Short April '26 expedition meant a four day consecutive sprint of seven Graham's visited during a glorious spell of high pressure which I now must have for safety and to reach the cairns between 610 and 762 m, listed in 'Munro's Tables' of the SMC.
One summit, Stob Breac 688 m, was almost completely surrounded by impenetrable forest and I set off not knowing how on earth I was going to get to the top. Forest roads took me to a steep burn which gave a gap in the trees and a safe route out to open hillside before it became a deep gorge over to my left, below the summit. I had parked at Inverlochlarig, north of Loch Katrine and, as usual, had the help of the 29" wheel, self-powered bike.
Another summit had a proper, pyramidal, mini summit topped with a beautifully built small cairn. This was 'The Stob' at 753 m. In the distance, 6 Kms to the West was Stob Binnein 1165 m and Ben More 1174 m.
Another summit had me flat out for over an hour with my head resting comfortably against the stone cairn before the final one of Day four, reached through awkward, slow toiling, heather.
The next day was a great cycle ride, partly on NCR 7, to the Russian oligarch's palace, Aberuchill Castle, via St Fillan's and the cafe in the Golf Club House. Then to my favourite Westmorland Hotel and walk from Kirkby Stephen on the very last day. Discovered:
Stunning limestone feature of a stream flowing two or three metres above the stream bed on the side of an escarpment - Ewbank Scar, near Kirkby Stephen.
My one day with one summit took me out when I had no idea how to get to the top. I chose the corrrect side to get through an impenetrable forest surrounding the hill, found a steep stream without trees right up to it and found that that route was safe to get up and down.
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