Day 1 – Ben Lawers 4

I was in peak fitness at this stage, having just returned from 2 months in Peru, Argentina and Chile, culminating with the O Trek in Torres del Paine National Park.

So bagging the 4 Munros of Beinn Ghlas, Ben Lawers, Meall Corranaich and Meall a Choire Leith was a realistic target, even given a 9am start (after breakfast in the hotel) and allowing for darkness to set in around 4-4.30pm.

It was a very cold but clear day, with a top daytime temperature forecast to be around 3 degrees in the valley. I set off wearing my ski trousers with warm leggings underneath, and was soon feeling too warm on the initial ascent of Beinn Ghlas. The path was covered in frost and ice but the going was still fairly easy as the path was very clear and not particularly steep.

Nearing the summit of Beinn Ghlas the wind picked up, adding significant wind chill, and I was now grateful for my layers.

The summit of Beinn Ghlas was mostly in cloud when I arrived, though it was shifting rapidly, providing spectacular views through the breaks.

I put my spikes on for the descent to the bealach and kept them on for the rest of the hike; I was very grateful for them on the final pull up to the top of Ben Lawers where the wind was threatening to knock me over, as well as on the subsequent scramble up Meall Corainaich.

Overall a great day out bagging these 4, with some glorious early winter views.

Day 2 – Meall nan Tarmachan

This was a very straightforward out and back; the temperature was colder than the previous day and I didn’t hang about on the top. I also opted not to tackle the ridge given the wintry conditions – bagging the single Munro was enough!

Day 3 – Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin

This was thankfully a milder day than the previous day had been, with almost no wind, and once again I was fortunate to experience clear skies and glorious views. The only time I needed the spikes was on a section of the path up Ben Vorlich which was completely covered in ice – easier to put the spikes on and go straight up it than to try to clamber around on the grassy hillside next to it.

I had been a bit nervous about the scramble up Stuc a Chroin, having read various conflicting reports about its level of difficulty, but found it pretty straightforward, and thankfully free of ice. There was only really one very short section that required careful hand and foot placement to pull myself up – the rest was more of a rocky path with occasional use of hands to aid ascent.

Can’t say I enjoyed the endless long traverse round a frozen boggy hillside on the way back though. Certainly not in a hurry to do that again!