Category Archives: Flora

Orkney: some thoughts. To me it seems to have many things right. We could learn from a lot from here.

Posted on October 2, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I am just back from a trip to Orkney I had been a few times before but always climbing or on Exercise with the helicopter or the Coastguards over the years. Yet my visit last week re opened my eyes … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Flora, Friends, Health, Local area and events to see, Mountaineering, People, Views Political?, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Memories of Harris @ Lewis. The empty beaches, virgin rock, local history and a big Callout for the Shackelton aircraft crash.

Posted on July 19, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I have so many great memories of Scotlands Islands my recent trip to Lewis for the Hebrides Music Festival was another now in my memories. Over the years I had gone over to Lewis and Harris often especially after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Enviroment, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Family, Flora, Friends, Health, Local area and events to see, Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

The Cromdales and a visit to the crash site of a RAF Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, Carn a’ Ghille Chearr, 710 metres Cromdale Hills.

Posted on June 28, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I have visited the Cromdales a few times mainly on the odd winter course when we skied from Grantown on Spey. This was due to heavy snow at various years stopping us going to the Cairngorms. Yet I have never … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Corbetts and other hills, Enviroment, Equipment, Flora, Friends, Health, Himalayas/ Everest, Mountaineering, Other hills Grahams & Donalds, People, Plants, Recomended books and Guides, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Day 3 Colonsay -The Strand

Posted on June 5, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Today was another day with Islay the collie. Ksllie was away on her last day of bee keeping . Last nights night we watched A Sherlock Holmes film involving Bees! The weather again was superb so we were away for … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Flora, Friends, Islands, People, Plants, Recomended books and Guides, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

A very slow day in Torridon Tom na Gruagaich. Beinn Alligin a cracking mountain.

Posted on April 23, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

“The weather had a great forecast for the West” my friend Kalie said “West is best” so I came over late on Thursday night. I had just had a tooth taken out on Wednesday and was not feeling great. Yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Corbetts, Corbetts and other hills, Flora, Friends, Local area and events to see, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

What a magic surprise.

Posted on April 7, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I got these yesterday from two friends it really made my day. It was so kind and a great momento of many great days on the Corbett’s. It’s amazing how kind folk can be and as I often say there … Continue reading →

Posted in Corbetts, Enviroment, Family, Flora, Friends, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Views Political?, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Mountain Safety how do we get the Safety message across. Self Reliance could be a key.

Posted on March 16, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

For some reason my blog has vanished on the internet. What I said was though there is great work done by various organisations on safety in the mountains the tragedies keep happening. I know there are many more going into … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Flora, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

My mate Tom Mac Donald RIP.

Posted on January 20, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Tom MacDonald I have the just had the sad news of my pal Tom MacDonald died on Thursday at his home in Dundee. I have no other news as yet. It was a huge shock as I thought the man … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Bothies, Corbetts and other hills, Family, Flora, Friends, Ice climbing Canada, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Plants, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being, Wildlife | 8 Comments

The silent world of the walk out from Ben Alder Cottage – where has all the wild life gone.The industrial clearance of trees made some of the forest look like a bomb site?

Posted on December 18, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

As we wandered back through Ben Alder Cottage it was a stunning morning. We walked out along the path now partly frozen then the track through forestry and cleared areas. We all remarked how few animals we had seen. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Enviroment, Flora, Friends, Mountaineering, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

End of a few days in Arran Cir Mhor via the Saddle and a “dook “ in Glen Rosa.

Posted on July 13, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

This was our last full day on Arran we were away early to Glen Rosa for a wander up Cir Mhor a grand hill from the Saddle. It was very warm and Glen Rosa means so much to both of … Continue reading →

Posted in Enviroment, Equipment, Family, Flora, Friends, Health, Islands, Local area and events to see, Mountain Biking, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Other hills Grahams & Donalds, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 1 Comment