Lorna’s Mountains 2008
Date:	Where:	Munro (M)		Notes:
		Corbett (C)
		Graham (G)
		No:	Total:
12^th January	Ben Challum.	M1	M235	Beautiful winter’s day with spectacular views of surrounding mountains. Sun, blue sky, no wind and snow cover down to road level.
19^th January	Meallan nan Uan.			Repeat Corbett up Strathconon. Clear sky, snow underfoot and extremely windy. Descended from bealach past Loch Coire a’ Mhuilinn and along river. Plenty of tedious slog across moorland.
16^th February	Carn Chuinneag, Glen Calvie.	C1	C14	Corbett about 2750 feet. Lovely winter’s day although hazy later on. Very patchy snow cover. Saw deer, a pair of ptarmigan and a mountain hare.
8^th March	Lairig Ghru.			Walked to head of pass from Whitewell via Cairngorm Club footbridge. Windy with rain, sleet and, eventually, snow.
15^th March	Beinn a’ Bhuird.	M1	M236	Superb winter’s day: cold, sunny, blue sky and almost no wind. Ascended from Linn of Quoich along excellent track and path. Good snow cover along summit ridge with stunning views of nearly all main Cairngorm mountains.
22^nd March	Maoile Lunndaidh.	M1	M237	Overnight precipitation left snow at all levels. Intermittent snow showers on the ascent, otherwise sun and blue sky. Superb scenery with a vast ice-field on the summit plateau. Wintry weather commenced on the descent. Sheltered in Glenuaig hut for refreshments before walk out in darkness.
29^th March	Beinn a’ Chlaidheimh.	M1	M238	Long walk in on a nice sunny day with snow on the tops. Had to remove boots and gaiters and wade across a river to access the mountain. Superb scenery throughout the day including an awesome view of An Teallach from the summit.
12^th April	Meall Dearg.	M1	M239	Lovely sunny day with new snow on the high tops. Awesome views of the Aonach Eagach ridge and across Glen Coe to Bidean nam Bian. Watched golden eagles being dive-bombed by unidentified assailant.
19^th April	Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, Sgorr na Ciche (Pap of Glencoe).	M1 G1	M240 G2	Lovely sunny day, moderately windy with snow on the high ground. Superb views over Glencoe village, along Loch Leven to Loch Linnhe and of Bidean nam Bian. Saw a pair of eagles ascend when disturbed by other walkers. Also climbed the Pap of Glencoe and visited Glencoe Lochan.
26^th April	Clais Fhearnaig.			Low level walk from Glen Quoich, through Clais Fhearnaig to Glen Lui and Derry Lodge. Visited Mar Lodge on the return. Saw many mating toads.
3^rd May	Shelter Stone, Loch Avon.			Nice day with good visibility but very windy. Plenty of deep snow around but moist and obviously melting. Outward route via Coire Domhain, return via Coire Raibeirt.
10^th - 11^th May	Beinn Tarsuinn, Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Sgurr Ban.	M3	M243	Mainly dry with almost no wind. Low cloud restricted visibility on the high tops. Slept at 2,703 feet on the Coire nan Clach bealach, south of Sgurr Ban.
17^th May	An Teallach: Bidein a’ Ghlas Thuill & Sgurr Fiona.	M2	M245	Ascent from Dundonnell. Very sunny day with blue skies. Intermittent wind producing cold conditions. Superb west-coast scenery.
24^th May	Mullach an Rathain, Liathach.	M1	M246	Beautiful sunny day with excellent scenery. Descended via the West ridge into Coire Mhic Nobuil and walked back through Torridon village.
31^st May – 1^st June	Carn Dearg, Geal-Charn, Aonach Beag & Beinn Eibhinn.	M4	M250	Hot sunny weekend with little wind. Still large patches of snow in the hills. Saw several frogs and many deer. Slept on the south-east ridge of Beinn Eibhinn at 2900 feet. Found some aircraft wreckage on the Bealach Dubh. Had lunch in Culra Bothy.
28^th – 29^th June	Sgor Gaibhre, Carn Dearg & Beinn na Lap.	M3	M253	Wet and windy weekend with occasional sunshine. Hazy views of distant mountains and moorland. Pitched the tent near Loch Ossian Youth Hostel.
20^th July	Spidean a’ Choire Leith, Liathach.			Low cloud and showers. Aborted ascent just short of main ridge.
26^th July	Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe, Ben Avon.	M1	M254	Hot sunny day with little wind. Ascended from Invercauld via The Sneck and returned over Carn Eas. Large patches of snow still present on Beinn a’ Bhuird.
3^rd – 4^th August	A’ Mhaighdean & Ruadh Stac Mor.	M2	M256	Superb scenery on the walk in from Poolewe. Saw red deer and a dozen wild mountain goats in the high corrie between the two tops. Spectacular views from the summit of A’ Mhaighdean where the tent was pitched. Ruadh Stac Mor ascended on day two in thick cloud.
12^th August	Ben More (Mull).	M1	M257	Cool and breezy with good visibility. Excellent views of seaward islands and the mountains of Mull.
30^th– 31^st August	Mullach na Dheiragain & Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan.	M2	M259	Superb views of surrounding ridges and corries. Cloud cover restricted more distant views. Camped just beyond summit of Mullach na Dheiragain and descended via the spectacular Falls of Glomach.
6^th September	Spidean a’ Choire Leith, Liathach.	M1	M260	Cool, sunny and breezy with light cloud on the summit. Good views of the other Torridon mountains with partial view of Loch Maree and nearby coast. Cloud prevented view along main Liathach ridge.
13^th September	Beinn Dearg.	M1	M261	Ascended from Blair Atholl and had lunch in the Sheicheachan bothy. Pleasant walk in but cold and cloudy on the summit. Campers and bothy occupants settling in on the return.
20^th – 21^st September	Ben Alder & Beinn Bheoil.	M2	M263	Breezy on the walk in with very thick cloud giving cold conditions and almost no visibility high up. Camped at 3700 feet, just south of the summit of Ben Alder. Much more pleasant on the second day with excellent views of Ben Alder, Beinn Bheoil and Loch Ericht.
4^th October	Carn a’ Chlamain.	M1	M264	Rainy start but lovely afternoon with bitterly cold wind on the high ground. Patches of snow visible on surrounding hills. Excellent views across to the Beinn a’ Ghlo group. Ascended stalker’s path from Forest Lodge in Glen Tilt and descended the main south-west ridge. Saw one ptarmigan, many mountain hares, a few grouse and a red deer hind following a group of walkers.
11^th October	Seana Bhraigh.	M1	M265	Very windy day with blue sky but occasional squally showers. Excellent view of the mountain on the approach from Corriemulzie Lodge. Spectacular scenery with a horseshoe of crags surrounding the deep Luchd Choire. One or two herds of deer evident with roaring stags.
1^st – 2^nd November	Carn an Fhidhleir & An Sgarsoch.	M2	M267	Walked in from Linn of Dee, past the ruins of Geldie Lodge opposite which were many deer with bellowing stags. Long slog in darkness through powdery snow to the top of Carn an Fhidhleir. Camped on the summit at 3260 feet using rocks to anchor the tent’s guy ropes. Beautiful sunny morning on the second day with distant views of snowy mountains in all directions.
8^th November	Loch Loch.			Twenty mile walk from Monzie via Shinagag to visit the strangely named loch. Restricted view of Beinn a’ Ghlo due to low cloud. Had lunch amongst the ruins of a small cleared township. Saw many herds of deer with bellowing stags.
15^th November	Loch Glass.			Walked around the loch, past Wyvis Lodge, in a combination of wind, rain and sun. Good view of this side of Ben Wyvis. Saw a few herds of deer, a pair of herons and an enclosure of hogs.
29^th November	Ben Wyvis.			Repeat Munro. Beautiful winter’s day with good snow cover, plenty of sun and very cold. Followed the main ridge from An Cabar to Tom a’ Choinnich and back. Good views of snowy mountains towards Torridon, An Teallach, Fannaichs and Seana Bhraigh. Cloud cover beyond summit gave Brocken Spectre with Glory. Descended in darkness after identifying the location of various towns and villages from their street lights.
6^th December	Glas Leathad Beag.			Ascended from Glen Glass, above Evanton. Cold winter’s day with plenty of sun, clear blue sky and total snow cover. Moderate wind higher up creating spindrift at ground level. Excellent views of the rugged corries on the eastern side of Ben Wyvis. NB: Ben Wyvis summit is Glas Leathad Mor.
20^th December	Cnap Coire na Spreidhe.			Big hill near Cairn Gorm. Climbed from Coire na Ciste car park via Sron a’ Cha-no ridge. Direct descent NNW along Cregan Dubh. Clear day but very windy. Excellent views to SE and SW including Loch Etchachan etc.
27^th December	Sgurr na Lapaich, Glen Affric.			Beautiful winter’s day with no wind. Patchy snow cover; snow and bogs solid due to sub-zero temperature. Good view of Sgurr na Lapaich from Glen Affric then superb views of surrounding hills from the summit.