Since Sunday 10th May 09 the Outdoor Capital has enjoyed fantastic weather, somewhat deserved because the previous week when the Scottish Six Day Trial had been up in Lochaber the weather had been truly atrocious. Luckily most of the riders are pretty tough but it must have made what is already a pretty challenging event even more so.

So this week has been payback time. As the saying goes 'make hay while the sun shines' so I have been making the most of it and getting out as much as possible.

After a long lay off from hill-walking due to injury I went out and did the Corryhully Horseshoe, a long but superb hill walk with great access in on the Glenfinnan Estate road. Too often landowners only get press when they block access but this estate positively encourage walkers and cyclists, and should be applauded. We took bikes (no motorised vehichles allowed) in on a tarmaced private road, until just after the bothy. This saves quite a bit of time and about 4-5km of walking; after a wonderful cicuit with views to die for over to the Small Isles, Knoydart and back to Ben Nevis, we took just 14 minutes to cycle back to the car. As well as getting to tick 2 Munros you also get to go underneath the world famous Glenfinnan Viaduct made even more famous with the Harry Potter films.

The good weather has kept on coming and on Monday evening I enjoyed a stroll after supper with a friend around Ballachulish and captured the sunset over Morven.

Work took me to Oban this morning and I took the opportunity to stop at Port Appin just off the A85 on the way back to eat my lunch. A visit to Port Appin is a great day out from the Outdoor Capital. There is a super giftshop, Seahorse Gifts as well as the ferry which takes you over to the Isle of Lismore. It is well worth taking bikes over on the little passenger ferry and exploring the island. To complete the day you could eat at the Pierhouse Hotel which has a good reputation. As I ate my lunch and gazed out over the blue sea Rockhopper (a kayaking company) were taking a group out seakayaking, I couldn't have asked for a more scenic lunch spot.

Let's hope this weather holds...

Anna