The Devil's Point

On Saturday the forecast was for an excellent day with virtually no wind so set off early picking up Ella on the way.  Cycled in about 3 miles from Linn of Dee to White Bridge:

Shadowman on his bike

 Then walked 2 1/2 hours up Glen Dee towards the Devil's Point (1004m):

Devil's Point

From the Corrour Bothy it was a steep but brief (one hour) climb to the top with magnificent views:

Cairn Toul and Upper Glen Dee

The Geusachan Burn (from the right) joins the Dee

Ella and Sorley at the top

 There were some lovely spot by the river, like here at Chest of Deep. At the foot of the falls is a deep, sandy bottomed pool with a perfect diving rock (bit cold today!):

Glen Dee with the Devil's Point centre

About 20 miles in total in around 8 hours.

Home for Tea

On Monday I set out for my 50 mile sponsored trek from Nethy Bridge to Cushnie in aid of Amnesty International. First a lovely walk through the RSPB Abernethy reserve. Pinewoods and red squirrels. Here I am looking fresh:

The road ahead out of the forest towards the Cairngorms looked like this:

Met a few people at the Ryvoan bothy who were walking from Glenmore (ahead):

Here I am taking a break by the River Nethy:

The path up Strath Nethy was very boggy indeed!
And finally the view back down from the watershed:

And now looking south down to Loch Avon with snow still visible:

Intended to continue on to Faindouran bothy but settled for camping by the loch. 13 miles walked today.

The next day started bright and dry. Here walking by the Fords of Avon refuge:

Looking towards the granite tors at Ben Avon:

Finished the day near to Gairnshiel Bridge. 20 miles for the day!

The next day began with heavy rain and it didn't stop! Ray met me at Gairnshiel and helped set the pace for the first half of the day to Tillypronie. Here I am jumping another swollen burn:

The last section was almost entirely in the mist but at the end of 16 miles for the day I met Ben and Wendy at the top of Pressendye for the 2 mile descent to the house and home for tea!
Thanks to everyone who made a donation to Amnesty.
Now I know what footsore really means!

Burn of Brown

A 17km circuit from Bridge of Brown. The sun actually came out - witness my glowing head that evening!

Burn of Brown from the bridge

Looking across the Burn of Brown from ruins at Tombreck

Looking north down Glen Brown

Sorley on track near Fae

Ray follows the Allt Ionadaidh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burn at the Bridge of Brown

Tomorrow sees the start of my three day walk from Nethy Bridge!

Home for Tea

Coming up:
I will be walking the 50 or so miles from Nethy Bridge back to Cushnie, near Alford, in July for Amnesty International - see my just giving page if you can donate:
http://www.justgiving.com/Sorley-Johnson
I can email you a link to the route map.

or copy and paste this link:
http://www.getamap.ordnancesurveyleisure.co.uk/?key=708ftie3_oM_Q-H-5gpoYg2 

Glen Clova to Glen Muick - a gorgeous hot weekend. One group took cars and small children round to the Glen Clova bunkhouse. The other walked in from Glen Muick with dogs and we spent the evening together then to the other route home. Dogs walked twice!

Sorley at bunkhouse

Hill behind bunkhouse

visitor centre at Glen Doll

towards Glen Doll from the Capel Mounth track

Lunch in front of Lochnagar

Loch Muick

A walk up Ben Newe with Ben Johnston (well, he didn't actually go all the way to the top, he had to stop for a nap!):

Sorley at the top with Bennachie on his left shoulder.

Panorama with Glenbuchat castle ruins

River Don near Keig

About time - Skye

So a long time since my last post, but here it is. A school reunion on Skye:

Jamie and Shona at Fairy Glen

Rum

Andrew and Shona at Camas Daraich

Wilson surveys the land

Andrew, Shona and Sorley

Knock Bay from Cnoc Malagan

Shona, Andrew and Sorley on Cnoc Malagan and Rum

Sound of Sleat towards Knoydart

Adder at Dalavil

View from Flora MacDonald Hostel

Cuillins and Bay from Caradal

Shadowman

Cuillins

Through the binoculars

Rum from Point of Sleat

Sorley and Rum