Sunday 28 June 2009

Camping on Kerrera.

Ben and Rebecca playing pans!
Gill on Kerrera.


Ben checking out the tent with Gylen Castle behind.


Weekend camp, not bad hey!


This weekend I had some time off!
We headed to Kerrera to camp near Gylen Castle.
Andy, Gill and Ben were joined by Graeme, Gemma and Rebecca for her first wild camp.
The weather was amazing yet again, warm and breezy the island of Kerrera was just lovely.
Camping under the castle of Gylen was charming and the views to the islands of Jura, Scarba etc was beautiful.
Just five Min's from Oban, the island offers a great days walk around it or some enjoyable walking over its moors.
Back to Mull to work on Monday, i hope the weather holds?

Friday 26 June 2009

Canyon, Bivi and climbing on Mull, for Mid summer madness!

The view on Ulva from my sleeping bag.
Andy working a new route at The Gillies Crag, steep and cheerful!




Andy with Hamish on Ulva.



Andy starting the Ben More Descent.
Andy. Liam, Andy and Nigel spent their evenings exploring the hidden gems of Mull.
After work we ventured into some exciting and remote corners of Mull as part of our on going love of playing outside!
We recorded the second descent of The Ben More Canyon and worked on some thin steep walls at the Gillies crag.
The Weather help so much, dry sunny and a gentle NE wind to keep the beasties off all added up to load of fun!
The highlight was a wonderful bivi on Ulva on Tuesday night!










Mid summer week on Mull.

Looking back to the wilderness from our Ulva campsite.
Back in the gorge on day one!

the guys loving it!


misty day at our crag.




Ulva, calm warm and a slight breeze from the se, no midges!



Started so wet and ended so warm and sunny!
Hebridean Pursuits were working with a young carers group form Ayrshire this week.
The young folk took part in a multi activity residential.
We climbed, canyoned, scrambled, walked and camped and kayaked and snorkeled and well loads!
The group really put 100% into the whole adventure.









The photos say it all really!

Wednesday 17 June 2009

Wet and Dry in the Mamores.













Andy took , Kyle, Dolyion and Stuart, backpacking into the Mamores over the last two days.

It was the lads first real taste of wild camping and walking with 'pretty ' heavy rusacs on!
They did so well, Tuesday was realy warm and close, whilst Wednesday was so so wet!
Setting off from Mamore lodge Hotel, we followed the well made tracks to Loch Eilde Mor and the stalkers path over to Towards Glas Bheinn, a remote and rolling Corbett i had previously ascended last year!
A circular route was taken and we pitch up on the south shores of Loch Eilde Mor, by a lovely little burn on a raised grass area with enough room for two tents.
The sunset was lovely over Sgor Eilde Beag and the Devils ridge. A clear night followed until the heavens opened in the morning.
Wednesday was so wet, only clearing when i got home to Oban in the late afternoon.
It is just great to wonder in these hill tracks without specific summits or routes to aim for just, being there is enough. The evening was spent skimming stones and gathering bog wood for a small yet very welcome fire.
The walk out was to say the least unpleasant, soaked to the core, we sort sanctuary in the Ice Factor, where i returned my new leaking Boots and had a welcome brew with the boys.
This area offers vast tracks of path systems and bothies , including a train link to Fort William, WORTH AN EXPLORE !

Friday 12 June 2009

Culter Fell and Ayrshire.

Arran from Sea Mill.
Andy on summit of Culter Fell.


Heading up Kings Beck.

More meetings and visits to youth projects who are about to come to Mull on residentials with www.hebrideanpursuits.com this summer, enabled another raid on a hill i had not been up before.
At a mere, 748m it is not even a Corbett, however it is a fine little beast, and the weather created a perfect atmosphere, sunny on way up at 7 am, hail and heavy showers on way down at 8.30am, the views across Ayrshire to Hart Fell, the Lowthers and to Arran were just wonderful.
The way up from Coulter Head Farm was very easy, following rough tracks and heather. A remote atmosphere is given by the rolling fells and large corries below, i would imagine in the mist it would a challenge in this terrain.
There is a lay by you can park up in at the start of the reservoir road, which is not open to the public, in cars!
A sweet start to the day!
Now I need to go and do the Lowthers!

Thursday 4 June 2009

Early start on Ben Vrackie.

LOOKING ACROSS TO BEINN A'GHLO.

EARLY MORNING SHADOWS.


Ben Vrackie, at 7am.

JUST BEFORE THE SUMMIT.



Going to meetings is all well and good but the call of the hills beckoned, after spending the day in Easterhouse, meeting youth project members i headed for Perthshire and its fine hill Ben Vrackie.
An early start, beat the heat of the day, the northerly breeze cooled me down on the summit.
At 841 m it is a fine Corbett, with excellent outlook across the landscape of the east. Snow could still be seen over in the gorms and Beinn a'ghlo and its sisters looked majestic.
The walk is easy, 2 hours up and down, but the terrain is just so sweet, mature woodland opens out into open heath land and the obvious path leads to a small loch below the final step thrutch to the summit. From where the whole of Scotland seemed to be seen!

If you have not been up, go up!
Exercised and refreshed Back at the van by 9am and a dash to Perth for more meetings with young folk about their forth coming residential on Mull.


Monday 1 June 2009

First day of summer! Sun sun sun! hotter than Tenerife!!!!!!!

Small surf this time of the year, but perfect!

The west coast is unique in its history and landscape.

Gill and i headed for the coast, only a few mins away to seek a cooler breeze.


Evenings at present are so tranquil.
the first day of summer is here, officialy....

yep its official, its hot up here in Oban, 27 degrees in my back garden yesterday.
no not on the hill, surfing or kayaking, but planting our veg!
sometimes its good to be home and not dashing around, we do enough of that.
The sound of Mull was amazing last night so still, there is no where like the west coast in these conditions!

A week on Mull. Hebridean Pursuits Ltd is 20 years old!

The Cadets on Ulva, during their Bronze award expedition, a tough few days!
The Cadets in our back garden, sampling the largest waterfall in our canyon.

The group at the very fine single pitch crag we use out on Mull's Ross peninsula.



one of many pools on the descent of the west burn at Tavool....


Hebridean Pursuits, have just finished a great week on Mull based at Tavool House, with the Huddersfield Air Cadets.
The cadets were back for more adventures after last years successes on their residential.
This year we managed to squeeze in, rock climbing, abseiling, canyoning, scrambling, gorge scrambling, hill walking, a Duke of Edinburgh, bronze award assessment and a camp expedition as well as few team building events, so loads done and and loads achieved!

Mull, this year has been slow to blossom after a cold winter but the recent incredible spell of weather has brought the island alive. We Saw otters and two golden eagles this week and a short eared owl!
We have some weeks left for adventure trips or self catered holidays at Tavool House, so have a look at our website and contact the office for our new brochure on the the accommodation and area. Its great for families and special parties!
Andy is back next week for more adventures on Mull, and the summer is pretty booked up with adventure seekers!