Bidein Bad na h-Iolaire (near Fort William)

Walk Statistics
Walk Date - 22 November 2012
Walkers - Steve Smith, Gina Smith, David Boother, Wendy Boother, Joss Johnson
Accommodation - Laurel Bank Lodge, Fort William
Start Point - Laural Bank Lodge, Fort William (GR NN09418 73057)
Start Time - 11:25
Finish Point - Laural Bank Lodge, Fort William (GR NN09418 73057)
Finish Time - 16:40
Duration - 5hrs 16mins
Average pace - 1.47mph
Distance Walked - 7.73miles
Height Ascended - 702.37metres

Peaks visited
Marilyns (1216)
Bidein Bad na h-Iolaire (2)
Highland Five (771)
Bidein Bad na h-Iolaire (1)

Route

Walk Summary

Clouds looking menacing after breakfast

Bonus walk today. General consensus last night was not to walk due to horrendous BBC weather forecast, predicting heavy rain for 12 hours from 3am, with torrential rain for 3 hours from 9am. So I took all walks down to explain walk options after breakfast, for the rest of week. Couldn't believe it when conversation was around what walk we would do today, then deciding on one walk that we could start from our B&B without using a bus or taxi.
Although the hill tops on on the other side of Loch Linnhe were shrouded in cloud and the sky looked heavy with rain, it was not raining that hard, nothing like forecast anyway.There were some heavy rain briefly as we set off but other than that the weather was dull with only a couple of brief showers before lunch that was all we had. What is more as the day progressed the cloud lifted from the hill tops, apart from the likes of Ben Nevis, so although it remained cloudy  we had some good views of the adjacent hills and distant mountains.
Highlights were coaxing Joss Johnson up her first Marilyn ever, in spite of her deep fear of heights. As well as Wendy Boother completing her first hill walk since recovering from severe fatigue.

Walk Description

1.) Turn left out of B&B on to Achintore Road, then quickly turn left again up Ashburn Lane.

Need to sort out waterproofs early on 

2.) At top of hill cross Grange Road and take footpath up steps to Lundavra Road past house with waterfall in garden.

Garden Waterfall

3.) Turn right on Lundavra Road heading out of Fort William.

4.) Cross the cattle grid on to the Old Military Road to Landavra. The path to to the left and Glen Nevis is where we return at the end of the walk.
5.) Carry on past the viewing point and Glengour to the next cattle grid.

Ben Nevis hidden in cloud from viewing point

6.) Stay on road and after 2 houses immediately on left count 4 fences on left up the hill to Blarmachfoldach. then 1 more fence on the left, a bridge then a gate before what will be the 6^th fence up the hill preceded by a metal gate. Do not rely on finding phone box marked on map. IT HAS BEEN REMOVED.

Doire Bàn beyond cattle grid before
Blarmachfoldach. Two houses on left
just after cattle grid

7.) Go through the gate and head up the tongue of Bideinn Bad na h-lolaire.

Phone box shown on map in Blarmachfoldach
now removed so we start ascent at next farm.
Iron gate at bottom of hill to right of fence

8. ) Follow fence ignoring gate on right and over style at fence intersection. (We went through gate ½ way up and thought we would have to go back to get over stile on other side of fence, but found a gate about 50m to the right)
9.) Follow carefully track up tongue it is not always clear.

Gina leading the way.
We all know this is not the summit

10.) As the ground dips after the first false summit just after the 475m spot height look to the right and see the summit of Bideinn Bad na h-lolaire.
11.) The top is the last of the 3, so skirt around the first hill and do not be tempted up the front of the next hill like we were.

Steve explaining to Joss we are not going
up that. What I neglect to explain we are going up
the one she can not see (but the camera can)

12.) Instead stay to the left and head up the third hill to the summit cairn.
13.) From the cairn head back to the second hill descending in as steady a diagonal as you can.
14.) We could not find a well worn path and there is certainly not one marked on the map. Descend as best you can by trying to keep clear grass ahead of you until you reach the un-named loch.
15.) Skirt round the hill on the other side of the loch avoiding as best you can the boggy ground SE of the loch.

Avoid the boggy ground to the left and
east of un-named Loch. Also don't bother
climbing over hill, go round it to the left

16.) On the other side of the hill head as best as you can towards the path from Glen Nevis and Cow Hill. 17.) Try and keep sight of clear ground ahead and avoid following streams down hill, they will lead to a waterfall. Proceed cautiously where you cannot see clear ground as there are several crags on the right to avoid.

Head towards visible path between Glen
Nevis and F. William. Keep clear ground and
grass in sight ahead. Avoid sharp drops to the right

18.) Finally you will get to level ground followed by a small climb east of the path over fairly boggy ground. Head for the path avoiding getting wet feet as best you can.
19.) After hitting path, turn left and follow path to cattle grid at end of Lundavra road mentioned in 4. above.
Head back to B&B or start point following reverse route from point 3. above.

More Photographs

Click on photograph to view slide-show

November 2012 - Fort William

Choice of walks for our trip to Fort William with Joss Johnson and David & Wendy Boother. We will be in Fort William for six full days with definitely one day planned for a bus trip to Isle of Skye and possibly another day sight seeing.
That will leave four or five days for walking dependant on the weather.
Start for each walk can be reached by public transport and end on a road near public transport or access for local five seater taxi to meet us on demand subject to phone signal.
Walks range from maximum of 10.66 miles with very little ascent down to only 3.34 starting at nearly 1200m (higher than anywhere in England) and again with very little ascent.
What all walks have in common, apart from the spectacular scenery is that there are multiple exit points to cut the walk short with a return home only a phone call away to the local taxi firm once we have reached a public highway.
Only Munro likely to be bagged this trip is Aonach Mor, which will really be a bit of a cheat as it will be accessed from the Nevis Range ski lifts.
No Corbets planned though may divert to bag one if weather and conditions are perfect to deviate from the West Highland Way between Kinlochleven & Lundavra. Even less likely though as one of our party has a pathological fear of heights.

Post trip summary
A most successful and enjoyable trip in spite of no Munros, Corbets or even Grahams being bagged. In all 3 of the planned walks were completed by all of the party, with a 4^th unplanned walk being completed by myself and wife, while the others went on a train trip from Fort William to Mallaig.
Any chance of completing a Munro was scuppered when we found out the Nevis Range gondoler and chair lift was closed for maintenance.
Loch Ossian round was ignored early on by mutual agreement due to the early start imposed by the only suitable train from Fort William to Corourr being the 07:20am, meaning loss of the excellent breakfast at Laural Bank Lodge B&B.
Well done to Joss Johnson who overcame her fear of heights on completing her first Marilyn, not to mention Wendy Boother who managed 3 of the walks on her first hill walking trip after recovering from severe fatigue.
Away from walking, the bus trip with Citylink to the Isle of Skye can be highly recommended, along with Inverlochy Castle, where we visited on an unscheduled rest day, after spending the morning in Nevis Sports looking at the excellent range of outdoor gear and walking books I have found in one place.


Nevis Range
Route Information
Start Point - Most southerly Ski Tow Station on Nevis Range (GR - NN 19162 73958)
Start Height - 1184.62m
Finish Point - Adventure Activity Centre (GR - NN 18788 75625)
Finish Height - 651.35m
Distance Walked - 3.34miles
Height Ascended - 123.51metres
Duration - 2hrs 19mins [based on average pace 1.5mph + 1hr 0mins added per 600m of ascent]

Route

Most gain for the least effort. Gain will be the chance to visit one of Scotland's Munros at a height of 1221m (over 4000ft) being the 8^th highest point in the United Kingdom. Least effort being a total ascent of 123m from a start point altitude of 1184m thanks to the Nevis Range gondolier. That is higher than any point in England & Wales.

With less than 3½ miles for the total walk even allowing plenty of time for sight seeing as well as coffee and cakes in the mountain top cafe, ½ a day should be plenty of time leaving time to explore Fort William or just taking it easy for the rest of the day.

Route Profile

Post trip report
The Nevis Range gondola and chair lifts were closed for annual maintenance so any chance of bagging a Munro on this trip was lost. However like the mountains it will be there next time we visit, alternatively Aonoch Mor can be reached via the access path to Steall Falls.


Laurel Bank Lodge
Route Information
Start Point - Laurel Bank Lodge (GR - NN 09510 73036)
Start Height - 31.03m
Finish Point - Laurel Bank Lodge (GR - NN 09510 73036)
Finish Height - 31.03m
Distance Walked - 6.06miles
Height Ascended - 605.11metres
Duration - 4hrs 39mins [based on average pace 1.5mph + 1hr 0mins added per 600m of ascent]

Route

Only walk to start from B&B. Again walk will be less than a full day but will be more than ½ day.
We will quickly get into open countryside and will soon be able to see Ben Nevis. Plenty of time to warm up walking along the road to Blarmachfoldach.

After the cattle grid we leave the road following the wall and finding the easiest way up the slop to the top of Bidein Bad na h-Iolaire. From the summit and to the right will be the Momores and straight ahead we should be able to look over Nevis Forrest down on the River Nevis through Glen Nevis. Beyond will be Ben Nevis and turn around will be Loch Linnhe towards where we will be heading for and home 2½ miles away.

Route Profile

Post trip report
First walk of the trip and Joss Johnson's first Marilyn - Bidein Bad na h-loloire. Well done to her on tackling the peak in spite of her obvious fear of heights.This summit area is as difficult as many of the 20o0ft tops I have tackled in England.


Spean Bridge - Torlundy
Route Information
Start Point - Spean Bridge Bus Stop(GR NN 22115 81430)
Start Height - 71.30m
Finish Point - Hartside near Linhope(GR NT97679 16207)
Finish Height - 37.15m
Distance Walked - 9.03miles
Height Ascended - 403.56metres
Duration - 6hrs 27mins [based on average pace 1.5mph + 1hr 0mins added per 600m of ascent]

Route

Will catch 10:15 or (10:30-Not Sunday), 919 Bus service to Inverness from Fort William to Spean Bridge.

From bus stop will head for Commando Memorial commemorating commandos who trained here during World War II.

From memorial we drop down to High Bridge where we pick up General Wade's Military Road.
At Achindaul leave the Military Road we make the short ascent to Cruim Leachinn where we should enjoy views to the North across the Calledonian Canal between Loch Linnhe and Loch Lochy.

At the Aerial mast we will have walked 5½ a further ½ mile of ascent will take us to the A82 where we can decide to stay on the A82 and catch the bus back to Fort William or continue along Gemeral Wades Military Road to Torlundy where we can catch the bus to Fort william or call a taxi back to Laurel Bank Lodge.

Route Profile

Post trip report
On the last day it was a choice between this walk and one section of The West Highland Way. Mainly because of Joss's reluctance to attempt even another minor peak we went for what I think was the tougher option, after all this walk was only included for the less adventurous members of our party.

Loch Ossian
Route Information
Start Point - Corrour Rail Station (GR - NN 35627 66441)
Start Height - 408.44m
Finish Point - Corrour Rail Station (GR - NN 35627 66441)
Finish Height - 408.44m
Distance Walked - 8.95miles
Height Ascended - 187.87metres
Duration - 6hrs 10mins [based on average pace 1.5mph + 1hr 0mins added per 600m of ascent]

Route

Early start required for this walk catching the 07:42 train out of Fort William arriving in Corrour Station at 08:30 which at over 1300ft is the highest station in the United Kingdom. That leaves 6 hours and 51 minutes to complete the 8.95 miles in time to catch the 15:21 back to Fort William. Any later and we will have a long wait for the next train at 21:19.

Having said that nearly 7 hours should be plenty of time to cover nearly 9 miles on what is basically flat terrain.

This walk is by far the most remote giving us a true wilderness experience. Following the footpath around Loch Ossian there is very little ascent but maintaining an altitude of at least 400m and enjoying mountain views above of the many Munros that slope down all sides of the Loch.

Route Profile

Post trip report

With only a maximum of five days walking two of the seven planned walks would have to be discarded. Although this was my first choice, due to the high chance of snow and perceived wilderness experience, I accepted the early start of 07:20am from Fort William station would make this walk a less popular option. We will have to stop off at Corrour and stay at the Youth Hostel a couple of nights on a later trip, maybe even bag Beinn na Lap.

Lundavra - Inchree Falls
Route Information
Start Point - Lundavra (GR - NN 09442 66440)
Start Height - 169.23m
Finish Point - Inchree (GR - NN 02460 62912)
Finish Height - 16.06m
Distance Walked - 7.96miles
Height Ascended - 918.46metres
Duration - 6hrs 13mins [based on average pace 1.5mph + 1hr 0mins added per 600m of ascent]

Route

The best way to get to the start of this walk is by 5 seater taxi to Lundavra along the road we will have already walked to Bidein Bad na h-Iolaire. From the start point it is gentle walk up Doire Ban, then across the valley to Beinn na Gucaig. At 4 miles this summit marks the ½ way point of the walk and mostly down hill from here to the climax of the walk at Inchree Falls.

Options to cut short the walk are available from almost any point after Beinn na Gucaig or even before if anybody is too tired after Doire Ban by simply turning north and head for the A82 and catch a bus or call a taxi.

The benefit of completing the walk apart from the falls is a couple of pubs where we can wait for the 44 bus from Kinlochleven to Fort William or again call a taxi.

Route Profile

Post trip report
Did not complete (or even start) this walk as planned. The ford near the outlet of Loch Lundavra was swollen due to the recent rains that had flooded other parts of the country preventing access to the first top of Doire Bàn. 

Had I been on my own I may have gone for it anyway but as Gina was with me I did not want to put her off and gave her the choice of heading for the snow covered Beinn na Gucaig or the closer and smaller Meall nan Clèireach. She decided on the latter and as it turned out with amount of daylight remaining was the correct choice.
One outcome of this walk was my unexpected appreciation of the higher peaks from lower levels and I think Gina's appreciation of what can be gained from going up an arbitrary hill in terms of views and understanding of the lay of the land. The aspect of just ticking off a peak may well follow later.

Laggan Locks - Fort Augustus
Route Information
Start Point - Laggan Locks(GR - NN 28661 96326)
Start Height - 31.92m
Finish Point - Fort Augustus(GR - NH 37900 09204)
Finish Height - 13.44m
Distance Walked - 10.66miles
Height Ascended - 147.22metres
Duration - 7hrs 15mins [based on average pace 1.5mph + 1hr 0mins added per 600m of ascent]

Route

Again we will make use of the 10:15 or (10:30-Not Sunday), 919 Bus service to Inverness from Fort William but this time getting off at Laggan Lochs.

Two options for this walk. Either full day finishing walk in Fort Augustus where we can wait for the bus back from Inverness in one of the Hostelries.

Or waiting at Bridge of Oich for the next bus to Inverness and spend the rest of the day their.

In both cases we will catch the bus from Inverness back to Fort William and be following the route of the Great Glen Way which is a 73 mile multi-day walk from Inverness to Fort William

Route Profile

Post trip report

We chose the route from Laggan Locks to Fort Augustus on the second day to give us a rest from the ascent we had done going up Bidein Bad na h-lolaire the day before, even though it was the longest planned walk of the trip. Although the weather forecast was favourable, rain set in about lunch time making the last 4 miles very wet indeed. well done to everybody for getting heads down and getting on with it. Especially Wendy whose coat succumbed to the rain making the last couple of miles thoroughly miserable.


West Highland Way from Kinlochleven
Route Information
Start Point - Kinlochleven (GR - NN 18700 61675)
Start Height - 22.99m
Finish Point - Callert House (GR - NN 09245 60260)
Finish Height - 9.6m
Distance Walked - 8.29miles
Height Ascended - 651.28metres
Duration - 6hrs 12mins [based on average pace 1.5mph + 1hr 0mins added per 600m of ascent]

Route

The final walk is another sample of one of the famous long distance walks in the area. The West Highland Way from Glasgow to Fort William is a 96 mile multi-day walk where usually the section from Kinlochleven to Fort William is the last day.

At 16 miles this would be too long for our purposes so ideally we will start at Kinlochleven by catching the  44 bus from Fort William and walking to Lundavra, the starting point for one of our earlier walks. This option will only be available if we can verify there is a mobile phone signal at Lundavra. Otherwise we will leave the West Highland Way at Lairigmor, skirting around the lower slopes of Mam na Guilainn and picking up the road to Kinlochleven at Callert House. We will then head towards North Ballachulish until we pick up a phone signal to call the local taxi - again.

Route Profile

Post trip report
Think it is safe to say that this walk from Lundrava to Kinlochleven was everyone's favourite walk. Who knows, it may even provide the inspiration to consider the possibility of attempting the complete walk from Glasgow to Fort William.
The scenery was absolutely stunning with a new mountain view being revealed around each corner we passed, reinforcing my new found appreciation of the mountains from lower levels. That said it was also a good opportunity to survey possible routes up various peaks as well.
Route was walked in reverse by getting taxi from Fort William to Lundavra and bus back from Kinlochleven. That way we did not have to rely on a mobile signal to call the taxi and could have a coffee or tea in the pub whilst waiting for the 15:42 school bus to Fort William.

Steall Falls

Walk Statistics
Walk Date - 21 January 2012
Walkers - Steve Smith, Gina Smith
Accommodation - Laurel Bank Lodge, Fort William
Start Point - Polldubh Lower Falls Car Park, (GR NN14516 68326)
Start Time - 10:45
Finish Point - Laural Bank Lodge, Fort William (GR NN09418 73057)
Finish Time - 17:05
Duration - 6hrs 20mins
Average pace - 1.83mph
Distance Walked - 11.59miles
Height Ascended - 711.61metres

Peaks visited
NONE

Route

Walk Summary

Walk Description

More Photographs

Steall Falls with An Gearanach behind 
Click on photograph to view slide-show

Druim na h-Earba

Walk Statistics
Walk Date - 18 January 2012
Walkers - Steve Smith, Gina Smith
Accommodation - Laurel Bank Lodge, Fort William
Start Point - Laurel Bank Lodge, Fort William (GR NN09418 73057)
Start Time - 13:25
Finish Point - Laurel Bank Lodge, Fort William (GR NN09418 73057)
Finish Time - 16:30
Duration - 3hrs 05mins
Average pace - 1.47mph
Distance Walked - 4.54miles
Height Ascended - 391.3metres

Peaks visited
Marilyns (1216)
Druim na h-Earba (1)

Route

Walk Summary

One of 3 minor Marilyns well within walking distance of our lodgings at Laurel Bank Lodge. A more significant peak slightly further east on the other side of Glen Nevis could also fit in to the 2^nd and 3^rd description but definitely not the 1^st.
Apart from this being our very first walk, "up hill" or "down glen" in Scotland this was a very special walk for me. It was Gina's first hill walk without fear of aggravating symptoms of here long term back injury incurred nearly 3 years earlier, so although it is only small in ascent & distance it is significant in so many other ways.. I really am hoping we will look back on this walk when our Munro count is well and truly up and running and say "... who would have thought it possible."
A very decent alternative walk of about 10 miles for anyone wanting a more challenging walk which would include Bidean Bad na h-lolaire is also an option  However, I deliberately planned this as a short walk, with an easy return to the start point if there were any signs of re-occurrence of symptoms. Leaving Bidean Bad na h-lolaire for a later walk to enjoy and share with friends on a later trip.

Walk Description

1.) Turn right on to Achintore Road towards Fort William out of drive at Laural Bank Lodge B&B.
2.)  Take the first right on to Ashburn Lane and at the top of the hill look for the footpath sign on the other side of Grange Road. Do not turn right in to Grange Terrace as we did.
3.) Cross Grange Road and head up the footpath up the steps and pass the bungalow on the left with the waterfall in the garden until you reach Lundavra Road.
4.) Turn right and follow Lundavra Road up the gentle hill heading out of Fort William.
5.) At the cattle grid continue along Lundavra road until you reach the viewing point and picnic area on your left.
6.) Opposite the viewing area take the footpath to the left of the fence and follow it up hill.
7.) This footpath basically follows the easiest route up the ridge to Druim na h-Earba trig point.
8.) The top is slightly to the south east of the trig point.
9.) To make this a circular walk we continued past the trig point and headed down hill.
10.) When you reach the fence do not cross to the other side but turn right and head down hill. The going is easier this side of the fence.
11.) As you get level with Leacavoichten look fopr a route to your left to cut off the corner and reach the fence to the north of Abhainn Bheag. We had planned to cross Abhainn Bheag and join the Lundavra Road but the crossing was too awkward.
12.) As it turned out the route we ended up taking along the fence was probably best anyway.
13.) We joined the Lundavra road at the road bridge over Abhainn Bheag and turned left following the road to the viewing point and picnic area.
14.) From here head home on the reverse route of 4.) - 1.) above.

More Photographs

Druim na h-Earba trig point towards Fort William
Click on photograph to view slide-show

Lessons learned

Lessons Learned

This was one of the aims of my English Nuttalls Peak Bagging Blog that somehow never got included.

Starting off as a novice walker back in October 2008, I knew very little apart from map reading from Geography O-level (40 years ago) and outward bound with the CCF (again about 40 years ago). 

All I knew was that I wanted to go to the top of some hills. I knew they could be dangerous places if you did not prepare properly and respect the dangers. Little did I realise though, that once you got up in the hills the satisfaction, pleasure and sense of achievement you felt.

So here are a few pearls of wisdom that occurred to me that may have been useful if I had known them before I set out. While some of these points may be of use to someone they are not intended in any way as a source of reference, more like a diary of the order in which they dawned on me or realised were relevant  Some will seem obvious, but don't seem worth mentioning until they occur to you. Best of all some you learn again because you forgot or was in too much of rush. But whatever way you learn them or acquire the skills they all add to the knowledge bank that hopefully individually or combined give you the skills to enjoy the hills without doing them any damage or endangering anybody else.

I am starting this list at the start of my Scottish Hill walking adventure with the intention to add these lessons as they occur during walks in the Scottish Hills and as I draw on lessons from my English Hill walking will only include them at that point. However the first two are so important I am including them now before I have even bagged my first Munro or got very far in to my Scottish Hill walking experience.

1. Stay within your own limits.
So far I have had two attempts to properly bag Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales. The first was when I turned back because I did not fancy the final ascent onto the summit plateau. I put this down to a healthy respect for heights. The second was when I made it to the summit plateau but did not go on to the trig point due to the strong wind and horizontal rain. Both these occurred on my first ever peak bagging trip and would not stop me now. However there will definitely be an ascent or ridge where I do not feel comfortable or weather conditions so severe that I will abandon the walk and return to camp without going on to complete the walk or bag the top as planned.

2. Respect the environment you are in
I am including this here from a safety point of view in as much as soon as you become complacent you can become careless. Even if you don't, as soon as you start thinking I have got this hill bagging lark cracked you may well find yourself having to deal with something quite unexpected.


However experience you may become always maintain a healthy respect for the environment you are in

It occurs to however as I am writing this that wherever there is a risk 

Blog Aims

As was the case for the English Nuttalls Peak Bagging Blog, the aim of the Scottish Munros Peak bagging blog is to provide a record of all my walks from a novice point of view in the form of a photo diary including our experiences and any lessons learned no matter how obvious.

After 241 of the 253 Nuttalls completed (at time of writing, Nov 2012), 4 years and over 90 separate walks in all four seasons and weather conditions, I think I can consider I have graduated from a novice to a hill walker. This does not leave room for complacency at any time, especially where Scottish hills are concerned. Even with my limited experience north of the border it is obvious to me that in terms of quantity, gradients, remoteness and most certainly weather, hill walking in Scotland is an entirely different proposition.

It therefore seems clear to me I have as much to learn at this stage going forward as I did four years ago starting as a novice.

The backlog caused by starting the English Nuttall blog two years after I started walking has diluted these aims resulting in many incomplete pages and a continual “job in progress” to catch up whilst at the same time going on additional walks and documenting these.

Furthermore other activities like planning, diary and hill logging where introduced resulting in even more work. In hindsight I find the activity of blogging is almost as hard as the actual walking, but in return provides nearly as much enjoyment.

After all when you live in the south 3 hours drive away from the nearest significant hill you need some way of satisfying the call of the hills.

With this in mind the structure of this blog is being designed to take all of these extras into account within the limited capabilities of Blogger. In addition to all this I found many aspects of my walking were excluded, including lower level walks and even walks to Non-Nuttall summits.

Accompanied by my wife, apart from the joy of her company and shared experience, I have already discovered the benefits of visiting lesser (for want of a better word) summits along with valley and other lower level walks. I am therefore going to expand the scope of this blog further to include ALL walks and trips in Scotland, not just those involving Munros.

It is for this reason I have started the blog now before the first Munro has been visited. Please be patient it will happen.

Finally it is not intended as a reference. I am nowhere near qualified enough and there are many excellent sources of reference both on-line and in books, many of which I will refer to in this blog.

If nothing else it will sit on a server somewhere and who knows one of my descendants may come across it on whatever medium information is accessed in the future and maybe say something like “Could they not find anything better to do than that?”

Well the answer to that is “No. Give it a try yourself - the mountains will still be there”

Background

Back in October 2008, as I was approaching early retirement, I set myself a target to climb every  2000ft top in England, which is documented on my English Nuttalls Peak Bagging blog in the form of a photo diary.

Now, at time of writing (November 2012) I only have 12 left to complete and I am now starting to think more seriously about what I will do next.

After completing the English Nuttalls I had intended to complete the 190 Welsh Nuttalls, followed by the Scottish Munros. However after visiting Fort William twice with my wife in 2012, for our first ever visits to Scotland, I feel we have both fallen in love with the dramatic scenery you find around every corner. Not that there is likely to be anything wrong with Wales, we can discover there together as well.

Further more my obsessive approach to the English Nuttalls tended to alienate my wife against the prospect of going all the way to the Lake District to go out in all weathers just to see a pile of stones on a windswept hill.

By discarding this sequential approach to be more inclusive, my wife can share, enjoy and learn from our experiences without being dragged up the highest point in each area we visit. Taking account of other hill types and walks not involving the peaks to appreciate the hills from all aspects, not just the tops.

The hills provide the excuse to go to an area, get out in to the great outdoors, challenge your capabilities in many ways and last but not least - a great way to keep fit as well as a great excuse to get fit. But the area also has many other things to offer.

This focus on exclusively Nuttalls delayed my appreciation of what each area in England has to offer. It was not until I went to Northumberland and completed the Cheviots in one weekend how much I was going to miss out if I did not return. 

Our approach in Scotand & maybe Wales will be different. Yes I want to come up to Scotland as often as I can, and yes I want to go up every Munro, but not to the exclusion of everything there is to offer. There are other things to do and see including appreciation of the local areas, lower level hills and walks not to mention the secluded beaches, coach & rail journeys as well as many Scottish Heritage sights.

So although the blog is about the Scottish Munros other hills and walks will be included as well as a diary to show our progression from English hill walkers to Scottish mountain walkers.