free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
A bit late with this but I noticed someone had posted a snow bunting on Ben Nevis on the Wildlife forum. This was a frankly miserable walk and none the worse for that. I'd been in the area for three days. Before I left home, this day had the best forecast. I never checked again. First two days I was on Corbetts and looking from Culardoch at Ben Avon, I was getting a feeling I might have been better off up there and tomorrow might not be so good.
Came the day, it started raining as I left Mar Lodge. The only point it stopped was a while on Monadh Mor when it turned to hail. I have to say I was pleased with my Altberg boots - one held out for 5 hours and the other for 6. The cloud base was about 900 metres but everything was saturated.
However I met a snow bunting on the summit of Monadh Mor. I've previously met one in summer on Braeriach, there's that one on Ben Nevis and a couple of weeks later I met this one on Ben Macdui.
Now as far as I know, only 100 pairs are supposed to remain in Scotland over summer. What's with them and Munro bagging?
On the way down I visited Carn Cloich-mhuillin. I like this top and, as this site's introduction to the Munros points out, Sir Hugh was saving it for his last. This is one that should still be a Munro out of respect. The 1997 revision included some outrageous promotions, notably the nearby Sgor an Lochain Uaine. In terms of remoteness and historical significance this is more deserving.
The cycle back to White Bridge depends on fine nerve and a steady hand to take the drainage ditches. I had neither so frankly it was a bit of a nightmare.