First Bothy of 2026
Invermallie Bothy
Day One – the ride in…..
D: 5.5km El: 71m T:37mins (1hr 5mins)
This year has been a bit stressful health wise I had trouble with my womb and so had scans and tests which thankfully have all come out ok. Then I pulled muscles In my groin which has really inhibited what I can do. It can’t walk. But luckily I can ride my bike. A wonderful weather window has allowed me and Janet to have our first bothy trip of the year. A short ride in with some unexpected steep bits. Great bothy. Great fire and we have an upstairs bedroom each.
Day Two – Up the glen and back out.
D:18.41km El: 284m T: 2hrs 11mins
After a good nights sleep we set off quite early ir before 9:30am to ride up the glen, we left a few bags by the track to pick up on our return. It was so spring like and the valley very pretty, a reasonable gradient that never got too hard. At the top we stopped Janet had a swim and I made a brew …. bliss. It was pretty much down hill all the way back to the bags and then a couple of sharp ups to the van. Collected a bit of wood then back home via a café stop. Such a good start to the year.
Sunshine in Soller on Bike
D: 27.22km El: 612m T: 3hrs 12 mins
Not being able to walk very far we decided to hire bikes, not sure that Kenny was very keen but I was determined. We got an off road route from the bike shop it was the easy route but looked quite challenging. Kenny wasn’t sure but i thought the tracks would be well graded and they were. We managed 2/3rds of the route which I thought was a good effort. A nice lunch at the top of the hill and a refreshment stop on the way down. An excellent day.
Black Fell
Black Fell 323m ( w )
D: 4.30 km. El: 314m. T: 1hr 18mins
Since our last walk Blair has been really ill with a migraine so I was a bit weary. Complications with getting the car back to kendal and Joe being on lates and forgetting his sleeping bag and mat meant that we were not really in the position for a big day. The weather was due to be excellent though so we had to do something. We selected this wee walk which was perfect. My fitness is still a bit poor. It was pretty busy as it was half term but we managed to find a relatively quiet spot.
Wet Wet: Bonkers
Great Calva 691m. (w). Little Calva 642m
D: 11.11km. El: 555m T: 3hrs 3mins
It was very wet and a sharp wind but we set off anyway as we wanted to get out to them there hills. We or 8 forgot the energy bars and so we were a little low in the food department but it was a good walk and the longest walk for both of us since our illness. We had dry clothes with us so we stopped in Keswick for tea. The best fish pie and pudding. We then stopped at booths in Penrith for some brilliant reduced cheese.
Creag nan Clag
Creag Nan Clag 407m (sub 2000)
D: 2.32km. El: 194m. T: 46mins ( 1hr 18mins )
I came back from Mallaig last night as I had my MRI scan this morning. It was ok but felt a bit like I needed to regroup after so went to Dunelm for lunch which was mediocre. I then went back to go up the last of the four hill near the RSPB Reserve shouts of Loch Ness. A short hill but it was interesting I followed a climbers path up between two conglomerate crags similar to Moy. I was amazed to find they has been bolted. They looked horrible. The path stopped at a bit of an almost impassable gully. I crawled under a chock stone and looked at the damp mossy horrible gully wall. Maybe 15m high. Was it wise to go on possibly not. I sent my location and a photo to Kenny and climbed by way of dodgy foot holds and vegetation hand holds and mossy knee holds. Ugh. But made it. It was a fairly short heathery walk to the top. Needless to say I didn’t return the same way but walked round the side of the crags steeply. It was good to take my mind off things.
Not the medical but a nice Hill.
Deadh Choimhead 383m (sub 2000)
D: 3.45km. El: 334m. T: 1hr 7 mins
As Kenny’s medical was cancelled he came with me up a lovely wee hill in miniature. I am still struggling with fitness after the lurgy joe and I caught at Xmas. My breathing is bad, my legs are weak and my hip is hurting. I have a bit of work to do to get myself in shape.
Short walk but felt hard…..
Cruach Mhalaig 203m
D: 4.93km. E: 288m. T: 1hr 22mins
Skiing doesn’t improve fitness…..
I was going to go up a Graham near Glenfinnan but the forecast was for it to be very windy so I decided on a smaller hill direct from Kenny’s flat. I am glad I did as my legs had not gained any fitness from the skiing. Maybe they are still tired but my aerobic fitness was pants too. Lovely views must get out more! I did yoga before I went but obviously a bit of yoga is not enough.
La Plagne: Day Six
Runs: 7. Vert: 2802m. D: 17.81
I expected today to have poor visibility but it turned out to be sunny and so felt like a bonus day. Jane stayed at the apartment as she hurt her lag yesterday. We had a gentle day with a hot chocolate stop and later a vin Chaud stop. I wasn’t sure if there would be an atmosphere after yesterday’s interactions but as expected. They were ignored and so I did too. Not my style but can’t be arsed.
It hasn’t spoiled the week which has been brilliant.
Le Plagne: Day Five
Runs 16. Vert: 5,152m. D: 30.25km
Today we went over to Les Arc. We had an early start, the light was poor but it improved until mid afternoon. I think it was colder than today. Great skiing. I deffo think the yoga has made a big difference.
Nice cake stop on way back.
It is getting a bit tiresome being chucked out of the living space before 9.30 each night until 8am the next morning. Would be ok if I wasn’t cramped into a very small bunk room.
La Plagne: Day Four.
Runs: 13 Vert: 5,5654m. D: 31.67km
Today we went over to the other side of the hill that looks over to courcheval , where Charlie and Gina live. Didn’t realise we were so close.
A bigger day to day
Mountain Days and Photo Nights 