next May.
We still headed to Ross and Megan’s and after a lovely meal and a late night In the pub we drove Kenny’s car up glen Orchy and parked it at Victoria Bridge. The weather was dry although we did get caught in some fierce showers. At first the track was a farm track but we soon turn off it onto a very muddy narrow single track along the river. This did involve a bit of pushing. The first river crossing kept our feet fairly dry but they didn’t stay that way! We returned to the track which was lovely and steady up hill to reach a stable and a Loch. Here kenny had a fish and caught three small trout. The one that was big enough to eat got away! We co ti Tuesday up for a bit and then down some lovely slabby single track. A very wet paddling river crossing and then the track became “remade” which as a shame. There was still a lot of up after we joined Loch Etive. We arrived back at Ross and Megan’s for a fantastic Indian take away. Brilliant day.
Mountain Days and Photo Nights 