Toni's Fab 50

A first for Carol and for me - but a grand wee climb and lots of reasons to return another day. The scrambles to the tops of the western end look very enticing! This photo isn't really the top but a fine view and fun to do with the self-timer. It was good to meet Ian and Gillian in the car park, at the top and to wave to on the summit in the background. (And not a nordic walking pole in sight!!). Connor and Karl met us on our way down after their expedition to Achnahaird Beach and whisked us off to the sadly closed Hydroponicum. So it was bread pudding and fish and chips (in that order) in Ullapool. And a dark drive home. Thanks Carol, Karl and Connor.

Matthew's choice this one. A quick "run" up the hill from Moor Farm before macaroni cheese for tea by candle-light.

Here we are on Saturday 21st October 2006 - the biggest group yet. Thirteen of us to celebrate the installing of the long-awaited bench for mum and dad. Eleven of us walked the two miles up from near Burwarton and Andrew drove Bob (the bench-builder) and the bench up to a place called "The Poles" on the Estate.
The line up reads: Back row L-R: Tig/Henry/Donald/Fred, Fran, John, Dave, Bob, Diana, Andrew
Front L-R: Shona, Catriona, Toni, Matthew, Grace, Pam.
This major feat of engineering was achieved thanks to the accompanying champagne and Bobs's fantastic woodworking skills. Mum and dad were hopefully there with us and enjoyed the celebrations and will appreaciate our efforts to replace one dad put up on Brown Clee in 1979.

The next day Andrew and I walked from Tugford to Brown Clee, via Cockshutford, to see how the bench had survived its first night - of gales and heavy rain. As we approach I was really touched to see the bench in use. Four well-clad walkers were having their lunch there, all four sitting on the bench together. Dennis, Joy, David and Claire of South Shropshire Ramblers had spotted mum and dad's names on the bench and were interested to hear the full story. Claire will probably tell the Queen all about it when she meets her next week!

Katy and I got to the top (honestly) in low cloud thanks to Katy's wonderful navigation techniques! And I learned how to take a photo using the delay timer on my camera for the first time ever. As you can see 2 seconds is not quite long enough.

After reluctantly postponing the Ben Lomond walk, five gals - Lesley, Jenny, Sarah, Alison and Lorna - joined me for a lively circuit at Dog Falls.
Jenny and Sarah were the perfect pair to be the first young ones on a walk - they kept us entertained following a mystery trail of clues someone had kindly left attached to trees beside the route. Big yellow ribbons helped us spot one after another after another after another. A sign of just how civilised this walk was is that we had a proper picnic on a proper picnic blanket and time to dabble at the edge of the River Affric.
The photo was taken by someone we called "Gordon". Thanks "Gordon".