Two Wee Hills
Stac na Cathaig 446m (sub 2000)
D: 4.27km El: 218m
Tom Bailgeann 464m (sub 2000)
D: 3.04km El: 206m
These wee hills have been on my list for a while so as the weather was to be dry until mid afternnon it seamed a nice wee outing. The first hill took us up a track and then a gap in the woods before a narnia stretch and a wild wood stretch before popping out near the summit with lovely views. We retraced our steps to the van. Drove to a lunch spot and had our picnic and a cuppa. #lovemyvan
Next hill was not so scenic! But we beat the rain.
Walk and Swim.
https://www.strava.com/activities/15788261491
https://www.strava.com/activities/15787117909
loch a Bhaillaidh
Walk: D: 9.85km. El: 188m
Swim: D: 183m
The forecast was wet but it looked like it may be ok later. So we had a lazy morning and set off after lunch. The forest tracks were not as I expected they were old and in places not tracks but paths for a plantation it was a pretty walk. Joe and I found some chanterelles for tea. We were planning a mushroom risotto! The swim was great, slightly warmer than the sea and very dark peaty water. The sun was out. It was good. The walk back made my legs tired I wonder if it was the swim.
Tarbet and Skipness
After a rest day yesterday when Sam and I went for a swim we decided to brave the wind and go to Tarbet for lunch and then explore Skipness where there was a great castle of which I took no photos. BTW I have just discovered I can share photos straight from Lightroom to my blog. Who would have thought!
loch Stornoway Swim
https://www.strava.com/activities/15761936675
Strava said 414m swim but a bit of it was walking. also 4km walk down to the beach
https://www.strava.com/activities/15762347706
Today we planned a lazy day after we had a walk down to the nearest beach. Sam and I walked out a long way before it was deep enough to swim. I thought it slightly warmer than the sea off Gigha.
Back to the house for hot chocolate and a hot bath. Rest of the day was faffing on the new lap top and knitting in front of the fire.
Mull of Kintyre
https://www.strava.com/activities/15752712992
https://www.strava.com/activities/15752712958
We had a fairly long ish drive down to Campbell town which was a lovely wee place. Had lunch and a wander round the shops. Then a drive down to the mull of kintyre which was very wild. A wee look at the light house and then back and a look at some caves and an ancient well before returning back to the house via Tesco.
Gigha exploring.
Today which was the second day of our Argyll holiday with the Hawthornes we went to Gigha. Which has been on my list for a while.
First we went to the garden at Achamore which was lovely. Had a nice walk. We walked 2.7km
Then we had lunch from the seafood shack. Excellent. Joe had chips.
Then we walked up Creag Bhan. 101m A nice we hill. not even a sub 2000! But the highest point of Gigha
Then we went for a swim in the sea at Bagh na Dòirlinne. 207m which is in Alice’s book. Started pouring just as we got out! Only rain all day.
Then we caught the ferry and come home. I cooked chicken pie with Sam and Joe. Lovely day.
Carse House Day one…wet wet wet
Creag Bhan
Creag Bhan 510m (sub2000)
D: 7.43. El: 458m. T:2hrs 28mins (3hrs 29mins)
It felt like hard work even though at the start there was a good stalkers path which actually was a route into two hills I had identified as part of the bottom 5 grahams. The path divided and I took the upper path which later fizzled out. I turned and headed up a gap and later the hillside to a very interesting summit with lots of wee lochans. One would have made a good swim but it was soo windy. I dropped down and traversed round picking up the original path. I passed a memorial cairn which we later discovered was the site of a airforce plane in the 60s.
A fine wee hill, back to the van and Kenny who is in the first week of his new job with the fire service.
Loch Mullardoch: The Far Two
An Riabhachan 1,129m. (m). An Socach 1,069m (m)
Day One: the ride in
D: 25.47km. El: 384m
We set off early afternoon and got to the gate at about 3pm. And after a bit of faffing set of. A lovely tarmac road. Glad I had my gravel bike. Gently undulating but a few steeper inclines towards the end. We found a good flat bit of ground for the tents near the power station. Started drizzling as we got there! Tents up. Chilli heated but the boil in the bag less of a success. Pan to small and stove to hot. Melted the bag! So tipped it in the pan. That worked. Midges came out at bed time. I had a good sleep but it was colder than I expected. Sleeping mat was ace though I have cracked that.
Day Two: The Hills
D: 23.61km. E: 1,196m T: 8hrs ( 11hrs )
It was a bit midgy so we actually got an early start. We rode the first 1.5 km and left the bikes. A good track took us up the corrie with the two lochs. It was quite muggy and the midges were about but there was a bit of breeze now and again. It was lovely round the lower loch and before long we were up at the ridge. As we walked up the ridge the mist started clearing, by the time we got to the summit there were lovely views. It was then a long good ridge walk and a droop down to the second Munro. After a decent down a ridge we had the character building transverse round back to a coll and a track back to the bikes. It long long walk but an achievement.
Day Three.
D: 25.48 km. E: 243m. T:1hr 51m (3hrs)
We had a leisurely breakfast. There was a bit of wind so no midges. Legs a bit tired on the way back!
Sithean Mor
Sithean Mor 602m (mg) (sub 2000)
D: 7km. E: 520m T: 2hrs 27mins
After 4 days sailing Peggy back to Mallaig, Kenny had a day working on the ferry so I decided to test out my land legs. It was actually really good to get up a hill. I haven’t been up many the last few weeks. Been cycling and swimming quite a bit. I spent the morning sorting out doing some washing for Kenny and tbh I was a bit tired but decided finally on this hill. I had seen there was a nice pool for a swim at the beginning of the walk. It was sweltering a very hot and steep. With lots of dragging rocks. But a fantastic hill which I later discovered was on of the new metric grahams. It was death by bracken on the last bit of the descent.
Mountain Days and Photo Nights 