Sue and Martin Banfield: Our route (as planned, with one FWA day), day by day (14 days) - 333 km (208 miles), with 17 summits and 12,400 metres ascent
Croydon and Morpeth at Glasgow Queen Street
Day 1 - Signing out in Mallaig at the West Highland Hotel
Setting off with 14 kg loads and waterproof footwear - we definitely don't qualify as members of the 'Lightweight Brigade'
On the boat to Inverie, the hills of Knoydart beckon
'Mallaigers' in the Old Forge - Bill, Susan, John, Alison and Deborah - we next saw them all again at Montrose!
On the good path to Mam Barrisdale (the notch on the horizon)
Bill Childs near Mam Barrisdale
A splendid waterfall
After climbing Luinne Bheinn, we found a good pitch at about 700 metres at the head of Allt a Choire Odhair - 6pm
Day 2 - FWA in Knoydart - that snow explains the sliding noises we could hear from within the tent - we decide to give the Knoydart ridges a miss
The bridge at Carnoch - supposedly 'In Dangerous Condition'
Martin at Sourlies bothy - at the head of Loch Nevis - yes, it's lunchtime on day 2 and we have yet to leave the west coast!
Robert Slade sloshes across Finiskaig River - he has bivvied in last night's wind and is a 'bit damp' - but he's tough, and has overcome quite a few problems by the time we next see him in Montrose
Martin at camp 2 near Lochan a' Mhaim
Day 3 - A flock of geese heads west on a sunny morning
Looking back up Glen Dessarry to the distinctive peak of the Corbett, Bidean a' Chabair (Sgurr na h-Aide = 'peak of the hat), not Sgurr na Ciche [thank you to Derek Hopkins for correcting us on this]
We stumbled upon this nest - Dotterel?
Lunch below Leac na Carnaich, with the enticing summits of Streap and Sgurr Thuilm
Gulvain south summit, with Ben Nevis behind
Day 4 - early morning at our idyllic camp site at 620 metres, below Gulvain
Picking up spring water - we didn't need to filter any water during the two week trip
Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor, on 11/5/09, laden with snow, from the Mullach Coire nan Geur-oirean ridge
Let's have a brew (and a snooze)
We came across this magnificent Slow Worm
Lunch time found us admiring the reflections in Loch Arkaig
Wood Sorrel is abundant in the woods in May - one of an array of splendid flowers
We admired this view up Loch Lochy, part of the Great Glen waterway system
Copper Beech - with 'new born' silky soft leaves
Carole Sinclair (who sadly failed to finish) and Sue enjoy afternoon tea at 'Camp 4' - Gairlochy Holiday Park
Day 5 - Aonach Mor and Ben Nevis from below the Spean Bridge WW2 Commando Memorial
Alan, Mike and Brian pose for us before heading towards Corrour
Lovely woodland path to the south of Roybridge
We passed this deserted house (NN 278 805)
Crossing the River Spean
Time for a break - admiring Loch Treig and its attendant summits from the slopes of Beinn Teallach
Ptarmigan
Martin summits Beinn Teallach - 915 metres
'Camp 5' - at 630 metres, below Beinn Teallach
Day 6 - Ready to strike camp on a beauifully clear day with a Cold East Wind
On the north summit of Beinn a Chaorainn
On the Creag Meagaidh ridge
Martin takes a short break from the wind, with Creag Meagaidh ridge and Lochan a' Choire behind
'Camp 6' - Home for the night - at last, a sheltered spot at 450 metres at the head of Allt Crunachdain
Day 7 - After all that wind high up, a mirror-still Loch Laggan
“Come this way” sang the Willow Warbler
Sunbeams in the pine forest
The Soay sheep (from St Kilda) at the deserted settlement of Druim an Aird are very shy
A brew stop by the River Mashie - back on track after a lengthy forest diversion, but no path
Looking back towards Kinloch Laggan, from the ascent of Meall nan Eagan
Dalwhinnie Distillery
Day 8 - On the summit of Carn na Caim - 941 metres - with Glas Mheall Mor, our final summit of the day, behind - 8 km of damp weather away
The depressingly derelict buildings of Sronphadruig Lodge, by Edendon Water
Sue makes her way alongside Loch an Duin, with Creag an Dubh-chada ahead
Heather, John, Peter, Barbara and Martin....where did that lot appear from?
'Camp 7' was soon set up - there was a fair breeze - and rain in the night
Day 9 - Allt Gharbh Ghaig - this is a magnificent little valley, even on a wet day when the camera emerged just once
Day 10 - Early morning at our 740 metre 'Camp 8' - we were on dry grass, with dry feet and dry clothes!
We had soon climbed Beinn Mheadhonach, and splashed across Feith an Lachain as the cloud lifted
Descending from Carn a' Chlamain in improving conditions (last year the balaclava and gloves were never needed!)
A fine spot for lunch on an old bridge parapet in Glen Tilt
Refuelled, and on the road again, heading gently up Glen Tilt on a glorious day
The large adder slithered around aimlessly - until provoked...
A fine construction - the bridge by the Falls of Tarf, built in 1886 following a drowning
The Falls of Tarf cascade down under the bridge
Another river crossing...
...led us on the way to Fealar Lodge - a working farm at 550 metres - and very pink
'Camp 9' at 580 metres - we'd had to use our Crocs to get to this nice flat spot - our last wild camp of the trip
Day 11 - Glas Tulaichean - our 13th and final Munro summit - and the first without a view - it was the coldest we'd been, with a persistent east wind
After a while, on a good track, we escaped from the cloud
Approaching Glenlochsie Lodge, with the disused railway path - our onward route - at the upper left
Day 12 - What a magnificent hotel! But we had enjoyed a comfortable night there
Here's an older bridge than the current A93 homage to MacThomas, looking back up Glen Lochsie
There were lots of oyster catchers
Taking a break on the Cateran Trail
Typical signage near Dalnaglar Castle - 'We Don't Really Like Walkers, But If You Must...'
Dalnaglar Castle - privately owned, on the site of an old hunting lodge
Packing up from 'lunch in the rain' for the second day running
The view up Glen Shee from the slopes of Mount Blair
Martin on Mount Blair, at 744 metres our 17th and final summit (13 Munros, 1 Corbett, 3 Grahams - so officially just 14 summits)
A bridge on the way to Glenisla, after a very boggy section over rough farmland from Auchenleish
Glenisla Hotel - it's a bit run down
And we were thankful not to need to do any washing
Day 13 - Setting off on a sunny morning
It must be this way
The bluebells need just a bit more sun
...but the Heartsease is fine
A friendly horse
Wrought iron signs are a feature as the east coast is approached
Heading through lovely woods to Kirriemuir
Peter Pan - the 1994 statue - in memory of J M Barrie, who came from Kirriemuir
Day 14 - Forfar to Montrose - at 43 km our longest day by far - it started along dew laden green lanes
But this 'green lane' came to a dead end
The coast is over there somewhere
We finally resorted to long tarmac lanes
The Montrose Basin got closer
2.30 pm, and we reached our Scurdie Ness finishing point, still in good spirits - despite having to walk on to Montrose
...where on the following day over 100 folk attended the dinner where Graham Brookes received his '20th crossing' plaque from Roger
