As Mhairi was away from Thursday to Sunday, I opted for the “mice will play” option for the weekend. On Thursday I had a very pleasant outing to Polney Crag with Jim, where we climbed Cuticle Crack, Airy Arete and The Creep in lovely autumn sunshine above woods rich with the colours of highland Perthshire.
I’d decided to go up to the cottage and tick off a couple of Corbetts that I knew Mhairi had already done, so on Friday lunchtime after a morning session at The Peak climbing wall with the other “enthusiastic veteran athletes” (copyright K Ratcliffe) I set off towards Crianlarich in glorious sunshine. I reckoned that I would have time to stop in Glen Dochart and nip up Beinn nan Imirean behind Auchessan with plenty of daylight to spare. When I arrived at Auchessan road end, I drove a little way up the farm road to turn the car before parking. I was surprised to see a large notice set in the middle of the road informing me that stalking was in progress on the hill, and giving various telephone numbers to phone. I decided to abort my plan, head to the cottage for lunch and go for a wander around Victoria Bridge later in the afternoon. It was a good plan, as the views were stunning.
On Saturday I set of down Glen Falloch in thick fog, heading forMeall an Fhudair. My anticipation increased as I burst out into golden sunshine on the way down the glen. It was the prelude to a walk rich in magnificent autumn scenery.
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The weather wasn’t quite as perfect as Saturday’s, but it was still a wonderful day to be out on the hill.