Isle of Harris, Day 1. Travelling and Birding

Finally, having taken 9 hours for a 7 hour journey, we arrived at our excellent B&B in Luss on the shores of Loch Lomond with clear skies and the temperature up to 24 degrees. It felt tropical when we got out of the car having left home at 9.00 am in cloud and 9C. Our getaway had gone well having packed the day before. The drive up the A1 went well with the roadside awash with oxeye daisies and excellent views of red kite and buzzard. Things fell apart when we reached the A66 and the traffic ground to an halt at Greta Bridge. Mr Google informed us that there had been a serious accident involving a lorry and a car several miles up the road which was closed for at least 2 hours. We couldn't understand, then, why the traffic kept creeping forward especially in the outside Lane. After 45 mins stuck in the queue we reached the turn off to Barnard Castle and took it. Our diversion was considerably slower but took us through beautiful Teesdale scenery, through Middleton and past High Force. We stopped for a brew high above Alston, having had our sandwiches in the traffic jam. Sitting out on the moors we heard curlew, watched lapwing displaying and a wheatear perched on a fence post. The verges were frothing with white cow parsley and patches of red campion. Continuing through Alston we finally reached the M6 at Carlisle. The rest of the journey was straightforward apart from more hold ups on the M74 in Glasgow. Our B&B is excellent, comfortable and self contained with our own small breakast room and everything for teas and a continental breakfast in the fridge. Our evening meal was just around the corner in the family run Village Rest bistro followed by a walk down to the Loch for some photographs of Ben Lomond. We were amazed at the large numbers of young people who seemed to have come out from Glasgow and were swimming from the pier. 

Munro Bagging in the Mamores, Day 7.

Sadly it was time to return home, but as we drove up Glen Coe the week finsished as it began with some photography of the Buachaille, know affectionately as 'The Buckle'.  Then it was home with one brief stop to photograph Ben Lomond from the lochside.

Scotland 2015. Day 26 Massed Bluebells Above Loch Lomond.

It's been a somewhat bitty day today, partly because of the constant rain and partly as we have been packing and cleaning and reorganising the van and car ready for the long haul home on Thursday.  The weather last night was horrendous: a tree blown down and a couple in a tent nearby which was demolished and left them sheltering in their car during the night.  They threw the tent away this morning.  Eventually, later this afternoon, we ventured out for a local walk through delightful woodlands and walk up the hillside which is a spectacular sight as it is a mass of bluebells with magnificent views over the loch.  There is always something special about woods in the wet, especially when the sun puts in an appearance.

A Rennie-Mackintosh day in Glasgow tomorrow for our final day of this trip.

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Scotland 2015. Day 25, The Move to Loch Lomond

The day had finally come to leave Mull with great sadness.  We have fallen in love with the island and, despite the weather have had a fabulous time; we have certainly been gifted with wonderful light.  We have photographed and/or seen or our target wildlife species, although otters are a work in progress.  The highlights have, without doubt, been the fabulous views of the sea eagles, especially from Mull Charters boat.  I was also delighted with the corncrakes on Iona; a real bonus.  We have seen much of the island and now have a good feel for it.
In view of the dire weather forecast we were on the move early and caught the 10.00 am ferry from Fishnish (what a wonderful name)  to Lochaline.  We managed to get packed in the dry(ish) but torrential rain and 50+ mph winds were forecast for the afternoon; the ferry was due to stop running from 2.00 pm.  The journey along single track roads to Ardgour went well and we were straight on to the Corran Ferry.  The Glencoe hills looked magnificently grim in the lowering weather, although some of the tops were clear.  There was a copious covering of fresh snow right down to the road in places.  We stopped for lunch at the top of the glen where I managed to get some (poor) photos of the classic view of Buachaille Etive Mor.  Our journey then took us over the wild Rannoch Moor where I photographed the hills of the Black Mount under a lowering sky.  As we came down off the moor towards Tyndrum and Crianlairich in temporarily improving weather, we had excellent views of the Glen Lui Hills and Ben More.  Interestingly the corrie that Peter and I had climbed to the summit of Glen Lui last summer was now a fantastic snow field.  The final part of the journey took us from Crianlairich alongside Loch Lomond in strengthening winds.  Fortunately we had booked a hard standing pitch as the site was sodden and some grass pitches unusable.  We managed to get pitched and organised quickly in the dry before the heavens opened to give torrential rain for an hour or so.  We did get out for a walk on the loch side before retiring to a malt and bed.  During the night the winds increased and this morning a tree by the toilet block was down.

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Munro Bagging, August 2014, Day 1

The sky was clear and the weather seemed settled as Peter and I drove along the dead end road up the east side of Loch Lomond on Monday 4th August, after a long drive from Lymm in Cheshire.  As we drove up towards Loch Lomond after crossing the Clyde, we  tantalising glimpses of the summit of Ben Lomond kept revealing themselves, clear in the late afternoon sun; our spirits were high ready for the next day.  It was very busy when we arrived at Rowardennen Youth Hostel at the road head; we had forgotten that we were on the West Highland Way and that Ben Lomond is the most Southerly Munro and readily accessible from Glasgow.  Many people were also using the hostel as a base for the Commonwealth Games.  Fortunately we were booked in and enjoyed a good night's sleep.
We breakfasted early the next morning and were walking by 8.30.  The previous day's clear skies had gone and low cloud covered the high summits.  Ah well, such is life!  We had opted for a clockwise route over the mountain, choosing the quiet Ptarmigan Ridge for the ascent and saving the busy tourist route for the walk down.  We saw no one on the climb up and when we reached the cloud enshrouded summit there were only two other people there.  Before entering the low cloud, however, Loch Lomond was spread before us, narrow in the north, widening in the south and scattered with many islands.  It was very muggy and warm and we were soon taking off layers.  Fortunately it remained dry and we had no need to don waterproofs.  We were delighted to find scotch argus butterflies on the way up, although they proved virtually impossible to photograph with compact cameras.  The hills are now beginning to blaze with colour as the paler lavender coloured ling joins the more vibrant purple bell heather.  Bog asphodel was plentiful as was harebell and butterwort.  We found plenty of devil's bit scabious and tormentil dotted the areas of shorter grass.  Lousewort, milkwort and heath spotted orchid were all present but less plentiful.  On the bird front, meadow pipits were common and we saw the odd raven.
After coffee and fruit cake on the summit we set off down.  So far we had had the mountain almost to ourselves but we met increasing numbers of walkers on the way up as the day progressed.  Annoyingly for us, they were the more fortunate as, by the time we had reached the lower slopes, the summit had cleared of cloud.  Nevertheless we had an enjoyable day in the mountains with only the drive through the Trossachs to Killin remaining before it was beer o'clock.

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Loch Lomond from the Youth Hostel.

Looking towards the Arrochar Alps from Ben Lomond.

Looking towards the Arrochar Alps from Ben Lomond.

The Cobbler in the distance.

Heat Spotted Orchid.

Looking down to the loch.

North from Ben Lomond.

North from Ben Lomond.

Loch Lomond and the Arrochar Alps.

The Ptarmigan Ridge on the left and the summit of Ben Lomond.

Art work in the car park.

Looking north along Loch Lomond.

Loch Lomond.

Rowardennen Youth Hostel.

Rowardennen Youth Hostel.

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond

Peter with Loch Lomond beyond.

Scotch Argus

Looking east from the slopes of Ben Lomond.