Jenny Walters,

Features Editor

Miles walked this month: 91

There’s a lot of love for mountains in this issue, but I hope I’m not the only one who’s ever got mad as hell with one. Quinag is a glorious, complicated peak with three summits in Scotland’s Assynt.

My ambitions weren’t huge – I just wanted to reach the first one – and I understood the going was pretty straightforward. Yet as the path vaporised in a steep boulder field and I tripped over rough rocks on burning legs, I began to curse it. Maybe it was the mismatch between expectation and reality that made me so cross; more likely it was pure frustration at my own abilities, and when the slope steepened again I burst into tears. I kicked a rock. Then I turned tail and stomped my way back down again, swearing never to return to this darn mountain.

Note to self: Of course I’ll return. I mean look at that view.

Incredible views from halfway up. I didn’t get any further...