Navigation Course

Out today with Brian and Nicole, who have taken up proper hillwalking recently and were keen to get to grips with the basics of navigation.  We started with a short session indoors looking at different map types, scales, grid references and basic use of the compass, before heading out to put it into action. We started in the Rothiemurchus forest, looking at following paths, contours, tick off features and handrails. We then moved up onto the hill and looked at taking a bearing from the map and using it for short sections in pathless terrain. They both coped admirably with lots of new information, as well as the strong winds, and went away with things to practice and improve on.  Well done to both of them for putting themselves out of their comfort zone and challenging themselves.  Thank you both for the fun day.

Autumn Gold

A real feeling of Autumn in the hills and woods just now. The trees are golden and the hills are turning russet brown. This can be a lovely time of year......crisp dry weather, not too cold but the prospect of a crackling log fire to end the day. And no midges! Some photos from today. Make the most of Autumn before winter descends, whether that be climbing a classic Cairngorms peak or preparing your hill skills and navigation ready for the challenge of winter.

The other side of Cairngorm

Out with Alex today to do some navigation training. I set him a mixture of legs on the quieter side of Cairngorm, which he accomplished well.  We looked at some techniques and little things that can help a lot.  As an interval we visited the El Alamein Refuge. This is tucked well away and not marked on any maps, and although in disrepair still has a great atmosphere. It is one of two huts (the other being the now dismantled St Valery) built in the Cairngorms to commemorate the 51st Highland Division. Weather was overcast and drizzly, but not much wind. Burns all in spate after the recent heavy rains, glad no river crossings required today. 

Compasses & Reindeer

Out on the lower hills above Rothiemurchus forest yesterday, to trial some new areas for navigation training. Lovely wild feeling despite being so close to the ski road. Not much sun, very windy, but not cold and it stayed dry. We saw the Cairngorm reindeer, who often frequent this area.

Here be dragons......

A quick blast on the bike today over at Moray Monster Trails at Fochabers. It was raining when we left home but the sun came out for the ride. I did the red loop here, which wasn't at all technical but a good hour's exercise in lovely surroundings. At the top of the trail there is a memorial to a previous Duchess of Richmond & Gordon. It's a great spot for it with fantastic views north over the Moray Firth and up the north east coast. 

Glen Feshie

Some photos from previous trips to this magical glen of the Cairngorms. It is utterly beautiful at all times of year, and offers everything from gentle strolls to appreciate the scenery and wildlife, to challenging Munro summits to fantastic mountain biking. If you would like to explore here with On High Hills then get in touch,

Schiehallion

No diary updates for a couple of weeks.....a good excuse though, as I now have a beautiful new baby son! It must be a good omen, because the weather in the first half of September has been great.  The Indian Summer definitely here.

Time now to draw breath just enough to post some photos from a previous trip. New client Nicholas was visiting Edinburgh for a week, and being a keen hiker got in touch to see whether he could be guided up Schiehallion, a lovely accessible Munro in Perthshire that offers great views in good weather. I met Nicholas off the 10:28 train at Blair Atholl railway station, and we motored over to the mountain. We enjoyed beautiful weather except for some cloud right at the summit, and some stimulating conversation along the way. Really interesting to compare goings on in Greece to those at home.

After a great day out Nicholas caught the 17:20 train back to Edinburgh. Thanks Nicholas for a great day out.