Lorna’s Mountains 2024
Date:	Where:	Notes:
6^th January	Fersit to Strath Ossian, Lochaber.	Linear walk on the path from Fersit (near Spean Bridge) to the wilderness of Strath Ossian to the south east. A detour was necessary shortly after passing a ruined farmhouse where fallen trees had blocked the track through the forest. Fortunately, a firebreak going east from the blockage allowed access to a track which exited the forest at point 40651-76728. This track was followed south past Loch Ghuilbinn to the junction with the original path. Returned on this path with a further detour to avoid the blocked forest section. Dry day with cloud on the surrounding snowy hills.
13^th January	Gleann Cia-aig, Clunes, Loch Arkaig.	Circular walk up Gleann Cia-aig, west up Gleann Tarsuinn then back to the road on the Allt Dubh track. Brief spells of light drizzle but otherwise a very pleasant day.
20^th January	Loch Morlich & Lochan Uaine, Aviemore.	Clockwise walk around Loch Morlich from the Hayfield car park with a stop at the Pine Marten Bar for coffee, cake and soup. Continued back past Hayfield to walk a loop on the woodland tracks south of Glenmore Lodge with a detour out to An Lochan Uaine. Fine day with patchy and slushy snow underfoot.
27^th January	Capel Mounth, Spittal of Glenmuick.	Walked the Capel Road from Spittal of Glenmuick to Capel Mounth, looking out over Glen Clova and Glen Doll. Returned on the outward route. Tedious snow drifts on the track but almost no snow elsewhere. Dry day with strong breeze.
17^th February	Glas Allt circuit, Spittal of Glenmuick.	Circular walk starting on the Lochnagar path as far as Clais Rathadan then diverting south to meet the Glas Allt at a footbridge. Descended the spectacular Glas Allt ravine to visit the Glas-allt-Shiel bothy and return along the loch shore. Light drizzle all day with low cloud restricting visibility.
24^th February	Glen Dessarry circuit.	Parked at the western end of Loch Arkaig at the end of the public road at Strathan. Walked an anti-clockwise circuit around Fraoch Bheinn over the Feith a’ Bhrolaich bealach, down to Kinbreak bothy then back over the Feith a’ Chicheanais bealach. Fine sunny day on rugged terrain with spectacular scenery. Many deer in Glen Dessarry.
2^nd March	Coire Ardair, Laggan.	Walked the path from Aberarder farm to Lochan a’ Choire at the foot of the crags. Watched two climbers ascending the ‘South Post Direct’ ice climb on the Post Face. Returned on the outward route. Fine day with occasional light snow showers and snow underfoot up in the coire.
9^th March	Pannanich Hill & Craig Vallich, Ballater.	Parked in Ballater, crossed the Dee then joined the track heading south past House of Glenmuick. On exiting the forest, turned east to climb Pannanich Hill then continued on the track to Craig Vallich. Returned on the track through Balintober and the off-road path to the Dee crossing. Misty day with occasional light drizzle and poor visibility on the hills.
16^th March	Mam na Seilg, Glen Garry.	Parked near Kingie at the road bridge over the Allt a’ Ghobhainn and walked the adjacent footpath to the high ground. Continued westwards at a path junction then followed this path to its end before continuing to the unnamed 735m top above Coire Mialach. Returned on the outward route. Fine day, good views and very pleasant footpath.
23^rd March	Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Torridon.	Walked the path between Liathach and Beinn Eighe into Coire Dubh Mor and round to Coire Mhic Fhearchair. Returned on the outward route. Breezy day with occasional light rain and a couple of short hailstorms. Cloud on all surrounding tops.
31^st March	Allt Cam path, Glen Spean.	Linear walk from Moy in Glen Spean. Crossed the Spean then followed the track past Luiblea and out towards a small reservoir. Diverted south here to the ruin of Lubvan and onwards to the stepping stone crossing of the Allt Cam (44428-76539). Returned on the outward route. Lovely sunny day with snow on the high tops. Lots of frogs and one lizard.
5^th April	Gleann Bianasdail, Kinlochewe.	Walked the path from Incheril to Loch Maree then turned into Gleann Bianasdail. Continued to the far end of the glen, just beyond the highest point of the path but not quite as far as the shore of Lochan Fada. Returned on the outward route. Grim start with wind and rain but soon cleared up to give a mostly dry, breezy day. Cloud on Slioch and surrounding tops but clear view of A’ Mhaighdean.
13^th April	Loch Lundie, Invergarry.	Circular walk starting from Glengarry Community Hall, Invergarry. Followed the track north along the Aldernaig Burn to the boat house on Loch Lundie. Continued around the loch to the ruins of Lundie township then returned on the track to Faichemard Farm camp site and the road to the hall. Fairly wet day with occasional dry spells.
20^th April	Dubh Loch, Spittal of Glenmuick.	Walked the track from the car park to the Glas-allt-Shiel lodge then continued on the hill path over the Stulan Burn and up to Dubh Loch. Returned via the southern shore of Loch Muick. Dull day but no rain.
27^th April	Craig Bothy, Torridon.	Walked the very pleasant coastal path from the pier in Diabaig to Craig bothy and the river bridge just beyond. Returned on the outward route. Mostly dry with short periods of light rain and hail.
4^th May	Creag nam Peathrain, Bun Loyne, Glen Moriston.	Accessed the hill from the west using the old military road from Loch Cluanie then descended eastwards. Continued on the old military road to Ceannacroc Bridge then returned on the outward route, bypassing the hill. Dry day, mostly overcast. Also visited Invermoriston Falls and the Willie MacRae memorial overlooking Loch Loyne.
11^th May	Meall Glasail Mor, Keiloch, Braemar.	Walked the track from Keiloch past Invercauld House and Altdourie into Gleann an t-Slugain. Diverted northwards into a coire to climb the hill’s western slopes then descended eastwards onto a track which led back towards Altdourie and the starting point. Hot sunny day with pleasant breeze.
25^th May	Carnferg, Aboyne.	Walked the old Fungle Road drover’s track from Aboyne to The Guard (lodge) and onwards to climb the hill from the south-west. Returned on the outward route with a quick visit to Birsemore Loch. Warm sunny day.
1^st June	Creag a’ Chinn Duibh, Torridon.	Parked at the Coire Mhic Nobuil car park then followed the footpath up into the wide Bealach a’ Chomhla to the east of Beinn Alligin. Continued westwards following the river to Loch Toll nam Biast then approached the hill from here. Returned on the outward route. Warm sunny day. Called at Torridon village on the way home to visit the outdoor church at Am Ploc.
15^th June	A’ Chuil bothy, Glen Dessary.	Parked at the far end of Loch Arkaig then walked the direct forest track past Strathan to the bothy. Returned on the opposite side of the river past the cottage at Upper Glendessary and the main lodge at Glendessary. Completed the walk in warm sunny weather prior to the heavy rain that followed.
22^nd June	Griffin Forest circuit, Aberfeldy.	Parked at the southern end of Loch na Creige in Glen Cochill. Walked out to Loch Kennard then up to Loch Scoly. Returned via the Griffin wind farm and the track around Creag a’ Mhadaidh. Nice sunny day with pleasant breeze.
6^th July	Sandy Hillock, Spittal of Glenmuick.	Walked the direct track to the southern tip of Loch Muick then ascended the fine little stalker’s path up Corrie Chash. Continued as far as the pony barn/enclosure then turned south-east to the flat 768m summit. Walked a short distance further for the view into Glen Clova then turned north to join the track back to the outward route at the Black Burn. Poor forecast but pleasant day with only short periods of light drizzle.
15^th July	Am Bathaich, Glenquoich Forest.	Parked at the east end of the Loch Cuaich bridge at the mouth of Glen Quoich. Followed the track on the western shore of the loch which connects to the impressive zig-zag stalker’s path up the hill. Continued to the 899m summit then returned on the outward route. Hot sunny day with amazing mountain scenery.
21^st July	Scourie path.	Walked the hill path from Scourie to the Handa Island ferry pier at Tarbet. Returned on the outward route. Pleasant sunny day.
27^th July	Glensgaich, Rogie.	Walked the track out past Rogie farm and on to the Little Wyvis Hydro Scheme turbine house at Glensgaich. Returned on the outward route. Accompanied by Luna on a warm sunny day.
3^rd August	Linn of Quoich, Braemar.	Walked from Keiloch to Linn of Quoich on the obvious mapped route but with an interesting diversion bypassing Altdourie but including the ruins of Balnagower Cottage. Returned on the outward route. Pleasant weather with a short spell of light drizzle.
17^th August	Fedden, Gleann Cia-aig.	Parked near the end of Loch Arkaig then walked the track up Gleann Cia-aig to access the faint footpath to Fedden ruin. Impressive scenery here with steep hills and corries. Returned on the outward route. Dull day, mostly dry with a couple of light showers.
24^th August	Glen Ernan, Corgarff.	Circular hill walk from the Corgarff picnic area near Goodbrand & Ross Tea Room. Followed the track over the shoulder of Cairn Vachich and down to Fairy Hillock Shiel in Glen Ernan. Continued downstream from here to join the track back to the high ground west of Geal Charn and then down to the tea room. Sunny day with a pleasant breeze.
7^th September	Gelder Shiel, Balmoral.	Walked the track from Spittal of Glenmuick to Gelder Shiel bothy via the lower slopes of Lochnagar. Returned on the outward route with a minor detour leaving the bothy to avoid the overgrown and eroded riverside path. Hot day with strong sun and almost no shade.
14^th September	Kinlochleven circular walk.	Followed a very pleasant woodland path eastwards out of the village, past Torr Garbh and then steeply up to Leitir Bo Fionn. Continued along the pipeline to the Loch Eilde Mor dam and then westwards to Mamore Lodge and the West Highland Way. Rain all day, light at first, heavy later.
28^th September	Stone Circle, Braefordie, Glen Turret.	Parked at the Loch Turret dam then walked the track south and west towards the house at Braefordie. Continued a little further west to an unnamed 352m top where stands the remains of an ancient stone circle. Returned on the outward route. Cool, dry day with occasional sunshine.
5^th October	Leckie, Kinlochewe.	Followed the track along the Abhainn Bruachaig from Incheril to the Heights of Kinlochewe and beyond to Leckie. Plenty of autumn colours and a few stags roaring. Poor forecast but almost entirely dry with one brief light shower.
12^th October	Black Hill, Spittal of Glenmuick.	Ascended the old Capel Mounth drove road track then diverted onto a track which eventually leads to the summit. Continued beyond the summit then descended east to the Allt Darrarie which couldn’t be crossed due to the volume of water. Progressed northwards on the high ground to avoid the river gorge then descended to the riverbank to join the path which commences at the footbridge there. Cool, dry, sunny day.
19^th October	Clais Fhearnaig, Linn of Quoich, Braemar.	Anti-clockwise circular walk from the Linn of Quoich, up Glen Quoich, through the narrow defile of Clais Fhearnaig and back down Glen Lui. Avoided road walking by ascending the track which traverses the southern slopes of Creag Bhalg but this led to a tedious pathless descent of steep heather at the end. Fine, sunny day.
26^th October	Blackwater Dam and cemetery.	Circular walk along the River Leven from Kinlochleven to the dam and back. Started along the northern leg of the path then crossed below the dam to the navvies’ graveyard. Continued back on the track following the water conduit then descended on the West Highland Way. Very rainy walk.
2^nd November	Inchrory, Corgarff Castle.	Linear walk loosely following the River Don from the castle car park to the River Avon at Inchrory. Pleasant walk to a very pleasant location but the first two miles are tarmac. Mild sunny day with light breeze. Attended the Ballater bonfire and fireworks after evening coffee and cake.
9^th November	Kingussie Newtonmore circular.	Climbed Creag Bheag from Kingussie then descended towards the north end of Loch Gynack. Headed along the loch to Auchtuchle township but failed to locate any obvious ruins. Continued west to the Allt Laraidh and followed it down to Strone and the main road in Newtonmore. Returned on the tarmac cycle path to Kingussie for bookshop visit then coffee and cake. Fine day, cool with light breeze.
30^th November	Carnferg, Birse Castle.	Parked at the end of the road near Forest of Birse Church. Walked the track past Birse Castle to join the Fungle Road for the Carnferg approach. Continued over the summit and down into woodland for a direct return via the farm at Glencat. Mild dry day but cool breeze. Coffee in Ballater accompanied by the Ballater & District Pipe Band.
7^th December	Kylesku lochans.	Linear walk on the track from Kylestrome to where it meets the Allt nan Ramh up in the hills. The track passes several lochans and the views extend as it gains height. The track forks at the distant end with one leg terminating at a fishing bothy and the other at some stepping stones. Rainy day walk for a fairly rainy day.
28^th December	Corndavon Lodge, River Gairn near Ballater.	Walked the riverside track from Braenaloin, over the impressive Daldownie bridge and on to Corndavon Lodge. Returned via Blairglass, Remicrass ruins and Rineten. Pleasant day, almost entirely dry with a bit of blue sky.