My First Munro

Inspired by many other Peakers that have conquered Schiehallion, this was quickly added to my summer mini challenges list.

I am currently working just half an hour's drive from the hill, and made it clear to my boss that it was on my wish list.  I was quite happy to walk it by myself, but as it happens there was a butterfly transect on the hill so I managed to combine work and pleasure in completing my first Munro.  It seems cheating slightly that I got paid to complete my challenge, but I still did it and that's what counts. In fact, it was more of a challenge as we spent 10 hours wandering up and down the slopes rather than just summiting and returning to the car park as most normal people do!

We were very lucky with the weather. Although there were clouds on the summit when we arrived at the car park, these quickly cleared. It was perfect walking weather - not too warm or sunny to dehydrate you, but not too cold either, with just a slight breeze.

There is a clear path to follow from the Braes of Foss car park, and it was a steady walk to the base of the hill and up the lower slopes. Although there were some steeper sections, it was a relatively easy climb.  The hardest part came at the top of the hill, with the last mile or so of the peak covered in boulders which made walking slow and more difficult.

It was great to reach the peak, and there were amazing views from the top of the hill across Loch Tummel and the Rannoch Moors. I remembered to look for the MPC2016 stone that someone had left at the summit, and managed to find it and have a photo taken.

Although a working day, we are now into the summer holidays and it was a popular day with walkers. The peak was busy with people celebrating their climb and having a lunch stop.

We carried out some plant transects on the way back down the hill, and perhaps my favorite part of the day was the slow descent, when all the other walkers had disappeared and the colours of the Scottish hills became more vivid in the early evening light.

I don't have much free time whilst I am working in Scotland, but hope to be able to fit in another Munro before the end of my trip.