There were only three of them – pacing in the early spring sunshine beside possibly the oldest living thing in the world. Drinking coffee, eating biscuits – somebody quoted the Guy Clark song " Like desparados waiting for the train".

Two of them thought they were going to do Meall Tairnachen & Farragon hill because she had them to do. Naw said the big one – let’s do Beinn Derag – its easier and we can short-cut over the Bridge of Balgie and home. Yea right they thought guessing that was the only one he had to do in the area but not saying anything.

So that’s where they headed, moving off at 9.45 – well no one else was going to show up.

The other three decided there was no need to go to Fortingall and headed straight to Loch a Daimh to do Stuc An Lochain and Sron a choire Chnapanich

So there were only six of them but what a day they had picked – cool, sun now and then but always bright. 360 views of hills above them and masses f snow. What height is Lawers? 1214m no it must be higher much higher. It was one of those days which was close to perfect.

The Corbett three were in the Killin hotel by 15.30 for drinks and good soup. The other three were not there. The two parties never did meet up.

The other thing is this – don’t cross the barmaid in this hotel – she slaps the chefs around. She told them that herself – so we figured it must be true.

Isobel, Dave Webster and Brian McD did Beinn Dearg and David Foster, James Young and Henry Perfect did Stuc An Lochain and Sron a choire Chnapanich.