However, there was occasional sunshine between the showers, and some beautiful effects of light and shade. So I thought it was worth posting up the best photos from the week, from across Perthshire and Argyll, as a single TR.
My first day was Sgairneach Mhor and Beinn Udlamain, in rain and low cloud, so no pics of that day. The next day I set off for Stob a'Choire Odhair, a hill I have often admired from Rannoch Moor. This is looking back to Victoria Bridge.
IMG_6231 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrThe school at Clashgour. Was it a gentler era back then? - or was it all rickets and Hitler?
IMG_6257 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrLooking back from the school towards Beinn an Dothaidh
IMG_6260 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrHello
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrLog outside the school door
IMG_6278 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrStob Ghabhar
IMG_6345 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrA nice cairn on the summit of Stob a'Choire Odhair
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrA break in the clouds on the way down and sunshine on Bridge of Orchy
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrLight on Beinn Achaladair
IMG_6317 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrTaken from the same spot, a glimpse of Coirein Lochain
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrSlopes of Beinn an Dothaidh
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrA wider view
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrScabious near Allt Toaig
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrOne of many waterfalls and one of many old walls
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrSome nice heather and lichen on the way down, on one of walls near the Allt Toaig and the school. This area carries a strong sense of its departed population, atmospherically described in dogplodder's TR "Where are the children now in the glens of the Black Mount?" - https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=38867
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrLate afternoon light on the Abhainn Shira and the slabby west ridge of Beinn nan Aighenan
IMG_6381 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrFading light
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr The next day, MWIS forecast heavy rain and, more worryingly, dangerously high winds on the tops. So I spent the morning in the civilised surroundings of the Mill bookshop and cafe in Aberfeldy. But then the sun came out and I visited the charming gardens at Bolfracks
IMG_6458 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
IMG_6481 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrGlen Lyon hills above the gunnera
IMG_6483 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrCioch Mhor and Meall Tairneachan from the gardens
IMG_6578 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrAutumnal scenes
IMG_6512 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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IMG_5929 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
IMG_5821 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
IMG_6552 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrThen I went on to the Croftmoraig stone circle
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IMG_6627 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrAnd the shores of Loch Tay near Kenmore
IMG_6690 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
IMG_6670 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrAfter that I did the short walk up to the Falls of Acharn. Fungi were much in evidence
IMG_6695 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrThis whole walk was a delight. I did it in reverse from the WH route, and I was pleased I chose to do that. I think it is nicer to go uphill through the woodland, and downhill on the track
IMG_6698 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrNote the brown-stained waters from the recent rain, like something Augustus Gloop would fall into
IMG_6719 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrDoing the route this way round saves the Hermit's Cave and its secret view of the Falls as a final treat
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrPeaty waterfall
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrMeall Greigh from the entrance to the Hermit's Cave
IMG_6723 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrBucolic scenes on the way down
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrArcady, Perthshire
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrBack down on the road in Acharn. Tescos has a lot to answer for
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrI would also really recommend adding to this walk the short stroll along the riverside path to the loch shore. This gives wonderful views across the water towards the Lawers range
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrThe road along the south side of Loch Tay was very scenic
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Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrThe next day followed the same pattern - wet and windy in the west, marginally better further east. I drove over to Blair Atholl and walked up the superbly-constructed path on Carn Liath
Loch Moraig
IMG_6784 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrSummit of Carn Liath, a breezy spot
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr After that I went on to Killin where the river was in full force after the recent rains
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrThe following day I explored part of the old kingdom of Dalriada, and some remnants of even earlier times.
Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle
IMG_6831 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrCrinan canal at Cairnbaan
IMG_6849 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrOn the woodland path to "the most extensive prehistoric rock carvings in the UK" - the Achnabreck cup and ring marked rocks at Cairnbaan
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrSome fine examples!
IMG_6927 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrThe area around the carvings is beautiful
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Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrLochgilphead from the carvings
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrOystercatchers photobombing the bottom right corner at Lochgilphead
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrLochgilphead again
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrIn the old churchyard at Kilmartin, a few words tell a sad story
IMG_7041 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrAn array of standing stones and burial chambers, all in a small area
IMG_7012 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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IMG_7054 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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IMG_7079 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrLike a sacred grove from The Golden Bough
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IMG_7094 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrSpooky lights, don't know how that happened
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrI went on to the Ben Cruachan Inn at Lochawe to meet friends - our base for the next few days. This is the view of the loch from the pub
IMG_7122 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrPass of Brander from the playground at the Cruachan power station visitor centre
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrLunch with a view of the Calmacs
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrDessert with a view of tartan
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrWe walked up to the Cruachan dam, engineering on an epic scale
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Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrViews over Loch Awe
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IMG_7210 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrWe descended to the pub via the dam service road, with many interesting things to see along the way.
IMG_7370 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrFarmageddon
IMG_7374 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrPass of Brander
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrHad to snap this, even though the rain was pouring down. Boris Johnson says the UK will make "a titanic success" of Brexit, perhaps this is his lifeboat
IMG_7376 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrThe line of light is not a divine ray, just the camera lens is still wet
IMG_7348 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
IMG_7362 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
IMG_7379 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
IMG_7378 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrOban
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Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrThe next day we walked up Ben Challum in wind and rain.
IMG_7437 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrBut the weather gods relented on the way down and we got some views - this is looking back as the cloud cleared off the summit ridge
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrBen Lui group
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrBen Vorlich
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrStob Binnein
IMG_7573 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrBeinn Ime
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrCloud clearing off An Caisteal
IMG_7587 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrSome mountains are attractive and full of character
IMG_7565 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrOthers are just big
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrHello again
IMG_7680 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrCrianlarich hills
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickra view from a bridge
IMG_7705 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrThe last walk of our trip was Beinn Eunaich - this is the track near Castles Farm
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrChair of the reception committee
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrJunior members
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrDalmally Horseshoe from the path
IMG_7730 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrFlower of Scotland
IMG_7833 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrNatural bridge in the stream
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrLoch Awe and Kilchurn Castle from the corrie below Lairig Ianachain
IMG_7820 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrBeinn Chochuill from the Lairig
IMG_7794 by Half Man Half Titanium, on FlickrBeinn Eunaich was a small landmark for me. My 95th Munro, which means I am one-third of the way through the list.
I am unlikely to ever climb all the Munros, and it is not really an objective of mine.
But Munro’s list encourages me to explore different parts of the Highlands - my favourite thing about the Scottish hills is their extraordinary variety. So here’s to the next 95!
Untitled by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
