The Paps
https://www.strava.com/activities/14148432692
D: 18.86km. El: 1,454m. T: 6 hrs 25mins
Pap one
Beinn Shiantaidh 757m (g)
This was to be the last day before the weather broke, I have been wanting to come back to Jura to go up these hills for over 25 years. They did not disappoint. We set off early and what could have been a very boggy approach wasn’t too bad due to the dry weather we have had for the last two weeks. We decided to go this way round incase we felt able to take in the sub2000 hill at the end….fools that we were! Actually we chose a good route up the first pap which involved very little scree. It was steep though which upset joes knee. He soldiered on to the top. Well done Joe. The descent involved some steep scree. Little did know much worse was to come! Once back at the Coll. Joe decided to head down but was happy for me to continue, he knew how much I wanted to go up these hills. We followed each other on strava beacon, sadly I said goodbye bye to Joe and continued solo.
Pap Two
Beinn an Oir 785m (c)
This hill had a nice path most of the way up but did have one stretch of scree on the way up and a boulder field to the summit. The descent was a nice path that wound its way down. I was getting short of water so was glad to see the stream. Used my new filter.
Pap Three
Beinn Shiantaidh 733m (g)
I had to dip deep. It was steep but little in the way of scree. Some boulder fields. An interesting hoard of helpful stuff at the top. I thought I had cracked it but the decent was horrible. A lot of scree. Like loads, I traversed a way round the last run and was glad I did. Only fell once. I have a nice bruise! Well done me!
Back to the van and then the hotel for a celebratory meal.
Rasaay Day Four. Back from the Bothy.
https://www.strava.com/activities/14096467932
It was a slow walk back from the bothy but we made it! We caught the 4pm ferry and had tea in broadford. Then another lovely park up on the way to the ferry.
Rasaay Day Three. Journey to the bothy.
First a little walk to the beach at Brochel and the start of Callum’s road.
Next the walk to the bothy with big packs which we left for a short detour up Beinn na h-Lolaire. (Sub 2000m ) 254m. Lovely walk in but we were ready to stop when we got there. There was a young man already there who slept in his tent so we could have the bothy. Nice. We shared the fire.
We were treated to a very faint aurora
Lovely bothy. I had my new sleeping mat which was excellent and new cloud cover also excellent. New pans. Also excellent
Rasaay Van Trip: Day Two
Dunn Caan (sub 2000) 444m
D: 10.12km. El:331m. T: 2hrs 44mins.
https://www.strava.com/activities/14078617209
I parked up at a lovely spot by the old iron ore mine. This was the start of my walk. A bit longer than the other one but I thought more interesting. Another hot day but with a nice breeze. Up the side of the street then up past a potential swim spot for Janet. But way too deep and dark I thought. A last push up to the top. A most amazing hill with superb views. I took a deviation on the way down to check out more lochs. Found a lovely one. I may even go in myself but not today.
Back to the van and a nice meal, the vac packer is a stroke of genius and good sleep. Tomorrow I meet up with Janet for our bothy adventure.
Rasaay Van Trip: Day One.
https://www.strava.com/activities/14070910337
D: 4.15km. El: 76m. T: 57mins
After three days of unpacking and sorting out the van for the summer I set off on my first big trip of the year. I thought about having a night on Skye first but was really glad I headed straight to Rasaay. I had a little explore of the coast near the ferry pier and then headed up to the spot I had picked out for the night. There were a couple of vehicles already there so I kept going along the road eventually I found a spot which had amazing views over to Skye. I was rewarded with an aurora. Tomorrow I will walk up Dun Caan before meeting Janet on Saturday.
Calpe
Crags
Serra de Toix – 5 routes lead 4a to 5c
Alcalali 6 routes lead 3c to 5a
Olta 4 routes ….3 leaf 4a to 5a and 6a with a top rope.
I was not well when I went as I had a massive tooth infection but was on anti biotics and as the week went on I got better. I met up with Di and Gill which was lovely. Group dynamics were a bit weird at times during the week. Here are all the photos in no particular order.
Escape to the west.
Beinn Hiant 528m (sub2000)
https://www.strava.com/activities/13936027403
D: 5.27km. El: 317m. T: 1hr 41mins
The weather has been amazing this week but I just got a bit overloaded and it took me until Wednesday to get away. Still not right from jabs limes and bugs and other stuff! So I headed to Ardnamurchan in the van after spending the best part of two days sorting it and the house out. Two lovely parking spots and a wee hill. Which was a most excellent hill. I can tell the weather is changing but Sunday we head to Spain for some hot rock climbing.
Not the First Bothy!
Totally ride in 4km!
The BBC adventure nearly didn’t happen this month. claudia had a mad week at work and so we planned a small overnighter setting off late afternoon and leaving straight away the next morning. We picked the new both at feshie. I thought I may be busy but not stupidly busy so we met at the car park at the end of the road. Claudia had for gotten her wheel so while she went back Janet and I watched the many couples and groups head to the bothy. We were not liking it…we rang Claudia. Let’s think of somewhere else. Eventually we decided on the wades road bothy near Newtonmore. A very short ride got us there just before sun set. There was lots of dead wood stuck in the trees from the flood so we had an amazing fire. My combo of two sleeping mats was a fail as was my super warm bag. It is just to narrow for me to stretch my legs and not be in pain. Both are now on eBay.
A great wee adventure.
Ardgour Van Trip Day Two.
Beinn na h-Uamha 762m (c)
Bike – D: 5.55km El: 50m T: 1 hr 7 mins
Hike – D: 8.18km El: 737m T: 5hrs 27mins
Bike – D 5.68km. El: 53m. T: 1hr 26mins
https://www.strava.com/activities/13831309131
https://www.strava.com/activities/13835700600
https://www.strava.com/activities/13836465655
We could have bitten of more that we could chew with this one but experience and sense took over and we just went for the one hill. Which was the original plan and as it turned out was a big day for us at the moment. The 5 km track was like an obstacle course. Washed up grass, sea weed. Large puddles, loose rocks. But great test of my full suss. Which didn’t have much int he way of brakes by the way. A visit to mikes bikes is due.
It was a big steep hill but very satisfying. Back to the vans and Anne Marie’s turn to cook.
Beinn na Cille
Beinn na Cille 652m. (g)
D: 8.19km. E: 585m. T: 4hrs 46mins
https://www.strava.com/activities/13826235334
There looked to be a bit of a weather window this weekend as as I was getting over a tummy bug and had a few days grounded at home I felt it time to get out and start my fitness campaign. Operation 4,000.
I met up with Anne Marie at the Corran ferry all ready to start walking. We went across the ferry and headed to the Kingairloch Road. We found a good park up at the start of the walk and decided to leave Anne Marie’s van further back along the road so we could do a linear walk. It was hard going, mostly path less and we could tell that injuries and illness were taking a toll.
But an excellent day to be out. Back to the vans. My turn to make tea. It was a bit of a sloppy night but in the morning I was ready for another hill. This time with a ride in.
Mountain Days and Photo Nights 