Kin tell you,this is one of the best

[tomyboy73]

So the third day of my summer of leave and the weather was playing ball for us to tackle The Five Sister's. Had crossed over the night before from the east to camp at The Glenshiel campsite and awaited Jim's arrival from Paisley.
We got up early,had breakfast, dropped his car at the shop (probably the greatest shop in the highlands)at the end of the route, then drove up to the start point.
It was a bright morning,with blue skies and a ribbon of cloud weaving through the glen. As we were getting ready another car pulled into the car park and squeezed in beside us. It's a large car park and there were hardly any other vehicles in it.
What the?? Then out bounced the driver. Long lycra legs, big black shades, flowing dark hair. And an inside out T-shirt.
We'd just met Laura. She was going to do The Brother's ridge, and she was buzzing! Like me, she had some time off work and was making the most of what the outdoors had to offer. We all set off together as the walk to both ridges follows the same direct ,steep path up to the bealach.

Looking down the glen from the path to the bealach

We chatted with our new found friend all the way up and she must have enjoyed our chat and rugged good looks so much that she decided to change her plans and walk with us instead. Either that it was the chance of a lift back to her car.

Jim and Laura with Beinn Odhar behind

We set out across the ridge and our first climb ws to the 895m Beinn Odhar. Not too taxing as we blethered away exchanging stories of our past adventures and finding out that an international spy was trying to recruit Laura into the shady world of espionage.

The Sisters starting to appear

Anyway, better watch what I'm saying, anybody could be reading this. Well, I hope somebody is reading it!
Back to the walk. The views were already amazing,but now we had gained some more height they were spectacular. We could see the days' Munros ahead of us and everywhere all around for miles. Must be one of the best areas to get 360 degrees of mountain ranges in every direction.

Heading towards Sgurr Nan Spainteach

We moved on towards the demoted Munro, Sgurr Nan Spainteach , the peak of the Spaniards,named after the Spanish army that fought at The Battle of Glenshiel.

dos hombres guapos

Although bright and sunny there was enough passing cloud and a cool breeze which made the walking conditions just perfect. We had a steep we scramble down from here and then up onto Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe, our first Munro of the day.

dos hombres guapos

Looking over to The Saddle and Forcan ridge

We stopped for pictures and Jim showed us the route up and down The Saddle and the Forcan ridge,which both Laura and myself are still to do. The path was so clear from here,so easy to pick out on this brightest of days. Just hope I get as good a day as this because it looks a superb mountain to climb.
It was almost midday now and the Sun was fully out and we were only about a third of the way round.

One down two to go

With the rest of the ridge in full view ahead of us we were in no rush and stopped for a snack.
It's taken me nearly two months to write this for various reasons but mostly laziness and looking back at my pictures still hard to believe the day we had. Finding it hard which ones to pick.
I remember when we got onto the ridge we were looking down and saw a bus dropping someone off at the car park and wondered if we'd see them on the walk at sometime and sure enough she passed us on top of the second Munro. Some going!
It was about an hour and a half or so between summits and in between Jim and Laura had both changed into shorts at sometime and I was helluva jealous, I had to make do with rolling my trousers up.

Heading towards Sgurr Na Carnach, trousers on

Summit pic, trousers off.

We sat and chatted some more, shared some grub and Jim flew his drone.
He's made a cracking video, I'll add the link at the end.
Laura remarked that it was the best lunch spot ever,and it was hard to argue.

The poses were starting to get silly now.

We eventually headed off and down a great wee scramble again towards the next bealach.

At the bottom of the descent

Along the bealach we went and Laura found another rock to pose on. The girl is such a poser,no wonder it took us so long.

Poser

We were soon on the ascent to Sgurr Fhuaran and for the first time I was starting to feel the burn in my calves. This was my third day on the trot on the hills and I was about to bag my fifth Munro in something like 43 hours, no bad for a lazy nearly 50 year old
And to rub it in a couple of youngsters skipped up past us.

Jim heading up Sgurr Fhuaran

From Sgurr Fhuaran summit to the rest of the ridge

We posed for more daft photos as the delirium took over, but won't embarrass any of us by showing them.
I made a comment as I recorded a wee video on Facebook live that we had just done The Five Sister's when in fact we still had a long way to go. And that wasn't a bad thing,no more Munros but a few more up and downs and we enjoyed the rest as much as we had so far. A fantastic day, in fact one of the best hill days I've had and thoroughly recommend it but only on a clear day. Laura was great company too and it would be great to bump into you again one day on the hills.
Link to Jim's YouTube video below
Give it a watch, it's fantastic

https://youtu.be/Sso_d9rwoB4?si=CQzCwQVG1K2xDcHx