So far our summer up here in the Highlands has been great - the odd shower or thunderstorm but no relentless rain. Great weather for getting out and ticking some classics.

The weekend of the 11th of July I re-did Tower Ridge. Before when I'd done it it had been clagged over, drizzly and quite intimidating. Last weekend it was broad sunshine all the way and it gave the day a very different feel. We moved together, just stopping to put the odd belay on until we got to Tower Gap which we pitched. For those who haven't done Tower Ridge - the gap is the notch at the top of the ridge that although not a technically hard climb has great exposure, as you down climb into and out of a gap with hundreds of metres of air beneath your feet. Last Saturday it felt very do-able and I enjoyed it, very different to the previous time when it had been pretty windy and I admit to being very nervous when tackling it.

The North Face of the Ben is so big that although there were other climbers on various routes you still get a feeling of being on a big remote mountain. It is a completely different feel when you top out - the summit of Ben Nevis on a sunny July Saturday is very, very busy with all the charity walks, and vistors 'bagging the Ben'. It makes me appreciate how many people go up and down this mountain and the great work the Nevis Partnership and all their partners do in maintaining footpaths and habitat on this iconic mountain.

This weekend the weather was much more mixed with quite a bit of rain, but this didn't stop an unusual hen night going ahead. Making the most of living up in the Highlands a friend's hen night consisted of a trip out on the train to Corrour Resturant to eat at what must be one of the remotest resturants (although may the Old Forge in Knoydart beats it), suitably fed and watered we sang our way back to Fort William on the train, much to the amusements of other travellers, and made our way over to hear Skerryvore play at the Nevis Centre.

A great night, followed by a cheeky bagging of three Munro's the next day. Despite a crack of noon start we managed to do the round of Carn Liath, Stob Poite Coire Adair and Creag Meagaidh before getting relentlessly rained on in descent. Let's hope the rain moves through quickly - we have all got used to sunshine and warm weather and rather like it!

Anna July 20th 2009