
Forward to this year, and after a treble in the Lawers range with my grandson Matthew, we decided to see if we could try for a "4" and, as we are pretty much limited to our trips being on a single day, the Carn Mairg circuit in Glen Lyon most fitted the bill.
We set off around 7am and arrived at Invervar at 8.45am and were ready to go by 9am. There was still a chill in the air, but at the lower level once we got walking we soon warmed up. But once some height was gained, after leaving the wooded area which we had hugged on our left, the breeze meant another layer had to be added. Nearing the summit of Carn Gorm, Matthew got a little ahead of me as I struggled for breath and had to take a few breathers. And to be honest, at that moment, the thought that there were FOUR summits ahead of me, filled me with some trepidation. I comforted myself that with the thought that gaining the first summit had the greatest amount of continual ascent of the day, and hopefully I would get my second wind once that had been achieved. Three young lads from Dundee who had arrived just as we were just about to leave the car park caught and over took me and ended up summiting Carn Gorm at the same time as Matthew, a few minutes before me. Late morning, it was now a nice day, although still retaining a chill. There was a tremendous 360 degree view with the rocky side of Stob Dearg of the Buachaille being particularly impressive. And, as often, Ben Nevis with a small patch of cloud on it's summit, in the distance, hovering over the west shore of Loch Rannoch. One down, three to go.
We all left Carn Gorm together, before two of the Dundee lads shot ahead, Matthew was some 30 metres ahead of me and the other lad as we chatted about our (limited) experiences. Eventually he ran on to catch his mates and Matthew and I were together again as we headed for Meall Garbh. Thankfully I was now feeling better, and the summit of MG was reached without too much hardship. Two down and two to go. I took a picture of the first summit we had visited. From this summit, from an angle we had not experienced before, there was an impressive view of Schiehallion.
It was now on to the longest stretch of the circuit as we headed for the highest summit Carn Mairg. Along the way something caught my eye on the path. A very short fat slug, unicorn poo? no

Both the chill and the breeze had all but disappeared now and it had become a very pleasant day to walk.The rocky flank of Carn Mairg made for an easy target to head for. The summit was reached and here we met the three Dundee lads again sat around the cairn. I walked up to them, swapped greetings and said "three down, one to go", which was met with puzzled looks. "Is this not the final one?". A moment of doubt about my own thoughts of where we were swept over me, but then, sure of my facts, I got out my map and showed them where we were and pointed to Creag Mhor as the final Munro summit. A lady and young girl sitting on the other side of the cairn and were doing the circuit in the opposite direction confirmed the Creag Mhor summit. A quick check on his mobile phone which had the walk downloaded on Viewranger, confirmed he had slightly misread the info and the three lads happily set of to bag No.4.
Provisions were taken then we went to explore the rocky ground beside the summit. Here we met a gent who was walking with his West Highland Terrier. We left the summit together and as the gent circled around the east of the summit, Matthew insisted we take "the shortcut" down through the crags of the south face. Needless to say the man and his dog ended up 5-10 mins ahead of us on the track to Creag Mhor.

I think it would be around 3pm (we are not the fastest
