Prologue - The Hill that hooked me

In April 2018, I set off.

Beinn Dubh

After what seemed like years of talking about taking up Hill Walking I unexpectedly found myself with a work free, child free, midweek day. On a whim I threw some kit and some lunch in the car and headed for Loch Lomondside and the Village of Luss.

Located on the West Side of Loch Lomond and forming part of the Glen Striddle Hills, Beinn Dubh sits at 725m.

The sun was splitting the skies and the lower slopes free from snow. Parking up at Luss Car Park I finally found the footbridge that takes you over the busy A82.

Puggled - one of many Scot's Words that describe tiredness or fatigue

'Blowing out yrr arse' is another phrase and within 20 minutes, I was. It was clear that to enjoy more days like these i would need to be hill fit. Being over weight and under exercised was becoming very apparent. That said, I've always had legs and lungs for the hills - the former being short and the latter being large - so I plodded on. The snow was far deeper than I expected and even on a modest ascent, some training and experience was added to the list of requirements. I sat midway up this modest but beautiful little Hill and enjoyed a hot tea overlooking Loch Lomond and I knew then it was the start of a very long journey. One that may indeed take years and one that may never be completed.

After a largely uneventful descent I had a spot of lunch by the shores of Loch Lomond which was thronged with visitors by this stage.

I was hooked.