1. Dedication & Introduction
Includes early Days on Scottish Hills & The 3 Peaks Challenge.
In which I thank my wife and my father, climb Ben Nevis, have dinner with Prince Phillip and lose the Mayoral Chains...
DEDICATION
If I am to dedicate these “ramblings” to any one person, then there is only one option.
I therefore dedicate this epistle, with love, to my wife Marjorie in the hope that she will forgive me some of the hours I have spent away on the hills, and, more recently, at my word processor, but more especially as a miniscule thankyou for her continued support and understanding.
Many is the time when it was not entirely convenient for me to disappear from the work/cottage/domestic scene, and many were the problems which inevitably arose within hours of my leaving home. (Sods Law seemed to apply regularly). Many is the time when the weather reports were atrocious, when walking parties were reported in the media as in difficulty, when my phone calls were later than promised, when……..
She is a real cracker, but then that’s why I married her. THANK YOU!​​​
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Marjorie & Doug & Eileen Tait heading for another Taste of Scotland
​​ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS​
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In addition to my wife, there are a select number of people who must be mentioned without whose input the Munros may never have been completed.
Perhaps first I should thank my father, Noel Wiseman, for introducing me to the countryside, and in particular the Duddon Valley in the Lake District. From the age of around 4 to the age of around 14 every family holiday I had was to this spot. Mostly it was just my father and myself. My first hill at around aged 4 or 5 was Harter Fell between Duddon and Eskdale, although I had previously managed Walna Scar Pass to Coniston. ​​​​
Noel and a young me with Wallowbarrow behind.
It was my father who introduced me to the high ground, who taught me to stand and inhale through the nose the good clean mountain air, to pass the time of day with the locals, to worship waterfalls, watch trout in deep pools, learn the names of the hills and the taking in pleasure in small things, at no financial cost.
Sadly I have not his patience or laid back disposition, but I like to think that some things stuck. (Standing at the bar in an evening for example).​​​
Tractor riding at “Newfield”
My first Scottish Hills were with Brian Downs, and later Joe Oliver was to be a companion to the Lakes, Wales and Scotland. Both were Articled Clerks to accountants at the same time as myself. Scouting also gave me some good excuses to head for the hills to share with others that which gave me a real kick. ​
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Many of the people who loom largely in these accounts were connected, like myself, to the 23rd Blackpool Scouts, including my wife Marjorie, Tony Shaw, Brian Downs, Stan Wilson, Alec Webster and his Ventures, Ian Holland, Mal Newlyn and Geraldine Newlyn (26th). Mark Harrison, and Joe Oliver, though not uniformed members used to join in the Scouting trips and excursions, and Pete Bevan was with the 45th.
But the real impetus to tackle the Munros themselves must be credited to Ian Holland and Malcolm Newlyn.
It was Ian’s suggestion that I help as a Driver on a Venture Scout Camp that led to a renewed and enlarged delight in all things Scottish.
It was Malcolm’s, (quickly followed by Ian’s), enthusiastic agreement to my suggestion that we “Bag the Munro’s”, that made the idea become a reality.
Me (centre) with my Munro partners and lifelong friends, Ian Holland (left) and Mal Newlyn (right)
Once we started in earnest, in May 1980, we pursued our objective with single-mindedness, never swerving or deviating or digressing at any time. Through thick and thin, hail and gale, hostel by hostel, pub by pub, Munro by Munro, we crept steadily to our goal. 146 memorable hill days (39 trips) were shared. Every one of them is recorded within the unabridged version of this works.
The trips in the late 70’s benefited from the company of Mike Beck (easy going), Mark Harrison (when he turned up), and Alec “Beachcomber” Webster (complete, we suspected, with pet ferret concealed on his person at all times).
In the 80’s, when bagging had become serious business, we were always glad of the appearance of Geraldine (Bean) Newlyn (whose lemon drizzle cake was superb), Jim Pickering (“Mr. Rohan” with a set of togs and clogs for every occasion), and Dave Hill (whose smile was always bigger than his blisters). They added greatly to the trips they were able to join us.​
Although technically outside the scope of our Munro trips I must add the names of Peter Bevan (No Probs), and Dave Southern (Gannet). They became regulars on a good number of the Corbett trips, and Dave went on to finish the Munros himself.
Additionally Marjorie and I spent a number of great cycling trips to Scotland with Doug and Eileen Tait, exploring much wonderful country. We visited Arran, Mull, Islay, Skye, Outer Hebrides, Ardgour, Deeside.
Occasionally, Munro numbers were increased by Gordon, (Jims friend), and the Corbetting numbers were swelled by Carl (The Article) and his friends.​
To all these people I owe a debt for their companionship on and off the hills.
Mull With Doug & Eileen on left
May these pages help us never to forget.
Blaven,Skye
INTRODUCTION- Mountains of Scotland: Two events that changed my relationship with Munros​
Prior to September 1976 my visits to the Scottish Hills had been few and far between, although I had done most of the Lakeland Fells and enjoyed a fair number of trips to North Wales.
My total Munro haul up to that time was probably 7, being Ben Nevis, Caingorm, McDhui and four in Glencoe. All these acquired in a short spell in the late 1950's.
Two events changed all that.
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Firstly a meeting up with Ian Holland and accepting his request to assist with transport to a Venture Scout Camp on Skye in September 1976.
Secondly a reunion with Malcolm Newlyn at Harrogate in early 1980.
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Since then the names of around 500 additional Scottish Hills have been added to the list. (To 31st December 1999)
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These brief notes touch on some of the events and memories of Scottish trips, culminating on 3rd November 1988, when, on Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro, we all three completed the Munro's as defined per the current SMC Guide.
EARLY DAYS- Ben Nevis​
​As for many people, "Ben Nevis" was my first Scottish Mountain, my first Munro.
For the vast majority I would guess that this is their first and last Scottish Hill. Thankfully, in my case, this was not so.
However, such is the lure of the "Highest point in Great Britain" that even I had been guilty of climbing it FIVE times before sampling a wider field.
The first ascent was probably in 1959 when it was climbed in company with Brian Downs, son of Downs the butchers of Highfield Rd., Blackpool. We had invested in our first motor car, a joint venture costing £5 each.
The car was a Morris Box, and we had spent some months on renovation under Brian's fathers eagle eye. Tappets and valves had been ground or whatever it is that you do to them, running boards strengthened, and the roof re-covered with the really strong visqueen sheeting that cattle carcasses had been delivered in.
This excursion was spent with myself on 'L' plates, and apart from a short argument with an AA Box at Tyndrum, we were accident free. We did get stuck at Tomintoul when the engine refused the incline, but Brian knew that reverse gear is apparently lower than first, and he drove it a mile uphill backwards to the entertainment of passing coaches.
We stayed at YHA’s or camped and I had a few lie ins as Brian, being a good Catholic, had to keep dashing miles to try to find a Church on High Days and Holy Days.​
It was on this trip with Brian Downs that Cairn Gorm and Ben Macdhui were first climbed, on a grey day, with navigation required on the tops.​At this time, virtually all the Highland roads were single track, and on Skye the 'A' roads had grass growing in the middle.​
Sometime in this same era Joe Oliver and his friends paid for my petrol and digs to guide them up Ben Nevis.
On another occasion we did Buchaille Etive Mor for which trip I left Blackpool at 6am, met Joe at Kingshouse, climbed the hill, and was home for midnight. And this before motorways.
Later, hitch-hiking with Joe saw us on Orkney and then in the Northwest (for the first time). We received lifts from a Lighthouse Keeper and a worker at Dounrae Atomic Power Station. One night was spent sleeping in the bar at Kylesku after we caught the last ferry across. After the last ferry of course no further cars could appear.​​
My first "Non-Nevis" trip was probably with Stan Wilson, Mark Harrison, Alan Smith, Marks friend Wally, and Geoff Brown, one of my articled clerks. On this trip we climbed the massive Bidean Nan Bian and the exhilarating Aonach Eagach.
Although we slept two nights at Kylesku we only paid for one bed and breakfast each as the first night we slept in the bar as the hotel was full.
THE THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE
​Including meeting Prince Phillip and losing the Mayoral Chains!
The Three Peaks Challenge involves three mountains
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Ben Nevis - Highest in Scotland
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Scafell Pike - Highest in England
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Snowdon - Highest in Wales
​Two trips have been made.
The first trip was in the mid 1960’s with 45th Blackpool (St. Christopher's ) Scouts, and included Stewart Addy (slimy bogtrotter) and the Needham brothers Kevin and Phillip.
Mal Newlyn and Geraldine Patfield joined the party and we had to use the Ballachulish Ferry as the bridge did not exist at this time.
The second time was in 1972 when we took part in The Deputy Mayor of Blackpool Sponsored Three Peaks Expedition in support of the Variety Club of Great Britain's Appeal.
Others who took part were Tony Shaw, Stan Wilson, Mark Harrison (all connected with 23rd Blackpool) and John Clark, policeman and cousin of Tony. I was to do the Pennine Way and Coast to Coast with John.
Trip with 45th Blackpool Scouts
Deputy Mayor Sponsored Trip - Ready for the Off!
On this trip we greeted the first person to arrive on the summit after ourselves with:-
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A welcome from the Deputy Mayor (Myself) complete with Mayoral Chains
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A welcome from the General Manager of the Blackpool Evening Gazette (Tony), and the presentation of the Anniversary Edition of the paper.
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A stick of Blackpool Rock
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The opportunity to name a request record to be played on Radio Blackpool Victoria Hospital
A bin bag full of rubbish was collected from each summit.
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John was our photographer and he also arranged for photos to be relayed by police cars back to Blackpool for inclusion in the next days Evening Gazette.
We stayed at Bunkbarns at Glencoe, Langdale and Wales and after Snowdon I was rushed to just catch the London train to be in time for a reception by the Variety Club attended by Prince Phillip. We raised over £3000 which in 1972 was worth considerably more than it is today.
Nev. Tony. Stan. Mark. John.
Mayors Parlour.: John, Stan, Nev, Frank Carson, Mayor Edmund Wynne, Tony, Mark.
One lasting memory is arriving at the top of Ben Nevis and not being able to find the Mayoral Chain. The night before, in the Clachaig Pub (before the rear extension) I had extracted a page from the visitors book concerning one of my team and a young lady.
As he was shortly to be married, but not to this young lady, I thought that this document might provide amusement for a day or so.
What I didn’t know was that the Mayoral Chain had fallen out of my corduroy trouser pocket onto the floor of the pub, and that this same team member had picked it up and kept it for similar amusement.
Needless to say a “Deal” was duly arranged on Ben Nevis Summit, and an exchange was made to the relief of both parties!
Nevis Summit