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It was a tough competition (I don’t let go of a bottle of cask strength that easily) so very well done to those who got all four – you certainly know your bothies. There were some very imaginative entries too, one entrant convinced that they were all shots of the same place!

The final entries are in, and Miss W has just drawn the winner…who is….Colin Crawford! Well done Colin, and commiserations to the other competitors.

So, where were these elusive bothies? No actual GRs are given here on a public forum, as some bothies get unwelcome visitors, but the names should let you know if you were right or wrong.

1) Oban Bothy – MBA maintained bothy well known to many Challengers
2) Taigh Stobh Uaine – Estate bothy east of Glen Albyn
3) Loch Chiarain – MBA bothy
4) Red Bothy – Well known bothy near River Dulnain (and not, as one wag had it, the Betty Ford Clinic, Aviemore).

It’s been fun doing this, and the next competition will be a lot easier in that specialised knowledge is not required, but good map reading skills are! It’s a photo competition, but this time we’ll tell you where and when the photo was taken. What you have to do to win is work out the GR that the photo was taken from. That’s for Easter, though. Right now I’m off for a little lie down after all this excitement – gotta be at my best for the New Year frolics this evening.

Happy New Year!

Hi all - hope you've all had a good Christmas. We have a couple of crackers here for you.

Steve Smith's excellent Munro Diaries are now published in our 'Random Doodles'. Steve shares his thoughts and emotional ups and downs as well as his adventures in the mountains, all served well seasoned with humour and the odd dash of sheer terror.


And in the TGO section, Peter "Mr Grumpy" Goddard has another entertaining challenge account, where you can follow his adventures from Oban to Long Meg in 1995.

Happy New Year to all - and not long now 'til the draw for the "Bothy Competition" so if you haven't got your entry in....

After seven months waiting I at last had the cartilidge in my knee trimmed up and the surgeon told me the good news; he had made a lovely job of it, then the bad news; the knee is worn out and I should avoid walking on rough ground, going up and down hills and definately no running, (the last one is easily complied with!). After feeling sorry for myself for a couple of weeks I thought; "where there's life there's hope" so last Sunday I headed north through ice and fog on a journey to Hope.

Arriving in Strath More, Ben Hope was twinkling above in the morning sunshine encouraging me in my endeavour, a steep path took me rapidly up into the sun and although cold there was almost no wind which made for a delightful walk to the summit and a chance to admire the incredible scenery through the haze. The descent was harder but "no pain no gain!" and I was off the single track roads after a beautiful sunset before it got dark. A lovely hill in a perfect setting (it helps to have perfect weather!) and my hope is restored, (not sure about the knee).

Instead of the usual top photo round up, there is a little Christmas competition over in the Image Gallery this month - open to all. Have fun!