Loch Morlich from Castle Hill, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Loch Morlich is an unmissable landmark in this landscape, much like the line of hills extending behind it in this photo. Meall a' Bhuachaille is the highest of the lot and is situated to the right of the rest of them, and a westward traverse takes you over Creagan Gorm and Craiggowrie. This scene comes from my first to the Cairngorms National Park on Easter Monday, 2009; another would follow it in August.

Then, I was to walk over those hills while hoping to end up in Aviemore after starting at the Ryvoan Pass. If I was wishing for splendid weather for such an errand, I was to be denied, only to get a soaking instead. My hike also ended back on the shores of Loch Morlich from where I continued to Aviemore by bus to reach the youth hostel where I was to stay.

On arrival at my lodgings, I made use of its drying room in parallel with seeking sustenance and venturing into Craigellachie National Nature Reserve, just on the other side of the A9. All followed an overnight train trip from Crewe to Aviemore, on which sleep had been at a premium because I chose a seated carriage instead of a berth. The first night in Aviemore of this trip would need to involve my catching up on some sleep as well as resting after a day's exertions.