walkhighlands


Glenshiel North Ridge

This post is not published on the Walkhighlands forum
Attachment(s) Munros: Aonach Meadhoin, Ciste Dhubh, Sàileag, Sgùrr a' Bhealaich Dheirg, Sgùrr Fhuaran, Sgùrr na Càrnach, Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe
Date walked: 02/08/2019
Distance: 30km
Views: 472


A day in the Alps

This post is not published on the Walkhighlands forum
Date walked: 13/07/2019
Distance: 42km
Ascent: 2500m
Views: 530

Bla Bheinn - another Englishman's cairn in the bag

Date walked: 13/08/2018

Time taken: 7 hours

Distance: 12.5km

Ascent: 1142m


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The maps don't show a path going up the south ridge of Bla Bheinn so I was glad to find one and followed it up pretty easily. I was triumphantly eating me oatcakes on the 'top' when a guy called Allan appeared out of the mist and told me I was on the South top - the true summit being a short scramble away. I was pleased to avoid another 'Englishman's cairn' incident, (where I discover hours later - or in one case years later - that I didn't actually get to the top but only as far as the 'Englishman's cairn'). I confidently informed Allan about the nice easy path I'd followed up the south ridge (marked by cairns of a less mis-leading kind) and that I would go back down the same way

Except that it's much harder to see small piles of stones from above than from below, especially when the whole place is swirling with mist and you've removed your glasses because they were steaming up on the inside and covered in drizzle on the outside. With a niggling hunch that it all looked a bit different from what I remembered - blurred vision notwithstanding - I admitted to myself that I'd come off the 'path', and realised I was in fact heading down the south east side where all the streams run down (I knew I wasn't on the west side because I hadn't gone flying off a crag into Glen Sligachan).

Fortunately you don't need glasses or even much visibility to follow the sound of running water, which I did without further incident (save for sending a largish boulder crashing dangerously into the mist) and I eventually joined the main path back to the start.

ImageEnglishman’s Cairn by John, on Flickr

ImageBla Bheinn by John, on Flickr

On a side note, I have been coming to Skye on and off for the last 10 years and I think it has finally become a victim of its own success. I couldn't help being annoyed by the crowds, all the ugly camper vans lining the roads beside every viewpoint and the bus loads of photographers disembarking at every attraction. Recognising that I'm part of the problem and should contribute to the solution, I think I'll steer clear of this island from now on...

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Comments: 1



Marsco

This post is not published on the Walkhighlands forum
Attachment(s) Fionas: Marsco
Date walked: 12/08/2018
Distance: 14km
Ascent: 804m
Views: 564


Meall Thuath

This post is not published on the Walkhighlands forum
Attachment(s) Date walked: 11/08/2018
Distance: 6km
Ascent: 211m
Views: 520


Quirang

This post is not published on the Walkhighlands forum
Attachment(s) Date walked: 10/08/2018
Distance: 10km
Ascent: 815m
Views: 569


Calton Hill

This post is not published on the Walkhighlands forum
Attachment(s) Date walked: 01/01/2018
Distance: 6km
Ascent: 145m
Views: 698


Arthur’s Seat

This post is not published on the Walkhighlands forum
Attachment(s) Sub 2000s: Arthur's Seat
Date walked: 31/12/2017
Distance: 7.5km
Ascent: 300m
Views: 576


Edinburgh old & new town

This post is not published on the Walkhighlands forum
Attachment(s) Date walked: 30/12/2017
Distance: 7km
Ascent: 150m
Views: 585


Coire Ardair, Creag Meagaidh

This post is not published on the Walkhighlands forum
Attachment(s) Date walked: 28/12/2017
Distance: 12km
Ascent: 450m
Views: 710

JohnJoe


User avatar
Location: Planet Earth
Activity: Walker
Camera: Mobile

Munros: 30
Corbetts: 3
Fionas: 4
Wainwrights: 14
Hewitts: 21
Sub 2000: 3



Filter reports


Statistics

2019

Trips: 2
Distance: 72 km
Ascent: 2500m
Munros: 7

2018

Trips: 5
Distance: 48.5 km
Ascent: 3117m
Fionas: 1

2017

Trips: 5
Distance: 40.5 km
Ascent: 2200m
Sub2000s: 1

2016

Trips: 4
Distance: 45.5 km
Ascent: 5126m
Munros: 2

2015

Trips: 5
Distance: 50 km
Ascent: 4100m
Corbetts: 1

2014

Trips: 2
Distance: 24 km
Ascent: 1701m
Munros: 1

2013

Trips: 16
Distance: 215.8 km
Ascent: 14790m
Munros: 10
Hewitts: 6
Wainwrights 6

2012

Trips: 10
Distance: 186.3 km
Ascent: 9153m
Munros: 6
Fionas: 1

2011

Trips: 9
Distance: 93.2 km
Ascent: 5840m
Sub2000s: 1
Hewitts: 4
Wainwrights 5

2010

Trips: 2
Distance: 83.3 km
Ascent: 1823m
Hewitts: 4
Wainwrights 5

2009

Trips: 2
Distance: 21.63 km
Ascent: 2345m

2008

Trips: 2
Distance: 25 km
Ascent: 967m
Munros: 1

2007

Trips: 1
Distance: 20 km
Ascent: 621m
Hewitts: 2

2005

Trips: 1
Distance: 4 km

2001

Trips: 1
Distance: 6 km
Ascent: 722m
Munros: 1

2000

Trips: 1
Distance: 11.5 km
Ascent: 1042m

1989

Trips: 1


Joined: Aug 02, 2011
Last visited: Dec 04, 2023
Total posts: 153 | Search posts