Lorna’s Mountains 2025
Date:	Where:	Notes:
4^th January	Coire Pitridh and Bealach Leamhain, Glen Spean.	Walked the track from Moy in Glen Spean to the southern end of Lochan na h-Earba. Continued up into Coire Pitridh to the highest point of the path, on the 800m contour, just south of the bealach. Good view of Loch a’ Bhealaich Leamhain from here. Returned on the outward route. Fine day with snow underfoot.
18^th January	Glen Tanar.	Circular hill walk near Aboyne. Started from the car park at Bridge of Tanar then headed past St. Lesmo’s Chapel to Knockie Bridge. Continued uphill south-east from here to walk the track over Baudy Meg with open views to the north. Made a long return around Craigendinnie hill via The Guard (cottage) and a short section of Fungle Road drove route. Fine sunny day.
25^th January	Birks of Aberfeldy & Bolfracks Hill.	Walked from the top of the Birks along the Rob Roy Way towards Kenmore. Turned east around Tullichuil Wood then south to join another section of the Rob Roy Way which was followed back to the Birks. Cold sunny day with snow underfoot.
1^st February	Carn an Fhreiceadain, Kingussie.	Anti-clockwise circuit of the hill tracks from Kingussie via Pitmain Lodge, Beinn Bhreac and the Allt Mor. Significant crusty snow coverage higher up with poor visibility and very cold wind.
8^th February	Loch Cuithir, Lealt, Skye.	Linear walk from the car park to the lochan. Initially intended to walk the path along the mapped dismantled railway but this was overgrown so abandoned this and used the track. Cold day but blue sky and bright sunshine.
15^th February	Red House bothy, Linn of Dee, Braemar.	Set off from the Linn of Dee with the intention of visiting the ruin of Bynack Lodge just south of the Geldie Burn. The river crossing here looked tricky so a diversion was made to the building just west of the crossing which turned out to be a newly refurbished MBA bothy. Cold dry day, heavily overcast with mist and cloud.
22^nd February	Croidh-la, Glen Tromie, Kingussie.	Parked at the RSPB Insh Marshes site just beyond Ruthven Barracks, outside Kingussie. Visited the impressive Lookout bird hide then walked a very short section of the Speyside Way to access the track to the river crossing at Glentromie Lodge. Continued north on the track along the river then diverted off onto the path up Croidh-la. Returned on the outward route. Overcast day but many sunny spells, brief heavy shower and cold wind at the summit.
1^st March	Crask Inn walk.	Parked up the road from the Crask Inn at the Loch Gaineamhach track. Walked down past the Inn to join the Srath a’ Chraisg track to Bealach Easach, south of Ben Klibreck. Superb setting here overlooking Loch a’ Bhealaich and beyond. Returned on the outward route. Nice sunny day with cool breeze.
8^th March	Craigendarroch & Craig Coillich, Ballater.	Parked at Ballater school. Climbed Craigendarroch on the path network, first traversing SW below the hill, climbing to the summit from the W, descending NE and returning through the Pass of Ballater and around the western slopes to the A93. Continued on the riverside path, around the golf course and campsite to the Dee road bridge. Climbed Craig Coillich in an anticlockwise loop, ascending from the Mackenzie memorial and descending direct to the Dee bridge. Warm, sunny day.
15^th March	Loch Glassie, Aberfeldy.	Walked from the Birks to the golf course to cross the Tay using the footbridge downstream from Wade’s road bridge. Continued northwards on the track through Cuil then north-west on the track to Loch Glassie. Returned southwards to meet a narrow, unmapped footpath which led to the Boltachan Burn and a pleasant, downhill path to the road junction between Weem and Boltachan. Dry sunny day.
22^nd March	Wildcat Trail, Newtonmore.	Anti-clockwise circuit of the trail starting from Newtonmore Grill and along the Coffin Road to Calder Bridge and Banchor Cemetery. Interesting walk following the River Calder and River Spey then going north to Strone and continuing westwards to finish along the Calder gorge. Rainy forecast but dry day with sunny intervals.
29^th March	Fiag, Lairg.	Walked the track from Fiag Bridge to Fiag Lodge and Loch Fiag. Also visited the ruined farmhouse at about the halfway point, named Fiag on the map. Pleasant outward walk but very wet on the return journey. River Fiag impressive.
5^th April	Tigh nam Bodach, Glen Lyon.	Walked the direct track from the end of the road at the Loch Lyon dam. The pagan shrine was easily located just north of the Allt Cailliche. Sunny day with spectacular scenery.
12^th April	Ben MacDui.	Circular walk from the ski base station, ascending Fiacaill a’ Choire Chais, climbing Stob Coire an t-Sneachda then on to Lochan Buidhe and the summit. Returned over Miadan Creag an Leth-choin to the west of Coire an Lochain. Fine, sunny day with brisk wind.
19^th April	Grandtully.	Walked the Rob Roy Way from Grandtully to Pitlochry and back. Visited the Clachan an Diridh stone circle and the ruins of a settlement centred on the remains of an old chapel beside the Tullypowrie Burn. Very pleasant path on a bright, dry day.
3^rd May	Kylestrome.	Repeat circular walk on the terrain around Ben Strome with views across to Kylesku and Quinag. Walked from Kylestrome towards Glendhu Bothy but diverted off uphill following the Maldie Burn. Connected with a higher track at a little footbridge over the Allt Bealach a’ Phollaidh which was then used for the return. Very scenic walk with superb views of hills and lochans. Overcast day but mostly dry and sometimes bright.
10^th May	Drum Cholzie, Glen Muick.	Couldn’t do the intended walk at Spittal of Glenmuick due to lack of parking so did this plan B route instead. Pleasant 6.5 mile circuit of tracks up and over Drum Cholzie. Warm, sunny day.
17^th May	Uath Lochans, Kingussie.	Linear walk along the Badenoch/Speyside Way from the Insh Marshes RSPB reserve to Uath Lochans, via Drumguish and Inveruglass. Returned on the outward route. Hot, sunny day.