A wet week in October in the Highlands, who would have thought it.

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.

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The school at Clashgour. Was it a gentler era back then? - or was it all rickets and Hitler?

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Looking back from the school towards Beinn an Dothaidh

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Hello

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Log outside the school door

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Stob Ghabhar

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A nice cairn on the summit of Stob a'Choire Odhair

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A break in the clouds on the way down and sunshine on Bridge of Orchy

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Light on Beinn Achaladair

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Taken from the same spot, a glimpse of Coirein Lochain

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Slopes of Beinn an Dothaidh

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A wider view

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Scabious near Allt Toaig

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One of many waterfalls and one of many old walls

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Some 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

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Late afternoon light on the Abhainn Shira and the slabby west ridge of Beinn nan Aighenan

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Fading light

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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

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Glen Lyon hills above the gunnera

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Cioch Mhor and Meall Tairneachan from the gardens

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Autumnal scenes

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Then I went on to the Croftmoraig stone circle

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And the shores of Loch Tay near Kenmore

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After that I did the short walk up to the Falls of Acharn. Fungi were much in evidence

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This 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

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Note the brown-stained waters from the recent rain, like something Augustus Gloop would fall into

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Doing the route this way round saves the Hermit's Cave and its secret view of the Falls as a final treat

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Peaty waterfall

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Meall Greigh from the entrance to the Hermit's Cave

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Bucolic scenes on the way down

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Arcady, Perthshire

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Back down on the road in Acharn. Tescos has a lot to answer for

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I 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

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The road along the south side of Loch Tay was very scenic

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The 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

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Summit of Carn Liath, a breezy spot

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After that I went on to Killin where the river was in full force after the recent rains

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The following day I explored part of the old kingdom of Dalriada, and some remnants of even earlier times.

Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle

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Crinan canal at Cairnbaan

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On the woodland path to "the most extensive prehistoric rock carvings in the UK" - the Achnabreck cup and ring marked rocks at Cairnbaan

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Some fine examples!

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The area around the carvings is beautiful

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Lochgilphead from the carvings

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Oystercatchers photobombing the bottom right corner at Lochgilphead

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Lochgilphead again

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In the old churchyard at Kilmartin, a few words tell a sad story

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An array of standing stones and burial chambers, all in a small area

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Like a sacred grove from The Golden Bough

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Spooky lights, don't know how that happened

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I 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

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Pass of Brander from the playground at the Cruachan power station visitor centre

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Lunch with a view of the Calmacs

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Dessert with a view of tartan

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We walked up to the Cruachan dam, engineering on an epic scale

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Views over Loch Awe

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We descended to the pub via the dam service road, with many interesting things to see along the way.

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Farmageddon

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Pass of Brander

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Had 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

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The line of light is not a divine ray, just the camera lens is still wet
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Oban

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The next day we walked up Ben Challum in wind and rain.

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But 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

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Ben Lui group

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Ben Vorlich

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Stob Binnein

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Beinn Ime

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Cloud clearing off An Caisteal

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Some mountains are attractive and full of character

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Others are just big

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Hello again

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Crianlarich hills

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a view from a bridge

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The last walk of our trip was Beinn Eunaich - this is the track near Castles Farm

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Chair of the reception committee

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Junior members

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Dalmally Horseshoe from the path

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Flower of Scotland

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Natural bridge in the stream

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Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle from the corrie below Lairig Ianachain

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Beinn Chochuill from the Lairig

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Beinn 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!

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