Eastern Highlands and the Moray Coast

We've been away for the last week touring the Eastern Scottish Highlands and the Moray Coast in our new campervan! It was not the original first camper holiday that was planned. My shoulder injury had put paid to that escapade (a climbing trip to Wales). So we rethought the week and decided that we'd check out so new places in Scotland - almost all new to P, some new to me!

Firstly we did stay around for the Wasdale Fell race. I was supposed to be racing this, and despite knowing better I still wanted to put myself through the torture of watching a race I couldn't compete in. We also had a friend up to stay who was racing. We didn't hang around for the start but headed up from Brackenclose towards Wasdale Head and Styhead, but cut up via Piers Gill and Lingmell Col to the summit of Scafell Pike. We then walked back down the route towards Broad crag, and esk Hause. On the way we spotted the then happy and smiling face of a fellow club mate halfway round his BG round. He later succeeded in coming in in 23:52!!

We met the leading man - Rob jebb as he went through Esk Hause checkpoitn, apparently not needing any jelly babies as its to late for him by that stage! Simon Bailey and Pete Vale were a few minutes back and then runners came past us at a steady rate all the way to Styhead, including the first lady Pippa Jackson, being fed well by hubbie and our mate Dave. After watching a fair number come through Styhead, we headed down to Wasdale.

On Sunday, P and Dave went climbing on Buckbarrow while I pottered around getting the van ready and also having a go on this years torture birthday pressie: a turbo trainer. I've used these before but not in any seriousness or consistent way, and again this time I hopped on and just had a play with what I could and couldn't do! My god they make your legs hurt!! It made me realised just how little I actually try when riding!!

Sunday night we headed north, kipping near the start of the mtb trails in Pittmedden Forest near Perth. Monday, we trundled up the Fife coast, pikcing up scoff for the week, maps for areas we didn't have and then we headed to the coast at Newtonmill, to the bouldering there. P 'ticked the crag', while i sunbathed and read. Most unlike me!!
Tuesday was a big day, as we stayed up near the Spittle of Glen Muick, and set off up Lochnagar. The weatehr was forecast to be showery, and we got the full brunt of one heading up the ladder towards the summit area, but by the time we reached the top it had passed on as we stayed dry for the rest of the day. We had the summit to ourselves and pretty good views from the top. We decided to head on to Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach, and from there we headed onto Carn an Sagairt Mor, feeling distinctly like Monroe baggers!! It was them obvious that the thing we had to do was head back via the summits of Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn, getting fantastic views of the crags of Creag an Dubh Loch, that famous climbing area. we then followed the estate track back to the car park. A total of 17.5 miles for the day, and only one soaking!

Wednesday, we headed north to the coast near Elgin so P could check out the bouldering near Cummingston. dEspite the conditions being humid and with showers floating around, we had a good day avoiding any really wetting and P got a fair bit ticked. It was a lovely spot, and I felt quite content (well i had to be didn't I!) to pootle around on the boulder beach, spot P when needed and take photos.

Thursday was my birthday, as we planned a reasonable day in the Cairngorms. P had never been to the north side, so we stopped in the Aviemore area and headed up Cairngorm from the Corrie Cas car park, beating the first train of the day to the resturant. We had the summit of Cairn Gorm to ourselves, which was a novel experience. Our route took up down into Loch Avon, past the Shelter Stone (we were ticking off classic scottish rock climbing venues without actually climbing!), back out of the valley to the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin for butties, and across past Loch Etchachan to Ben Macdui (again both summits entirely to ourselves, across to Cairn Lochan, before descending the ridge between Coire an Lochan and Coire an t-Sneachda. This psed one or two issues, when I had to down climb a short chimney which tested my arm/shoulder and also when I slipped and landed on my bad arm. It hurt at the time, but no more damamge done! It certainly bought home that I was in not fir state to think about running on the fells again yet! We had managed to stay dry until then, but about 10 minutes walk for the van, the rain started and we uppe the pace back to the van and a brew without getting too wet!

Friday dawned wet and stayed pretty wet, we had a second brekkie and some retail ni therapy in Aviemore before travelling westwards towards Ballachulish. We stopped on the way and dashed up Beinn a' Chaorainn in pouring rain and strong winds, but after getting to the summit decided that this wasn't the most fun in the world, and headed down for another brew in the van! Fantastic!!
Saturday dawned just as wet so we departed south. Neither of us feel the need to walk mountains in the rain just because!! Especially as we've done many in the Glencoe area already!

Since then I've managed to put a good effort in on the turbo, with a proper structured session and a few short walks. Last night I got the go ahead from my physio to start running on the roads, maybe road riding and also swimming, but no ruff stuff and no climbing. Shame the nearest pool is over 30 mins drive away, but it did occur to me that Wastwater is nearer! mmmm....