Ben Nevis

Date: 20/02/2010
Area: Ben Nevis, Scotland
Maps used: OS Sheet 41
Weather: Very cold, sunny and bright all the time, 1.5ft+ of snow

Route Description: Started early on from the north face car park at NN145765. The forest track from the car park is steep and tough, but after about half an hour you are out of the woods and at the upper car park where crossing the fence gets you to the start of the CIC hut track (NN149750). Walked all the way up to the CIC hut. From here there are numerous routes up Ben Nevis - the north face is like a climbing playground.  It was my first time here and I wanted to get to the top, so went with the easy route up Core Leis. So from the CIC hut continued southeast towards the col more or less at NN175714. The last section up the coire probably involves some grade I climbing - we went for a tiny gully which was covered in rock-hard ice, so in fairness probably some grade II. From the col, turned right towards the summit of Ben Nevis. This was easy going up as the weather was bright and one could see everything, but this can be dangerous terrain in whiteout conditions - watch out for the cliffs to the north. Got to the summit and then descended towards the famous Red Burn track, the easiest way out of Ben Nevis (in good visibility - look for the classic bearings in case of poor visibility). Descended clockwise along the mountain until joining the CIC hut track once more, then back to the car park.

Duration: 8 hours
Distance: 15km
Total Ascent: 1,294m

Stob Coire nan Lochan

Date: 19/02/2010
Area: Stob Coire nan Lochan, Scotland
Maps used: OS Sheet 41
Weather: Very cold, sunny most of the time, 1ft+ of snow

Route Description: Started from the car park below the Three Sisters in Glen Coe (NN168569). Followed the trail up Coire Nan Lochan (southwest), which was very icy from as low as 500m. About 250m before reaching the three lakes in the plateau, took a left turn (south) towards the east ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochan. Climbed the ridge from east to west until reaching the summit at 1,115m. Descended via the other side, moving northwest and then north, clockwise along the winding west ridge, until reaching the three lakes plateau again. Descended back to the car park via the Coire nan Lochan trail.

This is an easy climb but still very pleasant. I would like to go back and attempt some of the classic routes on the north face of Stob Coire nan Lochan, like Boomerang Gully, Twisting Gully or SC Gully (see "Winter Climbs Ben Nevis and Glen Coe", from Cicerone).

Duration: 6 hours
Distance: 7.8km
Total Ascent: 915m

Aonach Mor

This was my first time climbing in Scotland, so I was very excited about it. Luckily enough, the weather was fantastic for the entire week, with loads of snow from low altitudes. Had a great time climbing some of the classic Scottish routes.
 
Date: 18/02/2010
Area: Aonach Mor, Scotland
Maps used: OS Sheet 41
Weather: Very cold, sunny most of the time, with low clouds near the top, 1ft+ of snow

Route Description: Started from the Ski Centre car park (NN172773). Took the first gondola up (650m) and then headed east for about 1km. Took a right turn (south) after that and started climbing towards Aonach an Nid. Headed south-southwest climbing up towards Aonach Mor until about NN192740 (1190m). Turned right and started descending clockwise around the ski slopes until getting to the gondola station. Got the lift back down to the valley.

Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 5km
Total Ascent: 540m

Lugnaquilla

Date: 22/12/2009

Area: Lugnaquilla, Wicklow, Ireland

Maps used: OSI Sheet 56

Weather: Very cold, low clouds, with sunny spells at times, 0.5ft+ of snow

Route Description: Started at the last car park up in Glenmalure (T067941) and headed northwest on the track, past the hostel. Shortly after, took a sharp turn left (south) up the Fraughan Rock Glen. Headed straight up the glen (southwest) until reaching T044930, then turned left towards the southeast to the col between the Lug east spur and Clohernagh. Once on the col, turned right and climbed the spur that leads to the summit of Lug, the highest point in the Leinster province (925m). Descended via the same route.

Duration: 5.5 hours
Distance: 12km
Total Ascent: 770m

Tomies Rock

Date: 26/07/2009

Area: Tomies Rock, Gap of Dunloe, Kerry, Ireland

Maps used: OSI Sheet 78

Weather: Cool and windy, rainy at times

Route Description: Started from Kate Kearney's Cottage. Walked to the bridge before Black Lake. Then headed straight east towards Tomies Rock via the steep scree slope. After reaching the summit (568m), descended north initially and then started an anti-clockwise route back towards the bridge and then on the road back to the starting point.

Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 6km
Total Ascent: 528m

Scarr

Date: 19/04/2009

Area: Scarr, Wicklow, Ireland

Maps used: OSI Sheet 56

Weather: Mild and clear

Route Description: Started from car park at O158019 and walked south following the road until taking a track to the right (west) at T158996. Headed uphill (west) until the track turns sharply to the left (southeast). At that point, headed northwest towards the Scarr south ridge. After summitting Scarr (641m) descended via the northeast ridge, then south at the border of the forest and into the track that led back to the starting point.

Duration: 4 hours
Distance: 10km
Total Ascent: 431m

Croaghaun

Date: 13/04/2009

Area: Croaghaun, Achill Island, Mayo, Ireland

Maps used: None (would have been OSI Sheet 30)

Weather: Cool and clear, with some low cloud at times

Route Description: Once in Achill Island, headed towards Keel beach, on the west. About 2km before the beach there's a small road to the right that leads to the reservoir. Started the walk more or less from coordinates 53.976635,-10.165272. From here headed uphill more or less west with the lake to my right (north). Walked around the 'E'-shaped corrie clockwise and descended by the other side of the lake. Beautiful horseshoe walk.

Duration: 4 hours
Distance: 5.5km
Total Ascent: 360m