Collies Ledge above - more of my favourite photographs at bottomAfter the summer of 2018, I kinda realised that this year wouldn’t be as good! Months of dry sunny weather wasn’t going to be an option, unless pigs started flying , I was resigned to the fact that it would be back to normal for this summer.It didn’t start well! Our first adventure was to be a rock climb somewhere in the Coe, but the weather hadn’t realised our plans and from the off, the dry forecast [...]
Collies Ledge above - more of my favourite photographs at bottom
After the summer of 2018, I kinda realised that this year wouldn’t be as good! Months of dry sunny weather wasn’t going to be an option, unless pigs started flying , I was resigned to the fact that it would be back to normal for this summer.
It didn’t start well! Our first adventure was to be a rock climb somewhere in the Coe, but the weather hadn’t realised our plans and from the off, the dry forecast didn’t look like materialising! Torrential rain all the way to my meeting point with Gerry, and a plan B was put into action (in Scotland you always, always require lots of back up plans ).
Heavy rain and a cloud base on the deck saw us eying up Corbett number one in the Tyndrum 5 group – Beinn Odhar (901m). Parking in the layby we cracked on up the southern ridge (only 2km to the summit). What would have been a rather un notable day, was enhanced when we stumbled across one of the old lead mines on the side of the hill. By the time we had explored this and headed back to the car, the rain was still lashing down. Maybe our next trip would be better!
So next up was a trip we have be planning for a few years – an ascent of Suilven from Elphin via Loch Veyatie. Once again the forecast looked reasonable , clear overnight and light winds, however after a 4 hour drive, it became obvious, within seconds of leaving the car, that a kayak trip would be unwise. Looking down on the loch, white horses whipped across the surface and waves crashed onto the shoreline – mmm not going to be paddling very far against that head wind… summer was still to arrive! So plan B ! It was a toss up between Quinaig or Ben More and Conival. The later won so we headed the short distance to Inchnadamph where right on cue the rain started as soon as we started walking. Summer !! this felt more like the middle of winter! A thoroughly miserable hike ensued and getting back to the car wasn’t even the end of the misery, as we had thrown in the towel and decided to head the erm short distance home (a further 4 hours drive, dodging deer and fighting off sleep!!).
After the summer of 2018, I kinda realised that this year wouldn’t be as good! Months of dry sunny weather wasn’t going to be an option, unless pigs started flying , I was resigned to the fact that it would be back to normal for this summer.
It didn’t start well! Our first adventure was to be a rock climb somewhere in the Coe, but the weather hadn’t realised our plans and from the off, the dry forecast didn’t look like materialising! Torrential rain all the way to my meeting point with Gerry, and a plan B was put into action (in Scotland you always, always require lots of back up plans ).
Heavy rain and a cloud base on the deck saw us eying up Corbett number one in the Tyndrum 5 group – Beinn Odhar (901m). Parking in the layby we cracked on up the southern ridge (only 2km to the summit). What would have been a rather un notable day, was enhanced when we stumbled across one of the old lead mines on the side of the hill. By the time we had explored this and headed back to the car, the rain was still lashing down. Maybe our next trip would be better!
So next up was a trip we have be planning for a few years – an ascent of Suilven from Elphin via Loch Veyatie. Once again the forecast looked reasonable , clear overnight and light winds, however after a 4 hour drive, it became obvious, within seconds of leaving the car, that a kayak trip would be unwise. Looking down on the loch, white horses whipped across the surface and waves crashed onto the shoreline – mmm not going to be paddling very far against that head wind… summer was still to arrive! So plan B ! It was a toss up between Quinaig or Ben More and Conival. The later won so we headed the short distance to Inchnadamph where right on cue the rain started as soon as we started walking. Summer !! this felt more like the middle of winter! A thoroughly miserable hike ensued and getting back to the car wasn’t even the end of the misery, as we had thrown in the towel and decided to head the erm short distance home (a further 4 hours drive, dodging deer and fighting off sleep!!).
Summer was losing , in fact summer was still to arrive in any shape or form!!
A few weeks later , it did turn up. A few days of a southerly airflow and I headed up a Perthshire Munro for a summit camp. A grand evening in relative warmth (it was still bloody freezing in the morning mind you!) and I finally started to believe!
A few weeks later , it did turn up. A few days of a southerly airflow and I headed up a Perthshire Munro for a summit camp. A grand evening in relative warmth (it was still bloody freezing in the morning mind you!) and I finally started to believe!
Next up I was even further afield! The Shetland Isle were calling and what a fantastic place. Summer was here (well summer for this far north). I got lucky as the winds were light on my first day and I headed to the Isles highest point before dropping down to a wonderfully remote beach – The Lang Ayre. This was a good day J The rain returned on my second day but who cares, the trip to Lang Ayre was one of my highlights of the summer ;)
Next up was my “summer holiday” a trip away in a campervan – disco daisy! When I planned this I had ideas of blues skies , warm evenings with the door open enjoyed Scotland at its summery best…. What happened was four days of pretty wet weather! It wasn’t all bad though and day three was probably the best day weather wise with a fine trip into Ardgours highest peak…..
Another weeks holiday was planned a few weeks later and my family and I were headed to the heaven that is Skye. It was a mixed bag with a 50% split of summery days and 50% torrential rain days! I managed to escape for half day adventures (leaving very early and very late) to The Cuillin and I think I’ll let the below videos talk for themselves – Skye hiking at its best !
So that was about it. Whilst in Skye, I started to feel unwell and eventually discovered a bloody tick had passed on a Lyme Infection. Next outing was in Autumn so my summer was cut short. However I don’t think its been a bad summer. Some good days, some bad days – whatever the weather though its always better to get outside (something that was driven home whilst I was sat feeling sorry for myself for a couple of months !!).
Autumn has started well though and lots more adventures are on the way J
some of my favourite shots below...
Autumn has started well though and lots more adventures are on the way J
some of my favourite shots below...
