Warm cragging

December can't seem to make up its mind.....last weekend it was -5 deg C during the day with plenty of snow for skiing and snowshoeing, today was +13 deg C, so most of the snow has now gone. It pays to be adaptable though and we had a good day today cragging on the Moray coast at Cummingston, near Elgin.

Alex cruising on Doddle Diedre, Severe *

Winter inspiration

Take a look at another fabulous video from Perfect View Productions, this time of the winter Cairngorms. Here is what the film-maker, Kirk Watson, had to say:

(Click HD for a nice viewing experience!) Well winter has arrived so I thought I'd get the drone out for a wee fly up Sgor Gaoith, Glen Feshie area, in the Cairngorms. I'll be flying a lot during the winter and a show reel will come later in the winter but thought I'd pop this together to show some snow from the air:) Need to invest in some touch screen gloves, got my first hot aches of the year from flying without gloves! Feel free to share the wee film:) Thanks Tom Marshall for being the screen talent!

Winter has arrived
(Click HD for a nice viewing experience!) Well winter has arrived so I thought I'd get the drone out for a wee fly up Sgor Gaoith, Glen Feshie area, in the Cairngorms. I'll be flying a lot during the winter and a show reel will come later in the winter but thought I'd pop this together to show some snow from the air:) Need to invest in some touch screen gloves, got my first hot aches of the year from flying without gloves! Feel free to share the wee film:) Thanks Tom Marshall for being the screen talent!
Posted by Perfect View Productions on Sunday, 13 December 2015

Still wintry

Back from some family time away to find the Highlands still very wintry. Driving back from the Central Belt today the thermometer hovered around -5 deg C the whole way. Looked to be more snow in the west, less further east, though variable. Good cover on the West Drumochter Munros for those thinking of a ski tour.......

The Northern Cairngorms today

Nordic Blast

Definitely winter just now. Temperatures struggling to make it much above freezing during the day and snow to all levels. I had a quick snowshoe today over the hills near Lochindorb, just north of the Cairngorms National Park. These Uplands of Moray (Braigh Moireibh) may lack the dramatic cliffs and scenery of the main Cairngorms but as Adam Watson says in his fantastic SMC guidebook to the Cairngorms:

"...It is a complex tract of country, difficult to get to know, apparently featureless and uniform at first sight, but really all different and full of interest on closer acquaintance..."

The snow is well drifted onto the estate tracks, which with some route planning would allow some great circuits on Nordic ski just now.......

Winter has arrived in the Cairngorms

After a very mild Autumn winter has arrived. Temperatures were below freezing last night, and the first real snow has arrived. More please! The picture is taken today looking south to the main Cairngorms---Bynack More, Cairngorm etc visible.

Last dose of of a (virtual) summer....

Winter is on its way for us in the Highlands, with more snow forecast for the end of this week. For those still reluctant to let go of Summer take a look at this fabulous film from Kirk Watson at Perfect View Productions......fantastic scenes of the Cairngorms and the Highlands. As the man says, turn on High Definition for the best effect. Well worth five minutes of your time. You can find it linked on our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/OnHighHills/





2016 Programme

Our 2016 programme of scheduled walks, courses and backpacking is now available on our website. This is addition to the existing private/bespoke guiding that I usually run. Take a look and get in touch.

Across the Lairig Ghru

 

Mountaineering Council of Scotland Student Safety weekend

I have spent the last two days with other volunteer instructors and leaders at Glenmore Lodge for the Mountaineering Council of Scotland's Student Safety weekend. This is a great opportunity for members of hillwalking/climbing/mountaineering university clubs to get a weekend of heavily subsidised mountain skills and instruction.  I took students out to cover general mountain knowledge such as navigation, equipment choice and emergency procedures, whilst there were also teams out each day for both beginner and improver rock climbing sessions. Yesterday we coped with persistent damp and dreich, but were rewarded with some close up reindeer (see the photos!), whilst today was dry to start but very windy, and soon deteriorated into heavy rain. All great character building stuff for the students!

Sunny cragging in November

Some pictures from a recent day out cragging in beautiful Strathconon. We were at Glenmarksie crag, which is a great, south facing venue. Our first route Wild Mint S 4b started well, but the rest of the route could really have done with a good clean, and I suspect was graded for a time when the protection was more accessible? However, the VS 4b next to it was much better, as was the delectable rock of the 4b slab at the Short Wall. An underrated crag I think, that could do with more traffic to keep the moss down!

Sport climbing in the sun

Fantastic afternoon cragging at Moy Rock near Inverness today. Sunshine, blue skies and the crag all to ourself. Wonderful.

Biking in the sun

Stunning Autumn day again here in the Cairngorms. We enjoyed a cracking bike ride on the singletrack around Carrbridge........the trails remain pretty dry with a fine coating of fallen pine needles. The colours remain fabulous just now. Warm in the sunshine, but chilly in the shade today. Lovely!

Up North to the Sutherland of the Vikings........

Some pictures from my last few days up in Sutherland and the NW Highlands. Such a wild, magnificent landscape; still manages to take my breath away. We experienced everything that Autumn could throw at us, from mellow sunshine to Atlantic gales, all great fun.  An amazing part of the world. Some great walking here for all weathers, from fantastic mountain ridges to sheltered forests, as well as great stretches of the coast to explore.

West Coast magic

A few days off relaxing with friends on the West Coast, Ardnamurchan/Moidart.

I could never tire of sitting on top of a hill looking out at the Isles of Rum and Eigg (The Small Isles)

CPD

Yesterday I was at Glenmore Lodge for a day of Continous Professional Development (CPD) for Mountain Training Association members. Part of the day was an Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) Open Day to discuss progressing to the AMI awards. In the afternoon we split off into various workshops--navigation, climbing movement, rope work. I took part in the rope work session, which was really useful and made me rethink a few things that have become ingrained habit over the 15  years +(crickey!) that I have been rock climbing. Thank you to all the AMI instructors who gave up their Saturday, free of any charge, to share thoughts and ideas. 

Indian Summer

Fifth and final day with Ros today, and what a cracker of a day---wall to wall blue sky and warm sunshine. I took her to Glen Feshie and we made a lovely loop around Geal Charn and Meall Tionail. T-shirts in October---a great way for Ros to finish her holiday. Thank you for your company Ros, and some lovely days out on the hill.

Autumn calling

I was looking for something by way of a contrast today for Ros, after yesterday's excursion onto the high tops. We found it in a ten-mile meander through the forests and moors of the Abernethy Reserve. The berries are on the bushes, and Autumn is generally in the air, though the day warmed up to give a lovely afternoon. Stunning.