A grand title for a grand adventure into the Highlands. In May of this year, during a long commute on the London Underground, the BBC Weather app informed me of incoming sun to Scotland and suddenly the opportunity arose to tick off my new year's resolution for 2017: Climb a Munro.

The more I pondered, however, the more problems appeared. No friends could find any free time on short notice. Do I really want to go solo? Maps of mountains are too expensive. I lack the required experience. I'll get lonely. It's a long distance to travel...

If you're considering a trip to Bonnie Scotland but find that every new dawn brings new hurdles then drown out the doubts and just do it. Get out there, go!

**TOP BEGINNERS TIP** The resources available on WalkHighlands are super impressive. Rather than spend lots of money on fancy maps, I printed off the online versions available for free and coupled it with the excellent WalkHighlands guides. It worked amazingly well.

Which Munro would be my first? There was no competition. Buachaille Etive Mor is magnificent, magnetic, majestic. It is the quintessential hill; it looks like a mountain should look as it cuts the skyline in an unforgettable fashion.

First thoughts: it's a bit steep! Nevertheless, this glorious view was the perfect catalyst for a cheesy grin after a 10 hour drive.



If you're in Glen Coe and a campsite is required, a top choice is the Red Squirrel Campsite. Clean facilities and fast, free WIFI (rejoice rejoice). As I set up camp the skies cleared, I couldn't believe my luck! Dinner was soon underway...



The next morning, an early start led to fantastic views from the car park. The hill looked impregnable. Coire na Tulaich would be my alleged method of ascent... I kept checking the map as the hill seemed far too daunting for any human to be able to walk up. Maybe all these guides are wrong and there's a nice gentle slope up round the back...



I felt blessed to be amongst the Highlands with such perfect weather. The path quickly morphs into mini-boulders and scree - it's best to keep to the right hand side of Coire na Tulaich, where steps prove to be an assistance. I tip my hat to whoever is involved in carving out these trails - they're a fine balancing act between accessibility for casuals like me and interference with nature.





My oh my, the views! Glancing backwards, the car had been reduced to a speck.



My heart pounded out my chest from the (very) light scrambling to get out the coire, I didn't expect to be using hands! Instantaneously hooked, I could tell walking would never be the same again. Reaching the peak of Stob Dearg was the best feeling imaginable. The summit! The views! Mission accomplished! I sat down to a celebratory Penguin bar and soaked in the wonderful vibes for a good 30 minutes.







The ridge to Stob na Broige is delightful. I had the mountains to myself; it felt serene and beautiful. Does anyone not get a little bit philosophical on a mountain?





In good weather, you can't miss the path. After Stob na Broige there's a fairly steep drop down into Lairig Gartain and then a relaxing ramble back along the valley to the car. Within no time I'd returned to Red Squirrel Campsite and was toasting a successful first day.



Buachaille Etive Mor has been a transformative experience. It's changed everything to do with nature for me. This was day 1 of a week long trip (the following days saw bagging the Munros of Bidean nam Bian, Liathach and Beinn Alligin) - if it'd been a disaster I may well have turned the car around and skittled back south. I thought nothing could get better than Buachaille (how wrong I was! Scotland, you beauty) and I will forever hold an affection for it as Munro #1.

This is my first post here so a quick hello to all! If someone is reading this while umm-ing and ahh-ing about whether to get to Scotland and get up a Munro for the first time - like I was for months with other walk reports - I promise you you won't regret it. Thanks for reading!