Portobello Beach Race

My second time at this race which does 2 complete lengths of the beach and measures in around 4.3 miles. It was quite wet today with the beach quite damp underfoot and light rain during the race. A little bit faster than 3 years ago. Just 2 Carnethy Hill Runners at this race which is run entirely below sea level.

 

Great Glen Way - start section

The next day we opted for a pleasant flat walk along the Great Glen Way from Fort William to Neptunes Staircase. A very pleasant walk in what was still cloudy weather but mainly dry. A nice stop at the cafe at Corpach. Got a bus back into Fort William.

Then the long drive home in the afternoon.

 

Mamores with Max

We drove up on the Friday and did a short recce of the parking and the start of the next days route. Staying at a nice AirBnB called Nevis Croft. 

On Saturday we set the alarm for 6 am and started the walk at 7 am.

Three munros completed by about 1 pm. Mullach nan Coirean, Stob Ban and Sgur a Mhaim.

The walk along the Devil's ridge to Sgur a Mhaim was slightly uncomfortable.

The weather was sadly not fabulous with very limited views throughout. Visibility was generall hundreds of meters and OK for route finding.

We might have done more as per best case plan but Max had a sore throat and the weather was poor and we were both by this point pretty tired. It was a direct but challenging descent down the mountain back to the Achriabhach car park that took around 2 more hours.

So around 8 hours total, 9.5 miles and 1600 m ascent.

A nice evening meal at the Black Isle Bar for beer/wine and pizza.

 

Bowhill Trail Race - Durty Events

A very nice 10k style hill race with a very long runnable downhill to the finish - around 5 k continuance. 

Fringe Festival 2026

07/08/26 - Flamenc Oh! - Assembly Rooms - 4/10

08/08/26 - Gaudi: God's Architect - the Space at Surgeons Hall -  6/10

10/08/26 - Tomatoes tried to kill me but banjos saved my life - Summerhall - 9/10

11/08/26 - Alegria Flamenca - Alba Flamenca - 10/10

17/08/26 - Dracula: Lucy's Dream - Pleasance at EICC - 3/10

19/08/26 - Tom Waits War Songs - Subway - 7/10 ; a bit too noisy at times

22/08/26 - The Distance - Summerhall - 9/10   

27/08/26 - Lyse Doucet in converation - McEwan Hall - Ed Book Fest - 8/10

Lloyd Cole at the Queens Hall

Last saw him play 10 years ago at The Pleasance with Max. This time he had an electric guitar (well 2 actually). We had good seats up on the balcony. Pretty good show. Maybe went through the well known songs too quickly at the start and a less chat than I remember last time.