I've been a member for a year and have been using this fabulous resource for route descriptions, maps and also advice from other member's posts. I have been admiring the Walkhighlands community from afar and now have finally got round to submitting a report!
Today brought my 8th and 9th Munros - I started last year with Ben Lomond (couldn't see a thing) and this year has brought Schiehallion (fabulous day in the snow), Meall nan Tarmachan (on the 2nd attempt - the snow didn't work in my favour on the 1st), Mayar and Driesh 2 weeks ago (fabulous day with my mum & dad - loved Glen Clova), Ben Vorlich and Stuc A'Chroin last weekend (a real struggle for me scrambling up Stuc A'Chronic Pain and the 3 hour descent was a killer) and TODAY - Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers!
I've really got the bug having now bagged 6 in 2 weeks. Today was a new challenge for me - I decided to strike out on my own. (To be honest I'm not sure my boyfriend has forgiven me for the pain of last weekend). I wasn't sure I was ready or experienced enough (definitely not experienced enough!) but I was itching to get back out there again and I thought I saw a window of opportunity for views up at Ben Lawers today.
So I got on the road from Edinburgh at 6.40am and was ready to begin the walk at 8.30am. It had been a nice easy drive up, with a wee bathroom break in Lochearnhead

It was a joy to walk up into the Nature Reserve amongst the purple heather and the trickling stream (thank goodness I'd already stopped elsewhere for a bathroom break

I plodded along and it was only when the cloud cleared for a brief second that I saw how high I'd got. I got a wee fright actually - didn't think I was scared of heights until this moment

But worse was to come. I kept going up, and the cloud kept getting thicker. The wind was really strong, in fact you could say it was blowing an absolute hoolie


Woo my 8th Munro!
At this moment the couple behind me reached the top, I have never been so pleased to see other human beings! They reassured me I was at the summit and told me Ben Lawers wasn't too far. I asked to follow them for a bit, and there began a most rewarding mountain bonding experience...for me anyway!
They turned out to be Neil and Jenny from near Aberdeen and I have SO much to thank them for. I had considered going down (I'm not the anxious ambler for nothing you know) and they gave me the encouragement I needed to just get on with it. Mind you they set a hell of a pace up Ben Lawers

It meant that at 10.50am I was at the top of Ben Lawers - and about to get blown off!
Yay my 9th Munro!
There were absolutely no views whatsoever but it was great to be out and about - the air was certainly fresh!
We didn't stay long before descending back down to the bealach. I had planned to go back the way I'd come (maybe Beinn Ghlas views on the way back?!) but Neil showed me the bypass path and recommended it - I'd be sheltered from the wind and out of the cloud faster. I'm so glad he did because I couldn't have faced that scary feeling of being lost again

They came down the path too for a bit, before heading off into the mist for some different hills. Lovely people


I got a wee thrill passing people going up - it's always me going up after everyone else it seems, and now I was heading down. I am a long way away from being an experienced Munro bagger, but at that moment I felt on top of the world. I met a lovely lady heading up with the most gorgeous golden retriever - thank you for the nice chat - there were some fantastic people out there today!
I got back to the car just before 12.30pm which was just under 4 hours. I was absolutely elated! I planned to celebrate in the best way with a Steak and Haggis pie from Mhor Bread in Callander but the town was mobbed so I carried on, munching on the rolls I hadn't eaten on the hill. I was back in Edinburgh for 3pm, feeling thoroughly proud of my first solo Munros. I certainly got the fear up there and was so lucky to have the support of other walkers.
Right, what's Munro number 10 going to be?