I’m motivated, I’m focused.. I’m doing this!

Weekends are spend out walking building up the time spent on my feet, starting with a local 5 miles with a wonderfully supportive friend.

My mum is off on her annual trip to Scotland, and they have a spare room in their lodge! Flights and hire car booked, I am excited to try some proper hills!

We stayed just outside Dunoon, it was March 2025 and the East Coat of Scotland is recovering from the damage casued by Storm Eowyn. Several local trails were not passable due to fallen trees. A bit of google research and with the help of the Alltrails app, we had two routes planned. Beinn Mhor was only a short drive away.

My mum made us sandwiches and we headed out on our way. Parked up at the end of the road we head off following a flat open path for 2km with strong winds adding resistance, I quickly realised the Scottish weather and my cheap pack a mac and heavy fleece were not compatible, I’m going to need to invest in some proper gear for future training hikes. Eventually, we turn onto a sheltered winding path and hit some serious elevation.

It’s tough, but I feel ok, the previous training walks are paying off. The stunning scenery is a welcome distraction, a waterfall and tall trees let you know you’re in the highlands. The path got harder to follow as you enter a dense wooded area and the mud harder to climb through, but once we got out onto the clearing we were rewarded with the most stunning 360 degree views!

We’ve made it!!

What an incredible feeling, I’ve never been particularly fit, often breaking a sweat doing housework! But I’ve done it, I’ve climbed a mountain, a proper mountain! I must celebrate by trying to climb on the trig point!

This was a gorgeous hike, we had my mums young working cocker with us and she loved it too! We didn’t meet another soul on route, highly recommend if you are in this region of Scotland.