Stopped at West Merkland after entertaining trek, 10 min. over the standard 4hrs, both due to picking up a couple o' hitchers en-route.

The 2nd wan named 'Gavin', had just spent 42 days in solitary confinement on an uninhabited island just s. of Harris. The 1st was a chuchter p/u at Inverurie & dropped at Keith, where he kent the name o' the local Marilyn after a bit o' prompting.

West Merkland was a veritable construction site, where 95% of the navvies in Sutherland appeared to be 'working' on laying a large pipeline. at the rate they were going I reckon you'll have most o' the next decade to meet them 4 yersen.

The foreman greeted me with the phrase 'Change in the weather', as a heavy drizzle set-in, making me suspect that the warm sunshine which I'd passed through around Inverness, may have been somewhat more extensive earlier on.

The last couple of 'workmen' I passed, caused me to pause, as whilst wan started up a large bulldozer, his pal stood still facing him, the other side o' the track holding something in his outstretched hand.

Initially I thought it must be some obscure bit o' construction equipment but as I hesitantly passed him, I realised it was a twig, on which was perched a large Dragonfly, which Mick was raptly admiring.

Not far beyond the happy couple, I passed the NE end of a plantation across the river 'Allt nan Albannach', on the left & a sizeable stream 'Allt Coir a' Chruiteir', coming down out of the mist on the right.

I had scaled Ben Hee some years earlier via the latter stream, in similar conditions to which today promised to be, ie. thick mist & heavy drizzle.

Less than a couple of miles up the glen fae the car I reached a low col at pt. 266, where I cut off left across rough, hummocky, boggy ground. I had gone only a couple of hundred yards when a couple of vans came racing past heading for West Merkland.

The first tooted his horn at me, to add to the din fae further doon the valley. I idly wondered whether I'd be able to navigate by the noise, hoping they were intent on doing a late shift.

I'd only gone a few hundred yards towards the steep hillside ahead, disappearing not far above it's base into the mist, when I came across an ATV track.

I turned left along this & as it climbed slowly towards the Allt na Glaise, I entered the aforementioned mist. The grassy, in places boggy and/or muddy track, turned gradually to the right as it turned the steep flank of what I assumed to be Beinn Direach.

It didn't seem long 'til the ground levelled out & I left the by now, fairly faint track, climbing up a moderately steep, stony, broad ridge. I had only climbed a couple of hundred feet up this, when the ground levelled out & I approached the cairn.

This was reached in only an hour and a half fae the car & although I assumed at the time that it was the summit of Beinn Direach, I later realised it was Meall a' Chleirich.

To make sure it was the top, I continued past the cairn, after scaling it, then once the ground started dropping away, I followed the top of a line of cliffs to the north of the summit, back to the broad ridge of my ascent.

As I dropped down this, littered with numerous, scattered loose slabs, the mist thinned and I could soon see across a fairly wide, flat col, with wee lochans over to the right. Once across the other side, I soon found a grassy ATV track, which I thought was probably the continuation of that which I'd left earlier.

This speeded my ascent of another moderately steep, less stony, even broader & longer ridge than the first. As it levelled out, the disc of the sun appeared shining through the mist and shortly after the skies cleared to blue above.

Numerous Golden Plovers flew around me, calling their plaintive cries all over the area between both hills. I soon reached the summit cairn of the higher 2nd peak, which really was Beinn Direach, although at the time I thought it was Carn an Tionail.

There was a long ridge leading off to the right, which was clear in the sunshine but from the position of the sun & direction of the wind, I was [rightly], sure this was leading off in the wrong direction [NE].

After 1st checking that there was no ridge dropping down into the mist over to the left, I moved right, dropping down through a boulder field above another col. There was a lochan visible away over down to it's right, which later turned out to be Loch nan Rath.

Above & to the left of the col, long steep slopes rose into the mist, which I assumed [correctly], were the flanks of the long S. ridge of Carn an Tionail. Across the rocky col I scrambled up some short slabs, beyond which a 3rd moderately steep, broader & longer ridge took me back up into the mist.

Before I entered it I could have taken a photo of the previous peak [Beinn Direach], which was still basking in the sunshine. However, as I thought the mist would probably all clear off & I'd only a few exposures left [having left my newly purchased [at the 3rd stop], disposable camera in the car], I decided to wait for better subjects.

However, the mist thickened, the wind promptly rose to a gale & heavy horizontal drizzle set in. As the ground levelled out, the ridge turned to the left and the tall, well built summit cairn finally appeared out of the gloom.

It almost felt too high to be a Graham & I wondered if I'd strayed onto the E. ridge of the Corbett Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill. I decided that if not, the ascent from the previous col was much too big for the last 2 peaks to be the N. & S. tops of Carn an Tionail.

Thus my latest theory was that I was probably now on the summit [N. top], of Carn an Tionail [as indeed I was]. However, I also thought [wrongly], that this meant the previous peak must have been just an intervening HUMP between Beinn Direach & Carn an Tionail.

I thought I could have bypassed this after scaling the 1st peak, which I still thought was Beinn Direach, being unaware of the existence of Meall a' Chleirich.

I briefly dropped down just out of the mist & blue skies once again appeared above, as I strolled down along the gentle broad ridge, keeping the sun & wind to my right, which I believed to be SW.

A flock of several Ptarmigan took off as I crossed a col & pulled on the hood of my jacket, as the gale & rain intensified. An easy climb on short grass & stones rose gradually to another cairned top, which felt [& was], as though it must be almost the same height as the last.

I decided [correctly], that this must be the S. top of Carn an Tionail [A' Ghlaise], and given the worsening conditions I didn't linger. Continuing on down past the cairn, I soon picked up what I thought may be a path.

I followed this until it seemed to be veering off left, down into more hummocky ground than the smooth, easy ridge which I'd been following between the 2 tops.

Thus, I moved back right, sticking to the higher ground, closer to the direction of the wind & brightness in the sky where the sun was now hidden. The gale intensified & I had a feeling I might be approaching a big cliff.

As I veered down and leftwards I could see the top of a big crag indeed appearing out of the mist over to my right. I soon found that I was descending only yards back from the cliff edge and parallel to it.

Presently several large stags appeared close by to my right, which then turned & disappeared down a grassy ramp through the crags. They seemed to know where they were going, so I thought I might as well follow them.

After I had descended steeply down through the cliffs for a few hundred feet I finally emerged from the mist. I was not encouraged by the sight that greeted me & thought, this is not looking good, this is another 'Loch Scavaig', moment.

Below me, several hundred feet of very steep crags dropped into a morrass of peat hags & swamp. Over to my right was a lochan [Loch Ulbhach Coire], below the r.h. end of the long line of crags through which I was attempting to descend [Creag na h-Uidhe].

The wind direction, coming from my right, suggested that my way lay past the lochan & crags, beyond which I would have to climb back over a ridge. Of my faithful guides, the Red Deer stags, there was no sign.

The grassy ramp now split and after being tempted by the l.h. fork, I decided to continue in my rightward slanting line, mainly because I though that would take me out closer to the lochan, hence avoiding more of the hags & swamp.

I then cautiously descended a steeper grassy gully through the cliffs below the ramp to emerge unscathed with relief at their foot. Here I could see a plantation only a mile or so away over to the left, towards which the river [Allt Beithe], flowed out of the lochan & down through the swamp.

I thought & hoped that this might concievably be the plantation which I'd passed over the river from the track fae West Merkland. Thus I decided to skirt the worst of the swamp, keeping well to the l.h. side of the river and head in the direction of the plantation.

This meant that I was heading downwind, when I was acutely aware that the wind had been blowing up the valley fae West Merkland when I'd set off.

Looking back up at the cliffs behind me I could see that the l.h. branch of the grassy rake would have taken me down to the top of a high, smooth cliff. Indeed the way I'd come down appeared to be the only conceivable way through the cliffs.

Not far short of the plantation, I climbed back up toward the toe of the ridge. Here I could see what looked like a track passing along the far side of a lengthy loch, a couple of miles away, with what looked like a lodge in the distance at it's far end.

I thought, oh Christ, there's no sign of the road, which had been running along the nearside of the loch when I left it. This more or less convinced me that I was going to have to go back the way I'd come & over the col beyond the lochan & cliff.

I was just cursing my stupidity in ignoring the wind direction, when a large orange crane or bulldozer hove into view. I very much doubt whether I've ever been or will ever be so pleased to see large items of construction equipment either before or since.

It suddenly became clear to me that the loch I was looking at was Loch More, rather than Loch Merkland, beside which I had parked & that the 'track' I could see was the A838 road, which runs on opposite sides of those twa lochs.

It further dawned on me that the lodge I could see in the distance was Achfary at the NW end of Loch More, beyond which Ben Stack was hidden in the mist. The mist shrouded flanks of the hills across the road to the south suddenly became familiar, as did those of Ben Hee over to my left.

There I soon spotted the track of my approach to the hills, across an expanse of most uninviting hummocky, rough boggy ground. Instead I opted to head down to cross the Allt Beithe near the left [E.], extremity of the plantation.

I followed the large stream for a few hundred yards, then negotiated large piles of mud, freshly excavated by the aforementioned bulldozer. I then crossed the Allt nan Albannach, just below it's start at the confluence of the Allt Beithe & Allt na Glaise.

I thought long & hard about a long jump across onto a rock shelf on the far bank, across the rapids, before chickening out & wading across. A short new muddy track then took me back to the main track down to West Merkland, in a mere half mile or so.

Thus ended an entertaining 5 1/2hr trek, just in time to hear a rather less enthralling defeat of France by Mexico: -

Who subsequently go on to meet England's next opponents [as managed by the hand of God], once they have disposed of the Hun on Sunday.

Climbed Mile Hill yesterday evening, leaving Aberdeen at 6pm, left car at 7.30pm, reached top at 8.10pm & back doon for 8.47pm [ish].

I guess at 40 mins. this makes it quite a climb, relative to the Bochel [26min. ascent], which was spun out to about the same trip time by coming down on the far side of the hill then walking back round it.

I managed to squeeze the car off the road, parking at a mildly alarming angle, on a bank below the steep hill, just to the W. of Auldallan.

I walked down past the houses then through a gate on the right, just past a 'Turning Place Only - No Parking', sign.

This took me into a long narrow field full of buttercups, with a Roe Deer grazing not far doon. There were also numerous rabbits & pheasants all along the lane, fields & hillsides.

I climbed my 1st barbed-wire fence at the r.h. corner [SW], short side of the field, crossed a stream, walked down a wee path for a few yards to the left, then crossed a wider stream on some flattish stones.

I followed the grassy path to the right, alongside the stream along level ground for a few hundred yards under a line of beech trees. A broken down rusty fence was easily negotiated by climbing up a few feet.

After crossing a wee stream I then turned up animal tracks to climb the far side of it's wee valley. Here I was assailed by a couple of large birds of prey [Peregrines?], which screeched loudly as they circled fairly low above my head.

They were quite dark in colour with whitish feathers on the inner underwing area. I think they were probably nesting in a tall pine tree, just below me, hence the disturbance.

I soon picked up an overgrown old track which led to a good view of my objective as it breasted the rise. As I followed the r.h. side of a fence up a gentle rise, towards the steep summit cone, I began to wonder what had happened to the numerous obstacles encountered by LB, in his TR.

As I followed the r.h. side of a fence up a gentle rise, towards the steep summit cone, I began to wonder what had happened to the numerous obstacles encountered by LB, in his TR.

Seconds later I a herd of large boisterous bullocks appeared less than 100yds ahead, down a gentle dip. Hence I thought it prudent to swiftly vault the low barbed wire fence & even this seemed a tad flimsy as a barrier, as the big beasts promptly charged down beside me and stared at me fae close quarters.


Down the far end of the field, across a track, was the infamous electric fence of LB's report. This was augmented by a couple of parallel barbed wire fences, set a few feet apart. It was easy enough to duck under the electric wire, where it was strung at an angle across the corner of the field.

However, I wasn't entirely sure if the 2nd barbed wire fence was also electrified, as it had a large tab of metal, which suggested it might be. Rather than end up tripping over the top wire of the second fence & landing in a watery ditch, I decided to use the top wire to balance on, as I leapt over the considerable barrier.

I landed cleanly on both feet, kness bent in a squat in the soft grass beyond, the onlooking herd of heifers bellowing loudly in appreciation. From here I tackled the stiff 400ft ascent of the summit pyramid, veering over to the left [E]. to outflank the steep direct assault.

This manoever took me round the back [S.], of the summit, just across a col fae the basalt cliffs of neighbouring Kinclune Hill. Here another pair of the same large raptors as I'd encountered earlier, began screeching in alarm.

As I scaled the last few feet of lush grass to the top, I could see several tall, mainly white horses, just over to the right of the birds of prey. The Graham 'Cat Law', was well seen, just a couple of miles to the north, 800ft higher and dominating the wee Marilyn.

The evening sunshine bathed the rolling hills below to the NE, with their scattered Scots Pines, in a lovely golden glow. As I began my direct descent down the steep North Face, the Loch of Lintrathen appeared in shadow, not far over to the SW.

The whole of this face of hill was covered in the dead stumps of an old wood and I could picture BronzeBabe, weaving her way amongst them in her wet T-shirt, on her rain-drenched ascent a few months back.

Rather than head back to LB's electrified assault course, I thought I would seek the Holy Grail, of a fence-free descent of Mile Hill. Thus, half way down toward the still mesmerised, staring herd of heifers, I headed right, crossed my line of ascent and joined a grassy track.

This led down the r.h. [E.], side of the field beyond the double-barbed & electric fence, to cross the track beyond it. Here I crossed a wee muddy stream & headed up to a metal gate. I chose to go through this, rather than opt for a field of sheep to it's left.

I then followed the r.h. side of the fence up to another gate on the crest of a gentle ridge. Through the gate a grassy track led down the r.h. side of another fence, most of the way down to the bottom l.h. corner of a large field.

Here a wooden gate led to steeper, heathery hillside, to the right [E.], of the wee stream valley, across which I'd earlier climbed up below the 1st screeching 'Peregrines'.

I used a succession of animal paths to descend diagonally right toward Auldallan, dropping down to the avenue of Beech trees, just above the Quharity Burn. I then followed this along the narrow grassy path for 100yds to the right, below a steep, heathery bank.

I crossed the burn at the flat stones of my outward walk, just above the confluence with the Burn of Auldallan, which I then jumped easily across. I followed this up a narrow overgrown path into high undergrowth with many nettles.

I was just on the point of thinking that my fenceless descent was going to be thwarted at the last, when I spotted that by dropping down to the left closer to the stream, a continuation of the 'path' led to a small wooden gate leading to the road.

I had walked past this unobtrusive wee gate on the way in, located by some plastic wheely bins, close to the 'Turning Place Only - No Parking', sign.
A short stroll back along the road through the few old red sandstone farmhouses of Auldallan, took me back to my trusty old motor.

Climbed Beinn nan Ramh fae the A832, a couple miles E. of Achnasheen on Saturday. This was my 183rd Graham & 650th Scottish Marilyn.

As the forecast was for heavy rain after 7pm & with my usual, late departure fae Aberdeen [9.45am], I decided to take the rare step of using a Mt. bike for the 10 miles or so of track north, over to Loch Fannich & back.

This must have saved a couple of hours or so, as it took only an hour to reach the foot o' the E. ridge of the hill, which had an unmarked track around it, heading for the head of Loch Fannich.

A further 1hr 40 min. took me up the 2 mile long ridge to the summit, also in warm sunshine but with a nice cool breeze.
The panorama was stunning fae the WSW to the NNW, the Torridon & Fisherfield peaks being arrayed in a magnificent arc round fae Liathach to An Teallach.

Much closer at hand the most impressive S. side of the Fannich peaks was also seen to advantage, although the S. arc towards Glens Affric & Carron was overcast, with dark clouds piling up behind Fionn Bheinn, just across Strath Chrombuill to the south.

The hill itself was largely grassy with numerous Red Deer on the broad summit slopes. However, I did skirt the crags of Toll Beag at the upper (W.) end of the E. ridge & round the E. end of a line of crags 500ft below & to the N. of the summit, on my descent towards the aforementioned unmarked track, at the head of Loch Fannich.

I got back to the car after 5hrs, 1/2hr before the promised rain hit, on the Black Isle.

Link to Beinn nan Ramh pics:-

http://www.scottishhills.com/html/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=8537

Left start of smooth sandy track at 4.25pm, just to SE of Badenloch Lodge, cycling slightly into a stiff cool crosswind. The initial stretch was fast to the bridge across the outflow fae Loch Badenloch as it was gently downhill.

I passed a car parked off the track over on the left and another by a sandy beach with some brightly painted green rowing boats, attended by an estate worker with his 4X4.

The sun came out as I climbed gently up alongside the large loch fae another wooden bridge over the Allt nam Meann and passed a turn off to the left up to a farm. I soon rounded lowly Meall an t-Socaich and crossed above the much smaller Loch an Alltan Fhearna, with twin boat-houses on either shore.

As I sped downhill to the bridge over the Allt Fearna I was caught up by a couple in a new light metallic blue estate car. They waved to me as I dismounted to push my steed up a short steepish hill.

I soon rounded the rather steeper, higher slopes of Creag an Alltan Fhearna, where I took a pic of a steep, cone shaped peak away across Loch Badenloch to the NE. At the time I thought this was Morven & was surprised how close it looked, although I later realised it was Ben Griam Mhor.

I was then treated to another long fast descent to cross the sizeable stream of Uidh Loch na Gaineimh, just beyond the bright red roof of Gearnsary cottage, set back from the track beside some trees on the left.

Not very far past here, after a fairly level straight section, of the best part of a mile, I passed a smart, green estate indicator, close to a bridge over the An Crom-allt. I was going too fast to read it but on the way back saw that it read 6.2 miles back to Badenloch Lodge & 14 miles onward to the Crask Inn.

I raced on over another mile long flattish straight past Loch Truderscaig over to my right away across the flat moor, backed by a sizeable forest. I passed the middle-aged couple in the blue estate car who had evidently stopped for a picnic & once again gave a greeting. I was now at the foot of Meall nan Aighean, the summit area of which was still shrouded in mist.

There appeared to be traces of a path alongside the Halmadaire Burn & I was tempted to get off & rest my sore ar*e but continued a few hundred yards further to thankfully dump the bike on a large flat raised gravel area, just off the track to the left.

I left my steed untethered & began climbing up the easy gentle, initially firm, dry grassy slopes. These soon became wetter, softer slower going & I was somewhat relieved, given the lateness of the hour & distance still to cover, to spot the edge of a track crossing the steeper slopes above to my right.

I disturbed quite a few deer, including several large stags, as I cut across right to soon join the track. The middle-aged couple in the blue estate car whizzed by below on the main track which I'd left, having cut the corner off the junction with the much narrower, grassy old track on which I now stood.

I climbed a few hundred feet effortlessly along this, the big broken crags of Ben Armine coming into view above Gorm-loch Beag. Several large herds of Red Deer ran off above me in alarm, probably the biggest I've seen in 20 years. I left the track on the right, after about a mile, at it's first highpoint & traversed into Coire na Saidhe Duibhe.

I managed to avoid most of the peat hags within it's small flat upper section, then crossed a bright green grassy tongue below more unmarked crags. This took me to deer tracks, which I followed through the heather on the r.h. side of the stream.

Once above the lower band of crags I crossed the stream & headed leftwards up the gentle but tussocky & soft grassy slopes of a higher shallow corrie. I made for the right edge of yet another unmarked smaller area of crags, where I found easy going on short, springy heather on firm, dry ground.

I could see that the col below was a morrass of peat hags, beyond which the mist had descended further on Meall nan Aighean. Looking back over the lochs the way I'd come, towards Ben Griam Mhor the weather also looked to be closing in, with drizzle in the air.

I soon reached the thick carpet of moss covering the flat summit of Ben Armine, arriving on the summit with it's twin wee cairns at 7pm, a mere
2 1/2hr. fae the off. As I passed a further wee cairn the mist began blowing in & I remember hoping that the rather distant looking peak to the south was not Creag Mhor - it was.

However, at least it was still in the clear, despite the ominous banks of much lower mist visible over the vast peat hagged wastes to the NW, towards Ben Klibreck. Speed was obviously of the essence & I was gladdened to find that the 800ft descent to the broad col was largely of the 'short, springy heather on firm, dry ground' variety.

This was true as far as well preserved old gravel track, which crossed the ridge at the foot of the steeper ground. Beyond this was softer & wetter, with longer tussocky grass, across gentle slopes, interrupted by a short steeper crossing of the headwaters of the stream flowing down into Coir' an Eas.

Beyond this I kept below & to the left [E.] of an exensive area of peat hags along the broad crest of the ridge, which I's spied on my descent fae Ben Armine. Despite this I thought it was developing into a long, hard slog, until after traversing just a few hundred yards, I again hit a tongue of the Holy Grail, namely SSH on FGG.

Once again this allowed swift progress up steeper ground, leading to a step on the ridge. Perched above this easement, was the curious, large, ancient, square built tower, as mentioned by 007 in his most humorous TR.

I traversed the top of the long steep headwall, high above Gorm-loch Mor, for a short distance, then cut back right to the mysterious structure, built half way up the steep summit block. Above this the ground fell back, again covered in a deep mossy carpet, to reveal the trig point, surrounded by a low wall.

I checked my mob. to find it was 8.15pm [just 1 1/4hr fae the top o' Ben Armine], & txt Norma to let her ken I was awa to head back in her direction. I couldn't see any other hills of note which weren't now shrouded in mist, thus felt indeed fortunate to be still in the clear.

Once again the clag appeared, this time well below me, as I quickly dropped back down to the left [NW.], of my line of ascent. I disturbed a Red Grouse which made me jump, as it emerged squawking loudly, from below my feet.

I crossed back right, over my LOA, at the foot of the SSH on FGG, then took a fairly direct line down steeper, rougher ground, between broken crags, through the dreaded deep heather.

This took me into the foot of Coir' an Eas, where just a short stretch of boggy, peat hagged ground led me to a bend at a low point in the track, along the E. side of the escarpment.

This was mostly overgrown with deepish heather but still eased progress up the gentle climb of over 200ft, back to join the better track crossing Ben Armine's southern flank, which I'd crossed earlier on it's descent towards the col.

There followed almost a mile of nearly level straight on the combined firm old gravel track, which made for fast progress between Gorm-loch Beag, down to my right & the big broken cliffs of Ben Armine up to my left.

A Golden Eagle appeared from these, soon soaring away around the corner out of sight, this was followed by a screeching noise, presumably as it landed at it's nest.

It began to drizzle as I dropped down a couple of hundred feet, along the track, to cross the foot of Coire na Saidhe Duibhe. This continued as I climbed back up a similar height across the other side, to rejoin my outward route.

I had begun to wonder if my steed had run off, as I approached it's corral where I'd left it some 4 1/2hr earlier. However, old faithful eventually emerged from the gathering gloom & was still lying in the exact same spot at 5 to 10pm.

I made it back to Norma just 50 min. later at 10.45pm, where my troubles were only just about to begin...

Herebe link to Ben Armine pics.

http://www.scottishhills.com/html/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=8598

Climbed Hill of the Wangie yesterday evening with Norma, getting back doon at 8.45pm fae the 3rd sub2k Marilyn in succession.

Was expecting to be walking in a deluge, given the forecast but luckily got awa with sunshine on the ascent & stayed dry on the way down.

Had a frustrating wait on arrival at the start of a track just to the E. of Craigend cottage, less than a mile E. of the junction of the B9010 with the minor road to Dallas.

Norma spent 40 min., mainly looking for wan of her 2 mob. phones, apparently convinced that the neighbourhood was a potential hotbed of crime.

I kept casting a glance heavenward in the direction of an impressive looking thundercloud just to the west, convinced that it was edging ever closer towards us.

We followed the track effortlessly crossing the steep hillside, through the trees to a clearing with good views over the River Lossie valley & Dallas.
I spotted a Roe Deer crossing the track ahead back into the trees/

A track branched off sharp right, beyond which the way levelled out before passing an overgrown track to the left and a small stream. After further gentle climb we turned sharp right on another good track where a level section led back to cross the wee trickle higher up.

Past a bend to the right Norma shouted for me to come back, where she was standing peering down into the woods. She was convinced she could see some large bones but I soon discovered these were in fact several enormous Boletus toadstools growing close together in a line.

After another level section and gentle climb up a long straight in fine warm August sunshine, we emerged fae the trees. Here we had a fine view down and across the Lossie valley towards the windmills of Rothes Wind Farm on Cairn Uish. Pikey Hill & Brown Muir, a recent Norma Marilyn conquest, lay beyond to it's left.

There was a mountain biker's trail crossing the track here, which I had high hopes would lead us to the summit. However, following this up left, this was soon found to be [apparently deliberately], covered for much of it's length in branches & large stones.

The going alongside it through the open forest was fairly easy on softish grassy ground, which soon levelled off. We then followed a forest ride, with traces of a grassy waterfilled track.

After crossing another couple of wider forest rides the ground had flattened out & I thought we must be close to the trig point. However, the forest here was much denser & Norma only entered it's gloomy interior with great reluctance.

I seriously began to doubt whether we would find it before her thin patience ran out, as she soon began to wail that we were lost & would be stuck in the forest all night...

Emerging back in the light of the [same?] forest ride, we followed this round right down to a line of old fence posts. Retracing our steps we then dived back into the dense forest on the right, stumbling along it's thick, soft furrowed carpet floor.

For the first time I began to wish I'd read past SHiller's TRs before setting out. I was just thinking that I was probably going to have to return for a [solo], trip to resume my search for the damned trig point, which we had no doubt passed within yards of... when we emerged at another forest ride.

Then just as I had given up all hope, sunshine gone, replaced with threatening sky overheadand with Norma's abuse & threatened mutiny ringing in my ears, I spotted the elusive fine obelisk. Norma remained unconvinced, assuring me that it was in fact only a tree stump.

Only when I had mounted it in the traditional fashion did she concede defeat, although warning me that not all summits have such adornment. We followed the unmarked forest ride which led straight back down to the track, only 100yds or so back from where we had left it.

Another mountain biker's trail left the track just opposite & we followed this steeply down it's twisting course over several impressive jumps. This soon joined another such larger trail & led down to the first track to the right which we'd passed on our ascent.

A cairn on the far side of the track marked the MB trail's continuation, which we followed steeply down to join our ROA track just a few hundred yards up from the car.

Having reached this a shade under 2hr fae the off I decided to drive back through Dallas & over the hill to Speyside along the minor road, branching off left before Knockando.

For this I was rewarded with a sighting of a large bushy tailed fox but we were nearly stopped in our tracks beyond Dufftown, as the road turned into a river, followed by a thankfully brief but torrential downpour.

After 660 Munros/Corbetts & Grahams I can confirm that I've never really needed either map or compass.

?

After 45 years I've never needed emergency surgery - but I like to know it's there if I needed it.
I haven't used my breakdown cover but I still have some.

Does Norman carry a map and compass - even if he doesn't use it. I've been on lots of walks where I don't need a map or compass - I often look at the map for interest's sake - say to identify a feature or such - and I occasioanlly use my compass even when I don't need to - just to keep in practice. I still go out without either though - even on a walk I know (barring a stroll by the river etc) - you never know I might fancy changing my route or I might wander into some patch I haven't been - and at the least there's a wealth in interesting information to be had from a map.

I do believe similar notice has been made of Norman's proud statements earlier in his infinate thread.

I'd finally left Airberdin on me tod c. 1/4 tae 4, after losing patience wi Norma, Michelle & Co.

Driving N. fae Dunkeld on the A9, I slowed to a crawl past the minor road leading back toward Dunkeld past Polney Crag, then turned into the next wan, only to find the public road immediately ended at Dowally.

I finally got the right road & stopped up the hill through Guay, at the 1st sharp bend to the left, where a car was already parked. 40 seconds later [rather than the 40 min. of the Hill o' the Wangie trip], I was off up the surprisingly well worn path at c. 1/4 tae 6, after first sampling a few wild Raspberries.

I soon came to a crossroads which was signposted to Dunkeld right & Loch Ordie straight ahead, the latter old track of which I followed. This led through scattered mixed woodland, through which, ahead to the left I could see a familiar looking crag, Creag na h-Eighe, which I soon realised I'd climbed on 12 years earlier.

I soon reached the top edge of the wood, where I carried straight on at another crossroads & climbed more steeply up the old track, which bent sharply right through the bracken, away fae the aforementioned crag.

The track soon levelled out, wound back left above the crag & reached a 'T' junction. A helpful wee sign pointed right, in the direction of my objective. This had now hove into view, the broad lower slopes being well forested with conifers, above which peeped the steep sharp summit block.

The pleasant grassy track bent round left, gently climbed up above the Sloggan burn and passed a grass track leading off left at a col. It then dropped slightly to join a gravel track c. 2/3 mile fae the sign, close above the much larger Dowally Burn.

I cut the corner off, following a wee sheep track, noting that back down across the Tay shower clouds were drifting down toward Dunkeld, where I'd not long ago driven through past waterproofed touros in the rain.

Further west Shiehallion had now emerged fae it's cloud cap, beyond the sun-dappled Corbett, Farragon Hill, which I remembered climbing in a snowstorm during the Foot & Mouth outbreak 9 years earlier.

I crossed the burn at a picturesque humpback bridge, then after a brief stroll along the broad, relatively newly surfaced gravel track, I turned left at an old wooden gate in the high deer fence.

Through the gate the disused 'track' was overgrown with deep purple heather. There were also plenty of Bilberry bushes, the fruit was ripe & the berries large & juicy. They slowed me down as I frequently paused to grab a handful & quench my thirst in the warm August sunshine.

Around the 1000ft mark I soon reached yet another crossroads, with a fine level grassy track heading left to Lochordie Lodge. Straight across the junction my track climbed more steeply, becoming better defined.

It forded the stream coming down fae Lochan na Beinne, bending first left, where Loch Ordie could be glimpsed through the trees, then again as it bent back right up the well forested hillside.

It soon crossed back over the stream for a 3rd time, then followed it's true right bank and up above the outflow of the lochan. Here it climbed steadily as it bent away left above the lochan then back right at a short level stretch at 1500ft.

Here the aforementioned wee path wound up between the crags above the lochan, leaving the trees behind to emerge in the sunshine, with that exciting, dramatic wee rock climb up the arete forming a fitting finish.

I balanced precariously in the wind on the delicate knife edge of the summit, poised above the vertical drop of 15-20ft, over which the breeze was trying to push me. The ascent had only taken just over an hour so I still had plenty of time to take in the view.

The extensive panorama extended fae Shiehallion in the west, across Lochan na Beinne reflecting the sun like a mirror, with the Tay valley beyond. To the north Mount Blair & it's attendant satellite Meall Mor were prominent, with the length of Loch Ordie bathed in sunlight between the two views.

To the south lay Birnam Hill with Creag na Criche to it's left, scene's of twa recent excursions with Norma, Michelle & Co., whilst in the distance the Lomond hills of Fife were clearly visible over Loch of Lowes & Perth beyond.

To vary the route I quickly dropped out of the stiff breeze down another wee path leading south, following in the hallowed footsteps of Fatdog, as hilariously described in his [highly recommended reading], Nov.'08 TR.

This path led doon through the open woodland in twa steepish steps, to the true right [W.], of an imposing steep & rocky satellite on the left. It emerged at a good track close to the Leddown Burn to the right, which I briefly walked away from before backtracking.

Three Roe Deer jumped away into the heather as I strolled doon the track
for 1/2 mile or so to a signposted 'T' junction. Here I turned right towards Loch Ordie and climbed 200ft back up & over a col, where I exchanged greetings with a mountainbiker.

After dropping down above Raor Lodge, the fine grassy level track then led pleasantly through the forest to join my outward route in a little over a mile.

I reached the car 2hr 40 min. fae the off, having just passed a party of kids with their Grandparents, where given the lateness of the hour, I was surprised to find 3 other cars squeezed along the start of the track.