Damian

Ben Rinnes (840 m / 2,756 ft) — Corbett in Moray 🏔️ We originally planned a Munro, but the forecast looked too uncertain, so we chose something closer to home 🌧️ Low cloud sat over the summit and we got slightly soaked near the top, but it was still a really enjoyable outing 💪 The path leads directly from the car park all the way to the summit. It’s well maintained, and on the steeper sections there are proper steps in place 👣 The summit marker, covered in shiny metal, looks quite striking when you reach the top ✨ A very nice, short and not overly demanding trek for someone who hikes regularly 👍

Beautiful coastal loop starting in Portmahomack and heading towards the iconic Tarbat Ness Lighthouse. Approx. 14 km of quiet trails, grassy paths and shoreline sections with stunning sea views almost the entire way. Great route for a longer walk or run, with plenty of photo spots along the coast and around the lighthouse ❤️🌊🦤🐬🦭

It’s a relatively short hike, but definitely a demanding one. The first 2 km are a steady uphill walk with an amazing view of the summit ahead. On the way you pass a small gorge with a beautiful waterfall. After reaching the second gorge you cross the stream and the gradient really starts to increase. The path becomes much rockier and more technical. The final kilometre is absolute fire — very steep, loose scree and constantly shifting stones. In proper winter conditions, crampons and an ice axe are essential. When we were there, the snow line started roughly 200m below the summit. The descent needs just as much focus. A moment of inattention was enough for me to slip and end up in A&E with my hand stitched up after cutting it on sharp rock. Overall: incredible views, proper Skye terrain, and nearly 2000 active kcal burned. 💪🔥

Incredible day in the hills — bagged Spidean Mialach and Gleouraich. The hike is fairly steep right from the start, with a few slightly boggy bits down low. Snow kicked in at around 600 m — mostly well frozen, with a few icy patches here and there. Crampons were definitely needed — without them we’d 100% have turned back. We were lucky with the weather: light winds, no strong gusts, and sunshine for most of the day. Only on the first Munro we hit a full whiteout — so white that your eyes start doing strange things 😅 Overall, a tough and tiring trek, but totally worth every step in such a stunning place.

Wind on the Munros was wild today 🌬️ so we chose a Corbett instead — Little Wyvis 🏔️ The walk starts at the stunning Silver Bridge waterfalls 💦✨ — absolutely beautiful. The route goes through farms and a few pasture gates 🚜🐑, leading straight towards the mountain. The track is wide, solid, and well-compacted — easily passable by a 4x4 🚙💨 Very easy to follow and comfortable underfoot 🥾 Almost no wind for most of the hike 😌, but just before the summit everything changed fast… The temperature dropped sharply ❄️ and the wind turned very strong and icy 🌪️🥶 But the ice created amazing patterns — hard to take your eyes off them 🧊✨ This Corbett is perfect for beginners who want to test their fitness and see if mountain hiking is for them ⛰️💪 We really enjoyed it ❤️

Glen Affric — one of the most beautiful valleys in Scotland ⛰️ Winter hike over Toll Creagach (1,054 m / 3,458 ft) and Tom a’ Chòinich (1,243 m / 4,078 ft) ❄️ A full day in mixed winter conditions — boggy lower ground, soft snow on the approaches, then well-frozen snow and ice higher up 🧊🥾 Strong winds on the summits, but manageable and not too cold 🌬️ Total time on the hill: around 8 hours, including a short detour to recover a lost phone 📱😅 A proper start to season 2026 — solid conditions, great views and another memorable day in the Scottish mountains 💪🏔️

Ben Macdui & Cairn Gorm – winter conditions Great day in the Cairngorms starting from the Cairngorm Ski Centre. Clear weather with a strong cloud inversion and excellent views above the clouds. Snow was firm and supportive with only light icy patches in places. No deep snow or post-holing on the route. Winter gear was not needed on the day, but in winter proper equipment is always recommended as conditions can change quickly on the plateau. After Ben Macdui, we also went up Cairn Gorm — very different conditions there, with no snow but still great views. Very enjoyable walk in ideal conditions.

Early start in the Drumochter area. Variable conditions throughout the day with periods of rain, snow and low cloud. Ground was boggy in places, particularly on lower sections, but with no significant route-finding issues. Wind was moderate to strong at times, increasing on higher ground, though progress remained steady. Snow cover of approximately 10–30 cm near the summits, generally soft, with no major difficulties encountered. Route included Beinn Udlamain and Sgàirneach Mhòr.

Parking: Culbin – Wellhill A straightforward, flat route, with sections that are sandy or slightly rocky. Ideal for a fast hike or trail running. There are no particularly spectacular views, as the route runs mainly through forest. The viewing tower at Hill 99 is located close to the car park, but we left it until the very end of the route. The forest is full of different paths, so the route can easily be shortened or extended depending on preference.