Saturday, May 07, 2022

242. Beinn Bhuidhe (216) 03/05/2022

Needing a half-day walk to allow for the drive south, we went for Loch Fyne. Beinn Bhuidhe involves a long walk-in along a farm track, before taking a path up the hillside following a stream. It was a great path, but Cicerone told us to leave the path below a prominent waterfall (which we duly did) and make our way up the grassy slopes. This was OK and despite losing our direction slightly in the mist, we were able to find the way trough the hill's defences onto the summit ridge. However, we found on the descent that had we followed the path it would have taken us straight there in a more direct way. Anyway, we weren't delayed by the navigational challenges for too long and the descent back to the track was fairly rapid.

After walking back along the track, we were also able to stop at the Loch Fyne Brewery, which was the perfect refreshment for the end of the walk. 1050m, 5h15, 22km

The pleasant stream we followed for the ascent

Not much to see at the top

Coos

240, 241. Sron a'Choire Ghairbh (239) (P600 48), Meall na Teanga (276). 02/05/2022

With slightly tired legs, a slightly shorter walk was in order and we opted for slightly further inland to hopefully get the best of the weather. These two sit along the Great Glen, so there was some hope of views too. It turns out that the forecast was optimistic, because apart from a brief window of sunshine after we'd finished the walk, the day was cloudy throughout. Plenty of others had the same thought as us though.

The walk starts along a flat forestry track, before climbing to a bealach between the hills. From there, take your pick between the two excellent paths up each one. Not a huge amount to report from the tops, but it was still a pleasant day out.  5h30, 20km, 1250m

Clouds

Clarity as far up as the bealach

The window of sunshine just after we were back at the car

233-239. South Glen Shiel Ridge (Creag a'Mhaim (218), Druim Shionnach (160), Aonach air Chrith (109), Maol Chinn-dhearg (168), Sgurr an Doire Leathain (122), Sgurr an Lochain (131), Creag nan Damh (275)). 01/05/2022

There are a few groups of Munros that are well known and well remembered. Several of those are around Glen Shiel. The long chain of tops (generously containing 7 Munros) on the south side of the glen is one such group - it requires a small amount of logistical organisation, but the reward is about 18km of continuous ridge walking above the 700m mark.

We parked in the "battle layby" before 9am, hoping to catch the mysterious bus that supposedly picks up walkers if the driver is feeling in a good mood that morning. We can't report as to whether this bus exists, because we hailed the second car we saw after parking and it turned out to be people intending to walk the same route. They had two cars and were staying in a cottage next to the Cluanie Inn.

We started with a 6km march along the military road round the back of Creag a'Mhaim, before a stiff climb straight to the top. Knowing there was still a long day ahead, I definitely felt this climb. But once at the top, with the cloud lifting on the ridge ahead of us we began to enjoy it a lot more. The walk to Druim Shionnach hardly justified the status of a separate Munro, so we were there in very little time, but it took a little longer (over a minor top) to get to Aonach air Chrith, the highpoint of the day.

With no wind at all, we spent a bit of time on each top, enjoying the trailmix and the views. Maol Chinn-dhearg, Sgurr an Doire Leathain and Sgurr an Lochain passed in fairly quick succession and even included a little easy scrambling, before a longer gap to the last Munro - Creag nan Damh. After that, the descent was generally easy, apart from a point where the path seemed to descend over a precipice (we opted for a grassy gully to the right) and then the last few minutes through a tree plantation (which involved some clambering over and along fallen trees on a steep slope to find a way out - we should probably have skirted the eastern edge of the plantation altogether!). Overall it was a great day out though. 26.2km, 8h45, 1850m ascent.

Looking back from Druim Shionnach

Chris at the top of Maol Chinn-dhearg

Looking east from Sgurr an Doire Leathain

The route of ascent up Sgurr an Lochain

231, 232. Ben More (16) (P600 47), Stob Binnein (18). 30/04/2022

Avid readers will understand that the choice of hill is occasionally determined by where the Scottish rain is located on a given day. On this one it was all over the North-West and gradually moving south and east. This encouraged us to get up at 6.45 at the border and drive to the nearest hill: Ben More. This meant that at least the majority of the ascent was dry and an optimist would even say we had clarity at the top.

Ben More is simply a long 1000m of ascent on a good path. Chris decided this wasn't sufficient and so arranged to leave the map near the bottom so he could return and get it a little later to add a further 200m to his day (much to the amusement of some fellow walkers).

Some weather hit us near the top and then more on Stob Binnein, but nothing too severe. We had warmed up again by the descent off the side, which was actually quite cushioned and gentle on the joints. This was a surprisingly short walk considering the ascent, but that was helped by the lack of hanging around on the tops.

4h15, 1350m, 12km


Our best view of the summit, from near the start

Some level of clarity on Ben More, with Stob Binnein behind