I’m planning a trip away to GM land from the 1st - 10th May. I enjoyed Scotland back when I visited in 2024 I thought I would do another hiking/running week away.
My plan is to spend the weekend and a few days until the Wednesday in Glencoe, then catch a ferry to Mull to explore the island.
So far I have a “Mega Mamore” route planned, in the hopes to recce some lines of the Tranter’s Round, including the Devil’s Ridge so I can get a sense of what the round involves. I expect this day to take around 12 hours of hiking for me including operating.
I also plan to maybe have a go at the Beinn a’Bheithir ridge which looks like a great hike.
Plans for Mull are a bit more woolly, and I feel this would be where suggestions would be most welcome. One route I plan is the “Mull Monsterette”, an old fell race route that takes in Beinn a’Ghraig, Beinn Fhada and Ben More. Ben Buie and Carn Ban as a side quest may also be on the cards.
My plans are not set in stone yet, and I would like to maybe have some bad weather alternatives to hand, that are not too far from Glencoe.
Also alternative big days out are also welcome, I feel overwhelmed with the amount of choice! My limit in terms of technicality are anything beyond Grade 1 scrambling/SAC T4 for the trip, as I will be going solo with no rope equipment.
Ardsheal hill GM/WS-341 at Duror might be suitable if the cloud is low in Glencoe. Bein Lora GM/WS-336 and Airds hill above Port Appin GM/WS-346 might also be suitable alternatives if the weather isn’t so great.
Although they all have great views if the weather is good.
These are some of my absolute favourite hills in Scotland, would highly recommend saving for a clear day if you’ve got the option. If you pass just a wee bit beyond the top of Sgorr Dhonuill on a clear day, you can take in pretty much the entire west coast of Scotland. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to see right down to Arran.
I hope you’ve booked the Mull ferries - I really struggled to book ferries for May - I’m having to get on the first Oban -Mull ferry in the morning, so it will mean a 5-6 hour drive through the night to get to the ferry terminal.
We’ll definitely be doing Ben More, GM/SI-003, but other than that, I’m not sure if SOTA will feature. Will be on Mull during the last week of May.
If the weather is pants in Glencoe, you’ll potentially have to head south towards the Loch Lomond hills, or east until the weather improves.
As for Mull:
That’s doable, for a man of your abilities. A fine trio of rough hills. If the weather’s not so nice, you can pick off some of the lower summits south of Griburn or near Dervaig.
Ah good shout, definitely on to add to the plans as an alternative or for a chill day, your photo of it looks great.
Good to know, it’s definitely one of the days out I have planned based on the report M1HAX did on his site. I’ll remember to do this if it’s clear
I booked it last night, a lot of free spaces for both out and back for me - maybe because it’s inside term time?
Fingers crossed for good weather I have ordered myself a new waterproof coat and a bothy bag so hopefully can hide away from the elements when activating a bit better.. Luckily the big Mamore route I have planned has a lot of bailout options, but definitely going to have to plan routes more on Mull with no footpaths.
Would very much second this, it’s an absolute beauty of a day out. There’s also a slightly smaller option of starting at the wee car park at NN 255 790 and doing a loop taking in Stob Coire Claurigh, Stob Coire an Laoigh, and Sgurr Choinnich Mor without Aonach Beag and Stob Ban, that’s still a pretty sizeable bit of work.
I’ll certainly consider the Grey Corries. It is the second half of the Tranter’s round which is my goal, so would be good to get a recce of it. Is there any technical sections over them?
I don’t recall anything especially technical as such, but maybe a few wee short bits of very light scrambling. It was 2017 I last did it, and I’ve had a pretty decent head injury to wipe out some brain cells since then!
Nothing at all that I recall… although it is nearly 30 years since I did it. Given it is “in my head as a good day out” and so long ago, I thought it worth mentioning.
I have ordered myself a new waterproof coat and a bothy bag so hopefully can hide away from the elements when activating a bit better.. Luckily the big Mamore route I have planned has a lot of bailout options, but definitely going to have to plan routes more on Mull with no footpaths.