Category Archives: Bothies

Early days in Galloway

Posted on May 4, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

I often went to Galloway mainly with my Dad. We climbed most of the hills often the Merrick ,Corserine and many others. It’s a lot different from Arran rolling hills. In my early days my Dad would take me here. … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Mountaineering, Well being | 1 Comment

Scary meeting in a bothy.

Posted on April 9, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

I have always enjoyed the Bothies I was very young about aged 11 when I visited my first bothy in Galloway. This was mid 60. I met a few characters and would sit and learn about the hills.it was some … Continue reading →

Posted in Bothies, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments

1976 – The Munro’s completion.

Posted on November 20, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

My Last Munro first time around was An Sochach ( Braemar) with Pete McGowan, Les Boswell and Mark. We will all have great memories of the Munros I will never for get the day I finished almost ng with my … Continue reading →

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Chasing the early winter routes.

Posted on October 17, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

This time of year we would (before the media circus) be trying to chase the first winter routes. This is nothing new but we would know and again hear what was going on via the grapevine. There were not many … Continue reading →

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Base camps and village halls, Help from Hall keepers when we arrived for training or Call-outs.

Posted on October 4, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

The Onich Village hall was a great base for the RAF Teams over the years. It is situated between Fort William and Glencoe. This area is a Mecca for climbers. In these early days we paid a Base camp fee … Continue reading →

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National Poetry day / A journey to Shenevall.

Posted on October 1, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I am sadly feeling sorry for myself as I have done my back in due to coughing. I did it on the way back from a great trip to Orkney. Such is life just now crawling about the house so … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Mountaineering, Poems, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 7 Comments

Old pals.

Posted on September 15, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I was down on a golf week at Dunbar and we were reminded we lost over the years two great pals Ian Ramsay and Tom Jones. They came to many annual golf weeks. We were all moaning a bit about … Continue reading →

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Past Heroes – Eric Beard – Philip Tranter.

Posted on September 4, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

These two names were well kent many years ago may be lost in time but when I started mountaineering there were lots of great characters about. I was always interested in big hill days and both these characters were icons … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Bothies, Clothing, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Friends, Gear, Health, Hill running and huge days!, History, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing | 3 Comments

Dog Tails – return to scotland Big Callouts winters – Lockerbie and epics, fun , sadness and laughter.

Posted on August 27, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Back in Scotland: It was great we were back in Scotland and straight on 2 weeks on the annual RAF Mountain Rescue Winter Course. The Course was split into two parts the first at Grantown on Spey at the PTI … Continue reading →

Posted in Bothies, Enviroment, Family, Friends, Health, Hill running and huge days!, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, People, SARDA, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

National Dog Day is celebrated on August 26 each year. This is a story of a special Dog. Part 1 and 2.

Posted on August 25, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Dog Tails from the back of a land rover. Introduction. Let me introduce myself: My name is Teallach I was a very soft Alsatian and I have been asked to write about my life in the mountains. I was very … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Bothies, Family, Friends, Hill running and huge days!, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment