Scotland at Last

Had another trip to Scotland to fit in a few hills. Of the three walks we had targeted we settled on the hardest as the weather later in the week looked to be getting poorer.

So on Monday we traveled to Spean Bridge parking at Corriechoille to walk the Grey Corries plus a couple of outliers – four Munro’s in total. The first target hill was Stob Ban we got through the first gate to be confronted by an unusual sight the “Wee Minister” a lifelike carving made out of wood. I would imagine on a dreek, foggy day it might look otherworldy.

The “Wee Minister”

It took about an hour and a half on the track to reach to Lairig Leacach Bothy from there we headed up the east ridge to the top of Stob Ban a very shapely peak, a fine mountain in its own right, but completely dwarfed by the Grey Corries which it lies behind. The descent from here was short but steep down scree slopes to the bealach to Stob Choire Claurigh the first of the Grey Corries.

Stob Ban from Stob Choire Claurigh

It was a good pull up to the top of Stob Choire Claurigh and the views from the top were expansive especially along the ridge to Stob Coire an Laoigh there were three tops inbetween but the drop between them was minimal and although it took nearly an hour and a half to get to the other end it was enjoyable.

Stob Choire Claurigh from Stob Ban

Looking along the Grey Corries Ridge

It was a good pull up to the top of Stob Choire Claurigh and the views from the top were expansive especially along the ridge to Stob Coire an Laoigh there were three tops inbetween but the drop between them was minimal and although it took nearly an hour and a half to get to the other end it was enjoyable.

The ridge without me in the way with Stob Coire an Laoigh at the end.

As we arrived at the cairn on top of the days third Munro Stob Coire an Laoigh we met our first people of the day, believe it or not they were from Burton-on-Trent! At this point the last hill of the day was in sight and it look a good way away and steep. However, I had no intention of returning so after a quick bite to eat Joy and I headed along the rest of the ridge and descended down a rocky nose of the top Stob Corrie Easain and climbed steeply up Sgurr Choinnich Mor the fourth of the day. It was probable the best hill of the day, but it didn’t feel like it! 

After a couple of photographs we had to retrace our steps over Stob Coire Easian to descend using the hills north ridge this seemed to go on for miles we eventually dropped down east to a gorge and cross the river, then having to climb our of the gorge to find the path which led to a abandoned tramline which took us back to the car. We arrived back at 8.30pm eleven hours after we started. It had been a fulfilling day, but more importantly one of our hardest remaining walks was in the bag. Needing a couple of days to recover it became apparent that the weather was going to worsen, that coupled with a phone call from work to say they were a couple of people short ended the trip. I am glad we chose this one first, I now won’t have sleepless nights about it.

Sgurr Choinnich Mor from Stob Coire Easain

Sunday 16th June

I have spent a bit of time at Shustoke recently but there has been very little around. I took a walk around on Sunday and there were still around eight Common Tern but little else on the Reservoir itself although there were 48 Great Crested Grebe.

The highlight was a Cuckoo which was my first for the year for Shustoke. The Spotted Flycatchers in the garden are breeding which I am delighted about, at least I have a good reason for gardening now.

Thursday 6 June

Not Shustoke Reservoir this time but on Tuesday evening Joy and I did something we don’t often do! We sat in the garden and enjoyed it, rather than work in it. I was on my second coffee when with my naked eye I picked up a bird flitting around in the big oak tree. My first instinct was that it was Spotted Flycatcher so I rushed inside to fetch my binoculars, loh and behold it wasn’t one but two. They were also carrying nesting material. Those of you who read the blog might remember that last year in June I found a dead Spotted Flycatcher in the garden, that got me thinking at the time “have I missed them”.

Well it might well be that I have. Anyway I am highly chuffed.

Spotted Flycatcher in the garden.

Birmingham City Centre

I did my annual trip with the Captain to Birmingham City Centre, not shopping but looking for Black Redstart, apparently they haven’t been doing to well. We searched a couple of the traditional sites that I used to check out 20 years ago for the WMBC and the Black Redstart Survey. We were lucky we had two birds, one at each site. There was quite a few species on offer we had a pair of Mistle Thrush feeding young at St Paul’s Square and unusually a Stock Dove!

On the way back I checked out the Reservoir and there were the usual dozen or so Common Tern but not much else.