Glen Roy caravan

1980.
3rd Trip.  September  Glen Roy Caravan.
13 Munros + 9 Tops.  43 1/2 miles.  17700ft.
Malcolm. Ian.
Sept 26th to October 2nd.

This was Ian's first serious 'bagging' trip.
Sept 27th.1980.
Ian. Malcolm
Two Munros.
Beinn a Chleibh.  Ben Lui. (Tyndrum).
We parked on the Tyndrum to Oban road about 8 miles West of Tyndrum.  Crossing the railway and using woodland tracks we ascended Beinn a Chleibh and moved straight onto Ben Lui.  It was clear all day except just at the top of Lui.  The descent was a little dodgy in parts being down a mossy cliff face. 
I have a lingering feeling that I may have attempted Ben Lui in 1958 with Brian Downs, but that day had poor visibility and who knows.
8½ miles. 3700ft.

Sept 28th.1980.
Ian. Malcolm.
Six Munros and 3 tops.
Mullach nan Coirean.  Stob Ban.  Sgurr a'Mhaim.  Am Bodach.  Stob Coire a'Chairn.  An Gearanach.  (Mamores)
It was clear and sunny all day.
We started down Glen Nevis, parking at Polldubh before taking the forest track to the Allt a Choire Dheirg and breaking up onto the north east ridge of Mullach nan Coirean.  We circled round to Stob Ban and drifted out onto the spur to Sgurr a Mhaim (an airy ridge), before finishing with Am Bodach and An Garbhanach.  The way back was alongside the Water of Nevis which we had to cross on a double wire suspension bridge with no floor to it.
It was dark by the time we finished and we had taken nearly 10 hours against Naismiths 8.
15 miles. 6500ft.  9hrs 45mins.

We made our way back to Glen Roy to the caravan we were staying in at Bohenie.  The back bar at the Roybridge Hotel was a lively place and we watched a good TV punch up at a boxing match. (Was it a Brian London fight?) (28th Sept 1980..someone put me out of my misery and check this…no one else remembers it).
I remember losing my car keys somehow and walking back to the van while others rode.  There is no justice in life.

Sept 29th.1980.
One of those rare rest days.
Malcolm had to return home today, and it was pretty foul and wet anyway.  Ian and I visited the Fort William Museum which featured a number of artefacts to do with Bonny Prince Charlie.  Ian purchased sox I think, for his intended, from Fort William Railway Station.
In the early days the station had a good egg and chips café, and the toilets and showers were well used.

Sept 30th1980.
Ian.
Four Munros and 6 tops.
Sgurr Choinnich Mor.  Stob Coire an Laoigh.  Stob Choire Claurigh.  Stob Ban.  (Grey Corries.) 
This was another long day but the weather was good, with sunshine, views, and little wind.  We had to go by way of Spean Bridge to attain the minor road on the south side of the River Spean.  This was followed past Corriechoille to the edge of a wood close by a disused tramway where we could park.  We followed this gap in the trees onto the long north ridge of Stob Coire Easain.  Saving  the summit till we had taken in the more outlying Sgurr Choinnich Mor we then mopped up a number of tops to Stob Coire na Ceannain, the top at the eastern end
Whilst on Stob Coire an Laoigh we enjoyed an enthralling hour over lunch watching a herd of between 100 and 150 deer in the corrie below.
To complete the day we took in Stob Ban before dropping to the Lairig Leacach to follow the good track out to our start point.  We had been out 10 hours for 15 miles and 5000ft.

1st October 1980.
Ian.
One Munro.
Schiehallion
We parked at Braes of Foss and ascended and descended by the same route heading due west then following the boundary up onto the main crest.  The going was very heathery and on top it was blowing a full gale.  You couldn’t hear yourself shout, and we took turns to cling to the trig point and allow the wind to stretch us out horizontally.  There were no views.


Prior to 1976 my personal Munroe total was 7.
During 1976-79 inclusive it had moved on to 14.

By the end of 1980 I was on 45, the total having been trebled during the year.

It was to almost double again in the next 12 months.