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  1. the Scottish mountains

Central Highlands

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  • Evening in the Mamores - Ben Nevis and Sgurr a'Mhaim from somewhere on Mullach nan Coirean.

9.00pm, 15/06/84

    Evening in the Mamores - Ben Nevis and Sgurr a'Mhaim from somewhere on Mullach nan Coirean. 9.00pm, 15/06/84

  • Ben Nevis and Sgurr a'Mhaim from Stob Ban.

9.40pm, 15/06/84

    Ben Nevis and Sgurr a'Mhaim from Stob Ban. 9.40pm, 15/06/84

  • Glencoe peaks and ridges from Stob Ban, a fine inversion brewing.

  10pm, 15/06/84

    Glencoe peaks and ridges from Stob Ban, a fine inversion brewing. 10pm, 15/06/84

  • Camp by Lochan Coire nam Miseach.

11.30pm,  15/06/84

    Camp by Lochan Coire nam Miseach. 11.30pm, 15/06/84

  • Came the dawn.  On Sgurr a'Mhaim.

4am, 16/06/84

    Came the dawn. On Sgurr a'Mhaim. 4am, 16/06/84

  • Sunrise over the Grey Corries, from Sgurr a'Mhaim.

4.30am, 16/06/84

    Sunrise over the Grey Corries, from Sgurr a'Mhaim. 4.30am, 16/06/84

  • Glencoe peaks from Sgurr a'Mhaim.

5am, 16/06/84

    Glencoe peaks from Sgurr a'Mhaim. 5am, 16/06/84

  • Glencoe peaks from Sgorr an Iubhair.

6am, 16/06/84

    Glencoe peaks from Sgorr an Iubhair. 6am, 16/06/84

  • Morning light on Stob Ban, from Lochan Coire nam Miseach

7am, 16/06/84

    Morning light on Stob Ban, from Lochan Coire nam Miseach 7am, 16/06/84

  • South ridge of Binnein Mor.

10am, 19/3/84

    South ridge of Binnein Mor. 10am, 19/3/84

  • Glencoe from Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

7pm, 23/8/86

    Glencoe from Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. 7pm, 23/8/86

  • Stob Coire nan Lochain.

4pm, 30/3/01

    Stob Coire nan Lochain. 4pm, 30/3/01

  • Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

4pm, 18/3/84

    Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. 4pm, 18/3/84

  • Stob Dubh.

3pm, 17/12/95

    Stob Dubh. 3pm, 17/12/95

  • Allt a'Chaoile-reidhe and Ben Alder.

6.30am, 9/6/06

    Allt a'Chaoile-reidhe and Ben Alder. 6.30am, 9/6/06

  • The Buachaille with his hat on, from Creise.

3pm, 10/08/86

    The Buachaille with his hat on, from Creise. 3pm, 10/08/86

  • Sron na Creise from Beinn Mhic Chasgaig.

5pm, 10/08/86

    Sron na Creise from Beinn Mhic Chasgaig. 5pm, 10/08/86

  • Rimy boulders on Meall a'Bhuiridh.

2.30pm,  01/01/82

    Rimy boulders on Meall a'Bhuiridh. 2.30pm, 01/01/82

  • Summit of Meall a'Bhuiridh.

3pm, 01/01/82

~ Not many skiers take the trouble to seek out the summit view.

    Summit of Meall a'Bhuiridh. 3pm, 01/01/82 ~ Not many skiers take the trouble to seek out the summit view.

  • Winter sunrise over Rannoch Moor, from Beinn a'Chrulaiste.

8.15am, 14/11/87

    Winter sunrise over Rannoch Moor, from Beinn a'Chrulaiste. 8.15am, 14/11/87

  • Loch Etive from Stob Dubh of Buachaille Etive Beag.

4pm, 14/11/87

    Loch Etive from Stob Dubh of Buachaille Etive Beag. 4pm, 14/11/87

  • Bidean from Stob Coire Leith.

10am, 26/04/93

~ This made a satisfyingly circular and well-filled day - off about 8am from the Clachaig road-end for a west-east traverse of the Aonach Eagach, down and across the glen for the zig-zags on the Gearr Aonach, over Stob  Coire nan Lochan to the Bidean and down by the Coire nam Beith.

I met . . . not a soul! It was a Monday, and I was on a  four-day week rota at the time.

    Bidean from Stob Coire Leith. 10am, 26/04/93 ~ This made a satisfyingly circular and well-filled day - off about 8am from the Clachaig road-end for a west-east traverse of the Aonach Eagach, down and across the glen for the zig-zags on the Gearr Aonach, over Stob Coire nan Lochan to the Bidean and down by the Coire nam Beith. I met . . . not a soul! It was a Monday, and I was on a four-day week rota at the time.

  • Coire nan Lochan, on the descent from am Bodach.

11am, 26/04/93

    Coire nan Lochan, on the descent from am Bodach. 11am, 26/04/93

  • Bidean from Stob Coire nam Beith, Hourglass Gully (grade I) prominent.

5pm, 26/04/93

    Bidean from Stob Coire nam Beith, Hourglass Gully (grade I) prominent. 5pm, 26/04/93

  • Lagangarbh Hut.

10am, 25/09/83

    Lagangarbh Hut. 10am, 25/09/83

  • Coir' an Eoin, wildest glen in the Central Highlands.

5pm, 12/04/93

~ . . . and perhaps the least-known. There are a few (easily bike-able) miles of forestry to negotiate, and just beyond the trees is a little dam. After that - not a trace of man's hand, no paths, no fences or dikes, no planting, no ruins, just the Allt Coir' an Eoin tumbling, meandering, draining the massive horseshoe formed by the Aonachs and the western Grey Corries.

    Coir' an Eoin, wildest glen in the Central Highlands. 5pm, 12/04/93 ~ . . . and perhaps the least-known. There are a few (easily bike-able) miles of forestry to negotiate, and just beyond the trees is a little dam. After that - not a trace of man's hand, no paths, no fences or dikes, no planting, no ruins, just the Allt Coir' an Eoin tumbling, meandering, draining the massive horseshoe formed by the Aonachs and the western Grey Corries.

  • The Coir' an Eoin falls.

11am, 11/04/93

    The Coir' an Eoin falls. 11am, 11/04/93

  • Binnein Shuas at dawn, from Moy.

4.15am, 05/06/82

~ This was during some serious heatwave weather, which seemed, then much more than now, to be a routine feature of May and/or June in the western highlands, and by way of self-defence I set off from Moy about 4am, with a languid, bored-looking sun soon peering through the Loch Laggan mist.

And the first cool hours of the day were the best, with an ascent of a'Chaorainn by its east ridge, which ends with a touch of panache right by the cairn, and on to the sprawling acres of Meagaidh. The rest were spent in a humid haze of brightness which in the afternoon faded to a coppery murk as thunder grumbled in the distance - by the Window to Stob Poite and out to the far-flung Carn Liath, and then, in preference to 5 miles of A86, a long (very long) retracing of steps back over Meagaidh, and down by its southwestern shoulder.

    Binnein Shuas at dawn, from Moy. 4.15am, 05/06/82 ~ This was during some serious heatwave weather, which seemed, then much more than now, to be a routine feature of May and/or June in the western highlands, and by way of self-defence I set off from Moy about 4am, with a languid, bored-looking sun soon peering through the Loch Laggan mist. And the first cool hours of the day were the best, with an ascent of a'Chaorainn by its east ridge, which ends with a touch of panache right by the cairn, and on to the sprawling acres of Meagaidh. The rest were spent in a humid haze of brightness which in the afternoon faded to a coppery murk as thunder grumbled in the distance - by the Window to Stob Poite and out to the far-flung Carn Liath, and then, in preference to 5 miles of A86, a long (very long) retracing of steps back over Meagaidh, and down by its southwestern shoulder.

  • The Easains from Beinn a'Chaorainn.

6.20am, 05/06/82

    The Easains from Beinn a'Chaorainn. 6.20am, 05/06/82

  • Bidean from the E end of Beinn a'Bheithir.

mid-day, 27/11/82

    Bidean from the E end of Beinn a'Bheithir. mid-day, 27/11/82

  • Loch Linnhe from the W end of Beinn a'Bheithir.

2pm, 27/11/82

    Loch Linnhe from the W end of Beinn a'Bheithir. 2pm, 27/11/82

  • Sgurr a'Mhaim and Ben Nevis from am Bodach.

2pm, 14/06/85

    Sgurr a'Mhaim and Ben Nevis from am Bodach. 2pm, 14/06/85

  • Stob Dearg and neighbours, from the lower western slopes of Sgurr Eilde Mor.

8am, 15/06/85

    Stob Dearg and neighbours, from the lower western slopes of Sgurr Eilde Mor. 8am, 15/06/85

  • Ben Nevis from Sgurr Eilde Mor.

9am, 15/06/85

    Ben Nevis from Sgurr Eilde Mor. 9am, 15/06/85

  • On Stob Coire Claurigh.

7am, 16/06/85

    On Stob Coire Claurigh. 7am, 16/06/85

  • Looking west along the Grey Corries from Stob a'Choire Leith.

9am, 16/06/85

    Looking west along the Grey Corries from Stob a'Choire Leith. 9am, 16/06/85

  • Panorama southwards from Aonach Beag.

4pm, 16/06/85

    Panorama southwards from Aonach Beag. 4pm, 16/06/85

  • A larger version (6000 x 1250) of the Aonach Beag pano, for anyone who wants to examine the view in detail.

    A larger version (6000 x 1250) of the Aonach Beag pano, for anyone who wants to examine the view in detail.

  • The classic glacial valley of the Allt Daimh, between Carn Mór Dearg and Aonach Mór.

5pm, 16/06/85

    The classic glacial valley of the Allt Daimh, between Carn Mór Dearg and Aonach Mór. 5pm, 16/06/85

  • Frozen falls at Polldubh, Glen Nevis.

3pm, 08/02/79

    Frozen falls at Polldubh, Glen Nevis. 3pm, 08/02/79

  • Ghostly footsteps on the Mamores.

mid-day, 09/02/79

~ This was the occasion of my first winter Munros (Coirean and Stob Ban), so I assumed that these negative footprints were a common occurence, but I've never subsequently come across such a striking example of them.

    Ghostly footsteps on the Mamores. mid-day, 09/02/79 ~ This was the occasion of my first winter Munros (Coirean and Stob Ban), so I assumed that these negative footprints were a common occurence, but I've never subsequently come across such a striking example of them.

  • Blackrock and the Buachaille.

9am, 03/03/80

    Blackrock and the Buachaille. 9am, 03/03/80

  • Loch Ossian and the Bealach Dubh.

mid-day, 05/04/80

~ Easter Saturday, and the early train to Corrour. Blissful weather. 

I pitched the Vango not far up the loch, across from the YH, and in the afternoon did the circuit of Lap - Chno - Sgriodain, with a weary plod back over the shoulder of Lap. 

The thick dead grass made a wonderful mattress, and I slept like a lamb, woken only by the sharp cold of dawn. Loch Ossian was a flawless mirror - I've never seen a large body of water so still - until at sunrise a thin whisper of a breeze tickled the surface.  Leaving the tent standing empty, I went up the lochside to the Uisge Labhair path, tackling Ben Alder from the west and descending, a bit too steeply for comfort at times, to the south-east and the Bealach Breabag. Then Beinn Bheoil, and down to Benalder cottage.

The bothy occupants were sharply polarised into two camps, with clearly no love lost between them. The scenes the previous night were not too hard to imagine. I shacked up with the Cavaliers (mainly because there was more floor space in their room than in the Roundheads'), and, with most of the bevvy already consumed, had a very reasonable night.

The weather continued fair for the return over Gaibhre and Carn Dearg (I was in the throes of Munrobagging as you can see) to the tent, and back to Corrour for the evening train.

    Loch Ossian and the Bealach Dubh. mid-day, 05/04/80 ~ Easter Saturday, and the early train to Corrour. Blissful weather. I pitched the Vango not far up the loch, across from the YH, and in the afternoon did the circuit of Lap - Chno - Sgriodain, with a weary plod back over the shoulder of Lap. The thick dead grass made a wonderful mattress, and I slept like a lamb, woken only by the sharp cold of dawn. Loch Ossian was a flawless mirror - I've never seen a large body of water so still - until at sunrise a thin whisper of a breeze tickled the surface. Leaving the tent standing empty, I went up the lochside to the Uisge Labhair path, tackling Ben Alder from the west and descending, a bit too steeply for comfort at times, to the south-east and the Bealach Breabag. Then Beinn Bheoil, and down to Benalder cottage. The bothy occupants were sharply polarised into two camps, with clearly no love lost between them. The scenes the previous night were not too hard to imagine. I shacked up with the Cavaliers (mainly because there was more floor space in their room than in the Roundheads'), and, with most of the bevvy already consumed, had a very reasonable night. The weather continued fair for the return over Gaibhre and Carn Dearg (I was in the throes of Munrobagging as you can see) to the tent, and back to Corrour for the evening train.

  • Loch Ossian, just before sunrise.

6.30am, 06/04/80

    Loch Ossian, just before sunrise. 6.30am, 06/04/80

  • Garbh Choire of Ben Alder.

2.30pm, 06/04/80

    Garbh Choire of Ben Alder. 2.30pm, 06/04/80

  • Sunrise from Carn Dearg.

4.40am, 10/06/06

~ This was the day of England's first match in the World Cup finals,  so I thought that Culra might have been fairly quiet. 

Fat chance. Sharing a room with two members of the Scottish Professional Snoring team provoked an early rise, as spitefully clattering as I could manage, and a highly enjoyable circuit of Carn Dearg and Geal Charn, with a descent by Lancet Edge and back to the bothy for breakfast. It's an ill wind.

    Sunrise from Carn Dearg. 4.40am, 10/06/06 ~ This was the day of England's first match in the World Cup finals, so I thought that Culra might have been fairly quiet. Fat chance. Sharing a room with two members of the Scottish Professional Snoring team provoked an early rise, as spitefully clattering as I could manage, and a highly enjoyable circuit of Carn Dearg and Geal Charn, with a descent by Lancet Edge and back to the bothy for breakfast. It's an ill wind.

  • Lancet Edge in profile, with the Long Leachas echoing it, from Diollaid a'Chairn.

5.30am, 10/06/06

    Lancet Edge in profile, with the Long Leachas echoing it, from Diollaid a'Chairn. 5.30am, 10/06/06

  • Evening on Geal Charn (the one across from Ben Alder).

8.45pm, 27/04/99

    Evening on Geal Charn (the one across from Ben Alder). 8.45pm, 27/04/99

  • Easterly panorama from Chno Dearg.

8.45pm, 01/05/99

~ Loch Laggan, Binnein Shuas, Lochan na h-Earba, Creag Pitridh, Geal Charn, Beinn a'Chlachair, an Lairig, and beyond Loch Ghuilbinn a conglomerate of Geal Charn, Aonach Beag and Beinn Eibhinn.

    Easterly panorama from Chno Dearg. 8.45pm, 01/05/99 ~ Loch Laggan, Binnein Shuas, Lochan na h-Earba, Creag Pitridh, Geal Charn, Beinn a'Chlachair, an Lairig, and beyond Loch Ghuilbinn a conglomerate of Geal Charn, Aonach Beag and Beinn Eibhinn.

  • On Chno Dearg, westwards over Sgriodain to the Easains.

8am, 02/05/99

    On Chno Dearg, westwards over Sgriodain to the Easains. 8am, 02/05/99

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    Came the dawn.  On Sgurr a'Mhaim.

4am, 16/06/84
    Sunrise over the Grey Corries, from Sgurr a'Mhaim.

4.30am, 16/06/84
    Glencoe peaks from Sgurr a'Mhaim.

5am, 16/06/84