A video (taken by my wife) from the top of La Varella (3055m) in the Dolomites, last Monday. That's me at the start, and an alpine chough at the end!

Just back from a week in the Dolomites. Highlight was ascent of Piz La Varella (3055m) on Monday. 21km, 1300m ascent. In terms of effort, like a hard day in the Scottish mountains, but with a higher starting & finishing altitude. The scenery all around us, however, was from another planet.

What an absolute bin-fire U.K. politics has become. Scared to even look at the news...

"Aviemore is a favourite starting point for the Cairngorms, the distance to Glenmore Lodge being only about 7 miles. Unfortunately it has at present no hotel, and there is little accommodation of any kind for passing tourists." - A. I. McConnochie, Cairngorm Club Journal #6, 1896. How times change!

Some iPhone photos from Ben Avon on Sunday. #1 The ruins of Slugain Lodge. #2 Looking west to the Garbh Choire of Beinn a' Bhùird from above The Sneck. #3 Looking north down An Slochd Mòr from above The Sneck. #4 Looking across the plateau towards the summit tor, Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe.

This from 1895, via the Cairngorm Club Journal online archive, is an interesting read from the historical perspective, to see how many hill & place-names (even that of Braemar!) have changed. (FAO - @cairngormwanderer.bsky.social, in case you've not seen it.) www.cairngormclub.org.uk/journals/PDF...

@cairngormwanderer.bsky.social Just been reading your old blog post about the Smith-Winram Bivouac, and its history. Should anyone be interested, the Jock Nimlin article referred to here (and entitled 'Mountain Howffs') can be accessed via: simrich.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/SMCJ/Number%...

Another Munro ticked off today - Ben Vane, one of the Arrochar Alps. Great wee hill with tremendous views. This is looking SE towards Loch Lomond with Ben Lomond towering above it. To the SW, we could see the hills of Arran behind The Cobbler.

Last of the Monadhliath Munros for me today - Càrn Dearg. Barren landscapes but quite poignant in places - the ruins of a former township in lower Gleann Fionndrigh and then, in Gleann Ballach, loads of ancient tree remnants among the peat hags.

Really excellent article from @walkhighlands.co.uk - www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/lets-ke...

Geal Chàrn in the Monadh Liath this morning. Lovely wee half-day's walk. Up and down in 3h 30min from Garva Bridge - a spot I've never been to before, along a road that dates to General Wade in the early 18th century.

Back in the mountains today. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Very early start to escape worst of the heat. 2 Munro summits, Stob a’ Choire Mheadhoin (photo 2) & Stob Coire Easain (photo 1). Plus me (photo 3)! 16.5km, 1200m ascent. Time for beer and pizza now…

Endless views yesterday, despite the haze. From the top of Chno Dearg: from Schiehallion to the SE, round over Loch Ossian and the Blackwater Reservoir towards the Bridge of Orchy & Glen Coe hills, then round over the Mamores, and then the Grey Corries & Easains on the other side of Loch Treig.

Shocked to see extent of smoke from wildfire to N of Grantown-on-Spey while driving back last night. Been away & hadn't seen news. Were sat outside at restaurant in Boat of Garten (~15 miles away), & couldn't understand where the cinders falling out of the sky were coming from. Campfire again....

Cracking weekend so far from our base at the camp site in Bunroy. Beinn a’ Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach yesterday (*very* windy but clear most of the time), Stob Coire Sgriodain just now (this is the view from the summit, looking SW across Loch Treig) and heading over to Chno Dearg next.

Tom a’ Chòinich & Toll Creagach in Glen Affric today. That’s me finished the Affric Munros now. Took my time over it - first one was in 1992! (Plant is starry saxifrage, according to my wife’s phone App.)

Inverness, with the River Ness in the background. Spotted Nessie again, in summer costume this time!

Any other photographers had an E-mail from Adobe telling them that the cost of their monthly plan is increasing by *50%*(!!). Sorry, @adobe.com but you have got to be kidding...

@bbcspringwatch.bsky.social Gannets, photographed at the RSPB Reserve at Troup Head on Aberdeenshire's Moray coast last month. It's Scotland's largest mainland gannet colony.

Got tickets to see Duncan Chisholm at Boat of Garten on 8th June. Can't wait! He's playing in Torridon on Thursday, then Glenelg, Glenuig, Duror... and a lot of other small venues across the Highlands. Details via: www.duncanchisholm.com/events/

Sand patterns. Market Bay, Isle of Mull. 16th October 2012.

Following the wildfire at Stac Pollaidh last month, Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Co-ordinator, Lizzie Williams, has written a blog to highlight the importance of collaborative action to tackle fires, and urges caution to minimise future risks. Read more: buff.ly/pyc1nsJ

"The Scottish government is set to give permission for a controversial holiday park development at Loch Lomond, overturning the decision of the national park authority." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Waterpark, monorail, hotel & restaurants... and all in a 'national park'. 🤯

Off to see Capercaillie at the Aberdeen Music Hall tonight. Part of their 40th Anniversary tour. First saw them play in a sports centre in East Kilbride in 1992!

@sigmauk.bsky.social The latest video on your YouTube channel features a claim that the Lake District National Park is the largest in Britain. 🙄 It’s not even close to being that. For info: it’s around half the size of the Cairngorms NP. @cairngormsnews.bsky.social.

14th March 2025. Cruach Àrdrain & Beinn Tulaichean - both Munro summits. A grand day out. We had a raven for company near the top of Àrdrain.

After recent wildfire at Stac Pollaidh, "it's now charcoal from the loch shore to the summit" (Dan Bailey, UK Climbing) on the S side of the hill. 4.5km² has been torched. Started by a beach campfire by the new car park. Estate had posted very clear warning notices about high fire risk...

Gannets, Troup Head RSPB reserve, 20th April 2025.

Common guillemot and a gannet exchange glances at the RSPB reserve at Troup Head, on the Moray Coast, earlier today. @rspbscotland.bsky.social

Puffins, Lunga, Treshnish Isles. 1st June 2019.

'The rising geopolitical importance of Orkney cannot be overstated'. www.spectator.co.uk/article/orkn...

The view from just below the summit of Cruach Ardrain. 14th March 2025.

With friends on Beinn Enaiglair, a Corbett near Braemore Junction in Wester Ross. 2nd January 2025. There was no view from the summit, but it had cleared a bit by the time we got back down.