Carn Dearg

After a decent breakfast at the hotel drove onwards to Newtonmore for another munro climb. Another glorious day and a very nice parking spot for this hill. Very short MTB approach of just 10 mins before I was on my feet again. Not a pleasant route in mountain following for large part a very wet and slippy landrover trail. Marked as a path on some maps but barely such. It was fabulous at the top with great views in all directions. Same route back and getting some blisters by the end. No running today and not quite the fun experience of the day before.

Bad timing on the drive home and caught a number of tailbacks. Would have been better hanging around in the northern sunshine a bit longer.

 

Beinn Mheadhoin

With several days of clear blue skies forecast for much of Scotland I headed off early in the car to Braemar to tackle my last Cairngorm munro. Parked at Linn of Dee and took the MTB to Derry Lodge and then onwards North to the access point to the munro. About a 1 hr cycle. Took the hill at speed this time going fast up and running most of the way back. A nice if hard to access hill. Around 2.25 hrs on my feet and then another just short of an hour cycle back to the car.

Onwards drive to the Boat Inn at Boat of Garten where I overindulged on the steak and red wine.

 

Balloch Country Park and Cycle to Dumbarton

Came across by car to Balloch Country Park for SOSOL orienteering on the Green course. Trickier than expected for a country park course but did reasonably well with just a couple of moderate errors. Second place.

Afterwards cycled through Balloch along the cycle path by the edge of the River Leven to Dumbarton and on to the River Clyde at Levengrove Park. Returned with a small meander around Loch Lomond Shores. 

 

Denis Orr Funeral and Belfast Pub Crawl

 Flew back to Northern Ireland to attend the funeral of Denis Orr who had been Maxwell's closest friend and a great support in his final years. Caught up with Liz and other familiar Bangor Golf Club faces.

In the evening met up with Glen Walsh and Mark McCormick for drinks in Belfast. We visited The Crown Liquor Saloon, Kelly's Cellars, Sunflower Public House (+pizza), The Duke of York and Ulster Sports Club. All very nice pubs.