The Last Munro

From Arnisdale Keith and five more boated out

as Knoydart beckoned, all in with a shout,

on this peninsula so strong and so quiet

where all the senses are put to re-set

First on a path of micaceous shine,

a pee at the bothy then off in a line,

over nardus then bracken, up through trees

to gain Mam Barisdale testing the knees

The arc of the summits seeming so near

but the best way up far from clear,

high col and arête easy enough to see

beyond sphagnum and schist defying degree

A property line of iron rods

pathetically bent beneath the Gods.

How on Earth to walk from one to the other,

not quite the same as a walk in the heather

Here in Scotland’s wildest place

what hope to tramp in surest grace?

Yet the spoor of deer suggests there is,

but they are only here for rich man’s biz

Now up and over with different strikes

half atop Luinne Bheinn, half on lesser hikes

meeting again for a saddled view

of Cuillin. Lochaber and Torridon hue

Onwards and upwards is all very well

yet tormentil and orchid draw the eye on the fell.

At the col further on a decision is made

not enough time for all I’m afraid –

so three carry on to ascend Meall Buidhe

Taking in this surround has a lightness of weight,

as human hand hardly touches Pre-Cambrian fate.

The mount invites bended knee with gentlest awe

and now you see all at once the draw

As a man’s Munrovian completion is done

with these lowland stalwarts under the sun

on this unique day in the Ross-shire wild,

three others descend, single filed

Bits and pieces the worse for wear,

thankful to deer whose ghost path we share.

The conquerors tread back higher up

but do come down before the lip

Our Gallic Alpinist goes on ahead

to tell the boat we are a wee bit spread.

Meall Buidhe seen, felt and rounded by some

it conducted three others on score facing Rhum.

Now that was a climb and a breath and a shake

of The kind from which to remind being awake.

Gordon Peters

September, 2015