Training Log Archive: Thraws

Long steady run with Lu, displacement activity for Corbett bagging. Very enjoyable though. Figure of eight route from Dover Lane, via Patching Hill, Barpham Hill, Wepham Down, Springhead Hill, Chantry Post, Lea Farm, Perry Hill, Wepham Wood and Angmering Park Fm. Out and running for over 2 hours but felt like 1. Was light on my feet, but muscles from lower back all the way down to ankles felt badly misaligned. Took an ibuprofen and forgot about it after a while. Lovely day in a lovely place. And the route definitely a keeper.

This has been one of my favourite Scottish hills since I first went up in 1995, so on my return to the area with a grown-up Lu I chose it to showcase for her the best. Unfortunately the Scottish weather was not to be my ally. We set of under lowering clouds and got to Spidean Coinich half an hour inside the book time. However, it had started to rain. I persuaded Lu to try and ignore the weather, particularly as the day was a fairly short one, and we headed for Sail Gorm in deteriorating conditions. The turning point was, I think, the return along that ridge in stronger winds and heavier rain. She became cold and after finding and following the traverse path beneath Pt 745 it made sense for her to descend straight to the col. In the circumstances I forgot Sail Gsrbh just 500 metres from the top and decided to stick with her. The conditions and her state of mind meant I had to. Then it seemed a very long way back to the car and we were both soaked through. (We abandoned the holiday after that in the face of a very poor weather forecast and problems keeping stuff dry in the tent.)

Not a Corbett either, but Lucy and I promised ourselves this hill together years ago and the day had finally arrived. We drove back round to Inverkirkaig and set off in good conditions on the good path up to the Falls, which were well worth a diversion. Then the path to the foot of the hill proper becomes a bit boggy as it winds its way round all the water obstacles. Obviously the views of Scotland's weirdest hill are more than compensation as it draws ever nearer. We rested at the bottom then headed up the slope on a loose path to the col. All of a sudden we were aware of others as the lure of this unique mountain finally banished the Scottish solitude. The walk up to Caisteal Liath was delightful and the views absolutely spectacular. So much water, coast and a panoply of some of the land's finest hill shapes. Awesome. I fancied the Meall Mheadhonach top but Lu was for getting down. Certainly the walk out, in reverse, seemed a lot further than the walk in and went on and on through the bogs. But the sun came out and our spirits were high. A fine day for a very fine hill.

Needed a short day as we had driven up from Inverness and had to get to Lochinver, and Lu had been given a glimpse of SP the previous week, so it made sense to go for it. It looks spectacular, too, which no doubt accounts for its extraordinary popularity. We took the flagged path round to the right and were soon on the crest, but seemed to be the only ones interested in following it to the top. There was plenty of up and down here, and some tricky moves in places. Facing the last 'exposed' pitch we were suddenly hit by the northerly wind and my instinct was to go down the gully and look for an easier route. As a result we never 'summited' as we had actually quit just before the top without realising. And the climb down the gully was tricky enough to deter us from reascending after we cottoned on. Went on and circumnavigated the hill instead.