7: one of the lowest, but certainly not easiest!

Beinn a' Chlaidheimh   2nd June 2011

After the wonderful weather at the start of May, the rest of the month was a big disappointment - unseasonably wet and windy almost every day, especially in the north west.  I had earmarked the week beginning 28th May, while Anne was away at Whithaugh Park on a residential with Selkirk High School pupils, to try to get down to the last 2 Munros.  As the dates approached, the weather forecasts showed no sign of improvement.  The weekend arrived, but I decided there was little point heading off into the murk, so stayed put in Selkirk.  By midweek, it looked like there was a fighting chance of getting 2 or 3 good days towards the end of the week. And so it was that, on the Wednesday afternoon, with the Espace packed with sleeping bag, bike, walking gear, food and maps, I set off.  Headlights were required on the Edinburgh by-pass at 5pm - not a promising start!   Anyway, I arrived ay Corriehallie at 10pm on a drizzly evening, parked up, and crawled into the sleeping bag.


Next morning, 7am, was bright and breezy - a blue sky, with some white fluffy clouds speeding past.  Looked like the long drive had been worthwhile.  I set off up the track at 8.30am, chatting to a group of 3 who were en route to Shenavall, one of whom was hoping to climb his last Corbett.  My plan was to climb Beinn a'Chlaidheimh and (possibly) continue to Sgurr Ban.


Ahead and to the right, An Teallach (22 years since I was up there!) started to appear as I made steady progress up the track.  It was a good track for walking, but would have been too rough for the bike.

up the Corrie Hallie track, with An Teallach to the right

After 3 miles steady walking, I reached the highest point on the track at 380m - what a pity I had to drop back down to 120m to cross the river (and climb back up again on the way back!).


Beinn a'Chlaidheimh was now visible ahead - and free from cloud ...

R to L:  Beinn a'Chlaidheimh,  Sgurr Ban (with cloud cap) and the east top of Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair

... although the jagged ridge of An Teallach was tearing the clouds dramatically on the right.

Corrag Bhuidhe,  Lord Berkeley's Seat and Sgurr Fiona

Starting to descend, the Abhainn Loch an Nid looked like it might mean getting feet wet, but not too badly.  With all the rain over the previous few days, I had been slightly concerned that the crossing might be impossible.

view up the valley of the Abhainn Loch an Nid 

By 10.30am, two hours from the car, I was at the river bank, looking for the best crossing point.  At close quarters, the river didn't look quite so easy to cross.  Feet were going to get wet, for sure, and it was too rough and fast flowing for bare feet.  So, boots and socks off, spare socks on, and boots back on;  trouser legs rolled up above knees, then head gingerly across.  First 1/3 was on stepping stones, next 1/3 was wading, but less than knee-deep - no problem.  The last 1/3, however, was fairly fast-flowing and thigh deep - no real danger to life and limb, but I was most worried about my camera if I should slip and fall in!  Steady and careful movements, heavy reliance on the walking pole, and - whew! - made it safely to the far back.  Boots off, water poured out, dry socks back on, and damp boots back on.  Now, 2.5 hours after leaving the car, I could actually start to climb my hill.  Beinn a'Claidheimh (hill of the sword) may be the 4th lowest Munro at 916m, but it was proving hard to get!


Next came a steady slog up heathery slopes onto Creag Ghlas, then easier ground over a series of sandstone pavements towards Beinn a'Chlaidheimh's rocky northern end.

heading towards Beinn a' Chlaidheimh's northern end

Had some fun finding a way through various rocky outcrops, then found a tiny path which led up onto the summit ridge at about 750m.


This proved to be (a) a very windy place, but (b) a superb viewpoint

looking NE towards Corrie Hallie, and the approach track

looking NW to Beinn Dearg Mhor and Loch na Sealga

looking north to An Teallach and Loch na Sealga

By now, it was 1pm and the amount of cloud had built up, but, although the clouds were catching some of the surrounding hills, there were passing above lowly Beinn a' Chlaidheimh.

Now on the summit ridge, with long scree slopes to the left, and dramatic sandstone cliffs falling away to the right, it was a short walk over two minor tops to the summit, where I was glad to sit down on the lee side of the ridge, with a strong breeze whistling overhead.

looking north from the summit cairn towards the middle top, with An Teallach beyond

The next question was whether to go on to Sgurr Ban or not.  It would add several miles onto an already long day, and require a decent and re-ascent of over 300m.  On the other hand, if I left it to the next day, it would mean adding time and distance onto a long expedition.

Sgurr Ban and Beinn Tarsuinn from Beinn a' Chlaidheimh

In the end, the sight of low cloud scudding fast across the summit plateau of Sgurr Ban, and more building up behind it, plus the thought of the long walk back out, helped me make my decision - leave it for tomorrow!


So, I headed off SW down stony, then grassy heathery slopes, with a few sandstone outcrops, towards the valley below.  


What an amount of water pouring down the burns on both sides of the glen!


I aimed for a wide gravelly part of the Abhainn Loch an Nid, about a mile upstream from where I had crossed earlier.  Would it be possible to get back across dry-shod this time?  At any rate, it should be a bit easier.

fast flowing burn pouring over sandstone outcrops on east slopes of Beinn a'Chlaidheimh

An hour from the summit, I reached the river and started looking for a crossing point.  A broad area with an island looked the most promising, and proved to be fine - nowhere more than knee deep, and the current much less than the previous place.


Once across, boot emptying, and another change into dry socks was required.

drying my feet after the river crossing - hey, didn't realise the wind had done that to my hair!

(left) Another impressive waterfall, on the east side of the glen just opposite where I had crossed the river.


And so, the long walk home:  


a good path alongside the river to the first crossing point, then back up the track to the plateau, before dropping wearily back down through Corrie Hallie.  


The walk out was the best part of 6 miles, and took 2.5 hours.  


I was glad I had decided to leave Sgurr Ban for another day!




The evening sunshine reflecting off wet slabs made An Teallach look positively volcanic!  (below)

Today's summary:

1 Munro 

23 km walk

1400 m climb

10 hours 

Log:

left car	08:30
river crossing	10:35 - 11:00
north top	13:15
middle top	13:25
Beinn a' Chlaidheimh (M)	13:30 - 14:05
river crossing	15:10 - 15:50
back to car	18:20

But that wasn't the end of the day - it was completed with a lovely drive around the coast road to Kinlochewe on a perfect evening ....

Beinn Ghobhlach, across Little Loch Broom

Gruinard Bay

Torridon Hills above Poolewe

posted by DB  12/06/11