Michael Bird

Grahams nos 158, Stob an Eas and 159, Cruach nam Mult - brought up a half century of Grahams this calendar year on the final day of British Summer Time

Grahams nos 156, Meall nan Gabhar and 157, Beinn Bhalgairean - the day began promisingly, but then the cloud came in and didn't lift - at least it stayed above the Graham summits.

Graham no 155, Beinn Dubh - hoped the cloud would lift, but it didn't, so decided to save the other Luss hills for another day

Graham no 154, Beinn Lochain,
above Loch Goil, via the Cowal Way

Graham no 153, Beinn Bheag - finishing off the Cowal Peninsula Grahams, rewarded by seeing two sea eagles 🦅 🦅

Graham no 152, Meall Fuar-mhonaidh - an easy one above Loch Ness with views down the Great Glen and to the hills of Affric, Cannich and Strathfarrar

Graham no 151, Beinn an Eoin, the Mountain of the Bird - new perspectives on the extraordinary Inselberge of Assynt, probably my favourite place in Scotland

Graham no 150, Morven, the highest point in Caithness - a mesmerising sight during the walk in and out, a short sharp climb and sensational views over the Flow Country

Grahams nos 147, Tullich Hill, 148, Beinn Bhreac and 149, Beinn na Sroine - keeping my score ticking over during the month of the Edinburgh festivals

Congratulations - it's been inspiring following your journey

Graham no 146 - exactly two thirds of the way to my goal of all 219 Grahams - Mullach Buidhe of Beinn Bharrain -
day trip to the wonderful Isle of Arran

Grahams nos 144 and 145, Beinn Chaorach and Beinn a'Mhanaich - first inroads into the Luss Hills, in great heat

Graham no 143, Creag Tharsuinn - approach along the Cowal Way

Graham no 142, Beinn Ruadh - good to be back in the hills after two trips south for Test matches. It was so windy that I tagged the cairn and retreated - no summit photo !

Graham no 141, Beinn Damhain - there's been a lot of rain in the two weeks since I was last in the hills, and a good thing too !

Graham no 140, Beinn Mhòr - cloud cover welcome after days and weeks of sunshine

Graham no 139, Cruach nan Capull - first time exploring the Cowal Peninsula (one of many great things about mountain bagging - it takes me all over Scotland)

Graham no 138, Sgùrr a' Gharaidh - the photos say it all ! Views north and east to the Torridon mountains, and west over the Applecross peninsula to the Isle of Skye.

Graham no 137, Beinn Tharsuinn - a much higher ratio of effort to reward, biking the long track up Strath Vaich, pushing my bike most of the way back with a puncture, all in all a 40km day

Graham no 136, Beinn Donachain - outstanding ratio of effort to reward !

Graham no 135, Mór Bheinn - accessed through the estate of a Russian oligarch !

Graham no 134, Meall Mór from Inverlochlarig - one more to add to the many memorable days I've had on the mountains above my favourite glen !

Graham no 133, Beinn Dearg above Glen Artney - it's always great to be reminded how lovely Highland Perthshire is !

Graham no 132, Ben Buie - climbing on dry gabbro always a pleasure, and what a joy to arrive at the summit to see two massive sea eagles taking flight !

Graham no 131, Creach Beinn - before the climb I watched a golden eagle being mobbed by crows, and afterwards presumably the same eagle soaring high

Grahams nos 129 and 130, Meall an Fheur Loch and Meallan a'Chuail - wild country but excellent stalkers' path

Graham #128, Sabhal Beag - views to north, west and east coasts, and most of the great mountains of the far north

Graham #127, Ben Stack - I remembered Robin Cook, who died on this mountain - coincidentally it was on this day 25 years ago he opened our office in Kyiv and said: "I think the work of the British Council is every bit as important as anything I do as Foreign Minister”

Graham #126, The Stob - the perfect days just go on and on ☀️

Graham no 125, Beinn Suidhe - another perfect day ☀️