Lorraine McCall has reached the halfway mark on her round of Scotland's 231 Grahams, closing in on her 115th peak today. She began the continuous, self-powered journey on 16th April in Strathconon, and has since been working down the west coast, through Lochaber, and picking off the hills on the islands of Skye, Rum and Mull.

A sense of humour and a little stubbornness can go a long way

She has now reached Argyll, where yesterday she climbed Meall Garbh and Beinn nan Lus before continuing by bike up remote Glen Kinglass towards the hills above Loch Tulla.

Wet and windy weather has been the norm over a cold and unsettled spring and early summer, and this has really added to the toughness of a journey that was already going to be a considerable challenge, combining walking on the hills, cycling between Graham groups, and many nights of wild camping.

"Absolute trashing today. It tried hard but Mull didn't manage to kill me after all! All hills done - nothing dry!" she reported on social media a few days ago, following a gruelling stage on the island.

"Beinn Talaidh with the broken pillar and Sgurr Dearg, Mull saved the best for last. What a kicking, from stopping every few steps to let the gusts go through on route up Talaidh then could not physically go back down the way I came up as I could not fight my way into wind, followed by big bracken jungle descent off next hill to valley floor and crossing these long grassy holes to reach river which I could not cross. Torrential rain from start had really pumped it up. A long walk up river to find somewhere to cross meant ascending Sgurr Dearg by vertical grassy holes.

"On the summit I had to force my way down in the wind then back for bike and cycle to Craignure. Bunkhouse not available so took the camping option. Midnight saw half my tent pegs ripped out and tent collapsed. My tent is good pitched into the wind but doesn't like it so much when wind changes from southerly to north westerly and gusts around 45. Another 2 peggings followed during the night. Leaving Mull this morning."

These may be only small-to-middling-sized hills but they're rarely a pushover, most being little-visited compared with the well-trodden Munros, often with tough terrain and few decent paths. Bogs are ubiquitous, and thick bracken is becoming more of a feature in the glens as summer progresses.

Hill lists can be subject to change over the years as summit heights are re-surveyed, and the Grahams are no exception. While an earlier version of the list counted 219 summits between 2000ft (609.6m) and 2500ft (762m), each with a minimum prominence of 150 metres, the criteria were revised in 2022, and Grahams are now defined as the 231 Scottish hills between 600 and 762 metres in height.

Throughout her journey Lorraine has been enjoying the help of a dedicated band of friends and supporters, who have been assisting with logistics, moving her bike from place to place, dropping off supplies, and occasionally offering company on the hills.

Nineteen years ago she completed the Munros as a continuous self-powered round, and a decade later linked the Corbetts in similar style. If successful on the Grahams, she will be the first person that we know of to complete a continuous round of these smaller (but by no means lesser) hills, to make a trio of Scotland's three main summit lists.

Lorraine, who began the latest journey on her 59th birthday, has had to deal with three different cancer diagnoses over the years, and says she wants to stride into her sixtieth year with 'strength and determination'.

Since an operation for bowel cancer in early 2022, she has focused on the Grahams as a way to help keep positive and planning for the future. She has found the cancer treatments tough and they have left her with some health issues which make this particular journey more of a challenge. Breathing on the uphill is much harder these days, she says, and there are some issues with going to the toilet. Lorraine does not want to shy away from these difficulties.

"The body is older and a bit more worn out after dealing with three different cancer diagnoses over the past 12 years. It has changed my life but there is strength in dealing with life's knocks. A sense of humour and a little stubbornness can go a long way."

"I know how many people are affected by cancer" she says "and I hope that my being out there on this journey might help to inspire others. If it encourages one more person get out there then of course it's worth it."

Over her journey Lorraine is raising money for Alzheimer Scotland - see JustGiving

Lorraine McCall's Grahams journey is supported by: Rab, Lowe Alpine and Fatmap