Ramblers Association - Monklands Group
Allan Ward - our very own 'Munro Compleatist'
Club member Allan Ward became a 'Munro Compleatist' on Saturday, 2 October 2010 when he scaled Sgor Gaibhre, Perth & Kinross, to complete his ascent of all 283 'Munros'.
In recognition of this fantastic acheivement, a photo of Allan's 'Certificate of Compleation' from the Scottish Mountaineering Club can now be found below. Also below is a selection of photos from Allan's ascent of Sgor Gaibhre (including post-walk celebrations!) and from each of the twelve years that he spent conquering the 'Munros'.
See also club member Helen Barr's tribute poem to Allan here.
Fig. 25 - Momento presented to Allan by the club at the 2010 AGM, Mon. 1 November 2010
Fig. 24 - Allan's 'Certificate of Compleation', Tues. 26 October 2010
Fig. 23 - Momento presented to Allan to mark his acheivement, Sat. 2 October 2010
Fig. 22 - Last 'Munro' post-walk celebrations, Sat. 2 October 2010
Fig. 21 - Last 'Munro' post-walk celebrations, Sat. 2 October 2010
Fig. 20 - Last 'Munro' post-walk celebrations, Sat. 2 October 2010
Fig. 19 - Last 'Munro' post-walk celebrations, Sat. 2 October 2010
Fig. 18 - Celebrations on the summit of the last 'Munro' : Sgor Gaibhre (955m), Perth & Kinross, Sat. 2 October 2010
Fig. 17 - Celebrations on the summit of the last 'Munro' : Sgor Gaibhre (955m), Perth & Kinross, Sat. 2 October 2010
Fig. 16 - Celebrations on the summit of the last 'Munro' : Sgor Gaibhre (955m), Perth & Kinross, Sat. 2 October 2010
Allan writes : "The day has come, the last Munro the 283rd, took a bit of arranging accommodation eleven of us scattered about Tyndrum, B&B, hotel & hostel then there was the train to catch at 8am from Upper Tyndrum Station so meant an early start ... 5am pickups, this made it difficult for some folk I know would like to have been there to come, in hindsight maybe should have left one closer never really paid much attention till the numbers were reduced, as it turned out a wee twist to it, I did CARN DEARG 941M with the ramblers, Jim Muir leading that day in 1998 pushed for time he could only do one Munro so that left its neighbour for another day, that day arrived for me this year on Oct 2nd and went full circle so to speak. With the train on time,we were walking along the s/e track on Loch Ossians by 9.10am, it stayed dry till we passed Corrour Shooting Lodge and onto the heathery slopes then rained most of the day, at the summit at 1.30pm, of SGOR GAIRBHRE 955m some were videoing, mine packed in with the rain, Chic's kept going and was a bit of a saviour, also my digital camera that Ewen was using succumed to the weather, so was all a bit hectic, got Helen to tie up flags I had long cane I found n' used that, meanwhile I was pulling on a T-shirt that Mike my brother my nephew Michael (jnr) & J.McGlauglin had got made up. the caption was " JOE MUNRO NO MORE TO GO " Joe being a nickname in the family that was a nice surprise, after hand shakin and kisses 'wae the girls that is' a few slugs of champagne, set up for the customary group photo flags n' all, we made the best out of a dreich day, by just after 2pm we crossed a 2 mile stretch over Nam Bam s/w to my first ever munro CARN DEARG 941m it was 3.30pm or so Kenny Weldon was the only original from 1998 so a hearty hand shake! a quick photo and back to the Corrour Station House by 5pm one-and-a-half hours to kill, we were ok! we had reserves in their fridge 3x bottles and were allowed to sit in the cafe area to continue with festivities. Later five of us in Hostel, quick shower and out just after 8pm to Tyndrum Lodge Hotel for a meal in a private room, Marion joined us she never walked she had a bad cold. I did my speech, maybe went on a bit, presented with an "etched iceberg plaque from Helen, Chic & Jackie, & john ... cards and more champagne from Kenny, I came over 'all emotional', then more suprises, Helen recites her poem to me based on some of my traits .... all of these thing made it a most memorable night, might even get to do this again in another 12 years, my 2nd round, I have it on good authority the 97 doublers I have are good for another compleation".
Fig. 15 - Ben Lomond (974m), Stirling District, Sun. 8 November 2009
Allan writes : "A great hill, as I've climbed it often, thought it should be in there, it was my 6th Munro, I did it first time 4/4/1999.... this was a good for November handy for a bit of training as we did this day... Helen, Allan, John, Chic & Jackie".
Fig. 14 - The two hundred and fifty-sixth 'Munro' : Beinn Eighe - Spidean Coire nan Clach (993m), Highland, Sun. 31 May 2009
Allan writes : "Stayed in Torridon for another w-end away brilliant weather, it's the only way you can do these futher away ones.... this was my 257th did x3 Munros over two days, these are classic mountains in this area .... It's kinda sad when your nearing your last Munros, I can cheer myself up by doing a 2nd round I suppose, with me were Ewen Thomas & Jim McKenzie".
Fig. 13 - The two hundred and fiftieth 'Munro' : Conival (987m), Highland, Sun. 28 September 2008
Allan writes : "Another milestone my 250th Munro within striking distance, by this time I Know I'll finish them, barring an injury or ill health. We had a blustery September w-end, 'ye canni win them awe', based in Ullapool, had a celebration dinner in evening ... accompanied by Mike, Lena, Ewen & Marion".
Fig. 12 - The two hundred and twenty-seventh 'Munro' : Lurg Mhor (986m), Highland, Sun. 29 April 2007
Allan writes : "This was my 227th Munro, a long w-end away, bagged x4 over 3 days, used bikes to reach them a couple of times ..... stayed at Ardarroch Loch Kishorn in a lovely cottage 4 straight days of sunshine, superb! ... another great part of the country.... accompanied by Ewen & Marion Chic & Jackie Jim-D, Lena".
Fig. 11 - The second 'Munro' : Meall nan Tarmachan (1044m), Perth & Kinross, Sat. 9 September 2006
Allan writes : "my first time round on this Munro was 10/10/1998 and it was my 2nd munro, I led again on this day with the Ramblers (A+)... Ken Paton led (B) walk ... I remember Sam Rankin volunteered to be back marker but did it 500m ahead of the group, when I questioned him later he said 'from my high position I can see the ones at the back', I never thought of it that way .. I think I was leading from the back that day!!".
Fig. 10 - The two hundred and eleventh 'Munro' : Ben Hope (927m), Highland, Sat. 20 August 2005
Allan writes : "This is the furthest north Munro. This was my 211th Munro, camped in Durness on the north coast, beautiful area! got ate alive with midgies at the trig, unusual that high up, we met an English couple from Keswick, he was celebrating Ben Hope as his compleation, it took him 40 years to do them. I chatted to them ... managed to get some of the champagne .... ' just to be sociable' you understand".
Fig. 9 - The two-hundredth 'Munro' : An Teallach - Sgurr Fiona (1060m), Highland, Sat. 11 September 2004
Allan writes : "Put this one in as it's my 200th Munro and had it worked out for Lena Law's 100th to be on same Munro and a double celebration, when I got to this milestone began to think I could bag them all? and was getting more eager to get weekends away, all the nearer hills were done ....... too windy to get flags out at cairn, did get a few photos video and champagne out on top, we were based at Ullapool for the w-end ... others present were Chic & Jackie, Jim Dunlop".
Fig. 8 - The sixty-third 'Munro' : Stuc a' Chroin (975m), Stirling District, Sun. 7 March 2004
Allan Writes : "I led this walk also (A+), 30 folk did the Munro that day, Christine McMahon led the (B) 15 in her group .... on the 24/10/99 I did it as my 63rd Munro .... two broke off to do a scramble Chic McCauley & John Young then joined us again on the summit, Chic n I videoed the walk ... was another great day!!".
Fig. 7 - The twenty-ninth 'Munro' : Carn an Tuirc (1019m), Aberdeenshire, Sat. 23 August 2003
Allan writes : "Once again David Dunn leads 21 on the walk (B+) only the one walk .. It was my 29th but did it on the 12/7/99 the weather didn't suit the photography that day either".
Fig. 6 - The one hundred and thirty-fourth 'Munro' : Beinn a'Bheithir - Sgorr Dhearg (1024m), Highland, Sat. 6 July 2002
Allan writes : "My 134th munro .. David Dunn again led the (A+) group that day and Jackie Ford the (B) group, we did two Munros of the BEINN a' BHEITHIR RIDGE, it was a bit of a cavalry charge coming down the grassy slopes into Ballachulish as I remember, all in wee groups".
Fig. 5 - The sixty-ninth 'Munro' : Ben Vorlich (985m), Perth & Kinross, Sun. 28 October 2001
Allan writes : "I led this walk with Ramblers, it was a previous date 2/4/2000 I did my 69th MUNRO, but photos were poor as they were on the club day hence the group photo in the carpark in Callander with Wendy Scott the reporter from our local paper out to promote the club??".
Fig. 4 - The one-hundredth 'Munro' : Ben Lawers (1214m), Perth & Kinross, Sun. 20 August 2000
Allan writes : "Another from 2000 couldn't split them, accompanied by monks rams, it was a landmark I'd reached my 100th munro, Jay Hunt led this walk, Jay allowed me, wee Kenny and Evan to break from the group, don't think he knew what I was on about by bypassing BEN GHLAS 1103m to save BEN LAWERS for my 100th he just muttered somthing under his breath, 'probably to wish us well and good luck' - aye right!... celebrated with your other national drink IRN BRU!! Evan provided, good day!".
Fig. 3 - The ninety-third 'Munro' : Stob Dearg - Buachaille Etive Mor (1022m), Highland, Sun. 18 June 2000
Allan writes : "my 93rd munro accompanied by the Monklands Ramblers, David Dunn led the (A+) walk, Linda Paton the (B) Ken Paton had his ' SAVE BEN NEVIS ' T-shirt on and was raffled later on the bus to raise funds for the campaign .... the 53 seater had 51 ramblers on board ..... changed days??".
Fig. 2 - The forty-first 'Munro' : Lochnagar - Cac Carn Beag (1155m), Aberdeenshire, Thurs. 15 July 1999
Allan writes : "my 41st accompanied by Jim Watton & Evan Sommerville, it was Evan's 100th Munro, we camped that w-end and did 16 munros over 4 days, ' thats when I firsted started looking at goals ' and thought ' I'm going for the 100? still not thinking I'll ever finish them all?'".
Fig. 1 - Allan's third 'Munro' : Stuchd an Lochain (960m), Perth & Kinross, Sat. 18 October 1998
Allan Writes : "3rd munro accompanied by Evan Sommerville Gerry n Jean Jordan 2x did that day, Gerry feeling chesty he only did the one, I felt, just as everybody must feel, out to climb x2 munros in one day for the first time 'intimidated' will I manage I thought? ... only a month with the club and being took out by experienced walkers, a lot to thank them for !!".
Last updated on 6 November 2010.
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