What is mindfulness? There is a lot of nonsense being written, and money being made, about mindfulness.  Living in Scotland we don’t need to spend money on achieving mindfulness, we can start by utilising the incredible nature that surrounds us. Mindfulness is living in the present moment.   “The actual moment is the only time over which we have dominion. Live the actual moment. Only this actual moment is life.” Thích Nhất Hạnh   Thích Nhất Hạnh is a Buddhist monk, author, and mindfulness teacher also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967 by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   Mindfulness a ..read more

An Caisteal and Beinn a’Chroin, near Crianlarich An Caisteal and Beinn a’Chroin should not be confused with anything that could be classed as easier, they are a nightmare, it is a lot of trudging!  That said, there are some spectacular views and An Caisteal and Beinn a’Chroin are worth the effort… Don’t tell Kilted Hiker, I am still giving him a hard time.  He made me do these as my 2nd and 3rd Munro… and I was wanting something easy. That said, I am very glad to have done them, for no other reason than I don’t have to do them again!   An Caisteal Stage 1: Carparking (180m) to Summit of An Cai ..read more

Top 10 Easiest Munros Here is Fat Chap Up Hills Guide to the Top 10 Easiest Munros.  There is no such think as an easy Munro, however, some are easier than others.  Many of these lists floating around the internet, and they are all equally subjective.  Some are two doubles and a triple to get you started. They can all be done in an easy half day, but there is no need to rush.  I remember my first time, could not believe the views, and they are still my fix. My criteria of selection is based on distance and ascent.   Easiest Munros 1 to 3: The Cairnwell Trio Combined 9.1km of hiking and 404m o ..read more

Meall a’ Bhuiridh Meall a’ Bhuiridh is part of the Black Mount Hills Range. The Black Mount Range runs from Loch Tulla and Loch Dochart in the south to the River Etive and the Kingshouse Hotel, at the start of Glencoe, in the north.  Meall a’ Bhuiridh stands at 1108m (3635ft), however, the carpark is at handy 362m so that is already a promising start.  If you enjoy hiking in Glen Coe you should also try Hiking the Twin Peaks of Buachaille Etive Beag: Stob Dubh and Stob Coire Raineach. I am not really a fan of translating Gaelic hill names into English, as no one really cares. However, Meall a ..read more

The Auld Wives Lift Right, the Auld Wives Lift is another one of these strange geological sites around Milngavie, north of Glasgow, that make an amusing photograph.  We can include the Whangie and Finnich Glen with The Devil’s Pulpit in the same category. Auld Wives Lift can be found by trudging across Craigmaddie Muir, 1.5 km north northeast of Baldernock and 4 km northeast of Milngavie.  Well, this is as maybe,  they are very handy for Marks and Spencer and many other locations for luncheon. Auld Wives Lift: Local Legends. Let’s get the nonsense out of the way first.  Alas unlike the Whangi ..read more

Buachaille Etive Beag and Glen Coe Buachaille Etive Beag is between Glen Coe and Glen Etive, on the edge of Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands.  I have always had a love affair with Glen Coe in particular the bleak and desolate landscape.  Captured by the atmosphere not doubt left over from the massacre of 13th February 1692 which leaves you with an sinister, ominous and foreboding sense.  In my opinion it is the most spectacular place in the British Isles.  More about the massacre in another post. I am not alone in my love for the menacing and threatening.  Dorothy Wordsworth, travelling ..read more

Hiking Meall Buidhe There seem to be various Mealles Buidhe (or whatever the plural is) scattered around Scotland. However, for the avoidance of doubt, this post is about the Meall Buidhe that is a Munro in Glen Lyon.  Glen Lyon is worth a look in its own right.  Largely overlooked by road builders, it is remote and undisturbed.  Some more serious hill walking and Munro blogs pithily observe the drive in is harder than climb . However, the sensible readers of this blog know that is rhetorical bo**ocks!   So, the factual stuff Meall Buidhe is 931m (3,054ft) high. The route discussed here is an ..read more

Meall Corranaich and Meall a’Choire Leith If you like quiet hills these are two for you.  Meall Corranaich and Meall a’Choire Leith are at the west end of the Ben Lawers ridge. They do not seem to have the same marketing director as Ben Lawers, so are often overlooked! So, they are frequently deserted.  On the two, yes two, occasions I have been up there with Kilted Hiker we met no more than three other people.   Meall Corranaich and Meall a’Choire Leith: Terrain So, Meall Corranaich 1069m (3507ft) and Meall a’Choire Leith 926m (3038ft) are not inconsiderable in their own right. The parking is ..read more

Ben Lawers: The Basics Ben Lawers 1,214m (3,983ft) and Beinn Ghlas is 1,103m (3,619ft) are two substantial Munros. Conventional thinking is that geology has not favoured Ben Lawers. It is 17ft just short of the 4,000ft goal. Until accurate measurement in the 1870s it had been considered to be over 4,000ft and in 1878 a group got together to build a 20ft cairn.  The cairn has since disappeared, and didn’t count towards the mountain’s height anyway! However, geology, or more the gods of carparking, favour the hiker. The carpark is at 450m which gives a splendid start to the day regardless over a ..read more