A plan was formed one miserable rainy day, to go and activate around the Moy to Arderikie Forest area. This would “tidy up” that area just to the north of the Ben Alder group that I visited last year.
Again there would be a nice long walk in to wear out Andy - MM0FMF 's legs. An overnight stay at a bit of height would be welcome too. My own calendar has been busy this year and the weather has not been very good but a window of opportunity arose for this week. Kit was assembled accordingly and an early start on Monday saw me parked up at Moy and walking in by 08:30.
Conditions were not great with cloud down to about 600m so clothing appropriate was chosen (more about that later).
No photos of the target hills on the way in other than a wee glimpse of Binnein Shuas - GM/WS-198 (you’ll note that it doesn’t appear in the title) with a lovely sandy beach at it’s feet. Binnein Shios at the other end of the loch - on the left.
A stalker path goes up in between the big hills I would visit and the suggestion in “Walkhighlands” says to bear right and head up to the rim of the corrie - I never found any hint of a path for that part and the rim of the corrie took a long time to appear. When it did, I was delighted (not) to find it was lots and lots of stony patches and not much grass. Mindful of a heavy pack, I took my time to reach the bealach - imagine my delight to see even more random stones all the way to the summit.
I set up and called CQ on 2m more in hope than expectation. Nothing heard, the midges arrived. Head net on and more repellent. On to HF.
Was relieved to receive a response there and getting on with it when the rain started. I found the “Sports Direct” waterproof notebooks don’t like being written on in the rain - pages tear a bit.
I pulled out my umbrella and continued - keeping the book a bit drier.
Ran through 20m, 40m and 30m - 16 QSOs in the log.
Packed up and set off to the next hill Geal-Charn GM/WS-031 - this requires a descent and re-ascent of about 350m.
The skies had cleared and there are great views to the Ben Alder group and many more further afield.
Once again 2m was “nil-response” so HF spots sent and another 16 qsos followed.
I took some photos and enjoyed the changing views of Ben Alder and it’s neighbours as the sun went further round to the west, highlighting different ridges and buttresses.
The above shows the first summit Beinn A’Chlachair on the left, then mid distance is Chno Dearg GM/WS-032, then (I think) Stob Coire Easain[GM/WS-015] ie looking west.
Turning south, this shows Carn Dearg GM/WS-038 (just!!) the bulk of Ben Alder GM/WS-009, then over on the right another Geal Charn GM/WS-010 - this one has no hyphen…
Slightly wider view showing Carn Dearg again and just to the left of it’s summit is Ben Bheoil GM/WS-047 and Ben Alder slightly to the right of the summit .
I did spend time here just drinking in the view and replenishing “self” .
Packed up and descended to the north - but not too far. “The plan” was to camp around 600m, then “nip up” Creag Pitridh - a non-sota Munro in the morning before heading on to more Sota.
That “plan” evolved and ended up with - dump the sack, nip up Creag Pitridh, collect sack and descend to the north east then cross the land bridge and bridge to position me in between Binnein Shios and Binnein Shuas.
Should be ok to do them in that order and then back to the car ?
Well no…
Creag Pitridh was indeed “nipped up” - amazing how quick you can go without an extra 15kg on your back.
The valley was really nice with some fine small waterfalls.
It is a steep climb up to the ridge of Shios, and it clearly does not get many visitors as there was little hint of a path and plenty long grass.
There are however a few false summits …
There is a nice feature of a bare ridge of rock a few 100m long which gave nice walking - I could pretend I was at altitude with the exposure - well unless 60cm above the surroundings is exposure.
The true summit of Shios -finally!
There was a very dry peat mass in between the two main summit lumps - bone dry in this instance but would be a nightmare if there had been more prolonged rain.
Weather - the early mist had burnt off sometime on the “valley section” and so full sunshine
was now the order of the day.
As I had started out in “dreich” I was now overdressed and didn’t have a change to shorts with me.
Shios gave 18 qsos - Jon G4IVV - your little “antenna wire hook” is still going strong - thanks!!
A Typhoon jet came along the loch behind me at one point, odd to be looking down on them - 400m below.
I used to live in a low fly area in the Scottish Borders but usually saw the underside of them there and quite closely!
With that, it was time to go home. Shuas will have to wait, the descent/reascent was just going to be too much.
Shuas from Shios it’s quite steep from this side and a suggestion of “hands on with careful route finding”.
Finally a decent view of Bein A’Chlachair on the left- oh and the 4km walk along the loch.
I had a nice walk (in the baking heat - for Scotland that is) along the edge of the loch to stroll along the beach.
This is the view I should have had on the way in …
Then home.
Equipment: SW-3B , multiband end fed. One wombled Lion pack (3*16850) did both days with lots to spare.
Many thanks to all chasers! 
