Beinn Fhada - A Snow Slope Too Far

Distance: 15.3 miles

Time: 6.75 hours (incl stops)

Weather: Perfect winter conditions, sub-zero, no clouds

Munros Attempted: Beinn Fhada

Munros Summited: None

View the route

Another perfect morning in Kintail: the air icy and cold and the sky already a deep shade of …

The Sidlaws

Distance: 9.7 miles

Time: 5 hours (including stops)

The route:

Map created by EveryTrail:GPS Geotagging

For once the malevolent weather gods of Aberdeen had taken a Sunday off, the coach arrived early and we even got a stop for bacon rolls at the services of Strathcaro …

Sgor Buidhe

This time last year I was heading up the flanks of Morrone in a deep covering of fresh snow. This year's detox walk was somewhat different with ice and winds providing the entertainment as Dave and I crossed the mysterious Sgor Buidhe plateau above Ballater.

Sgor …

Mt Battock with the Stockets

There was excitement, adventure and bacon rolls even before we hit the hill on our trip to Glen Esk for the November 2008 walk. The coach turned up a few minutes late but our troop of 19 souls who braved an inclement, dark, cold Aberdeen morning were soon being whisked …

Now with added GPS

For Christmas I received a very good Garmin Etrex Vista HCx GPS device for use when out walking the Scottish hills. As well as keeping me on the right path it will also satisfy my inner geek by providing myriad stats ready for analysis after the walk.

To test it out we …

Major Matt Mason USA at The Music Club

Leaving the Saturday evening hustle of Langstane Place (gateway to Soul - it ought to be guarded by a three-headed dog) the Music Club is found by climbing a series of brightly lit yet eerily quiet stairs, following makeshift signs and holding on to shiny stainless …

Public Lecture at the University of Aberdeen

This evening I attended the first in the University of Aberdeen's series of Inaugural Lectures. Held in the very fine surroundings of Kings College we were treated to a talk that was fascinating in its breadth and confident in its delivery.

Professor Cairns Craig (a …

First Light for 80mm Refractor

Autumn is pretty much my favourite season. I think it reminds me a lot of the first term at University which was generally always the least stressful. After a disappointing summer where I failed to observe any bright Noctilucent Cloud displays it has been great the last …

Frightened Rabbit, Moshulu, Aberdeen

I don't like Moshulu as a gig venue. The floor sucks the life out of your shoes as quickly as the acoustics suck the life out of the music. Still, it is a testament to the brilliance of Frightened Rabbit that they managed to turn the place, and the somewhat placid …

Monadh Mor and Beinn Bhrotain

Fourteen hardy Stockets climbed aboard Gordon's Luxury Coach at Mile End School early on Saturday morning. Silvester did an excellent job of tearing around the top of the Cairngorms but even so it was more than three hours after leaving Aberdeen that we rolled past …

Sunday - Ben Dam(p)h

As expected Sunday dawned with a fine, damp sort of feel though the mugginess of the last few days was holding on. Initially there was some confusions as our guide Ben was supposed to have the company of his girlfriend and son but due to …

Beinn Iutharn Mhor

Our day started with a close encounter with Morning Prayer on Radio Scotland but sadly, as we trudged along the landrover track towards the foot of Beinn Iutharn Mhor, it became increasingly clear that the rain gods had not been appeased by this.

A fairly uneventful …

Culardoch and Carn Liath

For once I was actually at the rendezvous point before Dave, who in turn arrived a fair amount of time before the driver of our bus out to Braemar. Despite leaving Aberdeen slightly late we made good time along the quiet North Deeside road and after dropping off the …

East Glenshee 6

After heading to the West Coast and returning without a single additional Munro to my name last week (see this post on the spectacular Kinlochewe to Poolewe walk) I was ready to get out of Aberdeen and get up some hills a bit closer to home. Inspired by Steven Fallon's …

King Creosote and Friends, Lemon Tree

After six "dark" months the Lemon Tree, Aberdeen's premier alternative venue for comedy, dance, drama and of course music, has re-opened its doors to the public. As the final act of a weekend of events to mark the occasion, King Creosote made the journey up from Fife to …

The Midnight Walk (Kinlochewe to Poolewe)

For any keen hillwalker Friday in Aberdeen was not a day to be looking out of the window. Passing thunderstorms, and the occasional shower of monsoon-like proportions turned the city into a grey, swirling, sodden mess. The Met Office reported conditions were not much …

The Royal Cairns of Balmoral

Thanks to a more reliable "dual alarm" system I finally managed to join fellow Stocket Dave on a non-group walk today. Taking the 7:45am 201 we headed west as far as Crathie, the starting point for a very pleasant walk around the Balmoral estate under strong June …

Skye Weekend

Day 1 - The Drive West

Aberdeen was shrouded in cloud as we headed down the A90 on the first stage of the journey to Skye. A subsequent damp stop in Dunkeld (where we stumbled upon a flower show in the Cathedral) was followed by a drive up the busy A9 between mountains …

Photograph of 2008

Far, far too many people to name have already posted about the image that appeared on the Phoenix website shortly after the lander touched down beautifully on Mars early on Tuesday morning. However, I'm not going to make an excuse because amongst the recent images of …

Stars of the Lid and support, The Tunnels

A very different atmosphere pervaded the Tunnels for tonight's gig compared to Caribou last night. Tables adorned with candles filled the floorspace and the audience was much quieter as Glissando, a duo from Leeds took to the stage. A combination of Richard's subtle …