25th of April and there’s fresh snow on the A939 between Cock Bridge and Tomintoul, as well as the A93 at Glenshee. In days gone by this would have been met with a shrug of the shoulders. Nowadays it feels rarer; as though it’s passing into history.

It's hard to believe that this was a year ago. Mabel wondering what's going on, while treat-dispenser-in-chief ponders Braeriach and Loch Eanaich below.

A phenomenon so rare in Britain that all our native languages have no word for it, is the space on a mountain between a cliff face and the receding summer snow pack. In German it is known as randkluft.

On the 30 August 2015 I visited one of the best examples, on Ben Macdui.

A photo I took recently of lenticular clouds at sunset on the top of Ben Cleuch, looking towards Ben Lawers. Lenticular means 'double convex lens', referencing the shape.

How lenticular clouds form
As air encounters a mountain, it's forced upwards. This rising air cools due to

One thing I love about the streams that wind down from the western Cairngorms is the fact they strip vegetation from the periphery, leaving lovely granite to ascend. Often this method of ascent is easier (and more scenic) than the advertised paths.

Beinn Bhrotain (mastiff hill)

Sunset at Loch Lomond.