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Half decent weather was forecast and I was itching to get out on the hill- the only issue was I needed to be back by midday on Sunday for family commitments… Usually Ben Vrackie meets the bill in this scenario – nice and close and can be up and down and back home without losing too many brownie points

However I had been up here lots in the prior two months and I fancied a wee change so set my sights on Beinn a’ Ghlo! It is a wee bit further up the road so my alarm was set awe bit earlier(ok a lot earlier!!4am

). I wanted to catch the sunrise from near the summit so was out and on the road for 4.30am, early but hopefully worth it!
Arriving at the muddy car park, I got kitted up and headed into the night! To be honest I was feeling pretty rough with ma flu and at this point the sky was showing absolutely zero signs for a good sunrise. In my minds eye I was imagining starry skies with a glorious sunrise, and this wasn’t happening as I headed towards Carn Liath! Heading past the hut in darkness I splodged though the extremely marshy ground at the foot of the hill before the main ascent!
It was now nearing 7am and I caught a glimmer of hope! Far off to the south east and the first signs of dawn were emerging. A slight reddening of the horizon gave me hope and a spring was again in my step! Soon the sky was starting to light up so I found a spot just off the summit and in the shelter from the strong north westerly breeze… To my delight the sunrise was perfect, the sky was pink and red and I sat feeling very smug until the colours faded as the sun rose above the horizon.
Perthshire Sunrise by
Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr
10 minutes later and before 9 oclock and I was stood on the summit fighting the wind! Getting shelter behind the summit cairn I once again watched the skies illuminate as the sun found a hole in the clouds on the horizon and put on a show illuminating the changing clouds to the south above Ben Vrackie!
Nessie above Ben Vrackie by
Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr
The remaining peaks of Beinn a Ghlo were shrouded in cloud so I had my fill and decided to bank my brownie points and head back. By 10am I was back at the hut at the base of the hill and once again I stopped to soak in the sunshine. Not much wind down here and even though it was winter, the sun actually felt warm. I sat and had a drink and enjoyed the mackerel cloud formations above Carn Liath- superb…
Home for 11.30 and a cuppa tea and a bacon butty were enjoyed
Beinn a' Ghlo by
Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr
Beinn a' Ghlo Mackrel Skies by
Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr