211, 212. Criese (50), Meall a'Bhuiridh (45) (P600 41). 17/09/2020

As is often the way at the start of a trip, we needed an afternoon walk not too far north and this pair of hills were very efficient in terms of time required.

We parked up in Glen Etive after the long drive from Cambridge around 11.30am and started out by crossing the river and walking across grassy slopes that became increasingly steep. I certainly detected a slight lack of hill-fitness after months of lockdown and the ascent was a bit slower than usual, but stopped noticing the tiredness once the scrambling began in the upper slopes of Sron na Criese. Once over this lump, the slopes eased to the summit, from where we had grandstand views of all the hills of Lochaber and the vast expanse of Rannoch Moor in crystal clear visibility. Buchaille Etive Mhor was particularly present being just a few kilometers away.

The ridge over to Meall a'Bhuiridh was straightforward and from that viewpoint Rannoch Moor opened up still further. The descent took us past the ski slopes, but we stayed west of them and they didn't spoil anything too much. Re-crossing the river proved less successful that the first attempt and we both ended up opting for a cooling paddle rather than risking wet boots. A great circuit in some of the best autumn weather I've seen in Scotland.

At the top of Criese

Looking north to Buchaille Etive Mhor, Ben Nevis, etc

Rannoch Moor from the top of Meall a'Bhuiridh

Our line of ascent for Criese, with the shepherd in the background

This also marks the 75% stage of my Munro efforts, so there are some obligatory stats:

This quarter had a different feel to previous and perhaps a more relaxed pace. It included two stag dos and carrying each of my children up several hills, but also some long trips linking several days of walking.

Some of the favourites:

The Mamores (a camping ridgewalk adventure)

Lochnagar (we saw a brochan spectre)

Beinn Laoigh (pointy summit)

Liathach (great scrambling)

Beinn Dearg (wilderness)

Aonach Eagach (scrambling and views)

Criese (views and great weather)

Meall nan Tarmachan (looked great, but need to reclimb the ridge due to bad weather)

Beinn Sgritheall (great perspective)

Cairn Toul, etc (classicness, despite the midgies!)

Best weather: The Mamores

Worst weather: Carn Mairg

Tallest climbed: Cairn Toul (1291m)

Shortest climbed: Beinn Vane (915m)

Best campsite: The Mamores

Most exhillerating: Liathach

Best View: Criese

Most scary: Aonach Eagach (only a tiny bit)

Most classic: The Mamores

Most remote: Beinn Dearg

Worst midgies: Devil's Point, etc

Number climbed per group size:

On my own: 0

2: 50

3: 6

4: 11

5: 1

10: 1

16: 1

Number of new companions: 19

Longest walk: Mamores ridge (11hrs)

Shortest walk: Meall Bhuidhe (Glen Lyon) (3hrs)

Most efficient: Lochnagar (5 Munros in 7hrs 45) or the Mamores (7 Munros in 11hrs)