Glenfinnan horsheshoe

In February ‘25, following the launch of Northern Horizons at the Fort William Mountain Festival, Kim and I had set out for Sgurr Nan Coireachan intent on completing the classic horseshoe including Sgurr Thuilm. In the event, rapidly deteriorating weather and a painful back spasm resulted in an early retreat from the first Munro. I’d run over both summits previously but having yet to join the two, I was keen to complete the round.

Just over a year later in the wake of Storm Dave, the opportunity came. Once again the hills were white and it was clearly going to be a bit of a slog. Predictably, the novelty of breaking trail quickly palled.

If the climb of Sgurr Nan Coireachan was tough, the final approach to Sgurr Thuilm was soberingly hard. Constant wind speeds upwards of 40mph made progress blindingly slow and bitterly cold. But then the magic of virgin snow and the pastel hues of arctic skies rarely fail to compensate for the effort involved, while the sight of an eagle that circled us for long minutes above Meall An Tarmachain and an antler claimed from the glen proved fitting reward.