I had booked in a week of hills in September last year, and I was keen to do the same this year. The weather had been rotten, but I was hoping for a decent spell. I met up with Steg on the Monday before we were due to go, and we made plans to get into the Fisherfields. By the time Thursday had come around however, the forecast had deteriorated. Steg couldn't get away until the Sunday, but it was looking like the best day of the week. I decided to make a break for it and head off on the Saturday to take full advantage of the Sunday.
I left Glasgow in the van at 1430 on the Saturday, making a stop in Aviemore for some chips. I thought I might bump into a colleague, Grant but there was no sign of him among the trendy moustaches of the Old Bridge Inn. I headed on up to my usual spot at Garve and took a walk around the Alltan Dubh and just enjoyed chilling out in the Highlands again.
I got my hill gear packed in the van, checked the forecast again and set my alarm for 0600 and headed off for the land of nod.
It was dark at 0600, but I did all the van rituals quickly and got away towards Inverlael fairly sharpish. I was parked up, ready and moving at 0720. The porridge I'd had for breakfast wasn't sitting well as I started running up the track that was familiar to me from my previous trip here in February.
When I got out of the forest, I was treated to some early views, as the sun was just coming up over the hills.
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| Sun coming up over the hills |
I was moving well, and I met some people coming out who'd camped overnight, then I overtook a couple of people just before Lochan Làthail. The sun was bright and in my eyes, but it was just nice to be out in some dry and warm weather on the Munros for once!
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| More sun coming up over the hills |
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| At the edge of Lochan Làthail |
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| Lochan Làthail |
It was such a different place to the white winter wasteland that I'd experienced just a few months ago.
I had already climbed Beinn Dearg that time, so it didn't need ticking off again, so I headed directly east to Cona' Mheall. The views that I missed in February really started to open up.
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| Not those views! |
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| Those views! |
Some cloud had rolled in, but it was keeping the heat out the sun for a little bit. The climb up to the first new Munro of the day, Cona' Mheall was on some rocky terrain, but it wasn't too bad for my Mudtalons, so I just took my time. I was on the summit at 1007.
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| Steall Coire Lair flowing out of Loch Prille |
I was still just wearing a base layer and although there was a breeze, it wasn't cold. I was just happy to be in the mountains again and have some visibility!
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| Beinn Dearg |
Next up was Eididh nan Clach Geala, but I decided to use existing paths rather than cross rocky terrain so I headed back for the bealach and ticked off Meall nan Ceapraichean. Another Munro, but one that I'd done on my February trip. I was on that top at 1050. There was a decent drop down some rocky parts to get over to the next top, but again, I just took my time and avoided any silliness.
It was tricky to find the lowest point so that I didn't have to drop too much height, but I got there and then it was a bit of a slog to reach the summit of Eididh nan Clach Geala. I remember passing quite a few quartz seams on this hill and thinking that's how it probably got it's name. It was 1145.
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| Eididh nan Clach Geala |
I now had options - this had already been a long day and this is where people normally head down, but I knew I wouldn't get another day like this again, and Seana Bhraigh is a long way off, but the normal way of doing it looks quite depressing. I had no one other than myself to answer to and plenty daylight and food, so I decided to just go for it.
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| Seana Bhraigh and the terrain ahead |
There was a couple of km's of rough terrain, but I followed the map and headed for the path that comes out of the other side of Glensguaib. I followed this but the path petered out and I just made my own way over. I took a bit of a funny line to avoid some steep ground which, after I'd avoided it didn't actually look that steep, so I did a little more distance than required. I headed for the Gate of Ca' Dearg and it was a very impressive gully with a great view of the River Douchary.
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| Gleann a' Chadha Dheirg |
It was starting to cloud over again, and I was getting tired on the ascents, but I wasn't far from the top and was planning on taking a break. I avoided the 905m top and contoured round to the bealach. As I approached the top I passed four young fellas who didn't say more than a hello to me. Very odd given the remoteness of where we were.
I was on the top for 1320 and what a top it was. It was a little windy, but not cold. The views were phenomenal with a stunning black loch beneath me and all the mountains of Assynt so close on the horizon. From here you can pick them out individually, they are so unique.
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| View to Loch Luchd Choire |
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| Mountains of Assynt |
I decided that this was an appropriate place and point in the year to celebrate the life of one of my great Scouting mentors, Gordon Capie. Gordon loved the hills and was key in the formation of the Lochgoilhead Centre and especially the hills team there. Gordon's wife Liz had sent me this in the post since I wasn't able to go to the meal after his funeral in February, appropriately because of a Scout Camp.
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| For Gordon |
I had a nice moment, with one of the most remote summits in Scotland to myself, but I packed up my kit and decided to start the long journey back to the van at Inverlael.
I got a good pace going back to the Gate of Ca' Dearg, and met another fella, one who was a bit chattier this time. He'd just been going for Seana Bhraigh, as most people do.
There's a cracking drop at the Gate of Ca' Dearg which seemed appropriate for a photo
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| Scary! |
I followed a bit more of a straightforward path back to the main track, but it took ages. Once on the main path, it's still a good 10km+ back out, and although it's downhill, it's very dull. I filled up on water and continued on, very glad that I hadn't come in this way and also glad I had visibility. Eventually, I crossed the Allt Glean a' Mhadaidh and then the path dropped a bit quicker, and once over the mud, I had a great descent on steep trail through the forest. My legs were a bit tired by this point, but once I was on the flat I managed to keep a run going and was eventually back down at the van for 1615.
I had a nice can of bru out of the fridge and investigated the state of my poor feet!
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| Bru time |
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| Feet pic! |
It was an ambitious day but I'd given myself a solid way out if the weather hadn't played ball. I know I can do days at that distance and within that time frame, so I was quite happy with it. I headed to Ullapool for fish pie and a pint at the Ferry Boat Inn before staying in the van on the campsite.
Run Distance: 38.36km
Run Time: 8h 48m
Ascent: 1990m
Munros Completed: 243 (39 remain!)
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