Most of my hill trips were organised around completing the Grahams, resulting in a happy gathering on 27 November with a traverse of Tinto, from Wiston to the village inn in Thankerton, for the final one. It surprised me to find that I'm the first of 997 Grampian Club members over 78 years to complete Munros, Corbetts and Graharns.
Earlier, I was enjoying the cycle in for Ben Armine and Creag Mhor so much one morning that I overshot the planned start of the walk by 21/2 miles; only the closeness of Loch Choire made me look at the map. Next morning it was thick fog to drive from Helmsdale to Loch More for Sabhal Beag. By starting the walk at 7am I was only 'caught' by the stalking party as they were going in and I was outward bound.
I had fun and games with a GOML bull in the glen on the return from Sgorr Mhic Eacharna and Beinn Bheag (18B), which finally ended with him taking fright of me and swimming the river to join his friends. He won six weeks later as he was waiting at the stile over the electric fence as I went for Sgurr nan Cnamh. I was also seen off the south top of Gulvain; after I sat to let a hen ptarmigan gather her brood, the husband accompanied me to ensure I went to the summit and on to Mullach Coire nan Geur-oirean for a delightful ridge walk, but the walk out was even longer than the hill's name.
Full co-operation was received for access along Glen Forsa for Beinn na Duatharach and Beinn Bhuidhe (and other parts of Mull) during the Grampian Club meet in the first weekend of October. Similar co-operation was received the next weekend from Ardtornish estate office for Beinn Mheadhoin and Beinn a'Chaisil (18C). The diving centre hostel at Lochaline has two-tier bunks in en-suite rooms.
Our 'annual cruise' took the same format as last year. Full board at Doune (Knoydart) the first week, when the highlight was landing on Oigh-sgeir (beyond Sandray and Canna), a group of three islands joined by bridges and covered in spring flowers giving suitable cover for the nesting of eider ducks and shags. Before automation of the lighthouse the keepers had built a five-hole golf course, which must be the only course spread over three islands.
The ladies returned home whilst the men cruised the second week to new pastures, going south from Mallaig for Cruachan Carna, Cruach Scarba, the Gulf of Corryvreckan, Gometra, and also An Sleaghach (18C), which was 2km from Loch Linnhe instead of 12km from Ardtornish. On the Garvellach islands I learned that St Brendan of Clonfert founded a monastery in 542 AD - 21 years before St Columba founded Iona (which I had understood to be the first landing of Christianity in Scotland). A similar education was received staying at Wanlockhead youth hostel, where a plaque indicates it as the highest village in Scotland (whereas I previously understood Tomintoul was the highest).
The most enjoyable of the 22 islands landed on was Lunga of the Treshnish isles. The ground was covered in bluebells, primroses, violets, orchids, sea campion, sea pinks, yellow flags and silver weed, making the island a designated site of special scientific interest. The strange stac, Dun Cruit, visible from the highest point, turned out to be attached to the island, but I didn't attempt to scramble up as the base was covered with guillemots, so I sat down amongst the shag nests, where one cock bird kept guard of his mate sitting on eggs and would spit if I looked too closely. Back over the summit to sit amongst the puffins - I can sit for hours watching their playful displays.
