tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17282482604257033182024-03-05T13:07:08.095+00:00those last 50 MunrosI've been climbing the Munros for over 30 years <br>(see www.dbethune.com/mountains for more details) <br>and am finally getting near to the end of the quest! <br><br>I've blogged some selected history, <br>written retrospectively<br> (so the entries are dated back to when they occurred, <br>rather than when I wrote them). <br><br>From 2009 onwards, <br>the blog describes the last 50 (or so).<br><br> To find a particular entry, use the search tool <br>(below right)David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-55696332842144115832012-06-05T09:36:00.004+01:002012-06-05T09:40:21.318+01:00What now?<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSraIDILfhmlorgDZaWfIgJ1WuZ-YscLSyGaF5x2CkuO850PTORtotnHvDPKCQg5NnAHSngmai8d746P7IEeyPxfGAVrw7ViYvjUDjR_Ep1izoZKgvNCOLrCaaxlpztNRnqfOT3zMY_30/s1600/final.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSraIDILfhmlorgDZaWfIgJ1WuZ-YscLSyGaF5x2CkuO850PTORtotnHvDPKCQg5NnAHSngmai8d746P7IEeyPxfGAVrw7ViYvjUDjR_Ep1izoZKgvNCOLrCaaxlpztNRnqfOT3zMY_30/s320/final.JPEG" width="240" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, what now? </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To find the answer, follow my new blog at ....</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-78461902426064807942011-07-03T17:40:00.003+01:002011-09-09T21:56:58.096+01:00compleat!<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Aonach Beag and Aonach Mor 2nd July 2011</span></b></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Compleated at last!</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaFfhYjnyNlgjMLVwawzxWrVU17MYH26XYB6Te7CFpMSgywixk1eIaHe7768uhn-S3XNfvOrPwGrlNDMXavSLkKgrY6cEV86_LbdY4l1NuTm71eT2YVFtHo-IRAu0a8prsuo9F70dGthj/s1600/IMG_1972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaFfhYjnyNlgjMLVwawzxWrVU17MYH26XYB6Te7CFpMSgywixk1eIaHe7768uhn-S3XNfvOrPwGrlNDMXavSLkKgrY6cEV86_LbdY4l1NuTm71eT2YVFtHo-IRAu0a8prsuo9F70dGthj/s640/IMG_1972.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">(full story to follow in due course, but here's a few pictures ...)</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">(... and a link to the <a href="http://www.selkirkweekendadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-headlines/david_reaches_height_of_ambition_1_1720388">local paper</a> ....)</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_gVDn6IbCTsLXu2hujk5rIpmELjD8MzJwIg81xTv5yWowTjwmkDHPoY1LWHBqn0kAamKHkrqcAUd2c8s55any_uCF0IoCnh6EPJAAFPGXnflMR-UbroBUyINbq4TbWvOiWmoO-tb7X2Y/s1600/008_setting_out_GlenNevis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_gVDn6IbCTsLXu2hujk5rIpmELjD8MzJwIg81xTv5yWowTjwmkDHPoY1LWHBqn0kAamKHkrqcAUd2c8s55any_uCF0IoCnh6EPJAAFPGXnflMR-UbroBUyINbq4TbWvOiWmoO-tb7X2Y/s640/008_setting_out_GlenNevis.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">setting out up the Glen Nevis path, 10.30am, sun shining!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5MX2FUxcaOBzeiNSGXcbpRWG7OQg3bhfiUXYk31U7UhJKwclXVOpvZY2l-bsGI63NnbH8o4ACLEyJFQ3qrxaP2nQBqmj2oV0HJxk_JbSvjL7EXnC0UpwzfSdfr-uDKjk4Ui7YtIwOVQM/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5MX2FUxcaOBzeiNSGXcbpRWG7OQg3bhfiUXYk31U7UhJKwclXVOpvZY2l-bsGI63NnbH8o4ACLEyJFQ3qrxaP2nQBqmj2oV0HJxk_JbSvjL7EXnC0UpwzfSdfr-uDKjk4Ui7YtIwOVQM/s640/IMG_1944.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Frank, Malcolm and Anne on Sgurr a'Bhuic, 1.30pm</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzeg5uReK9wJnOaqkAXaq1Ou5KDUgGpBiOjcyyY885rnOgzeYs3notu0p5FcN6AM1NCGeyyKT59J7hKJm24WAJm6FqqnWcBw95kEGh_zuwRNentFByKkN3B5yaw9xmx_CueMRofoh0aH2/s1600/IMG_1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzeg5uReK9wJnOaqkAXaq1Ou5KDUgGpBiOjcyyY885rnOgzeYs3notu0p5FcN6AM1NCGeyyKT59J7hKJm24WAJm6FqqnWcBw95kEGh_zuwRNentFByKkN3B5yaw9xmx_CueMRofoh0aH2/s640/IMG_1948.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">approaching Aonach Beag, with Aonach Mor beyond - the last 2 in sight!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwjADJ9VkHabzKlLNcauwRpTY3OgKSAHjZiI4lQygbxGfoCq8y92YBr83PnwNg44cUSb9jUvR19ZjNTetSKHD4gddjoUykrWApixQm-2gN-NriZXYZu-RYQuO8_koDSK08epKrdz-GM6b/s1600/IMG_1953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwjADJ9VkHabzKlLNcauwRpTY3OgKSAHjZiI4lQygbxGfoCq8y92YBr83PnwNg44cUSb9jUvR19ZjNTetSKHD4gddjoUykrWApixQm-2gN-NriZXYZu-RYQuO8_koDSK08epKrdz-GM6b/s640/IMG_1953.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and he's made it! top of Aonach Mor, 3.30pm, Saturday 2nd July 2011</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdh5D5Nb8e_P1wnl998azlLo58-9vYsfdzEL1ZkZmYoiZ8CHrhX7W5EA4DD8asiFTkiu5A4pGCQ_0jbRByf9aKL3GcZEc2N9DeHMeb4iJzdrRfngFz6UUC5BzvDnueBIK6U7Mi_TUK8oPr/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdh5D5Nb8e_P1wnl998azlLo58-9vYsfdzEL1ZkZmYoiZ8CHrhX7W5EA4DD8asiFTkiu5A4pGCQ_0jbRByf9aKL3GcZEc2N9DeHMeb4iJzdrRfngFz6UUC5BzvDnueBIK6U7Mi_TUK8oPr/s640/IMG_1967.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and the full summit party: L to R Ben Nevis, Fiona Bethune, Anne Bethune, Allan Findlay (compleated), Ann Findlay (compleated), me (just compleated!), Frank Frame, Frances Bethune, Malcolm FIndlay</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Thanks to all who climbed with me or joined me on the summit (especially those who brought the champagne, cake and other goodies!); special thanks to Winky O'Neale for the "In Pinn"; sorry about those who couldn't make it - I wish you could all have been there, but we'll have a Munro party in Selkirk in the Autumn for anyone who's been with me on a Munro over the last 35 years!</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>May God shield us in the valleys,</i></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>May Christ aid us on the mountains,</i></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>May the Holy Spirit embrace us on the slopes,</i></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>In hollow, on hill, on plain, mountain, valley and plain.</i></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>May God's goodness be ours</i></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>And well, and seven times well, may we spend our lives.</i></span></span></b></div></div></div></div></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-24243704894182167532011-06-16T19:37:00.034+01:002011-06-18T20:58:13.930+01:003,2: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-Choire<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A' Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-Choire 16th June 2011</span></b></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Steadily closing in on that elusive last Munro! The final quest has been plagued by one of the most unsettled early summers for years. Finding good weather days that coincide with work-free days has proved to be a challenge. And so, needing only two more good days, the long weekend of Selkirk Common Riding looked like an opportunity. I was working in Glasgow on the Wednesday, and Anne wouldn't be free until 3pm, so we planned to meet up in Stirling at 7pm. Anne travelled up by bus and train; I drove up from Glasgow after my meeting.</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">We had a lovely run up via </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Loch Lubnaig, Tyndrum, Rannoch Moor and Glencoe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, and reached </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Spean Bridge</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> where we had booked B and B at <a href="http://www.thebraes.co.uk/">The Braes Guest House</a>. In addition to the comfy room, friendly welcome and good breakfast, this proved to be an inspired choice, as the lounge provided panoramic views to the </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Grey Corries</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and the bedroom to </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Aonach Mor</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> ....</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rMOAJ3oHQxq7Dtr7YyyolcOXo1rh5jyyocuXd4jP1BL5RC8GIJS4swc1peHU6coC0H2-HtbCB3kgykiN5gB-J-AxVaVaqhL-pnUTmidqs-9LCGZfFr4jqBqP87GM7gCv0YnoPnj5oPBH/s1600/001_theAonachs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rMOAJ3oHQxq7Dtr7YyyolcOXo1rh5jyyocuXd4jP1BL5RC8GIJS4swc1peHU6coC0H2-HtbCB3kgykiN5gB-J-AxVaVaqhL-pnUTmidqs-9LCGZfFr4jqBqP87GM7gCv0YnoPnj5oPBH/s640/001_theAonachs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Aonach Mor from Braes Guest House, Spean Bridge</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">But, before "compleating" on Aonach Mor, I still had to climb </span><span class="Apple-style-span">A' Chralaig</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Mullach Fraoch-Choire</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> above Loch Cluamie, so that was the immediate target.</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">So, on Thursday morning, we set off from Spean Bridge; we were a little later getting to the starting point on the shore of </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Loch Cluanie</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, as road works meant a diversion round by Fort Augustus and Invermoriston.</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">So it was 10.50am when we set off from the tiny car parking area, crossed the road, walked 10m up the track, and then struck off right at a cairn up a small and initially rather damp path, heading directly up the steep slope ahead. </span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Behind us, the views across Loch Cluanie opened up nicely, and the overcast sky started to show signs of breaking up. Loch Cluanie itself was like a sheet of glass.</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk-9l858sOZW0r8o4mLkHFwSE72CrvxbTTHhWipxmj17nU_rqykZg8eR4db4Chrux7DTlqdJ5SbQoUfeQTy8TS85Wqp0nSJoxzIda_eL7hMEJr_aP5p5N5ElmsQDb7gIv9xqydRw5RWX5/s1600/002_LochCluanie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk-9l858sOZW0r8o4mLkHFwSE72CrvxbTTHhWipxmj17nU_rqykZg8eR4db4Chrux7DTlqdJ5SbQoUfeQTy8TS85Wqp0nSJoxzIda_eL7hMEJr_aP5p5N5ElmsQDb7gIv9xqydRw5RWX5/s640/002_LochCluanie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">view across Loch Cluanie to the South Glen Shiel ridge</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The path quickly climbed out of the damp lower ground, and started to climb steeply up alongside a small burn. We continued relentlessly upwards on the path until it reached the broad southern ridge of </span><span class="Apple-style-span">A' Chralaig</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> ("the basket") at around 750m. An hour an a half into our walk, and most of the hard work was over!</span></span></b></span></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jhL8m1IQQDv7E2WB1SJWQKcNlx9JUOOeJp3qfpQkEaWbAVOL1ze4kg2nhSa0KosxrdCFq_Bow75YPae7UVx-9rCskTPUoDKGtSvMUasC_-kCQIFgh5qCTnA_A3DpnJWwu7OkwYO4EOeA/s1600/003_AnBathach.pg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jhL8m1IQQDv7E2WB1SJWQKcNlx9JUOOeJp3qfpQkEaWbAVOL1ze4kg2nhSa0KosxrdCFq_Bow75YPae7UVx-9rCskTPUoDKGtSvMUasC_-kCQIFgh5qCTnA_A3DpnJWwu7OkwYO4EOeA/s640/003_AnBathach.pg.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">gradient lessening as we reached the ridge - view across to Am Bathach</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">By now, the summit was in view, about a mile away, up a broad, stepped, grassy ridge.</span></span></b></span></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfrbgGjg5H_mXYj6K1Joud35sy_u7AQhYkRsEKMdz7WU-7j7HScjC1hogUfDw5zhxGsLDf5jalITDSlWIpCB-g5j5U2K004uxMG-_OsyB-dDetAwITOXXXoqbWYaERMgxNDHDXEKuSIiz/s1600/004_on_AChralaig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfrbgGjg5H_mXYj6K1Joud35sy_u7AQhYkRsEKMdz7WU-7j7HScjC1hogUfDw5zhxGsLDf5jalITDSlWIpCB-g5j5U2K004uxMG-_OsyB-dDetAwITOXXXoqbWYaERMgxNDHDXEKuSIiz/s640/004_on_AChralaig.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on the ridge of A' Chralaig at about 800m</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We continued over a couple of minor bumps on the ridge; although I usually like to visit any Munro tops, I decided against a detour out to <b>A' Chioch</b> ("the breast"), a Munro top on a long grassy ridge out to the east, which didn't look very enticing, and would have added a tiresome re-ascent. Maybe I'll come back and visit it some day!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqB6sNiGHAoSVmEDrNe2ZcO4I_QaHF_eEBoumxiZOWGaqeeC1dJFL4exRn4fKEYUmP4QoOwp2hVrnlLCWuuLtvuU0XCbTqftTsyfbKS735vfFQWDHpvckgO1CWRDS6vkh4bFteLxzk9TY/s1600/006_AChralaig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqB6sNiGHAoSVmEDrNe2ZcO4I_QaHF_eEBoumxiZOWGaqeeC1dJFL4exRn4fKEYUmP4QoOwp2hVrnlLCWuuLtvuU0XCbTqftTsyfbKS735vfFQWDHpvckgO1CWRDS6vkh4bFteLxzk9TY/s640/006_AChralaig.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on the path round the rim of the eastern corries, before the final rise to the summit of A' Chralaig</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Despite the earlier patches of blue sky, the clouds were beginning to build up, and there were clearly some showers around - hopefully, they would all miss our hills. Two and a 1/2 hours from the car, we arrived at <b>A' Chralaig</b>'s massive summit cairn - reminiscent of the Three Brethren back home!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pTaT0zzoZF34omACRMGWIME-AVIa0yhIb1bI3BVr3ZYuRSzJwK8js7-VyWOW2pnLQyNp2_yD0CY1x1bMHLNUD3A_X38O33cQFqX-2Ds0FWA51FvV0YtqNIu8sp6gpzSwaocKL3rY2jL_/s1600/007_AChralaig_summit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1pTaT0zzoZF34omACRMGWIME-AVIa0yhIb1bI3BVr3ZYuRSzJwK8js7-VyWOW2pnLQyNp2_yD0CY1x1bMHLNUD3A_X38O33cQFqX-2Ds0FWA51FvV0YtqNIu8sp6gpzSwaocKL3rY2jL_/s640/007_AChralaig_summit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anne at summit of A' Chralaig</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Time for a rest and a bite to eat, sitting on a nice ledge of flat stones with our backs </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">to the cairn. As we sat there, the clouds were rolling up behind us, and the first few wisps of mist started to catch the summit. It was time to move on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ixi6jiT9ov7MOvRW47FLr_1JYkfNFleN9T0eNQXqg70x9MeDXB4AFDTaIQHApz13nGzTgH8JYJCl5vlAQ_ohADRwAuNejQlIyDMxiZ6503CwLa88si1TC648-llTVo5Fi95GHwyVt6Yu/s1600/009_sheltering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ixi6jiT9ov7MOvRW47FLr_1JYkfNFleN9T0eNQXqg70x9MeDXB4AFDTaIQHApz13nGzTgH8JYJCl5vlAQ_ohADRwAuNejQlIyDMxiZ6503CwLa88si1TC648-llTVo5Fi95GHwyVt6Yu/s640/009_sheltering.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anne sheltering while the shower passed over</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The ridge ahead to <b>Mullach Fraoch-Choire</b> ("hill of the heathery coire") looked good, and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">we set off along it, descending slowly at first, then down a few rocky steps. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
Less than ten minutes after leaving the summit, a squally shower caught us - wind and cold rain. Fortunately, there was a handy sheltering place behind a little rock wall to the right of the path, so we "cooried doon" there for 10-15 minutes while the shower passed by.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The sun and blue sky re-appeared, but there was still a cold wind, so we kept on our extra layers as we descended down to the next bealach, then made a gentle ascent to the next top, <b>Stob Coire a' Chralaig</b>. From here, the full profile of <b>Na Geurdain</b> ("the jaggies"), the south ridge of <b>Mullach Fraoch-Choire</b>, came into view. Looked like fun!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCX0NYi87M3X03aFtXvj9AnvZhRBcRoGCvvkbqanHXh1403lpnr2_Uj_XESKdobMsDyiCkRYwLMgHbGYdoesehsqzU6qjgwiNwX4qBCaPPZik__tToJYH-vU1TMW6Tn0sVzzGyVnKJf8iL/s1600/010_MFC_summitridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCX0NYi87M3X03aFtXvj9AnvZhRBcRoGCvvkbqanHXh1403lpnr2_Uj_XESKdobMsDyiCkRYwLMgHbGYdoesehsqzU6qjgwiNwX4qBCaPPZik__tToJYH-vU1TMW6Tn0sVzzGyVnKJf8iL/s640/010_MFC_summitridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Na Geurdain from Stob Coire na Cralaig</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM1W0syiUU9rjzBQ6ZsoMdLCRkwoPadN18GDbKWNfmv3MHduvn-wOxqwNIdEuKmughiYhzq96j-yGfZj8LxUqXqtg3QrqdTidBrj9b6XzU_7Rp4HFNx5YcESuWud6LqGebEu5G9i29Jrx/s1600/011_AChralaig_fromSCaC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM1W0syiUU9rjzBQ6ZsoMdLCRkwoPadN18GDbKWNfmv3MHduvn-wOxqwNIdEuKmughiYhzq96j-yGfZj8LxUqXqtg3QrqdTidBrj9b6XzU_7Rp4HFNx5YcESuWud6LqGebEu5G9i29Jrx/s640/011_AChralaig_fromSCaC.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back towards A' Chralaig from Stob Coire na Cralaig</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First, a short descent down a narrow ridge to the next bealach at 950m, then a short ascent up to the start of the pinnacles. A traverse along the crest itself would have been tricky in places, but it was straightforward to follow the path all the way as it wound its way through the pinnacles, first on the right, then crossing over to the left. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJGr4tIOu0HfnzxvbORsHakrFCqfcGqCy1vmmP2MCn3Ia94C1Aze-pbbA48vy7mg_u1cwn9aexUc2Z-vNe_TeybXt8iR78RbqNQZpjANqHSOkeQ81WG14iXlR1xySQza73DnEc0514i5F/s1600/013_MFC_pinnacles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJGr4tIOu0HfnzxvbORsHakrFCqfcGqCy1vmmP2MCn3Ia94C1Aze-pbbA48vy7mg_u1cwn9aexUc2Z-vNe_TeybXt8iR78RbqNQZpjANqHSOkeQ81WG14iXlR1xySQza73DnEc0514i5F/s640/013_MFC_pinnacles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A' Chralaig from Na Geurdain</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwbadiKzGtGoO17cLPcqp-mNHVLS9MBYfLi4jTkdqEujTxD6jU01y_hzJ04i1XhTq_xlfDYPOFqSDxtOyZbnkCQvzu8b5_Zhsv1rzh7cO5UekWpuinalgmnchyeVl06fFBoEuLu6_DrLT/s1600/015_MFC_pinnacles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwbadiKzGtGoO17cLPcqp-mNHVLS9MBYfLi4jTkdqEujTxD6jU01y_hzJ04i1XhTq_xlfDYPOFqSDxtOyZbnkCQvzu8b5_Zhsv1rzh7cO5UekWpuinalgmnchyeVl06fFBoEuLu6_DrLT/s640/015_MFC_pinnacles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anne on the split rock just before the final climb to the summit</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The walk from <b>Stob Coire na Cralaig</b> to <b>Mullach Fraoch-choire</b> was definitely the best 40 minutes of the day! Once past the final pinnacle, a short climb up a grassy slope led to the summit - with another (not quite so) large cairn, and a circular stone shelter. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbZS1WIdVb1I3stKF7Ci2QWrBBJSU2LaBgQ3NAc7K98xAcnik5Z6_nldohE1cz15WUrJ8Cc82_fgyglIs43O73QxiIrgr1V-lCmvRXkl8sgIFK_30O3inZl3bxHLtoN6qtd6KQ7SCRKgH/s1600/016_MFC_summit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbZS1WIdVb1I3stKF7Ci2QWrBBJSU2LaBgQ3NAc7K98xAcnik5Z6_nldohE1cz15WUrJ8Cc82_fgyglIs43O73QxiIrgr1V-lCmvRXkl8sgIFK_30O3inZl3bxHLtoN6qtd6KQ7SCRKgH/s640/016_MFC_summit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">summit of Mullach Fraoch-choire - 2 to go!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The weather had improved again, so we found a comfy spot to sit an enjoy the view down Glen Affric and eat our second instalment of lunch. Only 2 more Munros to go!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8vL1C19FY6semlQkG2wOA8z8ihkoaFTtpVDixO3ZfAIUu1IyAV0LG9xKE3u0sKHNpOllR3lnJBUx57jw8KCIZjanN5yYTa6LZd1YdidfMr_GuO_V5VTgNsDqj1ur8I3c0ifRjjAK2hH2/s1600/017_GlenAffric_fromMFC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8vL1C19FY6semlQkG2wOA8z8ihkoaFTtpVDixO3ZfAIUu1IyAV0LG9xKE3u0sKHNpOllR3lnJBUx57jw8KCIZjanN5yYTa6LZd1YdidfMr_GuO_V5VTgNsDqj1ur8I3c0ifRjjAK2hH2/s640/017_GlenAffric_fromMFC.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Glen Affric from the summit of Mullach Fraoch-choire</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After half an hour on the summit, we headed back along the pinnacled ridge - making a few detours this time to explore the crest. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9nUAE9CfcuoyUJTjkGbAT6kCgUl_z_eMf2LU_qrugi73HrrZtTUGZGmnx2irZgJKJqXN0_sPZPs9VjBZlQeCJO9WUJIP4T2zoBIDA-KpZc7EG2q6aNdyFHKShscOJ17gl8d6_qcOLJDC/s1600/018_MFC_pinnacles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9nUAE9CfcuoyUJTjkGbAT6kCgUl_z_eMf2LU_qrugi73HrrZtTUGZGmnx2irZgJKJqXN0_sPZPs9VjBZlQeCJO9WUJIP4T2zoBIDA-KpZc7EG2q6aNdyFHKShscOJ17gl8d6_qcOLJDC/s640/018_MFC_pinnacles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on the way back along Na Geurdain</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At the bealach, we decided not to take the path down into Coire Odhar, but climbed back to <b>Stob Coire na Cralaig</b>, and descended down its SW ridge - grassy all the way, but quite steep lower down. This gave good views of the waterfalls of the <b>Allt Coire a' Ghlas-thuill</b>, but was quite a tiring descent. Perhaps Coire Odhar would have been a better choice.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eventually, we reached the valley floor right on the watershed, and followed the boggy and intermittent path south until it joined an old metalled track, which led down <b>An Caorainn Mor</b> to the car - about 3 miles.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An excellent day. The big question: <i>would the weather hold for "compleating" on the Aonachs tomorrow?</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Zs-wfD-hSNuIoz4OaniJvpURdPQCuD1S5V55PvY7oF4RSdxIyhPBkokyBnNHNIL9mdZ3MVnLOso5AwT9bES6ABKE_faKbM8kivN0gTHiY4bOfwZ8P3ArXXJnSKizVGHoVn6t8yEtIPsz/s1600/019_AonachMor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Zs-wfD-hSNuIoz4OaniJvpURdPQCuD1S5V55PvY7oF4RSdxIyhPBkokyBnNHNIL9mdZ3MVnLOso5AwT9bES6ABKE_faKbM8kivN0gTHiY4bOfwZ8P3ArXXJnSKizVGHoVn6t8yEtIPsz/s640/019_AonachMor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Aonach Mor from the Command Monument above Spean Bridge</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A check of the on-line weather forecast at 7.30pm showed persistent rain and low cloud for tomorrow and Saturday, so we decided the celebrations would have to wait. Who wants to get soaked on their last Munro?!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Looks like the weekend of 2-3rd July will be the next opportunity! Maybe see you then?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Summary:</span></b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>2 Munros + 1 top (twice!)</i></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>14 km walk </i></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1200 m climb</i></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>7.5 hours </i></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Log:</b></i></span></div></div></div></div></div></span></span><br />
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<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>left car</i></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>10:50</i></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>reached ridge</i></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>12:20</i></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>A' Chralaig (M)</i></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>13:20 - 13:40</i></span></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Stob Coire na Cralaig (T)</i></span></i></span></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>14:30 </i></span></i></span></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>Mullach Fraoch-Choire (M)</i></span></i></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>15:10 - 15:40</i></span></i></span></i></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Stob Coire na Cralaig (T)</i></span></i></span></i></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>16:1</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>5 </i></span></span></i></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>back at car</i></span></i></span></i></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>18:30</i></span></i></span></div></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></td><td></td><td><br />
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</tbody></table></span></span><div style="font-family: Times; text-align: right;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">written 18/06/11</span></span></div></div><div></div></div></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-68464069854891961382011-06-03T16:32:00.039+01:002011-06-13T22:58:26.358+01:006,5,4: Fisherfield Trio<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beinn Tarsuinn, Mullach Choire Mhic Fhearchair and Sgurr Ban 3rd June 2011</span></b></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Yesterday had been a 10 hour day for only one Munro, and had left me feeling pretty tired. Was I up to another big day with 3 Munros and 2 tops? These were the questions going through my mind as I woke early in the car park at </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Kinlochewe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. At least the weather was looking good ...</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dlU8KbFV2sTwWnDmi8v2p4NueuZB6vuDW_7nM-ZgD5c9-XqIhN3ULQFKIABUOyUMw-epJbOsy8yQ-IfapAQc94x6DKhquVhSKzjMRl8utOAMnJVhiDwMe4imhpR1inEFjuBqymjrvHps/s1600/024_Kinlochewe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dlU8KbFV2sTwWnDmi8v2p4NueuZB6vuDW_7nM-ZgD5c9-XqIhN3ULQFKIABUOyUMw-epJbOsy8yQ-IfapAQc94x6DKhquVhSKzjMRl8utOAMnJVhiDwMe4imhpR1inEFjuBqymjrvHps/s640/024_Kinlochewe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Base Camp - Kinlochewe car park!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChf6xmsazn94H0mVbuaIZM2iR2LSPbgfKwj8QtdOtMBjM6-RnkmcELzkvE4ZCvz8c_HpliIxc-cWa6xnP7r0FCPEv-6SdUynzV1GFIsqGyNRFcwY1ugoUL9UVXlR-VC0ZUP-ZgkyqfjKs/s1600/025_BeinnEighe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChf6xmsazn94H0mVbuaIZM2iR2LSPbgfKwj8QtdOtMBjM6-RnkmcELzkvE4ZCvz8c_HpliIxc-cWa6xnP7r0FCPEv-6SdUynzV1GFIsqGyNRFcwY1ugoUL9UVXlR-VC0ZUP-ZgkyqfjKs/s640/025_BeinnEighe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beinn Eighe - a dramatic backdrop above Kinlochewe</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">After an initial start up the wrong road (!), I set off by bike at 8.20am, and made good speed along the excellent farm road on the north bank of the Abhainn Bruachaig, towards </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Heights of Kinlochewe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. </span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On the way, I passed a young couple heading in the same direction (later referred to as "the greyhounds" by another group I met on the hill!). The first significant obstacle appeared after 5km, when the bike had to be manhandled up over a high ladder stile. The track continued now, uphill, for another 3km up <b>Gleinn na Muice</b>. Most of this required pushing the bike, but I knew it would be worthwhile for the return journey.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At the top of the track, a confusing sign indicated 2 footpaths - but with arrows pointing in the wrong directions! Someone had helpfully scrawled "consult your map" on the sign! I followed the excellent, newly rebuilt path heading towards the mountains. Directly ahead lay all my target hills (except Sgurr Ban, hidden behind the Mullach) ...</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17YuJTHRy-bbcIrH71LVtH2MhvzoHZO98Q3i5w3I9QVdZHLMYrL4p7jMbxtDjvt-7LRwEeZvexzkrPfVnRHK_ZBxdRYidfI4Myu8mK88s0N7VI1sKT9EzQuaaaKNs7tokg7uDI7QppV7R/s1600/027_BeinnTarsuinn_MullachCMF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17YuJTHRy-bbcIrH71LVtH2MhvzoHZO98Q3i5w3I9QVdZHLMYrL4p7jMbxtDjvt-7LRwEeZvexzkrPfVnRHK_ZBxdRYidfI4Myu8mK88s0N7VI1sKT9EzQuaaaKNs7tokg7uDI7QppV7R/s640/027_BeinnTarsuinn_MullachCMF.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>L to R: Beinn Tarsuinn, Meall Garbh, Mullach Choire Mhic Fhearchair, east top and Sgurr Dubh</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To the left, <b>Slioch</b> ("the spear") rose steeply above the moor, looking more like its name from this less often viewed direction.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7ya7QG4BVtK5jfB9wn5RdVUcUtkKlTgi8VIJhuKi-ydVqVPQZO1NASSZ0Gs_QKYNppIVQDL4VEFp4rzxVHnU4xS0b1CzG0UaJcT0fuS_IMNCH6fTP1z5OXOFGwy_1ygH9rNJ1qR4jclx/s1600/026_Slioch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7ya7QG4BVtK5jfB9wn5RdVUcUtkKlTgi8VIJhuKi-ydVqVPQZO1NASSZ0Gs_QKYNppIVQDL4VEFp4rzxVHnU4xS0b1CzG0UaJcT0fuS_IMNCH6fTP1z5OXOFGwy_1ygH9rNJ1qR4jclx/s640/026_Slioch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Slioch, from the east, with Sgurr an Thuill Bhan the prominent spear-like peak on the right</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A couple of miles up the path, <b>Lochan Fada</b> came into view (and I was overtaken by "the greyhounds" - the benefit of having young legs!)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH17De8TdIHU6yrww1f5pKNkW9XStMh3zu3vm0CReRc7VsQxmHUMrncI5h03OkbWeOl9NSTrIb_kxUWcpLVIdyW-nDGVZ-SBvIjDbpKlerman8trDWsnR4NZKtyy02OhZeOWWRw3Ha-1Kf/s1600/028_LochanFada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH17De8TdIHU6yrww1f5pKNkW9XStMh3zu3vm0CReRc7VsQxmHUMrncI5h03OkbWeOl9NSTrIb_kxUWcpLVIdyW-nDGVZ-SBvIjDbpKlerman8trDWsnR4NZKtyy02OhZeOWWRw3Ha-1Kf/s640/028_LochanFada.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">view along Lochan Fada, with Beinn Lair on the left</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just before the main path dropped down to the shores of the loch, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I struck off to the right on a small path heading roughly towards my hill.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Unfortunately this path soon petered out (it might have been better to continue down to the shore and find a better path from there), but the way ahead was fairly easy going across gradually rising moorland towards <b>Meall Garbh</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfj76zTQVl-6m47UbB7swFrmxAJDxs_XLdM4FAFATil4Dt8p2-SAi2nQeuGMTZJPKpjej-g79ZmDxKii94iC8ydDHd4I2F5hOt5WtRIIOc1DkBGI7nSCrSR48nzNo8r1N5hhkCgeUR7Gr/s1600/029_throughGleinnBianasdail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfj76zTQVl-6m47UbB7swFrmxAJDxs_XLdM4FAFATil4Dt8p2-SAi2nQeuGMTZJPKpjej-g79ZmDxKii94iC8ydDHd4I2F5hOt5WtRIIOc1DkBGI7nSCrSR48nzNo8r1N5hhkCgeUR7Gr/s640/029_throughGleinnBianasdail.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">view across Lochan Fada to its outflow down Gleann Bianasdail</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTFWYtO2wkRqWEVUYFA0b-ux8cBjvztXWdlqcN9BQqubv9ZtxlZZn_IaMgY_y7F8KnCgCj14-4ze7rxRuepUAK6doqvh-z31jTzimD6bWp_ik-x40ycqGL5mPaUYwyDUS7kb94J8cnVy9/s1600/030_MullachChoireMhicFhearchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTFWYtO2wkRqWEVUYFA0b-ux8cBjvztXWdlqcN9BQqubv9ZtxlZZn_IaMgY_y7F8KnCgCj14-4ze7rxRuepUAK6doqvh-z31jTzimD6bWp_ik-x40ycqGL5mPaUYwyDUS7kb94J8cnVy9/s640/030_MullachChoireMhicFhearchair.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the Mullach from just above Bealach Odhar on my way up Beinn Tarsuinn</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The slope gradually steepened as I toiled upwards keeping to the right hand side of a prominent ravine coming down below <b>Bealach Odhar</b>. Crossing the burn above the ravine, I made my way up a series of sandstone layers on the left, and then more steeply up grassy slopes to join the path leading up to the summit of <b>Beinn Tarsuinn </b>("the transverse mountain"). The "greyhounds" scurried past on their way down!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4 hours after leaving Kinlochewe, I arrived on the dramatic summit of <b>Beinn Tarsuinn</b>. The approach had been up mainly grassy slopes; in contrast, the north side of the mountain was composed of sandstone cliffs dropping away to the top of (another) Gleann na Muice.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibw5jfeoU0_EhtqomhDSfO17hQRVCt-qwnLhS5NOm_14J8GZ2Naf2WVzF5F3GZUgx3C-_q7mM_nZKmlWLZnMpM76Z82IX-3e55zXAhXnO4ct54lPghzICAU88vm9NFxMHfwrxk51s8sli/s1600/031_BeinnTarsuinn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibw5jfeoU0_EhtqomhDSfO17hQRVCt-qwnLhS5NOm_14J8GZ2Naf2WVzF5F3GZUgx3C-_q7mM_nZKmlWLZnMpM76Z82IX-3e55zXAhXnO4ct54lPghzICAU88vm9NFxMHfwrxk51s8sli/s640/031_BeinnTarsuinn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">from the summit, looking down to "the table" on Beinn Tarsuinn's west ridge</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgBiKs6CxaeLZ7R58g39hMNM-adhAUHeXWn2sJa4a-yfjiOuYjNQqYEZhbUzVC2oIESirboxIfuOEeB_UT6qDbq_3FYxoISCLkEoZaJGDEvOe-eydunTLPeRT81YCLsGSlTh7332lHDpW/s1600/032_MullachCMF_from+BeinnTarsuinn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgBiKs6CxaeLZ7R58g39hMNM-adhAUHeXWn2sJa4a-yfjiOuYjNQqYEZhbUzVC2oIESirboxIfuOEeB_UT6qDbq_3FYxoISCLkEoZaJGDEvOe-eydunTLPeRT81YCLsGSlTh7332lHDpW/s640/032_MullachCMF_from+BeinnTarsuinn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>from Beinn Tarsuinn, Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair looked dauntingly massive</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking north from Beinn Tarsuinn's summit</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After taking in the panoramic view, I "cooried doon" in a wee hollow behind the cairn to eat my sandwiches, and to get out of the strong breeze blowing in from the west.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a fine spot for a bit of lunch! - 6 Munros to go ...</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After a chat with another group of walkers, I set off back down the east ridge towards the <b>Bealach Odhar</b> - nice to be going downhill for a while!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Meall Garbh</b> ("rough lump") sits between <b>Beinn Tarsuinn</b> and the <b>Mullach</b>, but fortunately there is a handy little by-pass path skirting under the cliffs on the north side. Once at the next bealach, the climb to the summit of <b>Mullach Choire Mhic Fhearchair</b> was easier and shorter than it had looked earlier. The 250m climb was initially up through sandstone outcrops, then on quartzite boulders, so there was plenty to think about, using hands and feet and walking pole to progress. Soon enough, the slope eased, and the huge summit cairn was just ahead around the final curve of the ridge above shattered cliffs. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">approaching the summit of Mullach Choire Mhic Fhearchair, with Sgurr Ban beyond</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Only 5 to go!</b> Stopped for a while to chat with a "cheery trio". It turned out than one of the three was on her 4th last Munro - so just one ahead of me - and planned to continue over <b>Sgurr Ban </b>and <b>Beinn a' Chlaidheimh</b> - leaving just two more - oddly enough, <b>Beinn Bhuidhe</b> and <b>Meall Buidhe</b> ("yellow hill" and "yellow hill"!) I wonder which of us will "compleat" first?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7a2_9LeyHlzwi7NrULTmagqaid8jHs0PnT92Z5YmSwcpZ6PAR6M8O20isQDtI_fXuRMEIZdR-nCCmSHdEjkY3FB99F9EZfMnacqOBK39X6M9lzF83rov6RTFXO517tH-yXKqImQPVIim/s1600/036_BeinnTarsuinn_+MCMF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7a2_9LeyHlzwi7NrULTmagqaid8jHs0PnT92Z5YmSwcpZ6PAR6M8O20isQDtI_fXuRMEIZdR-nCCmSHdEjkY3FB99F9EZfMnacqOBK39X6M9lzF83rov6RTFXO517tH-yXKqImQPVIim/s640/036_BeinnTarsuinn_+MCMF.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Mullach Choire Mhic Fhearchair - 5 to go - Beinn Tarsuinn in the background</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now it was time to pay for <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2011/06/7-one-of-lowest-but-certainly-not.html">yesterday's decision</a> - out and back to <b>Sgurr Ban</b>. I scampered off down the steep path, leaving the "cheery trio" to descend more slowly. In places it was possible to leave a footprint in the dry white quartzite sand on the path - almost like beach sand. The next bealach was at 820m, so quickly reached, especially slithering down the last steep section of path on very loose scree. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back to Mullach Choire Mhic Fhearchair from Sgurr Ban - scree path clearly visible</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The ascent to <b>Sgurr Ban</b> didn't take long - only 160m of ascent - then a walk across the huge level summit plateau to the cairn. Again I was glad of the shelter from the strong westerly breeze, while I refuelled with food and coffee.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BsYFsZ24UMIQu9sfA-MIOg2oZO5AyPzkdDFDMDVfoX4f4JCPoBN9jzJ-egDk5aj_I-tAK2nAtR-tG_plj5kY_bdqocmOATFic0z8L9kS0dSC-e4WJcBuzRvO1BBwWPVbGe90-_SN-eKC/s1600/039_north_fromSgurrBan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BsYFsZ24UMIQu9sfA-MIOg2oZO5AyPzkdDFDMDVfoX4f4JCPoBN9jzJ-egDk5aj_I-tAK2nAtR-tG_plj5kY_bdqocmOATFic0z8L9kS0dSC-e4WJcBuzRvO1BBwWPVbGe90-_SN-eKC/s640/039_north_fromSgurrBan.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sgurr Ban's amazing stony summit plateau - looking from the cairn towards An Teallach</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well, that was the last Munro of the day, but I still had to return over the Mullach (unfortunately), then take in its two outlying tops on my way "home". </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once again, the re-ascent wasn't as bad as it looked, and probably vindicated yesterday's decision. As I'm not intending to complete a "second round", I cut off from the path below the summit, and contoured across (over some massive boulders) to gain the east ridge. The <b>east top</b> was only 500m away, with a re-ascent of only 20m, so hardly deserved its "top" status. However, it was a good place of another short rest, and gave good views across to <b>Sgurr Ban</b> (below).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_s8oxNS6ouj83aPUidS6RSf2nc1bm7WvT1jDx5c_2L-wiQX2jQxIB9-Hr6VXvXbnaRBYaODeRgyXMmSr8t3B-ONRONoCIJ1VkUWmuXhoBex10Z-EydOom5JkD62V65-PVLbHxiOdEKb1/s1600/042_SgurrBan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_s8oxNS6ouj83aPUidS6RSf2nc1bm7WvT1jDx5c_2L-wiQX2jQxIB9-Hr6VXvXbnaRBYaODeRgyXMmSr8t3B-ONRONoCIJ1VkUWmuXhoBex10Z-EydOom5JkD62V65-PVLbHxiOdEKb1/s640/042_SgurrBan.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">well seen why it is called Sgurr Ban ("the white peak")</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ahead lay one more top, <b>Sgurr Dubh</b>, reached along a narrowish ridge with "easy scrambling" according to the guide books. From the east top, it certainly looked inviting!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sgurr Dubh from the east top</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First a straightforward descent to the next bealach, <b>Cab a Choire Ghuirm</b> ("notch of the blue coire"), followed by a very "interesting" scramble up a rocky ridge, then over and round a couple of pinnacles to reach the top. A faint path showed the best way, mainly keeping to the right side, but plenty of "hands on rock" was required to progress safely. I was acutely aware that there was no-one else around to pick up the pieces if I made a mistake.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back over the scrambly section of Sgurr Dubh - Beinn Tarsuinn behind</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anyway, there were no mishaps, and soon I was safely on the top of <b>Sgurr Dubh</b>. So, a "white peak" and a "black peak" only a mile apart! I continued to the next little bump on the ridge, and sat down to enjoy the view. Minutes later, I was surprised to see two walkers appearing up the east ridge, having come up over the <b>Sgurr Ban slabs </b>from Loch an Nid.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">from Sgurr Dubh, looking down over the Sgurr Ban slabs to Loch an Nid</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By now it was nearly 5pm, and I was still far from base, so began the descent down the easy southern slopes of <b>Sgurr Dubh</b>, following a line of crags (below) down to around 700m, where a way could be made down through the crags into <b>Coire Mhic Fhearchair</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back up from Coire Mhic Fhearchair to Sgurr Dubh, from just below the line of crags </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once across the burn flowing out of the coire, it was possible to contour easily across a wide gently sloping grassy area to reach the foot of another parallel line of <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">crags,</span> Creag Ghlas Bheag</b>. Beyond this, the moorland sloped down towards <b>Lochan Fada</b>, and the main path home. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All that remained was the 2 mile walk back to the bike (it seemed a good deal further on weary legs!), then a fine downhill trundle to Heights of Kinlochewe, over the ladder stile, and a fast cycle back down the valley to Kinlochewe. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A great expedition!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Summary:</span></b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>3 Munros + 2 tops</i></span></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>19 km walk + 16 km cycle</i></span></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1600 m climb</i></span></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>11.5 hours </i></span></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Log:</b></i></span></div></div></div></div></span></span><br />
<table border="”1”"><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>left car</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>08:20</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>left bike</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>09:25</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Lochan Fada</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>10:30</i></span></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Beinn Tarsuinn (M)</i></span></i></span></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>12:20 - 12:40</i></span></i></span></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>Mullach Choire Mhic Fhearchair (M)</i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>13:45 - 14:00</i></span></i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Sgurr Ban (M)</i></span></i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>14</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>:45 - 15:00</i></span></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>MCMF east top (T)</i></span></i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>15:55 - 16:05</i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Sgurr Dubh (T)</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>16:30 - 16:55</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Lochan Fada</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>18:00 - 18:05</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>back to bike</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>19:10 </i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Kinlochewe</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>19:50 </i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></td><td></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></span><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Times; text-align: right;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
written 13/06/11</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div></div></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-77626468493888302792011-06-02T07:29:00.005+01:002011-06-12T16:14:52.462+01:007: one of the lowest, but certainly not easiest!<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beinn a' Chlaidheimh 2nd June 2011</span></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">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 <a href="http://adventures.rockuk.org/centres/whithaugh-park">Whithaugh Park</a> 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 </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Corriehallie</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> at 10pm on a drizzly evening, parked up, and crawled into the sleeping bag.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">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 </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Shenavall</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, one of whom was hoping to climb his last Corbett. My plan was to climb B</span><span class="Apple-style-span">einn a'Chlaidheimh</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and (possibly) continue to </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Sgurr Ban</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Ahead and to the right, </span><span class="Apple-style-span">An Teallach</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> (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.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_kQsFn5J7mwcf7i_RLbHTxwhmVr4rA7oG6P_zKSzwZVm27f28nTd7gpOgbGNFQXKt_OvzKF2chSB8gfkcBmkWSjr8FOCgH4EvqvVWyq3IU4liFWIP63DRkl5ovFnmCTEnC-yewlUGJEd/s1600/001_CorrieHallie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_kQsFn5J7mwcf7i_RLbHTxwhmVr4rA7oG6P_zKSzwZVm27f28nTd7gpOgbGNFQXKt_OvzKF2chSB8gfkcBmkWSjr8FOCgH4EvqvVWyq3IU4liFWIP63DRkl5ovFnmCTEnC-yewlUGJEd/s640/001_CorrieHallie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">up the Corrie Hallie track, with An Teallach to the right</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">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!).</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Beinn a'Chlaidheimh</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> was now visible ahead - and free from cloud ...</span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9yrWlrwJS_A5juikwLtrU9BN4ftCJ_QMdDapF37VfeOXdao6si6NAhcEA_f0MPkyJSWGoUOqnsiFCpcS0fae64ymJgEUZ2lTUEcS2nptakknx32FwmyQDL89wfusKNdPkZ2hVRMgM5hZ/s1600/002_SgurrBan_BeinnaChlaidheimh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9yrWlrwJS_A5juikwLtrU9BN4ftCJ_QMdDapF37VfeOXdao6si6NAhcEA_f0MPkyJSWGoUOqnsiFCpcS0fae64ymJgEUZ2lTUEcS2nptakknx32FwmyQDL89wfusKNdPkZ2hVRMgM5hZ/s640/002_SgurrBan_BeinnaChlaidheimh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>R to L: Beinn a'Chlaidheimh, Sgurr Ban (with cloud cap) and the east top of Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">... although the jagged ridge of </span><span class="Apple-style-span">An Teallach </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">was tearing the clouds dramatically on the right.</span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1fuW5SX2hwdlbTF8KHlYqDpPyCIh9SHbXA9b-QbJjhpFfmN7_jUNan6QZJUg0kQuxjFv4Wtm0yO9k-yrZjRBSrRPbsjGMJi4LQjdzEQ7pRAsxLE7iyifow6jIW1YD7njlVpK6S_qwY1z/s1600/003_AnTeallach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1fuW5SX2hwdlbTF8KHlYqDpPyCIh9SHbXA9b-QbJjhpFfmN7_jUNan6QZJUg0kQuxjFv4Wtm0yO9k-yrZjRBSrRPbsjGMJi4LQjdzEQ7pRAsxLE7iyifow6jIW1YD7njlVpK6S_qwY1z/s640/003_AnTeallach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Corrag Bhuidhe, Lord Berkeley's Seat and Sgurr Fiona</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Starting to descend, the </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Abhainn Loch an Nid</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> 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.</span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvk558AjIaVNjBCtsDZAvKniiWxJWGjIiu6NLGA4iHLuRwUVtIf_3kQugOwd1DTGjsNchurCwifbKS3OhxThVMyGfRhPP04f1Fy_s5ln6wyYtl2Ik7FG7bdhErv2u7AcdakimJaHH0bZl/s1600/006_AbhainnLochanNid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvk558AjIaVNjBCtsDZAvKniiWxJWGjIiu6NLGA4iHLuRwUVtIf_3kQugOwd1DTGjsNchurCwifbKS3OhxThVMyGfRhPP04f1Fy_s5ln6wyYtl2Ik7FG7bdhErv2u7AcdakimJaHH0bZl/s640/006_AbhainnLochanNid.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>view up the valley of the Abhainn Loch an Nid </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">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. </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Beinn a'Claidheimh</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> (hill of the sword) may be the </span><span class="Apple-style-span">4th lowest Munro</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> at 916m, but it was proving hard to get!</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">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.</span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm6z0xElyWlumB8j3LfLdf3hPZmkd8jT4FacwdMoRvBSzKEUmpeJmFCR3MTHXdX3z9VVbOPItKNrmXDANKdo0h82_2AFma7AMlDJ6MYI_HI6NTvYACYFsCQyXIKQ8lV415eV_zu8DCR3y/s1600/007_BeinnaChlaidheimh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm6z0xElyWlumB8j3LfLdf3hPZmkd8jT4FacwdMoRvBSzKEUmpeJmFCR3MTHXdX3z9VVbOPItKNrmXDANKdo0h82_2AFma7AMlDJ6MYI_HI6NTvYACYFsCQyXIKQ8lV415eV_zu8DCR3y/s640/007_BeinnaChlaidheimh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">heading towards Beinn a' Chlaidheimh's northern end</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">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.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">This proved to be (a) a very windy place, but (b) a superb viewpoint</span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7peDfGTL-p0TRXhPPHi2xfqjiuH_F98Gw6GRgyqChe33YSd4AKdG-RQP0Pvq7TRryf21DhX7il80xYmh8rfcyRbWcUPMQbrIWiIf_F1Aa4gGOmO0N1i8Td__5qjt3240NB-LR3MOOQst/s1600/009_NE_fromBeinnaChlaidheimh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7peDfGTL-p0TRXhPPHi2xfqjiuH_F98Gw6GRgyqChe33YSd4AKdG-RQP0Pvq7TRryf21DhX7il80xYmh8rfcyRbWcUPMQbrIWiIf_F1Aa4gGOmO0N1i8Td__5qjt3240NB-LR3MOOQst/s640/009_NE_fromBeinnaChlaidheimh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking NE towards Corrie Hallie, and the approach track</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_11uRuLTRcty4rojmEzYaB1roTtD-_kwZ4kcInlxlE8Xhhkir0vaM7fE0s55MRj_cxbKnywzMKHi-uwchpu-QY5Y6-mdNqPAl6Pjp6qTekYmAr1rOU3CH-tmK7rvly05zAiJPa5Rnw7T/s1600/010_BeinnDeargMor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_11uRuLTRcty4rojmEzYaB1roTtD-_kwZ4kcInlxlE8Xhhkir0vaM7fE0s55MRj_cxbKnywzMKHi-uwchpu-QY5Y6-mdNqPAl6Pjp6qTekYmAr1rOU3CH-tmK7rvly05zAiJPa5Rnw7T/s640/010_BeinnDeargMor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking NW to Beinn Dearg Mhor and Loch na Sealga</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtF9Ae5Aa56b6aDU6Yn-ac8AqLJXxmHwSNG0PJ2bVCB2n0e81GPvCGzrmpwQijJrfImQKSWThYtoSNE4LOzosmGVJbU3Bap05zOVdgNY_eiy0kJZfDrYJ10-7HCJAh9mLg_NWxpXbB2FK/s1600/011_AnTeallach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtF9Ae5Aa56b6aDU6Yn-ac8AqLJXxmHwSNG0PJ2bVCB2n0e81GPvCGzrmpwQijJrfImQKSWThYtoSNE4LOzosmGVJbU3Bap05zOVdgNY_eiy0kJZfDrYJ10-7HCJAh9mLg_NWxpXbB2FK/s640/011_AnTeallach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking north to An Teallach and Loch na Sealga</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">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.</span></span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwUw-aH0l5uzWFoG4_Qc4W6D7GAyc0EweQMPMZuzfwdGulc_X-yqJ0jTPPZFLwZBcgp3gILLYOq4ayM1EjROE1rX2wOub-gAeP0hW8GA5PKs6E-9O01ACR8-ySR8KwH4OVP8CyvZistlo/s1600/015_AnTeallach_from+BeinnaChlaidheimh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwUw-aH0l5uzWFoG4_Qc4W6D7GAyc0EweQMPMZuzfwdGulc_X-yqJ0jTPPZFLwZBcgp3gILLYOq4ayM1EjROE1rX2wOub-gAeP0hW8GA5PKs6E-9O01ACR8-ySR8KwH4OVP8CyvZistlo/s640/015_AnTeallach_from+BeinnaChlaidheimh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking north from the summit cairn towards the middle top, with An Teallach beyond</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The next question was whether to go on to <b>Sgurr Ban</b> 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.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHnwL9MnL5Di3OhryyBevPSkb8nyxfgWllQ7Kqh39R2TqI1UaRGlCBIv42duh9QhV-yJvtJSXJzie2uIcpyrHbs7uWMnxrk33j4mdGJn5odVR9A156tD-rHZtq4p1ZGpVvLU-HUUeNSta/s1600/014_SgurrBan_BeinnTarsuinn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHnwL9MnL5Di3OhryyBevPSkb8nyxfgWllQ7Kqh39R2TqI1UaRGlCBIv42duh9QhV-yJvtJSXJzie2uIcpyrHbs7uWMnxrk33j4mdGJn5odVR9A156tD-rHZtq4p1ZGpVvLU-HUUeNSta/s640/014_SgurrBan_BeinnTarsuinn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sgurr Ban and Beinn Tarsuinn from Beinn a' Chlaidheimh</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOxiQMzX7ZxwsEbg-xOH8fqk2gaGT1dljaG7_N7SBK71Br0hLMqbTsjK7iqGMU1FKxPJIqQlS3K7TmsFWEL1lmBtW0nD36VUtmoC45jEf9YQQN9p5H3G77_leGCo6U5nXZqXfjnhteXno/s1600/BeinnaChlaidheimh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOxiQMzX7ZxwsEbg-xOH8fqk2gaGT1dljaG7_N7SBK71Br0hLMqbTsjK7iqGMU1FKxPJIqQlS3K7TmsFWEL1lmBtW0nD36VUtmoC45jEf9YQQN9p5H3G77_leGCo6U5nXZqXfjnhteXno/s400/BeinnaChlaidheimh.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the end, the sight of low cloud scudding fast across the summit plateau of <b>Sgurr Ban</b>, and more building up behind it, plus the thought of the long walk back out, helped me make my decision - leave it for tomorrow! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, I headed off SW down stony, then grassy heathery slopes, with a few sandstone outcrops, towards the valley below. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What an amount of water pouring down the burns on both sides of the glen!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I aimed for a wide gravelly part of the <b>Abhainn Loch an Nid</b>, 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.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguROQyD80QaNdKcsIe5Ci5LGYULX5T-34syLIZ24yLM5r63UNl99PPM4k5AJmyEGLLrJ6Yvomohf6YzzAcEo7YD-l1quWbMXYaOsc8GplWl680M4Bnq0tfi8qFSkvoQycMh0SxmjCf9-pj/s1600/016_waterfalls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguROQyD80QaNdKcsIe5Ci5LGYULX5T-34syLIZ24yLM5r63UNl99PPM4k5AJmyEGLLrJ6Yvomohf6YzzAcEo7YD-l1quWbMXYaOsc8GplWl680M4Bnq0tfi8qFSkvoQycMh0SxmjCf9-pj/s640/016_waterfalls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">fast flowing burn pouring over sandstone outcrops on east slopes of Beinn a'Chlaidheimh</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once across, boot emptying, and another change into dry socks was required.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PyYdETAE-QJxGzpJtsQX8p8zZku7ewuWF_h0Pb-K11kGxgDZS8plbU2deIeix67DpVcVpewHbRYRwQqWx0Zo6dw-MQTc9sK1D3RRS4I78dsZtOip1krY8Nh7evLXfyNbNqPMonTC-BJH/s1600/017_river_crossed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PyYdETAE-QJxGzpJtsQX8p8zZku7ewuWF_h0Pb-K11kGxgDZS8plbU2deIeix67DpVcVpewHbRYRwQqWx0Zo6dw-MQTc9sK1D3RRS4I78dsZtOip1krY8Nh7evLXfyNbNqPMonTC-BJH/s640/017_river_crossed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">drying my feet after the river crossing - hey, didn't realise the wind had done that to my hair!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xDJIf2pXv7iYW2hVaT0QwPJwo_umPhQz9VAGTGOkyoMmtM5k_IllJzLu-U_m81wCNCSl7Gwysla5gatcdOLup_03_63F3yaMxUs5xLLQ7FV9uGLIi3kwtXjiDWa6Q_qIrz3S0H5h_e7j/s1600/018_waterfalls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xDJIf2pXv7iYW2hVaT0QwPJwo_umPhQz9VAGTGOkyoMmtM5k_IllJzLu-U_m81wCNCSl7Gwysla5gatcdOLup_03_63F3yaMxUs5xLLQ7FV9uGLIi3kwtXjiDWa6Q_qIrz3S0H5h_e7j/s400/018_waterfalls.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(left) Another impressive waterfall, on the east side of the glen just opposite where I had crossed the river.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And so, the long walk home: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">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. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The walk out was the best part of 6 miles, and took 2.5 hours. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was glad I had decided to leave Sgurr Ban for another day!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The evening sunshine reflecting off wet slabs made <b>An Teallach</b> look positively volcanic! (below)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nzEXSv1nG3iguSiHnp0VOhxGOzkeM2rtvRM5lNas4Wg1ZGgOiWhWZ3cUsZeO0e6ALS_D4UWWsT-itXgwEmCE83TovyvNU6eEzo_A9VdVLPTd5WeP_0n2wuCoLkglNZ6noWPZUmM-CpFK/s1600/020_AnTeallach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nzEXSv1nG3iguSiHnp0VOhxGOzkeM2rtvRM5lNas4Wg1ZGgOiWhWZ3cUsZeO0e6ALS_D4UWWsT-itXgwEmCE83TovyvNU6eEzo_A9VdVLPTd5WeP_0n2wuCoLkglNZ6noWPZUmM-CpFK/s640/020_AnTeallach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's summary:</span></b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1 Munro </i></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>23 km walk</i></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1400 m climb</i></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>10 hours </i></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></i></b></span></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Log:</b></i></span></div></div></div></div></span></span><br />
<table border="”1”"><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>left car</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>08:30</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>river crossing</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>10:35 - 11:00</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>north top</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>13:15</i></span></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>middle top</i></span></i></span></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>13:25</i></span></i></span></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>Beinn a' Chlaidheimh (M)</i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>13:30 - 14:05</i></span></i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>river crossing</i></span></i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>15:10 - 15:50</i></span></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>back to car</i></span></i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>18:20</i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><br />
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</tbody></table></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But that wasn't the end of the day - it was completed with a lovely drive around the coast road to <b>Kinlochewe</b> on a perfect evening ....</span></div></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPyovs4GHiOM1i0n_lBpOsbNi5OWC5lvICmrObhxP7fJJ0eT01k3kA30N6-D35p-0rcovnZK46hFmrlduHejJ1ioro3PVKODKJeWBvj1S8LHiogT5a5w6MFlPcFkajTx0Yu-D4gfC-Gi9/s1600/021_BeinnGhobhlach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPyovs4GHiOM1i0n_lBpOsbNi5OWC5lvICmrObhxP7fJJ0eT01k3kA30N6-D35p-0rcovnZK46hFmrlduHejJ1ioro3PVKODKJeWBvj1S8LHiogT5a5w6MFlPcFkajTx0Yu-D4gfC-Gi9/s640/021_BeinnGhobhlach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beinn Ghobhlach, across Little Loch Broom</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; 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font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g-D6OkAsTiKuaj4HpPzM-NOKXzs70ytI9_gGX7oNs-tBZAQfomXdazc2LrF2GoqvlOpCPwXsHnzhIVm1rKMovQvBw3VoSbkyBH3DDgpQDXILaum8FlcaA_OpQZgRD8utnD57RhVVhUs-/s1600/022_GruinardBay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g-D6OkAsTiKuaj4HpPzM-NOKXzs70ytI9_gGX7oNs-tBZAQfomXdazc2LrF2GoqvlOpCPwXsHnzhIVm1rKMovQvBw3VoSbkyBH3DDgpQDXILaum8FlcaA_OpQZgRD8utnD57RhVVhUs-/s640/022_GruinardBay.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gruinard Bay</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sKdDNTzIA5cOZAvEIKVJ0LfY2cGXmSSAgdWIGkyb-P7OCzBCED7KyCVv4as6MletkMRLpy83qgw5yafS66rimph06uHKuIGWxyOyng3tc5a95MurAqldRRqMwPVuhJNLSJkiiggwOwJc/s1600/023_TorridonHills_fromPoolewe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sKdDNTzIA5cOZAvEIKVJ0LfY2cGXmSSAgdWIGkyb-P7OCzBCED7KyCVv4as6MletkMRLpy83qgw5yafS66rimph06uHKuIGWxyOyng3tc5a95MurAqldRRqMwPVuhJNLSJkiiggwOwJc/s640/023_TorridonHills_fromPoolewe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Torridon Hills above Poolewe</span></i></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; 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font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">posted by DB 12/06/11</span></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important; font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-29375922336633313192011-05-02T21:25:00.001+01:002011-05-17T18:02:22.768+01:009,8: the round of Coire Lair<div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh 2nd May 2011</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(note: this blog entry contains one image that some may find disturbing - you have been warned!)</span></span></b></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The "big grey hill" and the "red peak". Two contrasting hills - one of quartzite, the other sandstone - standing on opposite sides of <strong>Coire Lair</strong>, behind Achnashellach Station.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDjBt2UQD6qaafT494GcHNg32wttkSGg44upACXUks-QXZr6BVAmOsup1zDw0U9vy_K15Oie89iXAmMthW6kwfZZ4myGbVKWU-y7CPiYlADuZnA44CbRsP8HxCuTtmJWaUVWqwo2FCXXZ/s1600/027_Achnashellach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDjBt2UQD6qaafT494GcHNg32wttkSGg44upACXUks-QXZr6BVAmOsup1zDw0U9vy_K15Oie89iXAmMthW6kwfZZ4myGbVKWU-y7CPiYlADuZnA44CbRsP8HxCuTtmJWaUVWqwo2FCXXZ/s640/027_Achnashellach.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fuar Tholl catches the morning sun above Achnashellach Station</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Despite having covered 36km yesterday, this was too good a day to rest. I had parked overnight in the big layby opposite the <strong>Achnashellach</strong> station lane, so woke early - a combination of the dawn chorus, and the early morning traffic. However, that suited my purpose - to climb two Munros, then drive home to Selkirk in the evening.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, at 7.20am, I set off up to the station, crossed the line at the level crossing, and up the forest track towards Coire Lair.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Already, the morning sun was striking the cliffs of <strong>Fuar Tholl</strong>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtH52cJrFm4dcoZMCO1gv_4-DwPPyMuArUBJ3GOK6iqAapzoGOW0klVVRvHQmZTgYYoTC9iywazGC5GtlfgDQq6huHN1Vc9BW7fc5thDfh0elByEL4wtDo7lIhysRsvHYTPsrSEBJXvTi/s1600/028_FuarTholl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtH52cJrFm4dcoZMCO1gv_4-DwPPyMuArUBJ3GOK6iqAapzoGOW0klVVRvHQmZTgYYoTC9iywazGC5GtlfgDQq6huHN1Vc9BW7fc5thDfh0elByEL4wtDo7lIhysRsvHYTPsrSEBJXvTi/s640/028_FuarTholl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fuar Tholl comes into full view</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1km up the track, a waymark indicated the path leaving the track sharply to the left, then through the deer fence by a gate, and turning to follow the stream uphill through the pines. This was a lovely early morning walk, and soon I was out of the woods, and climbing steadily upwards on a good path, much of it rebuilt.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bUYZAZzouFHoP2-Y9jL-wG0ZPIulRGCd2Ot0mXlm6NJiSr8F_oF87DV8GagOW_xIlMMebLZgEjp1fjY0WeKjsqnM1b0ZfnPKGLiU6bXyDK5fzNDITNPTQEKdZJ8MFlbvSVeV6mBotjBO/s1600/029_BeinnLiathMhor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bUYZAZzouFHoP2-Y9jL-wG0ZPIulRGCd2Ot0mXlm6NJiSr8F_oF87DV8GagOW_xIlMMebLZgEjp1fjY0WeKjsqnM1b0ZfnPKGLiU6bXyDK5fzNDITNPTQEKdZJ8MFlbvSVeV6mBotjBO/s640/029_BeinnLiathMhor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">climbing steadily, and Beinn Liath Mhor comes into view for the first time</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At 8.40am, up the last rocky section of the path, the vast trough of Coire Lair appeared: <strong>Beinn Liath Mhor</strong> forming the right hand wall, and <strong>Sgorr Ruadh</strong> dominating the left.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6MvUetl3VZk9RyGUodZl2nv1JQLwXh-xiFXgqXOJQg9IT9fl6ZWH23Nn0LdwLEe0baqvtDplqa7-4NBQeafMLmEcpjoop_Mvi8PjNF_yk53qIwURzH4GJZDCLIcibjqstBYi-hd27A7e/s1600/030_CoireLair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6MvUetl3VZk9RyGUodZl2nv1JQLwXh-xiFXgqXOJQg9IT9fl6ZWH23Nn0LdwLEe0baqvtDplqa7-4NBQeafMLmEcpjoop_Mvi8PjNF_yk53qIwURzH4GJZDCLIcibjqstBYi-hd27A7e/s640/030_CoireLair.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">looking up Coire Lair</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At a cross-road of paths, a choice had to be made: a clockwise circuit, or anti-clockwise? The path leading up towards <strong>Sgorr Ruadh</strong> looked attractive, but I decided to stick to the original plan, and tackle the steepest slope first, so I turned right and headed towards the foot of Beinn Liath Mhor's south-eastern end. I soon realised that all the small burns were completely dry (I don't suppose that is often the case up here!), so detoured back down to the river to refill my water bottles. It looked like it could be a hot and thirsty day ahead! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVi84piCIBj2VIE74qh_p5aKuYSp5uLm1HBvByf1AM6DjEp_OpWqVgpmRXe9iZyyNJTLGuXjvyBvgL7eHG5ZJJ-n8bDYNSko2YEItsb3QgN-2BCZvt7Vlukb_8Y-hVNKnV4PpBdDceD7D/s1600/coire_lair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVi84piCIBj2VIE74qh_p5aKuYSp5uLm1HBvByf1AM6DjEp_OpWqVgpmRXe9iZyyNJTLGuXjvyBvgL7eHG5ZJJ-n8bDYNSko2YEItsb3QgN-2BCZvt7Vlukb_8Y-hVNKnV4PpBdDceD7D/s640/coire_lair.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At 9am, I began the ascent up a steep path, in short zigzags between rocks, grass and scree. Hard going, but gaining height very rapidly. The views across to <strong>Fuar Tholl</strong> encouraged frequent stops!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqOF8lunQ3WhuWh4uXOBLII8RI4yjZF7m-Ln8cSmoLTHgGC46k3_Z_vUm1V5L-SOUyt8XvhSxVLU1SrYmSV4OP9SOYvgHa0ZFz_E5Vix7aalWaednKiz7zVzC2fbjJrG0Qy71I0c6d53-/s1600/031_FuarTholl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqOF8lunQ3WhuWh4uXOBLII8RI4yjZF7m-Ln8cSmoLTHgGC46k3_Z_vUm1V5L-SOUyt8XvhSxVLU1SrYmSV4OP9SOYvgHa0ZFz_E5Vix7aalWaednKiz7zVzC2fbjJrG0Qy71I0c6d53-/s640/031_FuarTholl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fuar Tholl, with the prominent Mainreachan Buttress, <br />
viewed from the path climbing towards Beinn Liath Mhor's southeast top</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At about 650m, the gradient eased a little, then the final 100m or so were up a tedious quartzite boulder field, with a number of deceptive false tops. At 10.20am, the southeast top came into view, and with it a superb view to the north. I sat down gratefully to enjoy the views.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGKfMcqdrn83KE5d9v-X5u-y_pUycS_hzir5vEj6gHXduSu-plHy7HX3wlZTrJe-Ie8BKQ60R4wHn1SqTJbrU2jmMV-2nUqqfeYi2rUroLNXHuGdSmW3wClGFiE49YcH_FiUWR9bcJXyQ/s1600/032_BeinnLiathMhor_southtop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGKfMcqdrn83KE5d9v-X5u-y_pUycS_hzir5vEj6gHXduSu-plHy7HX3wlZTrJe-Ie8BKQ60R4wHn1SqTJbrU2jmMV-2nUqqfeYi2rUroLNXHuGdSmW3wClGFiE49YcH_FiUWR9bcJXyQ/s640/032_BeinnLiathMhor_southtop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">southeast top of Beinn Liath Mhor (876m)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuF2LfSTI6rLyh-fg4Cqo8WksAU0IxVCSEjrt3OINtLRsLrfdXlWm_VVd6NpMTlhIn2INHwizcKsl5Msd2HiipbbAz0NccS1uCqKRaRaFg02KdD31kS3tGTRWqhQOrOVsG29qppwQbonZg/s1600/033_Liathach_overSgurranlochanUaine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuF2LfSTI6rLyh-fg4Cqo8WksAU0IxVCSEjrt3OINtLRsLrfdXlWm_VVd6NpMTlhIn2INHwizcKsl5Msd2HiipbbAz0NccS1uCqKRaRaFg02KdD31kS3tGTRWqhQOrOVsG29qppwQbonZg/s640/033_Liathach_overSgurranlochanUaine.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">looking north over Sgurr nan Lochan Uaine to Liathach's pinnacled ridge</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Smoke was rising from the flanks of <strong>Mullach an Rathain</strong>, and from the glen behind it; later I discovered that this was a massive forest fire, which devastated large areas of regenerating Caledonian Pine forest. A helicopter was buzzing around - apparently it had been used to rescue walkers, trapped by the fires below, from one of the summits, and was now being used to water bomb parts of the area.</span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXPeJlv48Kvd6FOlYfXlimoeFixJ3iI564kqgLDNWGVtZeD9IiE7CJoSHVqzDiWo5XRbhL0uTtBE28RZuIJL4Cw2s-q7rhefUSMiSn8GHbEMEIVREjw6fe42r8I2Wm1E_XgE24kNdd7Su/s1600/034_BeinnEighe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXPeJlv48Kvd6FOlYfXlimoeFixJ3iI564kqgLDNWGVtZeD9IiE7CJoSHVqzDiWo5XRbhL0uTtBE28RZuIJL4Cw2s-q7rhefUSMiSn8GHbEMEIVREjw6fe42r8I2Wm1E_XgE24kNdd7Su/s640/034_BeinnEighe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the eastern tops of Beinn Eighe behind Beinn Liath Beag (right) and Sgorr Dubh (centre)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnY_DrUNPk8QoN597T_3fqps85fBLMuClMvp0vyMBWhYtUtQmYDcOn0jGimRBrxOfrAq24vfG7Bq8ST5PWN7MDk3PaVU5ZF3Tl1-AQvIIybv6lvPkDkJGXHnxcIcKxcGHJ2P2akYbo6Ys/s1600/035_BeinnEighe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnY_DrUNPk8QoN597T_3fqps85fBLMuClMvp0vyMBWhYtUtQmYDcOn0jGimRBrxOfrAq24vfG7Bq8ST5PWN7MDk3PaVU5ZF3Tl1-AQvIIybv6lvPkDkJGXHnxcIcKxcGHJ2P2akYbo6Ys/s640/035_BeinnEighe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the western tops of Beinn Eighe (Sail Mhor, Coinneach Mhor and Ruadh-Stac Mor)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">While sitting there, I was overtaken by a man and dog - both moving pretty quickly - who disappeared on along the ridge ahead.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The 2km ridge walk to Beinn Liath Mhor's main top looked an enjoyable prospect, and so it proved, with fine views to left and right. Firstly, a couple of small ups and downs led to the middle top (887m) in 25 minutes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jxwZQW26eUg5_rz9fZJN-B-uEdVM_vk0PgxWMGKKe9NypixLW6yy0KW1-0uSFtbaXG8vpI5sigGyiWgtPU0aMslOYisPh-8B-0PVFaVhgjRlzfAP9OvUYsvTZ478bHR5r489xwzB0Uei/s1600/036_BeinnLiathMhor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jxwZQW26eUg5_rz9fZJN-B-uEdVM_vk0PgxWMGKKe9NypixLW6yy0KW1-0uSFtbaXG8vpI5sigGyiWgtPU0aMslOYisPh-8B-0PVFaVhgjRlzfAP9OvUYsvTZ478bHR5r489xwzB0Uei/s640/036_BeinnLiathMhor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">main summit of Beinn Liath Mhor from the middle top</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I continued on along the ridge for another half hour, views changing all the time, then a short climb to the final narrower shattered summit arete. As I arrived at the summit, the man and dog I had spoken to earlier were just about to leave - the dog had sore paws from the sharp quartzite, so was about to get a carry down the next section! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-6ZvT9isBX-8nk6Vl_DaT0FPeAUC1-YWkbwx90BdFFBnCTlOgLXSCSm3vPLBh7g8amoMJjkq8b912_sHmC6nue0eoTdQ_WMH9Bhfg5Jb2m3hRy_kQicDAwH_KRxccH4Eko7qDtkuvBiI/s1600/043_BLM_southfromsummit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-6ZvT9isBX-8nk6Vl_DaT0FPeAUC1-YWkbwx90BdFFBnCTlOgLXSCSm3vPLBh7g8amoMJjkq8b912_sHmC6nue0eoTdQ_WMH9Bhfg5Jb2m3hRy_kQicDAwH_KRxccH4Eko7qDtkuvBiI/s640/043_BLM_southfromsummit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">looking back along the summit ridge to the middle top and southeast top</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN10aagVfvH2aOCMIXOssE319RFs3O2ASRucPAtzfNp-3yUYaAH9bqfZMTmivfx8Lf4xot43OuI6vVfeWShXmforZ-VMokVFJMwCd5ryDPxqqkVX_wbjHzTJ1uhDfb7Km_sYzemYp-tSim/s1600/042_BeinnLiathMhor_summit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN10aagVfvH2aOCMIXOssE319RFs3O2ASRucPAtzfNp-3yUYaAH9bqfZMTmivfx8Lf4xot43OuI6vVfeWShXmforZ-VMokVFJMwCd5ryDPxqqkVX_wbjHzTJ1uhDfb7Km_sYzemYp-tSim/s640/042_BeinnLiathMhor_summit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the rocky summit of Beinn Liath Mhor</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once again, time for a good long rest, something to eat, a cup of coffee, and a chance to look around at the magnificent views.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Tk9wglbJbwgGKHIhIqIc1OpRPEXsc-W7UQoFE66FGgEU3ee-r6buzKy2b3tpSPK0H9fSPa2QkTLERKrgMBMgzQgppZrO6FTxVKe4kGi7n7Twl_LfskLOxc6z8vWaLtY2-H6JLNHcxQXE/s1600/041_Liathach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Tk9wglbJbwgGKHIhIqIc1OpRPEXsc-W7UQoFE66FGgEU3ee-r6buzKy2b3tpSPK0H9fSPa2QkTLERKrgMBMgzQgppZrO6FTxVKe4kGi7n7Twl_LfskLOxc6z8vWaLtY2-H6JLNHcxQXE/s640/041_Liathach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>to the NW, the view was dominated by the great southern walls of Liathach, <br />
with the Am Fasarinen pinnacles standing out against the blue sky</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggG-GueXuA8l-Qe9wE9ANqnjxIlUv7I6zNZEbeSRskepvP9vDaYsDydyGP4nS6P8f52pmxRfBtkO49awcXVScEkGyFLqwHDO086Sg_zLP8C0C9qQs6ALXaU2qw001DuIpBWDv6aG4xjYBj/s1600/038_Torridon_fires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggG-GueXuA8l-Qe9wE9ANqnjxIlUv7I6zNZEbeSRskepvP9vDaYsDydyGP4nS6P8f52pmxRfBtkO49awcXVScEkGyFLqwHDO086Sg_zLP8C0C9qQs6ALXaU2qw001DuIpBWDv6aG4xjYBj/s640/038_Torridon_fires.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and, at Liathach's western end, the dramatic fires still burning, sending up a huge pall of smoke</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aS-iH0LJjF9UKh5AADjdLC6kKJfrXj8a-Jk8C6lY7MOTJw_0AIl92Pcu0iIFmofnI2M1aPDy9rqU6wEquhHCVi4Bd-ljYSUNX_g5JPm0P2TUh7CwacL_EWzzRW1iwJwwUEcLkYkqj7uz/s1600/039_AMhaighdean_BeinnEighe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aS-iH0LJjF9UKh5AADjdLC6kKJfrXj8a-Jk8C6lY7MOTJw_0AIl92Pcu0iIFmofnI2M1aPDy9rqU6wEquhHCVi4Bd-ljYSUNX_g5JPm0P2TUh7CwacL_EWzzRW1iwJwwUEcLkYkqj7uz/s640/039_AMhaighdean_BeinnEighe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to the north, the eastern tops of Beinn Eighe, with A'Mhaighdean in the distance</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwgclmx35fPhz1gU9ZoPss6KvH8JdvxVUkGXD3RlY0rrx6SmTZj59d3QgyYIigVsG0B82iEN89g6rHpZxckimJKvBn2XQfadn2fKct1iCuH_wsWJkAddmchU9vjjCMoKMyrrD1I8JSaJl/s1600/037_SgorrRuadh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwgclmx35fPhz1gU9ZoPss6KvH8JdvxVUkGXD3RlY0rrx6SmTZj59d3QgyYIigVsG0B82iEN89g6rHpZxckimJKvBn2XQfadn2fKct1iCuH_wsWJkAddmchU9vjjCMoKMyrrD1I8JSaJl/s640/037_SgorrRuadh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">dramatic views across Coire Lair to Sgorr Ruadh from Beinn Liath Mhor</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After 20 minutes rest, I set off again. The path dropped down steeply at first through quartzite blocks, then levelled out on the sandstone plateau of <strong>Sail Garbh</strong> at around 800m. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWwid8wrzpuX9Djg0dM1CoEE3T3PV2a0i8p9O1dUAFhxeUteLXSd0CtRxB9TX1XA7SZnnKXgqSM61mxBj9S2lLq2tO5j_H1X8cZXwQzhSQzEPYGFpYQvUqVW3PMm65v2zfNH5Tkyxq-Ee/s1600/044_descendingtofirstbealach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWwid8wrzpuX9Djg0dM1CoEE3T3PV2a0i8p9O1dUAFhxeUteLXSd0CtRxB9TX1XA7SZnnKXgqSM61mxBj9S2lLq2tO5j_H1X8cZXwQzhSQzEPYGFpYQvUqVW3PMm65v2zfNH5Tkyxq-Ee/s640/044_descendingtofirstbealach.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the cairn showing the way down to the first bealach </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The guide books warn of a ring of crags to be negotiated, and the main path seemed to be heading off SW into Coire Lair. I didn't want to lose unnecessary height, so I ignored the path, and continued tentatively directly west towards the bealach. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A small path seemed to be heading directly towards a cliff edge, but a small cairn (left) indicated where a path dropped steeply down to the first bealach at 700m.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I descended carefully down to the lochan, and followed a faint path which contoured round the south side of the small rocky (un-named) hill ahead. (You can see this in profile on the earlier picture looking up Coire Lair)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">From this vantage point at the head of Coire Lair, the view of Beinn Liath Mhor's south face was particularly striking.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjg0ib6O95p4uDyYd2jeBNYT9hqP7z32V04VQJTm4VdHnF42Lq_rlikzgUN_jZYekbc5aOEOxmJ7KIvz2YvqXVcWQ4BlMDvbbg3OOvNR_p8q4AmMz5tUlfJQ5tdJCBNbUMuBL_EDDoueZ/s1600/045_BeinnLiathMhor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjg0ib6O95p4uDyYd2jeBNYT9hqP7z32V04VQJTm4VdHnF42Lq_rlikzgUN_jZYekbc5aOEOxmJ7KIvz2YvqXVcWQ4BlMDvbbg3OOvNR_p8q4AmMz5tUlfJQ5tdJCBNbUMuBL_EDDoueZ/s640/045_BeinnLiathMhor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Beinn Liath Mhor seen from the path round the un-named hill at the head of Coire Lair</span></i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This path then dropped down to a second bealach, again with a lochan, at around 650m. I couldn't see any path ascending the grassy slope ahead, so selected what looked the best line, and 10m up the slope found a well-defined path suddenly appeared and followed the exact route I had chosen!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0YxjCIrSX3bDX79Je3ThL9zLmRUOc_FtwGb7R9NFEO_Ot2RWzmn7DykZxHCpJaxp7cJcZfJAjlmaHVp3AcxJfwkzgX7ih2EhGaI5ZzfSFvN0VEP-dS-pGlZN-WzvhsgIWqttkKUb1yHj/s1600/046_secondbealach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0YxjCIrSX3bDX79Je3ThL9zLmRUOc_FtwGb7R9NFEO_Ot2RWzmn7DykZxHCpJaxp7cJcZfJAjlmaHVp3AcxJfwkzgX7ih2EhGaI5ZzfSFvN0VEP-dS-pGlZN-WzvhsgIWqttkKUb1yHj/s640/046_secondbealach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">looking north through the second bealach towards Liathach and Beinn Eighe</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The path led up on to Sgorr Ruadh's north west ridge, which then ascended in a series of steps, and after 50 minutes of hard slog led out to Sgorr Ruadh's summit, the second Munro of the day.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qtVRVQ6d3cpt6MOsTYnjMLnjUkMA-y6cJp7NuM2nN-TYQbu8b1eFG3fIagjzCr6eTigCWxxY4B0vxKbAqBu-O_YaqjxvJ3rGeOIKzemhggUDE42lBIqjDyctZ8z6eaZGNFwF86aJQgk2/s1600/047_BeinnLiathMhor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qtVRVQ6d3cpt6MOsTYnjMLnjUkMA-y6cJp7NuM2nN-TYQbu8b1eFG3fIagjzCr6eTigCWxxY4B0vxKbAqBu-O_YaqjxvJ3rGeOIKzemhggUDE42lBIqjDyctZ8z6eaZGNFwF86aJQgk2/s640/047_BeinnLiathMhor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">retrospect of Beinn Liath Mhor from about 800m on Sgorr Ruadh's NW ridge</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1vOK4DkXYNfOW4eoOL4Lsr8mrs9Ywg7bVSzNIHfRMCkaQ5FlUuht-_NhGchvnRXkiINBfT2Axg0gQ3Skwf48l_Gr04-u0EU4CxA5pqhJPYifXiuFJiJevZV3GUx0qu8MGXrdgP_V2rQU/s1600/048_SgorrRuadh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1vOK4DkXYNfOW4eoOL4Lsr8mrs9Ywg7bVSzNIHfRMCkaQ5FlUuht-_NhGchvnRXkiINBfT2Axg0gQ3Skwf48l_Gr04-u0EU4CxA5pqhJPYifXiuFJiJevZV3GUx0qu8MGXrdgP_V2rQU/s640/048_SgorrRuadh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and Sgorr Ruadh's northern cliffs, from the same vantage point</span></i></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sgorr Ruadh proved to be another fine viewpoint, which deserved a 15 minute rest! (No sign of the man and dog - my guess was that he had decided that the dog had suffered enough, and headed back down Coire Lair).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi789M05-PTsJ9uinoa_eY81GgOxjAnTzNYdADuQI-4Ldjay0IfPkd4p6yo90De14dAaUmHBjBIaKg4yrf3ahlc4-g1IFMDcIQ0Y8uCjZSppYG5vrhgYG14kKzMHm5_SFInNcGVPupVOJNx/s1600/049_MaolCheanDearg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi789M05-PTsJ9uinoa_eY81GgOxjAnTzNYdADuQI-4Ldjay0IfPkd4p6yo90De14dAaUmHBjBIaKg4yrf3ahlc4-g1IFMDcIQ0Y8uCjZSppYG5vrhgYG14kKzMHm5_SFInNcGVPupVOJNx/s640/049_MaolCheanDearg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Maol Chean-dearg and Beinn Damh from Sgorr Ruadh</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGMYKmBr7FlIQJiKV-WsrZpKMgpclo5xv7df6g9OxFS4KDK0dJbdAVFf2nM-a55F24mj6pEUEAnMvSbgxBO-jAIc0sD2snS1kdQAStnJ-y6XxbVSLh5EjKZmSPmppfzPfG5hzjc_fDFZv/s1600/050_BLM_fromSgorrRuadh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGMYKmBr7FlIQJiKV-WsrZpKMgpclo5xv7df6g9OxFS4KDK0dJbdAVFf2nM-a55F24mj6pEUEAnMvSbgxBO-jAIc0sD2snS1kdQAStnJ-y6XxbVSLh5EjKZmSPmppfzPfG5hzjc_fDFZv/s640/050_BLM_fromSgorrRuadh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Beinn Liath Mhor's middle and southeast tops from Sgorr Ruadh</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It would have been fine to lie there in the sun for longer, but the small matter of a long drive back to Selkirk demanded that I continue my circuit. Sgorr Ruadh's southern side is a boad grassy flank, in sharp contrast to its northern cliffs, so the descent to the hummocky bealach was pretty easy, though the legs were now tiring.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The dramatic cliffs of <strong>Fuar Tholl</strong> beckoned, but the Corbett would have to wait for another day. Fuar Tholl means "cold hole", probably referring to the deep northern coire that never sees any direct sunlight (below).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQDBt5NMuTG_px43wd0WpgJXM7zGBavbZ0A_U0CZ1GjSt4Hhdktp8nVzJ1L4qEEGOrZufxHYFuwT0sU0VPCyGeX2Ovn48ZFOhpLmfRKUaWlvxXAcEdtTKvoc30P2Oulh1lcEMa2h0OlY7/s1600/051_FuarTholl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQDBt5NMuTG_px43wd0WpgJXM7zGBavbZ0A_U0CZ1GjSt4Hhdktp8nVzJ1L4qEEGOrZufxHYFuwT0sU0VPCyGeX2Ovn48ZFOhpLmfRKUaWlvxXAcEdtTKvoc30P2Oulh1lcEMa2h0OlY7/s640/051_FuarTholl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fuar Tholl from near the the summit of Sgorr Ruadh</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GUQSxUNmicWOfeoR7hX8SIpd8FUK10vUxNv_dpxc8mLbP6ywwunPiOhz42umxTzQ9HEs1veQszZ5uWpCG0hP6C9Pb7nm7rd-X0JwvSG049XKFjsjts7d46B0hUvUXIbAkqlCrDrVLNU4/s1600/052_FuarTholl_frombealach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GUQSxUNmicWOfeoR7hX8SIpd8FUK10vUxNv_dpxc8mLbP6ywwunPiOhz42umxTzQ9HEs1veQszZ5uWpCG0hP6C9Pb7nm7rd-X0JwvSG049XKFjsjts7d46B0hUvUXIbAkqlCrDrVLNU4/s640/052_FuarTholl_frombealach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fuar Tholl, with the forbidding Mainreachan Buttress, from the Bealach Mor</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As I descended to the Bealach Mor, I could see a good stalkers' path leading down into Coire Lair - but between the foot of Sgorr Ruadh and that path lay a maze of lochans (at least 17 on the 1:25000 OS map!) and a moonscape of rocky hillocks. This was a wonderful little landscape, but by now my legs were too tired to appreciate it, and my water bottles were both empty. I wound my way through, found the path, and soon reached running water (for the first time since 9am!) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxv16bS3HP2XUh_DJa-IeET6NjeXb0qMLkMVdf82Vetw9_3XAhIhlUDYYbbBgJKW9QYbW1bx2lkZIPf_8oFyxoP3OfaCBx5HzhEb1v3c9q0nya2ZSr9pIKsfSdubWTvF0dALAxNkQCnYdq/s1600/053_bealach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxv16bS3HP2XUh_DJa-IeET6NjeXb0qMLkMVdf82Vetw9_3XAhIhlUDYYbbBgJKW9QYbW1bx2lkZIPf_8oFyxoP3OfaCBx5HzhEb1v3c9q0nya2ZSr9pIKsfSdubWTvF0dALAxNkQCnYdq/s640/053_bealach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">just one of the many lochans on the Bealach Mor between Sgorr Ruadh and Fuar Tholl!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The path was a welcome sight, but it was rough and stony, and jarring on tired legs as I hurried downhill. An hour and a half after leaving the summit of Sgorr Ruadh, I was back down to the river in Coire Lair. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ECTeR184Bb8nKcPczzF5ZTnnKHMSzcAqRMN-lHu7nIwuYJ-O6tNdnPWUT_22RPZu-tn2iW3JZCcAAFD7SFqTxqdxlgxtU2ZfLSbegLJ-g59WK_5VkWv3RGI_3-Bqwr1LYZr8br0gbO9e/s1600/055_hot_feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ECTeR184Bb8nKcPczzF5ZTnnKHMSzcAqRMN-lHu7nIwuYJ-O6tNdnPWUT_22RPZu-tn2iW3JZCcAAFD7SFqTxqdxlgxtU2ZfLSbegLJ-g59WK_5VkWv3RGI_3-Bqwr1LYZr8br0gbO9e/s320/055_hot_feet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What a joy to take off the boots, and plunge my hot tired feet into the cold water!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(sorry, I warned you there was a rather disturbing image to come!)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All that was now left was to speed down the excellent path from the mouth of Coire Lair back to Achnashellach and the car.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What a superb day!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIUbHV3QF_aRwFhtcaEFHoHmnvUowM8TXZ51eg-i5Ya-uIPZuRXb4Ax0sMeoo5mvjKQLflCTbJXC6qxJWdHyhtTLMX0sYsJYHASwTEJZ6M_HKZnT6fnof4EZXp2Tb53aWnV9uvmRKAG4J/s1600/056_wooded_path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIUbHV3QF_aRwFhtcaEFHoHmnvUowM8TXZ51eg-i5Ya-uIPZuRXb4Ax0sMeoo5mvjKQLflCTbJXC6qxJWdHyhtTLMX0sYsJYHASwTEJZ6M_HKZnT6fnof4EZXp2Tb53aWnV9uvmRKAG4J/s640/056_wooded_path.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the lovely shady wooded path on the way down to Achnashellach</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, 2 bonus days - leaving only 8 more new Munros to climb:</span><br />
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<ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Beinn a Claidheimh</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sgurr Ban</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mullach Choire Mhic Fhearchair</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Beinn Tharsuinn</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mullach Fraoch-Choire</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A' Chralaig</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Aonach Beag</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Aonach Mor</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">... and back home to Selkirk at 9pm, via the best pizza ever at Dingwall! </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">posted DB 16/05/11</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today's summary:</span></b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>2 Munros </i></span></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>17 km walk</i></span></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>1370 m climb</i></span></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>9 hours </i></span></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b>Log:</b></i></span></div></div></div></div></span></span><br />
<table border="”1”"><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>left car</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>07:20</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Coire Lair</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>08:40 - 09:00</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>BLM south top (876m)</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>10:20 - 10:40</i></span></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>BLM middle top (887m)</i></span></i></span></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>11:05</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>Beinn Liath Mhor (M) </i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>11:35 - 11:55</i></span></i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>1st bealach</i></span></i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>12:20</i></span></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>2nd bealach</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>12:40</i></span></i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Sgorr Ruadh (M)</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>13:30 - 13:45</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>river crossing</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>15:15 - 15:25</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>car </i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>16:10</i></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></span><div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"></div></div></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-86299236347785628442011-05-01T18:07:00.000+01:002011-05-17T18:04:00.926+01:0011,10: Attadale expedition<div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lurg Mhor and Bidein a'Choire Sheasgaich 1st May 2011</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With only 12 more Munros to climb, a plan had been laid to head up north at the very end of May. Easter holidays were taken up with a trip to Madrid (where we managed a day in the <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2011/04/spanish-interlude.html">Sierra de Guadarrama</a>), and all the other weekends in May had other engagements already pencilled in.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However, a large stable high pressure system settled itself over northern UK at the end of April, and I was unable to resist the opportunity for an earlier-than-expected trip north. And so, having celebrated Dad's 88th birthday, I set off from Newcastleton up the M74 at 3.30pm </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">on Saturday 30th April.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What a beautiful evening, with fantastic views of the hills as I took the scenic route up through Callander, over Rannoch Moor and down through Glencoe. After refuelling at Fort William (diesel for the car, smoked sausage supper for me!), and with the light beginning to fade, I continued up by Loch Lochy and Loch Garry.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nzhtQNSLsJYunxPkwP05roUGGDFy-i42eN68Mfewqin3PT3UMQC5ZLegOx7EOOIXII77St9PIhCDTufjWjA1c8nMygqtOjHeqWP1iam7zKdtNeMyeK4onHmMn4BhZxb087YxeFPyp5ZN/s1600/001_GlenGarry_viewpoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nzhtQNSLsJYunxPkwP05roUGGDFy-i42eN68Mfewqin3PT3UMQC5ZLegOx7EOOIXII77St9PIhCDTufjWjA1c8nMygqtOjHeqWP1iam7zKdtNeMyeK4onHmMn4BhZxb087YxeFPyp5ZN/s640/001_GlenGarry_viewpoint.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the "map of Scotland" viewpoint above Loch Garry</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Leaving all the traffic behind, I eventually rolled into the walkers' car park at Attadale Gardens at 10pm, and settled down for a sleep in the Espace.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Next morning, the dawn chorus woke me before 6am, but I snoozed until 7. This was going to be a big day - cycling, walking and climbing - and as the first Munro outing of the year, I wasn't sure how the old legs would respond!</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifU2XQ6tchjxRut9rAxIrGQwzKu3G2kSwh3eJKZydMMv7ShvAvy6iBN3uMWKHbZWXK8d95u83RbboktuLOcj_AxB6speYVB0PpmFNZ45_MMD6iD4poZsDJNWttB_yUfM1IQi6RH1KfBxlO/s1600/002_Attadale_7am.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifU2XQ6tchjxRut9rAxIrGQwzKu3G2kSwh3eJKZydMMv7ShvAvy6iBN3uMWKHbZWXK8d95u83RbboktuLOcj_AxB6speYVB0PpmFNZ45_MMD6iD4poZsDJNWttB_yUfM1IQi6RH1KfBxlO/s640/002_Attadale_7am.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Attadale car park - 7am</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.attadale.com/">Attadale</a> estate is to be congratulated on its helpful information display, walkers' car park, well-maintained bothy at Bendronaig, and generally welcoming attitude to responsible walkers.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At 7.50am, I was off. The first mile or so was up a well-tarred road, more or less on the level, then the hard work began! In the next 4km, the track climbed from sea-level to a bealach at 350m. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4D1Yk9k-eUtL3Zju0oNUqmFlpZrfovx7tT0j37MILvYF-MEPFtTlSGDwHBIqa9UUEibdxsn6fQSRNu4KfQYnAE73eqejeGxtzlmp6KYkbabh-MtfPFpwvC9KoOhkWT2tl6nuRuU7iLPd/s1600/003_cycling_in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4D1Yk9k-eUtL3Zju0oNUqmFlpZrfovx7tT0j37MILvYF-MEPFtTlSGDwHBIqa9UUEibdxsn6fQSRNu4KfQYnAE73eqejeGxtzlmp6KYkbabh-MtfPFpwvC9KoOhkWT2tl6nuRuU7iLPd/s640/003_cycling_in.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">just starting the climb up the track</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I pushed the bike up the steeper sections (saving the legs for later exertions!) but was able to cycle some of the way.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0iAqIsqi_MpuXkHc7C7GFrP-FD9wNIIRAcXw2lHiTUcaHwWEXXrNgbtE_RzJEZQFgG5zB4bVslU61QnBmNutxRfdhXSEgj_Py6AKE9dIu1-B4VvtfExZBL-7_MlBQDMHI4CaQIkkENDz/s1600/004_near_the-top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0iAqIsqi_MpuXkHc7C7GFrP-FD9wNIIRAcXw2lHiTUcaHwWEXXrNgbtE_RzJEZQFgG5zB4bVslU61QnBmNutxRfdhXSEgj_Py6AKE9dIu1-B4VvtfExZBL-7_MlBQDMHI4CaQIkkENDz/s640/004_near_the-top.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">nearly at the top!</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Although steep in places, the surface of the track was fine for cycling, even on my road bike. The most dramatic section was the final climb up alongside a gorge to Loch na Caillich, then up the hairpins beyond.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Eventually, the track levelled out, and the two Munros appeared, still 4 miles away:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A2nzdmz7sSil58_d3FP3CbB_-atwvhRJLGVvWqVOE6nrdEzPgb0UTzTj-sIF_pHN3voeRYww3D2aLVzHZgwlLIaFUjdg07t0qDp36Ju962iPWhBEmDEpA4rKSPuCpAaYe6zeueBJcK0G/s1600/005_BideinCS_LurgMhor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1A2nzdmz7sSil58_d3FP3CbB_-atwvhRJLGVvWqVOE6nrdEzPgb0UTzTj-sIF_pHN3voeRYww3D2aLVzHZgwlLIaFUjdg07t0qDp36Ju962iPWhBEmDEpA4rKSPuCpAaYe6zeueBJcK0G/s640/005_BideinCS_LurgMhor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich (left) and Lurg Mhor (right) from the high point of the track</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now gravity took over, and I was able to trundle downhill towards my destination. The thought of having to cycle back up here later in the day was pushed to the back of my mind. Just before reaching Bendronaig Lodge, the track makes a detour to cross the Black Water by a fine 100-year old bridge.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiut8ooojOEl1BJ9fG9L3BVgDam1TRPkdm7kSW4AcjB1q6v2tclw8vWGn9X-7uokMtnD6E2CWMpNq1A_uiPxLNRYx13H3hw8eJVOTD2wKOHCCCYrAB_y7QV7cAKXbxmPLU8oGRW4B0QiLeI/s1600/006_BlackWater_bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiut8ooojOEl1BJ9fG9L3BVgDam1TRPkdm7kSW4AcjB1q6v2tclw8vWGn9X-7uokMtnD6E2CWMpNq1A_uiPxLNRYx13H3hw8eJVOTD2wKOHCCCYrAB_y7QV7cAKXbxmPLU8oGRW4B0QiLeI/s640/006_BlackWater_bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the bridge across the Uisge Dubh</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just under 2 hours after leaving the car park, I arrived at the bothy, 11km in from the road. Ahead the track deteriorated, so it was time to abandon the bike and start walking.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I chatted to an older couple who had been camping, and had climbed the two Munros the day before, then set off up the track, now 10am. </span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa_biz7raiNaj6mdOHDnNt_vxlv8giod1bkY0boFpPM8FB4k34YlUIEZ08IlIHRShwqWcLuRzuIr5eP1Yk9TqtIBCIeBfjgmHsnckM8LmbppWS_jJzAj7u7VnGHW6mwEcr3EsAeSvwbM9/s1600/lurg_mhor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa_biz7raiNaj6mdOHDnNt_vxlv8giod1bkY0boFpPM8FB4k34YlUIEZ08IlIHRShwqWcLuRzuIr5eP1Yk9TqtIBCIeBfjgmHsnckM8LmbppWS_jJzAj7u7VnGHW6mwEcr3EsAeSvwbM9/s640/lurg_mhor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If I thought the hard work was over, I was wrong! After following the track for 3km up Coire na Sorna, <b>Lurg Mhor</b>'s bulky slopes lay before me. The next 2 hours was a wearying toil up pathless grassy slopes, slanting across the hillside above Loch Calavie towards the bealach between <b>Lurg Mhor</b> and <b>Bidein a'Choire Sheasgaich</b>. Rather than climbing right up to the bealach, I clambered up a steeper slope on the right to reach a small plateau at about 830m. The summit cone of Lurg Mhor lay ahead!</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJsp2MzpXktBWp43Izndu-bCTtcmnbPztqOHts-AKLrtY8lCBo2GmFLOlUvtbu5iYcKDRlo3SsX1NNlbsiG7YM25Hq8xpiscKVzj58339fq9YHkbpLgDvhImoL8lBZuG6cfZNgmZZgxV7/s1600/008_approachingLurgMhor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJsp2MzpXktBWp43Izndu-bCTtcmnbPztqOHts-AKLrtY8lCBo2GmFLOlUvtbu5iYcKDRlo3SsX1NNlbsiG7YM25Hq8xpiscKVzj58339fq9YHkbpLgDvhImoL8lBZuG6cfZNgmZZgxV7/s640/008_approachingLurgMhor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">approaching Lurg Mhor's summit cone</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A final push up the steepening ridge, and at 12.55 I was on the summit - a wee flat grassy area with a large cairn in the middle. Suddenly, a different view opened up. Instead of the broad grassy flank I had ascended, a steep rocky coire dropped away beyond the cairn, and an exciting ridge lay ahead, linking the summit to <b>Meall Mor</b>, its subsidiary top.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7c0cjiDJW4rCYO2gdBsUpFIVy35ReLSs4lUxEgFE6u7EV0C1O_IqrnCUk8S86SgjsRu57SElLW9QNe68y0bnhlCjPyTYl5gprMEdhpEtbyS1UZVyuDYeN-o6U0BKFMCIjbVzBLsKwGG4r/s1600/009_LurgMhor_summit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7c0cjiDJW4rCYO2gdBsUpFIVy35ReLSs4lUxEgFE6u7EV0C1O_IqrnCUk8S86SgjsRu57SElLW9QNe68y0bnhlCjPyTYl5gprMEdhpEtbyS1UZVyuDYeN-o6U0BKFMCIjbVzBLsKwGG4r/s640/009_LurgMhor_summit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the summit cairn of Lurg Mhor with Meall Mor behind</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdhAPtrG7SYyzUnKOvu9326tu4R9_gO6CdvZXCZ-ZVRUQ7dbEAdLlfbzIPBBUtxiK2ahH32xiz8scrKgHzdsZt-W6LS_u5jeBCjGn2nTHYGpVyaimFQ5EsOhDHwO6lQ7-dGcWP0nwTsqe/s1600/010_ridge_toMeallMor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdhAPtrG7SYyzUnKOvu9326tu4R9_gO6CdvZXCZ-ZVRUQ7dbEAdLlfbzIPBBUtxiK2ahH32xiz8scrKgHzdsZt-W6LS_u5jeBCjGn2nTHYGpVyaimFQ5EsOhDHwO6lQ7-dGcWP0nwTsqe/s640/010_ridge_toMeallMor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the ridge to Meall Mor</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjkLD6olhDuFRGFM3b2dlF7QKQcKFDCViflSOMBeZVHZorvAJ9Q2Ah-kT7sRWszYtRB7Tx_CGPGdelpr9PrbOdG3G0A2sHRdeolRJk1kUiENPW-iE_v6KgRdYQ3EciWlIo88RgFtZC03c/s1600/011_theridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjkLD6olhDuFRGFM3b2dlF7QKQcKFDCViflSOMBeZVHZorvAJ9Q2Ah-kT7sRWszYtRB7Tx_CGPGdelpr9PrbOdG3G0A2sHRdeolRJk1kUiENPW-iE_v6KgRdYQ3EciWlIo88RgFtZC03c/s640/011_theridge.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">descending the ridge from Lurg Mhor's summit</span></span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I decided to continue to the outlying top before stopping for lunch. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The next 30 minutes proved to be the most entertaining part of the day! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Initial progress along the jagged crest descending from Lurg Mhor was straightforward enough, with steep grassy slopes to the right, and jagged rocky drops on the left. I made good progress until a sloping slab gave pause for thought! A short retreat was required, but the slab was easily passed by descending 10m or so on steep grass to its right.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Soon I reached the lowest point between the two tops.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The ascent towards Meall Mor started easily enough. A short rock band astride the ridge was fairly easily climbed near its left hand end.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqnD89eNRWe8VR4_O9lO1Ud69wbnEX4PuMOVi8yz3pm7pNc8mCe4hohbzZa_N6BmAzsDI_OOkM4quBrr9lI3bLCc04d_1PznkZL5x-MBTAxmF2WevIAPEo2Nu4n2LH_p3Z86wmVrq_2ln/s1600/012_view_toLurgMhor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqnD89eNRWe8VR4_O9lO1Ud69wbnEX4PuMOVi8yz3pm7pNc8mCe4hohbzZa_N6BmAzsDI_OOkM4quBrr9lI3bLCc04d_1PznkZL5x-MBTAxmF2WevIAPEo2Nu4n2LH_p3Z86wmVrq_2ln/s640/012_view_toLurgMhor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">looking back at Lurg Mhor - the tricky slab level with the top of the snow patch</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Beyond this another rock band, perhaps 5m, high appeared to block the way. It could probably have been climbed, but, being on my own at a fairly remote location, I decided that it would be wiser to find a way around. This involved descending about 40m on steep grassy slopes on the right - fine today, but it would no fun on a wet day - to find a point where the rock band could be crossed, then a steep grassy ascent back to the ridge.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once past this obstacle, it was a gentle stroll to <b>Meall Mor</b>'s smooth grassy summit. Time now 13.25, so I found a pleasant spot to sit and eat lunch, while admiring the views - especially to the north.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTD8Lsc2AjN4z8UF6OLgjuEMsMakcQIH8Xk2Th0yOBIntjUVy-W6Xf4MIv7eoxsPkJKIl1BC82MTNttZb3bH_uIrmVP_5jETL7iSJA4sYwUZWDZQChcTyC86acYlGnyNYiZf0SvIn7m4y/s1600/013_LurgMhor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTD8Lsc2AjN4z8UF6OLgjuEMsMakcQIH8Xk2Th0yOBIntjUVy-W6Xf4MIv7eoxsPkJKIl1BC82MTNttZb3bH_uIrmVP_5jETL7iSJA4sYwUZWDZQChcTyC86acYlGnyNYiZf0SvIn7m4y/s640/013_LurgMhor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lurg Mhor from Meall Mor</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gFwG1CUPw-mz8jp2nWGyVdrhd8zntsYfFua9i5Ih6s77PvQSfuxImfAH-GWqeXoqWnwUy7wg1vP9Ug1n8aw7aGYfFLqi-kgZqpPT0rPAAJzR5cFHCex9DFY9pUPQdql3aNGEImZi155L/s1600/014_BideinCS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gFwG1CUPw-mz8jp2nWGyVdrhd8zntsYfFua9i5Ih6s77PvQSfuxImfAH-GWqeXoqWnwUy7wg1vP9Ug1n8aw7aGYfFLqi-kgZqpPT0rPAAJzR5cFHCex9DFY9pUPQdql3aNGEImZi155L/s640/014_BideinCS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich from Meall Mor</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And some more distant views ... </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7x_3npRFiix2DvBhGxJApf_Il-nouDk4sCdT8e3VJ847IZtQV2AEI6zLGcCEe_Kx6IGMyOfMBsLpsSQetA6_Zy-8tHtHGG3x6at6kA85onY3awn1CjtsI4b7HIKV_d_KPgJyWcl_-JMot/s1600/015_BenDamph+etc+from+BideanCS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7x_3npRFiix2DvBhGxJApf_Il-nouDk4sCdT8e3VJ847IZtQV2AEI6zLGcCEe_Kx6IGMyOfMBsLpsSQetA6_Zy-8tHtHGG3x6at6kA85onY3awn1CjtsI4b7HIKV_d_KPgJyWcl_-JMot/s640/015_BenDamph+etc+from+BideanCS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">An Ruadh Stac, Beinn Damh and Maol Chinn-dearg from Meall Mor</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMV018Z-1qQ0y86nJD6Fk8vOmileeriL1AAM9AX354Vpi2Sb_CTnNomdpzfT17nKO17cWWXwcDoTZFel8-c0g-XYvVtKQm9ngbFf47LsPPH7s6_NU4dghiNium2jTgNe4Wvzkjqr4g_v79/s1600/016_towardsTorridon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMV018Z-1qQ0y86nJD6Fk8vOmileeriL1AAM9AX354Vpi2Sb_CTnNomdpzfT17nKO17cWWXwcDoTZFel8-c0g-XYvVtKQm9ngbFf47LsPPH7s6_NU4dghiNium2jTgNe4Wvzkjqr4g_v79/s640/016_towardsTorridon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">distant view to Fuar Tholl, Sgorr Ruadh, Ben Alligin, Mullach an Rathain and Beinn Liath Mhor</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Pleasant as it was to sit in the sun, it was now nearly 2pm, and I was a long way from my base camp, so time to head back along the ridge to Lurg Mhor. I retraced my steps almost exactly, and was soon back on the Munro.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHPvsMH3f7Q26EqArCSEHOul_LhajytcqEefSxILLSh7haqHKytEp0qxMj9LwU7uRCXMGWSms9NGzvah24yn_K6A1gUS7sGSkOLkSzSzf0N63THQBgcxe2HcEVW0O7sYc-wkzCOKO4nMB/s1600/018_returning_toLurgMhor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHPvsMH3f7Q26EqArCSEHOul_LhajytcqEefSxILLSh7haqHKytEp0qxMj9LwU7uRCXMGWSms9NGzvah24yn_K6A1gUS7sGSkOLkSzSzf0N63THQBgcxe2HcEVW0O7sYc-wkzCOKO4nMB/s640/018_returning_toLurgMhor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">approaching the last rock step on the way back to Lurg Mhor - easily climbed on the crest at the right - and conditions just right for some impressive con-trails in the sky</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEy2PEFbsURpVNN_0W1DQJ5Mxh19x2XvCLlrDpXmrh5UfDrGG58YbIrpuJFJxiFQkk-9wGOtUWCwmtdIdo3R6I-Tdg2ZHgRCsf225X6elpFLEuLfB2UPXoInsm2nYEG8ZCqHhRV3ZubDhk/s1600/019_BideinCS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEy2PEFbsURpVNN_0W1DQJ5Mxh19x2XvCLlrDpXmrh5UfDrGG58YbIrpuJFJxiFQkk-9wGOtUWCwmtdIdo3R6I-Tdg2ZHgRCsf225X6elpFLEuLfB2UPXoInsm2nYEG8ZCqHhRV3ZubDhk/s640/019_BideinCS.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">an omen of the election to come - vapour trails above <br />
Bidein a'Choire Sheasgaich predict an SNP victory?</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">From Lurg Mhor, I retraced my steps down to the plateau area at 830m, then down another short steep section to the bealach at 730m. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">From here, a path led the way up the steep grassy slopes of <b>Bidein a'Choire Sheasgaich</b>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A word here about names, as today's two Munros are not only two of the most inaccessible, but also two of the most unpronounceable (to non-Gaelic speakers, anyway).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b>Lurg Mhor</b> is "the big shank", and pronounced "loorrook voar". </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b>Bidein</b> is "the pinnacle of the coire of the farrow (not pregnant) cattle", with <b>Sheasgaic</b>h pronounced "heskeech" - not "cheesecake" as some call it!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Language lesson over!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just below the summit, I met (again) two walkers - father and son, I think - and stopped for a chat (they wanted to know what the wee ridge had been like). 50 minutes after leaving Lurg Mhor, I was atop Bidein, with <b>only 10 more Munros</b> to climb!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2K1yWT1_T5aXiACjoLwdFAlpDUeGl8y6NVzBsbO99wqV0nWWMuDFR9zVkL3VRSFEqyhY5GnP9SMp1vnNqdhtJ2NGvOWWklFNSkIHe00rtH5kCazrGcGcfELMLaOqlX2I3H00w9p5Bbhcw/s1600/020_10togo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2K1yWT1_T5aXiACjoLwdFAlpDUeGl8y6NVzBsbO99wqV0nWWMuDFR9zVkL3VRSFEqyhY5GnP9SMp1vnNqdhtJ2NGvOWWklFNSkIHe00rtH5kCazrGcGcfELMLaOqlX2I3H00w9p5Bbhcw/s640/020_10togo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">only 10 to go!</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Another walker had just arrived (having come up from Craig), so we sat and chatted about mountain experiences for the best part of half-an-hour.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At 3.45pm, I left the top, walked along the short nearly level summit ridge, then descended SW towards Sail Riabhach ("brindled heel"), along an interestingly lumpy shoulder.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGq02YKcvXjH1ucH1NyjF95_d8sw1cwbDhyPo0DGnhmTT2dZB7gRmskbT6NX98wSlZonO6wxYBJR2aFzB-dzrtk8ElvksygvL-CGfax2L1C_ft6Kt0buoGQzWicCbCA410yIdoWXfoLXT/s1600/022_descendingBideinCS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGq02YKcvXjH1ucH1NyjF95_d8sw1cwbDhyPo0DGnhmTT2dZB7gRmskbT6NX98wSlZonO6wxYBJR2aFzB-dzrtk8ElvksygvL-CGfax2L1C_ft6Kt0buoGQzWicCbCA410yIdoWXfoLXT/s640/022_descendingBideinCS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">looking back at Bidein A'Choire Sheasgaich's summit</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBTfb9RCF5Ntu4-WPduUawzLpt1MJGiVqF4pFvoF1EYoL48BcVOjXlglgVwyZQddH36PWrWKP6_bio1wgOKg0fnnppGsrYeymn5dFYR2F0haQxqDaMGlTe6isJBE9PLdk-jr_cjfPldy5/s1600/023_Skye_fromSailRiabhach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBTfb9RCF5Ntu4-WPduUawzLpt1MJGiVqF4pFvoF1EYoL48BcVOjXlglgVwyZQddH36PWrWKP6_bio1wgOKg0fnnppGsrYeymn5dFYR2F0haQxqDaMGlTe6isJBE9PLdk-jr_cjfPldy5/s640/023_Skye_fromSailRiabhach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">View from Sail Riabhach, with Skye out to the hazy west</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">From Sail Riabhach, continuing in a SW direction, I made a rapid descent down steep grassy slopes (how many times have I said that today?) back to the track through Coire na Sorna ("coire of the furnace"). By now it was certainly hot enough to live up to its name, and the pool at its foot looked very inviting.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXf7FiiQCOeRCd0o-UbQG-KYVdgn_7JR77jXQnSCIhgzMyUq4s6jN49EtRqikU3m_V1nxIFXT2qhfHTdaV4iEJl63K979oP9bKFL3MqhUeloiPya4U-3lhj6XsuwLWD3i1fTXXC_WBhuOV/s1600/024_tempting_pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXf7FiiQCOeRCd0o-UbQG-KYVdgn_7JR77jXQnSCIhgzMyUq4s6jN49EtRqikU3m_V1nxIFXT2qhfHTdaV4iEJl63K979oP9bKFL3MqhUeloiPya4U-3lhj6XsuwLWD3i1fTXXC_WBhuOV/s640/024_tempting_pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">inviting pool, with Lurg Mhor just peeping over in the distance</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However, I decided that time was pressing, and I reached my bike at Bendronaig Lodge just after 5pm. 10 minutes rest, then off along the track. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltyUUPEw566b9iPkxmeChT5WkByyIHU5AxIva8R1P5tZ9wunaE5SAAITHS5z_MLaW07Zj40UGZtRn2ryLd8hK88yE9nBn9chKDuaaN1IxXs5wn5abzYnKrX7oVwmv9ZaaCtqtTRFr1nGh/s1600/025_BendronaigLodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltyUUPEw566b9iPkxmeChT5WkByyIHU5AxIva8R1P5tZ9wunaE5SAAITHS5z_MLaW07Zj40UGZtRn2ryLd8hK88yE9nBn9chKDuaaN1IxXs5wn5abzYnKrX7oVwmv9ZaaCtqtTRFr1nGh/s640/025_BendronaigLodge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">looking back to Bendronaig Lodge with Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich (left) and Lurg Mhor (right)</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In fact, the climb back up to the bealach wasn't too bad, and I only had to get off and push on a couple of short steeper sections.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The descent looked trickier, especially the initial hairpins! I did get off and walk down the first 2 or 3 bends, but then was able to cycle most of the rest.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXFLZC9ArvFMId-eKLi0Yp01XXsOv5U8LJOQQ-Z7KRM0Q4-2__PWpEMpev9trvzEiuflQkVvrzWlIUYwbMjMAq1Lg75AS6Zv9WlbDJPBtLW1dgY7ctdLeAEGSxsZt8oQ3vcMkf7pRoLYr/s1600/026_downthetrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXFLZC9ArvFMId-eKLi0Yp01XXsOv5U8LJOQQ-Z7KRM0Q4-2__PWpEMpev9trvzEiuflQkVvrzWlIUYwbMjMAq1Lg75AS6Zv9WlbDJPBtLW1dgY7ctdLeAEGSxsZt8oQ3vcMkf7pRoLYr/s640/026_downthetrack.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">steep descent!</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With brakes full on, I rattled my way down the track, clinging on to the handlebars for dear life, and then sped along the final tarred section back to the car. I hour 25 minutes from Bendronaig Lodge. I think I may need to buy new brake blocks!<br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, the questions now are:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(1) what's the weather forecast for tomorrow? and...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(2) if it's good, am I fit for another big walk without a rest day?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A quick phone call home ascertained that the answer to question (1) is "another excellent day", so the answer to (2) has to be "yes, let's go for it!" Read on ...</span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><i><b>Summary:</b></i></span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>2 Munros + 1 Top</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>14km walk + 22km cycle</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>1550m climb</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>11 hours</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><b>Log:</b></i></span></div></div></div></div></span></span><table border="”1”"><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>left car</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>07:50</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Bendronaig Lodge </i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>09:45 - 10:00</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>Lurg Mhor (M)</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>12:55</i></span></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Meall Mor (T)</i></span></i></span></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>13:25 - 13:55</i></span></i></span></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>Bidein a'C S </i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>15:10 - 15:45</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
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<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>Bendronaig Lodge</i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>17:10 - 17:20</i></span></div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>back to car </i></span></div></td><td><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i>18:45</i></span></div></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>posted 01/05/11</i></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-63637054800215140482011-04-24T12:40:00.000+01:002011-04-24T12:40:59.054+01:00Hallelujah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiZho2u429eOPPjUtf8RMFiUhuIIwHghfUupKTk0743tWMu9scJMJ4BEs12Y7W8Q2SluwZHnJxMJjZvvzjn_fGskl8_2obgiCv7L-JYxDJ_C1CquRtbguY3adrsxo9G_EQOUe8LA4sfqI/s1600/IMG_1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiZho2u429eOPPjUtf8RMFiUhuIIwHghfUupKTk0743tWMu9scJMJ4BEs12Y7W8Q2SluwZHnJxMJjZvvzjn_fGskl8_2obgiCv7L-JYxDJ_C1CquRtbguY3adrsxo9G_EQOUe8LA4sfqI/s400/IMG_1659.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Happy Easter - blog followers!</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.... and the blog is now </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">up-to-date</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Roll on the last 12 Munros!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Target date for "compleating" is first weekend of July. Watch this space ....</span><br />
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</span>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-22878396924161375582011-04-08T16:00:00.000+01:002011-05-08T18:06:14.832+01:00Spanish interlude<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Friday 8th April 2011 Monte Abantos</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And so to the start of the 2011 season....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Often, we get away to the hills at Easter, but this year we had planned a visit to <b>Madrid</b> to see Cat and Teun. While we were there, they took us out for a day's walking in the <b>Sierra de Guadarrama</b>, about an hour's drive northwest of Madrid.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoit0qEpeV77jlk5nFit6u8RTD2ielbyq8rcZo8bnQ69MBSWHkPoNlEV08NZLq2asXs3njlKYneFYt5Vuv5_-7lbTLcH6HfmlbUeqiu8gVJ2Lqf7_GxSKs8uWxOSrBJSwA0OLwZvR-dFbG/s1600/guadarrama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img 425"="" border="0" frameborder="0" height="438" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoit0qEpeV77jlk5nFit6u8RTD2ielbyq8rcZo8bnQ69MBSWHkPoNlEV08NZLq2asXs3njlKYneFYt5Vuv5_-7lbTLcH6HfmlbUeqiu8gVJ2Lqf7_GxSKs8uWxOSrBJSwA0OLwZvR-dFbG/<iframe width=" /><br />
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</span></span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Although the highest point was 1753m (5751ft), so well into "Munro" zone, we were able to get up to 1500m by car - up a steep winding road through the forest to <b>Puerto de Malagon</b>.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRmAVEeGoMv2jWrTyLsEJ02WZUSCZypSswt28aXoIkuYBTNPbHYtpNxLqLILiMgVectkcTDSAjn127sbgK-KmusIrZpo-sRoRh6tv3zf0cx5GIfmND9tJn_4jEaarFN6tOGXLsEG8zY9W/s1600/IMG_1552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRmAVEeGoMv2jWrTyLsEJ02WZUSCZypSswt28aXoIkuYBTNPbHYtpNxLqLILiMgVectkcTDSAjn127sbgK-KmusIrZpo-sRoRh6tv3zf0cx5GIfmND9tJn_4jEaarFN6tOGXLsEG8zY9W/s640/IMG_1552.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">hot car at Puerto de Malagon</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our route took us by rough paths across moorland to a large reservoir, then up a forest road to Casa de la Cueva - where we lunched under the welcome shade of some large trees - then had fun climbing some giant granite boulders.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLO70TWy7HFmSpc-d4dAJUfDTEw8gHBbRAMwpc7s-Ss03h52X4UhGcHrUdsEcE5MsXZnW3XhKc7q3XlOmwhCJPM9SaYmZyGGS1yeMH8UNA9NgQfNVQjfrZmxrtegwqenzb3_uXZRGdIzj/s1600/IMG_1562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLO70TWy7HFmSpc-d4dAJUfDTEw8gHBbRAMwpc7s-Ss03h52X4UhGcHrUdsEcE5MsXZnW3XhKc7q3XlOmwhCJPM9SaYmZyGGS1yeMH8UNA9NgQfNVQjfrZmxrtegwqenzb3_uXZRGdIzj/s640/IMG_1562.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on the boulders at Casa de la Cueva</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A short walk from there, up a road at first, then a woodland path, brought us out to the escarpment, which we would follow back to our starting place. A good place to sit for a while, admiring the scenery.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVdWbF6ZnRJYBnRjjSYi4WVTlUVqTO8Uw1fjxDYv2_c_oKw3I6JQnMHG21CkAwN9KDPj3M-OkD2pRMEzonPD2rftVWqUeytopSKl8V7Fd08fkO1ByOEzP56ZlB-ZIc68GxIN5i4YJdd6e/s1600/IMG_1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVdWbF6ZnRJYBnRjjSYi4WVTlUVqTO8Uw1fjxDYv2_c_oKw3I6JQnMHG21CkAwN9KDPj3M-OkD2pRMEzonPD2rftVWqUeytopSKl8V7Fd08fkO1ByOEzP56ZlB-ZIc68GxIN5i4YJdd6e/s640/IMG_1569.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cat on the granite tors at the escarpment</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From here, we followed a good path through the woods, with several ups and downs, to <b>San Juan</b> (1734m)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ-mNzt1agU0ibmk43n1kwQnz6L4Rb5rNV2T_b1xmlnQFd2d_KfoKhwjBJUerEAC9nlq8UxnuDNXeuvS5CTlOKqn7ZMjbqXaDuZ44H40RqV-s_30xIV5UgMsJ3MM0A9TvbxxeZLCHnHlm/s1600/IMG_1571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ-mNzt1agU0ibmk43n1kwQnz6L4Rb5rNV2T_b1xmlnQFd2d_KfoKhwjBJUerEAC9nlq8UxnuDNXeuvS5CTlOKqn7ZMjbqXaDuZ44H40RqV-s_30xIV5UgMsJ3MM0A9TvbxxeZLCHnHlm/s640/IMG_1571.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anne and Cat on the path along the escarpment</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib23BQCWtxSNGybUOdwzQVKs0Xr2M_F7zx5A18vQdloUVxQOFWjsewDq6Vfdf6rCI9uzk7kzXm8wthxSXsPSuHzsrO8nrogURdb8LMt_o_KC3Ku2Ih7qaJxW_lWgmbtw-clmNs6mcU6UJ2/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib23BQCWtxSNGybUOdwzQVKs0Xr2M_F7zx5A18vQdloUVxQOFWjsewDq6Vfdf6rCI9uzk7kzXm8wthxSXsPSuHzsrO8nrogURdb8LMt_o_KC3Ku2Ih7qaJxW_lWgmbtw-clmNs6mcU6UJ2/s640/IMG_1572.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking down on Valle de los Caidos from summit of San Juan (1734m)</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1VDs92hfUhMeL-bzfhKR-AlvLb70PJeEUqHwm8hmAh1n-8sy4tQ8lQraYPceNiQsDm2uR7E4ctvzQahmEXhdmtF7ZbYN28MfGYmqeC1tGph3qTbvE454zBGikB35OZFMehdwrOxlE6Dp/s1600/IMG_1573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1VDs92hfUhMeL-bzfhKR-AlvLb70PJeEUqHwm8hmAh1n-8sy4tQ8lQraYPceNiQsDm2uR7E4ctvzQahmEXhdmtF7ZbYN28MfGYmqeC1tGph3qTbvE454zBGikB35OZFMehdwrOxlE6Dp/s640/IMG_1573.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">summit of Abantos</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We followed the path beyond <b>San Juan</b>, over two more ups and downs, to reach the day's highest point - <b>Monte Abantos</b> (1753m) - its top marked by a cross (and some sort of microwave aeriel). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here, for the first time, the view really opened up over <b>El Escorial</b> and the plains of central Spain - but too hazy to see as far as Madrid itself.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After admiring the view for a while, we returned to the car by way of a good path / track.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Although all our route had been on easy paths, it looked like there was plenty of scope for more adventurous climbing on some of the ridges we had seen.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Maybe next time ....</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYE170BiThYiQaxKiNAq3KhydLMOrkPYaGno0ASF99Ro32XONmUNRvR0VEvY3_fgjvdZqmAF3F37J3n8irDk9RaQG0ezxOQ9b1d-oujrNlm9ZsP2eaY_euDk54bEVFYpf1M9V15WuPCAI/s1600/IMG_1579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYE170BiThYiQaxKiNAq3KhydLMOrkPYaGno0ASF99Ro32XONmUNRvR0VEvY3_fgjvdZqmAF3F37J3n8irDk9RaQG0ezxOQ9b1d-oujrNlm9ZsP2eaY_euDk54bEVFYpf1M9V15WuPCAI/s640/IMG_1579.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">view down to El Escorial from the path back to the car</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">posted by D. Bethune 08/05/11</span></span></i></div></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-61686101926773639552011-01-28T23:03:00.008+00:002011-04-24T12:33:21.834+01:00Latest Updates<a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/08/12-socach.html">12: An Socach</a> (Glen Affric) (15th August 2010)<br />
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<a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/08/151413-glen-affric-circuit.html">15,14,13: Glen Affric trio</a> (14th August 2010)<br />
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<a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/07/19181716-strathfarrar-four.html">19,18,17,16: The Strathfarrar Four</a> (29th July 2010)<br />
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<a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/07/222120-conbhairean-group.html">22,21,20 - the Conbhairean group</a> (23rd July 2010)<br />
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<a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2011/02/7-in-day-it-can-only-be.html">29-23: 7 in a day - it can only be... </a> (22nd July 2010)<br />
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<a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/07/30-sgurr-mor.html">30: Sgurr Mor, Glen Kingie</a> (13th July, 2010)<br />
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<a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/07/32-31-glenfinnan-horseshoe.html">The Coire Thollaid horseshoe, Glenfinnan</a> (12th July 2010)<br />
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<a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/06/33-weird-rock-formations-on-ben-avon.html">Munro number 250: Ben Avon</a> (25th June 2010)<br />
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<a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/06/solo-day-revisiting-cuillin-peaks.html">solo day revisiting some Cuillin peaks, and watching Winky, Tony, Pam and Andrew on the In Pinn</a> (3 June 2010)<br />
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<a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/06/36-35-34-wet-day-on-skye.html">36,35,34: a wet day in Skye</a> (2nd June 2010)<br />
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<a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/05/rest-day-on-skye.html">"rest day" on Skye</a> (31st May 2010)David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-6145265416672917552011-01-28T21:17:00.000+00:002011-01-28T21:17:43.190+00:00Hamish's Mountain Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjAxXoZdmYZYSIm9RUdVxR1V7XCPxEfyN0aL30pMTljIKWxYlhcpcvHWPFziXpSQfG2a_LabCRY2TodEIq_lsZP3BPBlUbAXXMHgiRfb6mUuNNesn9maCk6GmadPW_tUV-Q_zYCS-vH8C/s1600/HWW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjAxXoZdmYZYSIm9RUdVxR1V7XCPxEfyN0aL30pMTljIKWxYlhcpcvHWPFziXpSQfG2a_LabCRY2TodEIq_lsZP3BPBlUbAXXMHgiRfb6mUuNNesn9maCk6GmadPW_tUV-Q_zYCS-vH8C/s320/HWW.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Have just finished reading Hamish's Mountain Walk - for the second time. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is the story of Hamish Brown completing the first continuous ascent of all the Munros. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I read it soon after it was published back in the late 1970s, but this time around I could picture most of the hills as he described them. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's a great read, highly recommended. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hamish has a very easy style, maintaining interest with many anecdotes along the way, as he battles with all the vagaries of the Scottish climate! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Obviously, I don't have nearly the depth of experience that Hamish Brown has, but I can relate to his enjoyment of the hills, of being alone in the hills, and I love the way he naturally expresses his faith throughout the story. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you haven't read it, get a copy. </span>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-16510086406961456282010-11-26T16:47:00.001+00:002010-12-02T20:46:01.608+00:00Bodmin Moor and the Himalaya<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since the summer, the only high point has been <b>Rough Tor</b> on Bodmin Moor, while on holiday down in Cornwall. Not particularly high, and only 40 minutes walk from the car park, up an easy grassy slope. What a playground, though - massive granite boulders perched on top of each other scattered all over the top and surrounding high ground. Well worth a visit!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne on Showery Tor, Bodmin Moor<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mj6q97nwH9z7fYrUuj4IL_kNd_KK7_kmVjbS-ZcxrEUwdnRFBvbYVvuezIzqE-OxgxsJkKV68Aaa1bn7eoPpJeZex8hsJo1LikwF_A-6Tp-m7m7pXJEApVbAnrvaT8eEGlOOk7tDbOA2/s1600/082_RoughTor.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mj6q97nwH9z7fYrUuj4IL_kNd_KK7_kmVjbS-ZcxrEUwdnRFBvbYVvuezIzqE-OxgxsJkKV68Aaa1bn7eoPpJeZex8hsJo1LikwF_A-6Tp-m7m7pXJEApVbAnrvaT8eEGlOOk7tDbOA2/s640/082_RoughTor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The summit of Rough Tor</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwQ_A0O6j1BK6BUAmFH-MdrWblOIGlMlHJJF8_82MoeRnso8mVUi7S5PmpcovWACS_VkLE2p9GCO7U9nGTm7MCV6-bS08tvSxicbqmzKwjmyV0fvdN2F2Q0lbUAEIeqy1dAGD1DSI9qp3/s1600/086_LoganStone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwQ_A0O6j1BK6BUAmFH-MdrWblOIGlMlHJJF8_82MoeRnso8mVUi7S5PmpcovWACS_VkLE2p9GCO7U9nGTm7MCV6-bS08tvSxicbqmzKwjmyV0fvdN2F2Q0lbUAEIeqy1dAGD1DSI9qp3/s640/086_LoganStone.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">atop the "logan stone" on Louden Hill, which rocks a few inches up and down like a see-saw!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Back home in dreich November, I had a great night out at <b>"First on Everest"</b> in Edinburgh. Arranged by <b>Doug Scott</b> to raise funds to support the Sherpas and porters on Nepal, this was a series of illustrated talks.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First up was <b>Hamish McInnes</b>, talking about an early trip to the Himalaya way back in 1953. Next was <b>Tom Hornbein</b>, a sprightly 80 year old, who was first to traverse Everest - up the east ridge, over the summit, and down by the South Col route. Some hair-raising moments - like doing an ice-axe arrest as the tent headed downhill at 26000 feet!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CEtsSzi-reHUzdQXIA803S2uakA9EpQV3W63j5oyVKFWBvWC6Ny4c3g5iiCeIo-6B6srHKZCfJdXCmmog_pjQtSQISbAGs6mVIXzYw23LiOeiEXAdhBWuweApd9ohpUQXEBfen9JoeBV/s1600/DougScott_000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CEtsSzi-reHUzdQXIA803S2uakA9EpQV3W63j5oyVKFWBvWC6Ny4c3g5iiCeIo-6B6srHKZCfJdXCmmog_pjQtSQISbAGs6mVIXzYw23LiOeiEXAdhBWuweApd9ohpUQXEBfen9JoeBV/s200/DougScott_000.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug Scott, 1975</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWPzE6bRx7dPNQrpPFRCoX9Kb7Z7qS0Tq1rZ2a1_8Ol_5-JPy7IoEI3x25sGYK9lMkmvh-65ew-MSaY2jKtLqEtVsH8obKzKQPrHACeQ2syNK3hRa3Fjjw1HfnHuCmabCRLE4KN5Pw3uO/s1600/Doug-Scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWPzE6bRx7dPNQrpPFRCoX9Kb7Z7qS0Tq1rZ2a1_8Ol_5-JPy7IoEI3x25sGYK9lMkmvh-65ew-MSaY2jKtLqEtVsH8obKzKQPrHACeQ2syNK3hRa3Fjjw1HfnHuCmabCRLE4KN5Pw3uO/s200/Doug-Scott.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug Scott, 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The main course was <b>Doug Scott</b> and <b>Tut Braithwaite </b>describing the 1975 first ascent by the NW face. The scary part (for me, that is!) was realising that it was 34 years ago that I saw the same photos in the Usher Hall, with the same story being told by <b>Dougal Haston</b>. Doug Scott, who had looked like John Lennon in his hippy years back in 1976, was now a tall silver-haired gentleman! Time changes us all.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.7summits.com/images/media/haston_on_hillary_step2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Doug Haston on the Hillary step" border="0" height="200" src="http://www.7summits.com/images/media/haston_on_hillary_step2b.jpg" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">During the interval, Doug auctioned some framed prints, signed by himself, and other famous mountaineers. These sold for anything from £150 to £500. I contented myself by buying a (signed) poster of Doug Scott's famous picture of Dougal Haston climbing the Hillary Step on the 1975 expedition (right) - cost me £10! Now with a £25 frame, it has replaced a 3000-piece jigsaw of Mont Blanc on the living room wall!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9px;"></span></div></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally, <b>Peter Habeler</b> (perhaps most famous for climbing Eiger's north face with Reinhold Messner) recounted the first climb of Everest without oxygen - including a 9 hour bivouac at the South Summit on the descent. In delightfully heavily accented </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Austrian) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">English , he described the intense emotions experienced by any Everest mountaineer.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Superb evening - and all in a good cause: Community Action Nepal. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For more details of Doug's lectures, see <a href="http://www.dougscottmountaineering.co.uk/">http://www.dougscottmountaineering.co.uk</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For more details of Community Action Nepal, see <a href="http://www.canepal.org.uk/">http://www.canepal.org.uk/</a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-23735615998029163542010-08-15T16:56:00.001+01:002011-04-24T12:31:33.360+01:0012: An Socach<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An Socach (Glen Affric) 15th August 2010</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next morning, and once again the car park at the top of Glen Affric was alive with midges! Cloud low, but forecast to "burn off" by mid-morning,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today's target was my sole remaining unclimbed Glen Affric hill - <b>An Socach</b> ("the snout"). A small hill, but a long way in ...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I set off on the bike at 8.50am, following the forest track on the south side of <b>Loch Affric</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYkXmKvydw_FfYdYp7qL8jACt7VQOWasoCHNMuLL_7V8_vbpG-jygCrlTlsByVtQeW8R-FATpbVLzfvvx_RdXyyfXGsxRzZaVBUbzXPqmr279ZOZTRC_9dySSZRfuOMIp0HdVtYImnRoZ/s1600/030_AffricLodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYkXmKvydw_FfYdYp7qL8jACt7VQOWasoCHNMuLL_7V8_vbpG-jygCrlTlsByVtQeW8R-FATpbVLzfvvx_RdXyyfXGsxRzZaVBUbzXPqmr279ZOZTRC_9dySSZRfuOMIp0HdVtYImnRoZ/s640/030_AffricLodge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Affric Lodge, across the loch</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I made steady progress (despite tired legs from yesterday) along the ups and downs of the track, and, sure enough, the mist started to break up, and blue sky appeared above, with splendid views of the surrounding hills.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2et2fEdtsHNYhdBh0nBDDuZk2mn3N47z0GlFw2N3LfI3bI7MTsyCIGQWdOujPicEWtecdsT3ZQKs6QIrmj4rlbCkVoV9JHgkDxQLaq2U0umwj4YtD9-aCw4qFr4WRpAEh1yFPO8ZL-V97/s1600/031_acrossLochAffric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2et2fEdtsHNYhdBh0nBDDuZk2mn3N47z0GlFw2N3LfI3bI7MTsyCIGQWdOujPicEWtecdsT3ZQKs6QIrmj4rlbCkVoV9JHgkDxQLaq2U0umwj4YtD9-aCw4qFr4WRpAEh1yFPO8ZL-V97/s640/031_acrossLochAffric.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An Tudair, Mam Sodhail (just visible) and Carn Eighe, across Loch Affric</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh1PFa7fyI_dAHNh51x8vi5Mgh01Dx2N68Bsdf3lFGgrNyhtC5na1xeAGSkSPTec8Ti0DSt0JYppJWo_EXsKwzxFHpaoCno6gJxubjfw3iLpOSlKPwjhHd_DUDIpH_vJxEnkS0TfEgV0l/s1600/032_AnTudair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh1PFa7fyI_dAHNh51x8vi5Mgh01Dx2N68Bsdf3lFGgrNyhtC5na1xeAGSkSPTec8Ti0DSt0JYppJWo_EXsKwzxFHpaoCno6gJxubjfw3iLpOSlKPwjhHd_DUDIpH_vJxEnkS0TfEgV0l/s640/032_AnTudair.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An Tudair across Loch Affric - blue sky!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beyond the loch, the track dropped down to the river crossing at <b>Athnamulloch</b>, with great views up the glen ahead.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-l1b84WJAuqvUuI2g_xHtsRbF7cZcfT27RQsLeKG5Hl5GP0KbQzg_V68F3qgkag8tvzVDHyP31tHmhfzS7S7D5Nm-3fOadvyDSY3uGwq9culraU7mWbFCvTD-lYKwBef0CkxUBaA0YBgp/s1600/033_upGlenAffrci_toBeinnFhada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-l1b84WJAuqvUuI2g_xHtsRbF7cZcfT27RQsLeKG5Hl5GP0KbQzg_V68F3qgkag8tvzVDHyP31tHmhfzS7S7D5Nm-3fOadvyDSY3uGwq9culraU7mWbFCvTD-lYKwBef0CkxUBaA0YBgp/s640/033_upGlenAffrci_toBeinnFhada.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking up the glen to Beinn Fhada</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6kDwSBStfvpJglNEPwgoEKSv64r4Xd66-BIXu1u73vpg3AE27eR8sC6ZVpaInIhiiNGWf2k8wvcH_poNi3xRqReGIbMx4LyrLc2FgpyzDsasFub40OAsjZOD-FU2SLZLQ92ARE0DCQxc/s1600/034_MullachFraochChoire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6kDwSBStfvpJglNEPwgoEKSv64r4Xd66-BIXu1u73vpg3AE27eR8sC6ZVpaInIhiiNGWf2k8wvcH_poNi3xRqReGIbMx4LyrLc2FgpyzDsasFub40OAsjZOD-FU2SLZLQ92ARE0DCQxc/s640/034_MullachFraochChoire.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mullach Fraoch Choire above Athnamulloch</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beyond the bridge, the track deteriorated and the going was reduced to near walking speed, but I managed to continue for 2.5 km to the foot of the Allt Coire Ghaidheil, which was where I intended to finish my walk. The 11 km had taken an hour and a half, but I reckoned it would be well worth it, especially on the way back.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Perversely, the track improved again beyond this point, and another 40 minutes on foot brought me to <b>Alltbeithe</b> (Glen Affric Youth Hostel). As I walked, I met a few youth hostellers heading out of the glen.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxhNFuPkb_NauteNnd72U6oM3V7JCpFmRImwXIiZKFCO125WfBQAMiHKKBFgr9jQmnMxxmFViWVSd-n225YHjolNg-uGbJPddLS0GUA2sBQirIV2QZXY0FQiN-HZg3lFjGAERM-g1rpVn/s1600/035_GlenAffricYH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxhNFuPkb_NauteNnd72U6oM3V7JCpFmRImwXIiZKFCO125WfBQAMiHKKBFgr9jQmnMxxmFViWVSd-n225YHjolNg-uGbJPddLS0GUA2sBQirIV2QZXY0FQiN-HZg3lFjGAERM-g1rpVn/s640/035_GlenAffricYH.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Alltbeithe - Glen Affric Youth Hostel</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At 11.10am, I was glad to sit down outside the Youth Hostel for some food and coffee. I was joined by another lone walker who had come across from Glen Shiel over the top of <b>Ciste Dubh</b> already that morning! We set off walking together up behind the Youth Hostel, but I think his morning exertions had taken their toll, and soon he dropped behind me.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8NgSbLAu7DZvWJsVueq3hUnxuY8XBOah06Jeh3mw7NPcclNaH0NtGvZFc1045nnFDowEaLdgYDlLuVAhyEqHsE4Sn0qarA6g9s-Mw7w2HKCe75QcKfTABrQpC8WNK8dL-xYd8YjB2Zww/s1600/AnSocach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8NgSbLAu7DZvWJsVueq3hUnxuY8XBOah06Jeh3mw7NPcclNaH0NtGvZFc1045nnFDowEaLdgYDlLuVAhyEqHsE4Sn0qarA6g9s-Mw7w2HKCe75QcKfTABrQpC8WNK8dL-xYd8YjB2Zww/s400/AnSocach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I followed the excellent path steeply up alongside the Allt na Faing (another one - see <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/08/151413-glen-affric-circuit.html">yesterday's blog</a>), and was soon up into <b>Coire na Cloiche</b> ("the coire of the stone"). Not sure if it was named after a specific stone, as there were plenty lying around, or perhaps the crags of the hill behind the coire, Stob Coire na Cloiche. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By now the midday sun was beating down fairly mercilessly, so I was glad to be able to replenish my water supplies so high up. At 600m, I reached the bealach, and looked over to <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/05/3837-ceathreamhnan-and-dheiragain.html">Mullach na Dheireagain</a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Decision time: to the right, the direct route up <b>An Socach</b>; to the left, <b>Stob Coire na Cloiche</b>, an outlying top of <b>Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan</b>. My legs said "right", but my head said "left"! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Left it was - and so my protesting legs carried me up the short ridge, with a wee scramble through a rock band, to reach the top at 13.15. Apart from the satisfaction of gaining another "top", this wee peak proved to be a fine viewpoint, and an ideal place for lunch!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYG4ppe2zeGge19jjilueHTMS-5QeP808xvhyjc9NyH408A6SHU9LWb3km3drY5z7jWYhBsUIvrh0nTjDVbRmnUElrXOw_7m2HEQplA1DobUiCEnej_eoAEEtpUSTjxaAjh7Bwl-Nps2_L/s1600/036_Ceathreamhnan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYG4ppe2zeGge19jjilueHTMS-5QeP808xvhyjc9NyH408A6SHU9LWb3km3drY5z7jWYhBsUIvrh0nTjDVbRmnUElrXOw_7m2HEQplA1DobUiCEnej_eoAEEtpUSTjxaAjh7Bwl-Nps2_L/s640/036_Ceathreamhnan.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan from Stob Coire na Cloiche</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqomGBJPumTo6M8LgttBePVeINVcZMNrChDCw9sblcpqTY8Sil1NfrO6ITxXLQSBy0_Ay_QaUFYND4TFjbWPjeFM3UEWNAVGjN6RNdhFNPBOe5fcPbhY75qlVafS6GjALuyZ-9UAge45v/s1600/037_CarnEighe_MamSodhail_AnSocach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqomGBJPumTo6M8LgttBePVeINVcZMNrChDCw9sblcpqTY8Sil1NfrO6ITxXLQSBy0_Ay_QaUFYND4TFjbWPjeFM3UEWNAVGjN6RNdhFNPBOe5fcPbhY75qlVafS6GjALuyZ-9UAge45v/s640/037_CarnEighe_MamSodhail_AnSocach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking east form Stob Coire na Cloiche towards An Socach, with Carn Eighe and Mam Sodhail in the distance</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rested, fed and coffeed, I headed back down to the bealach, then up the winding path to <b>An Socach</b>. A lonely tent was pitched beside the path on the first bump. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf1DcalpUfWngakzg0y1omlZ6OHBmmW8tqQMvrBVWHHkbd1Rp0uHWAQ2-Dov42M11-o-l6UVNuuGdY1DD6XFLP0ov_gu2TLnStowJ7LoQNjQuC_cTozcyvQKUZ9IbT0B_O__bhMlp1xQG/s1600/038_highcamp_AnSocach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf1DcalpUfWngakzg0y1omlZ6OHBmmW8tqQMvrBVWHHkbd1Rp0uHWAQ2-Dov42M11-o-l6UVNuuGdY1DD6XFLP0ov_gu2TLnStowJ7LoQNjQuC_cTozcyvQKUZ9IbT0B_O__bhMlp1xQG/s640/038_highcamp_AnSocach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back to Stob Coire na Cloiche, with Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan behind</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One final pull up on tired legs, and I was on my 272nd Munro, <b>An Socach</b>, at 2.20pm. Two other walkers were there, too, so a chat and a photo opportunity.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiD68vYfteKDCp-RBmgvhd2KrWVKIfiirEc5SsTZsSBmU8sfZR-CHSzxsHg9wi0wGw-MLotpepi3KjViRxFret8AxJGe1U9Pr3rt1fPGLhCCnVoY3GTzoumZu_jRiK8XwERX6vLGLYiTC/s1600/039_AnSocach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiD68vYfteKDCp-RBmgvhd2KrWVKIfiirEc5SsTZsSBmU8sfZR-CHSzxsHg9wi0wGw-MLotpepi3KjViRxFret8AxJGe1U9Pr3rt1fPGLhCCnVoY3GTzoumZu_jRiK8XwERX6vLGLYiTC/s640/039_AnSocach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">weary Munroist on An Socach</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The broad south ridge provided a pleasant highway back towards lower ground, with fine views back up to the mountain from An Sornach, the curving ridge below. A "sornach" is something like an open fireplace made of stones, so not sure why the ridge is so named, unless it refers to the way this ridge curls round the open end of Coire Gaidheal.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5FCEY8RtFfSK4xkBT2oosQar5D9AnDMHKvwEqSzO4-NZdiBSTkwVB8BrJJGTYTD2iJ1xpyitwto3fYCKrcZnhNu5EOaDhGkUvLZ_di3RdSYhrU_OnPFj_UCq2L1P_WhzPQ4xYf1c-yKP/s1600/040_Conbhairean_fromAnSocach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5FCEY8RtFfSK4xkBT2oosQar5D9AnDMHKvwEqSzO4-NZdiBSTkwVB8BrJJGTYTD2iJ1xpyitwto3fYCKrcZnhNu5EOaDhGkUvLZ_di3RdSYhrU_OnPFj_UCq2L1P_WhzPQ4xYf1c-yKP/s640/040_Conbhairean_fromAnSocach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">south ridge of An Socach, with Sgurr nan Conbhairean across Glen Affric</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQr3aR-jzRlPVTosW89za9bIRrNlNYQeOYkQYlsxCHo73Dcdi5ym5wwPHuxj59mO-xK1N69EPH2p2JT8RSBZCZjKHe3PB6Wu0PBCMkFN5tIfioWEZYIFUTKF-lbQ_q0J8J__RYLbLldeo/s1600/041_AnSocach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQr3aR-jzRlPVTosW89za9bIRrNlNYQeOYkQYlsxCHo73Dcdi5ym5wwPHuxj59mO-xK1N69EPH2p2JT8RSBZCZjKHe3PB6Wu0PBCMkFN5tIfioWEZYIFUTKF-lbQ_q0J8J__RYLbLldeo/s640/041_AnSocach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back to An Socach from An Sornach</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally, a steep grassy descent back to the bike. Stopped for a long chat with a local man and two German friends, before pedalling off back down the glen to the car park.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Summary:</b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1 Munro + 1 Top</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>11km walk + 22km cycle</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>800m climb</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>11 hours</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Log:</span></b></i></span></div></div></div></span></span><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>left car</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>08:50</i></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>left bike</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>10:20 - 10:30</i></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Alltbeithe Youth Hostel</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>11:10 - 11:25</i></span></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Stob Coire na Cloiche (T)</i></span></i></span></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>12:55 - 13:10</i></span></i></span></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>An Socach (M)</i></span></i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>14:20 - 14:40</i></span></i></span></i></span></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>back to bike </i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>15:50 - 16:15</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>back to car park</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>17:35</i></span></td></tr>
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</span>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-77229346606580351872010-08-14T21:24:00.001+01:002011-04-22T23:02:07.676+01:0015,14,13: Glen Affric circuit<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Mam Sodhail, Carn Eighe, Beinn Fhionnlaidh, Tom a'Choinich (14th Aug 2010)</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It had been a productive summer - now down to only 16 Munros still to climb. We had to return home at the start of August for various meetings, and a visit from Cat and Teun. With a few days left before the start of the new term, and a good forecast, I headed back up the A9 (but just me this time) to see if I could add the 4 remaining <b>Glen Affric</b> Munros.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Friday 13th, and a slow run north with heavy traffic. Fish supper at Beauly, e-mails from just outside Cannich campsite (their free wi-fi doesn't stop at the fence!), then on up to the top of the glen. Parked there at 8.30pm. We had remarked earlier in the summer how few midges there seemed to be this year - maybe the cold winter had killed them all off. But no - they had just been biding their time - and now it seemed every midge in Scotland was in Glen Affric! I didn't venture far out of the car!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKM0VBkbbHOWNFZD-A7cn1B7v1TmvZWsZ5XP6tsj-zHpcwtpf7_0E0_85n6W4L7ZMEaOSsS0qj5W1URpvptec53DfFVzSs6dKOPSTA2OUmQ9LQGC39Z8u3mrMTPtvfrJ3vSuslXFGArRF/s1600/001_midgy_morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKM0VBkbbHOWNFZD-A7cn1B7v1TmvZWsZ5XP6tsj-zHpcwtpf7_0E0_85n6W4L7ZMEaOSsS0qj5W1URpvptec53DfFVzSs6dKOPSTA2OUmQ9LQGC39Z8u3mrMTPtvfrJ3vSuslXFGArRF/s320/001_midgy_morning.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">midge carnage</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next morning was the same! I set up the stove on the picnic table to boil the kettle - then dived back into the car until it was ready! See midge carnage (right). The stove burned up a few thousand, but zillions escaped! Definitely the worst midges I have seen since SU camps in Glen Etive in the 1970s!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anyway, at 8.45am I set off (very!) briskly up the track towards <b>Affric Lodge</b>. The sky was overcast, but the forecast promised it would lift as the day progressed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeoAvBW778luw4l72Sely4okJYZ_oM1Tep5E3DVwFjHKXAvnP_qcTpbmSf_x1x-cj67xmMPKkS7l8EczJ5eINghtP4e84cnX9R4-dFfoahhkUQ1CoczmldxlOOFfm14-a7WNkjV4ykb2b/s1600/002_LochAffric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeoAvBW778luw4l72Sely4okJYZ_oM1Tep5E3DVwFjHKXAvnP_qcTpbmSf_x1x-cj67xmMPKkS7l8EczJ5eINghtP4e84cnX9R4-dFfoahhkUQ1CoczmldxlOOFfm14-a7WNkjV4ykb2b/s640/002_LochAffric.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>misty morning on Loch Affric</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">20 minutes walk along the track to Affric Lodge, then sharp right up a good stalkers' path - midges still following! The path then turned sharp left to slant up a steeper section, then sharp right again up on to the moorland. Here I overtook a strangely clad motley group of walkers, then struck off left across the moor towards the foot of <b>Sgurr na Lapaich</b>. A very rudimentary (or should that be vestigial?) path wound its way across the (fairly dry) bog, with intermittent marker posts to show the way. The path petered out at the Allt na Faing ("sheepfold burn") so I headed up the heathery slopes on the left, and thence to the small notch at the foot of <b>Sgurr na Lapaich</b>'s ("peak of the bog") south ridge. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAmfNeRBlh_Eg03sK9LNjtqcxVM_x5qHd7F6NojwYFDaYGkV7vceVXMjFwUVKJJNk5KAADk1Lgx4rGb0-mgPIKSgHiSJnHEVIQALF7FKXdr4PE-9SzApfVBpqKk_yXPWw7IrAfj16eLoN/s1600/003_SgurrnaLapaich_cairn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAmfNeRBlh_Eg03sK9LNjtqcxVM_x5qHd7F6NojwYFDaYGkV7vceVXMjFwUVKJJNk5KAADk1Lgx4rGb0-mgPIKSgHiSJnHEVIQALF7FKXdr4PE-9SzApfVBpqKk_yXPWw7IrAfj16eLoN/s400/003_SgurrnaLapaich_cairn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">summit cairn, Sgurr na Lapaich</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here the path reappeared, and would its way up between rocky outcrops to the misty summit, with its large and prominent cairn (left). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once again, a repeated name - with the <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2009/07/50494847-mullardoch-marathon.html">Mullardoch Munro</a>, <b>Sgurr na Lapaich</b>, not far away to the north. I guess a lot of Munro's could be well-named as Sgurr na Lapaich!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">11.10am. 30 minutes ahead of schedule, so a good start to the day. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Time for a rest! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">... and the sun started to break through - perfect timing - opening up views down to the valley below.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To the west, the broad grassy ridge towards <b>Mam Sodhail</b> looked inviting, although the mist was still hiding the summits of both <b>Mam Sodhail</b> and <b>Carn Eighe</b> (the 14th and 12th highest Munros, and the highest north of the Great Glen).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKVShyphenhyphennj51Yjk2e9Sjyjyn9Kqao38FUhTYflnsupPMhQ_xHH8d_xvzfEd53JqPb9xd2yUBQOEok-2pRQmNGk1Uu-cpz8-ogNmYMvXgcl80Njx50OPpjNO5RrMgOFxUF0DWN4yZa9yBHfM/s1600/004_west_fromLapaich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKVShyphenhyphennj51Yjk2e9Sjyjyn9Kqao38FUhTYflnsupPMhQ_xHH8d_xvzfEd53JqPb9xd2yUBQOEok-2pRQmNGk1Uu-cpz8-ogNmYMvXgcl80Njx50OPpjNO5RrMgOFxUF0DWN4yZa9yBHfM/s640/004_west_fromLapaich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>the ridge west from Sgurr na Lapaich towards Mam Sodhail (completely hidden) and Carn Eighe (just appearing)</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A striking feature of the initial part of this ridge is a curious 3m high escarpment running along the ridge, apparently caused by some sort of landslip (seen below, in retrospect from the Mam Sodhail - Carn Eighe bealach).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp2wgbdhdkHXDlQjITeHWxZBbviml3tvFXGP4fli2Y4z08Gf-_EHudtQ1PN2RpQIRWT-U6eteP4xD90kDxDWtBHEMlymBrFxziXuMfnFIeHIJpZgo7bXLNAyt7CkBOe76f2cRoZtjAg1o/s1600/015_Lapaich_frombealach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp2wgbdhdkHXDlQjITeHWxZBbviml3tvFXGP4fli2Y4z08Gf-_EHudtQ1PN2RpQIRWT-U6eteP4xD90kDxDWtBHEMlymBrFxziXuMfnFIeHIJpZgo7bXLNAyt7CkBOe76f2cRoZtjAg1o/s640/015_Lapaich_frombealach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back to Sgurr na Lapaich (with escarpment) and Mullach Cadha Rainich from the Carn Eighe - Mam Sodhail bealach</span></i></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Leaving Sgurr na Lapaich behind, I made rapid progress along the broad mossy ridge, up and over <b>Mullach Cadha Rainich</b> ("hill of the bracken pass") - craggy on its north side, grassy to the south - then along a strangely lumpy section, before reaching the narrowing (but grassy) ridge as it swept up to the summit of <b>Mam Sodhail</b> ("hill of the barns") .</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34mVYVlNhjex-YlwuVZFY57yP_H4n_SdiljxHUR2WG4wSUVx91vLr-su5HCwKp9-l_Q1udQlPoTTvqUuy1SqgmZiEeleYJ91dmBGNtI4sBZ8PhO8fpzbwDCx__NFlMWL2GBtTAZ44o5XH/s1600/005_bumpy_bealach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34mVYVlNhjex-YlwuVZFY57yP_H4n_SdiljxHUR2WG4wSUVx91vLr-su5HCwKp9-l_Q1udQlPoTTvqUuy1SqgmZiEeleYJ91dmBGNtI4sBZ8PhO8fpzbwDCx__NFlMWL2GBtTAZ44o5XH/s640/005_bumpy_bealach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the bumpy section between Mullach Cadha Rainich and Mam Sodhail</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJb8TmYiwVf8w9ybKEAQQjHw3XKuEygMlvg2XVEbGj0-rVKfOBouNmb1mkW5UpanPYsTVDuTn1gfnIjvh0LbzMRsnz-bBZ-NIkqGajm4_6-1sv-d2LzSeEAbpZWI9cFc125rVxY-dC-_ms/s1600/007_MamSodhail_eastridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJb8TmYiwVf8w9ybKEAQQjHw3XKuEygMlvg2XVEbGj0-rVKfOBouNmb1mkW5UpanPYsTVDuTn1gfnIjvh0LbzMRsnz-bBZ-NIkqGajm4_6-1sv-d2LzSeEAbpZWI9cFc125rVxY-dC-_ms/s640/007_MamSodhail_eastridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the grassy ridge leading up to Mam Sodhail - and a tiny bit of blue sky appearing above the bealach</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To the right, the long east ridge of <b>Carn Eighe</b> appeared out of the mist, with its unexpected pinnacles, which I hoped to visit later in the day. Carn Eighe (or Eige) itself still had its head in the clouds!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge68h0I7ARyUuJBY-xCUr4TXjKPU_t_GpJrR8cGazJBkV18mJULEnogmeXvzSII6XYYgsTCaC60ZjTD9ftqF1BkZG_j0qFsQ4nJvffzz63ei9QX56-1Yv1nPQBzUOVJWm0lftoENq5czR8/s1600/008_across_to_pinnacles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge68h0I7ARyUuJBY-xCUr4TXjKPU_t_GpJrR8cGazJBkV18mJULEnogmeXvzSII6XYYgsTCaC60ZjTD9ftqF1BkZG_j0qFsQ4nJvffzz63ei9QX56-1Yv1nPQBzUOVJWm0lftoENq5czR8/s640/008_across_to_pinnacles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking across to Carn Eighe's pinnacles, perched on an otherwise grassy ridge</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXqyFaYvdrOzXpEcCK5Z0w0ijlKNF368TXLFjI05U5AspCJe_RCGDxZLo3bqPmlSOaGxd7wLUuPhd5uJaqp9w_qBwvXtn2W3oQfTSNHwitBMDZAIpeoJLqoYC6eIa-c9aThLz52xvWCC8/s1600/009_CarnEighe_emerging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXqyFaYvdrOzXpEcCK5Z0w0ijlKNF368TXLFjI05U5AspCJe_RCGDxZLo3bqPmlSOaGxd7wLUuPhd5uJaqp9w_qBwvXtn2W3oQfTSNHwitBMDZAIpeoJLqoYC6eIa-c9aThLz52xvWCC8/s640/009_CarnEighe_emerging.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Carn Eighe's steep SE face above Loch Uaine - certainly green (uaine), but a bit small to be called a "loch"</span></i></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbaR93BCEmdFQVoah4FEFNvR5l8pG2PpRurCU7dQOrFTQPItjA1hySkSWhtEqwHu1QJNH1N7zFmySojR_vRUz8CSCNEV2ysASpSDnLy84suxe7ddeO2JR06RkqV5BzYoFoFafvIYFvsXN/s1600/010_MamSodhail_summit%252Cjpg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbaR93BCEmdFQVoah4FEFNvR5l8pG2PpRurCU7dQOrFTQPItjA1hySkSWhtEqwHu1QJNH1N7zFmySojR_vRUz8CSCNEV2ysASpSDnLy84suxe7ddeO2JR06RkqV5BzYoFoFafvIYFvsXN/s400/010_MamSodhail_summit%252Cjpg.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An hour and a half after leaving <b>Sgurr na Lapaich</b>, <b>Mam Sodhail</b>'s summit cairn loomed out of the mist.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This massive cairn (left) is 4-sided and hollow, but with no entrance - apparently built by the Ordnance Survey to house surveying instruments.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Despite the mist, my stomach was saying "lunchtime", so I "cooried doon" in the shelter of the cairn, hoping for the sun to break through - but it didn't - yet!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From the cairn, I followed the path down to the bealach above Loch Uaine, and emerged into sunshine again. What a difference 100m can make!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The original plan had been to continue up the other side to <b>Carn Eighe</b> (only a kilometre and a drop of 130m separates the 2 Munros), but I could see that it would be easy to contour across the west side of Carn Eighe, and make first for <b>Beinn Fhionnlaidh</b>. Carn EIghe could wait for later.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHRGGFNWHQrEF8HvXAkw9YnIkjHaMo3cNyVkiZ2VXzJso5xHh7lS88cNGcGE7XCZcFJsqY-6sJ_Ns3fRcKAtjJgk1fF5qPomIOm64AKj_aGw31HFWWgMZtEhii9N6K-30x5HTtebaRxSg/s1600/014_Fhionnlaidh_appears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHRGGFNWHQrEF8HvXAkw9YnIkjHaMo3cNyVkiZ2VXzJso5xHh7lS88cNGcGE7XCZcFJsqY-6sJ_Ns3fRcKAtjJgk1fF5qPomIOm64AKj_aGw31HFWWgMZtEhii9N6K-30x5HTtebaRxSg/s640/014_Fhionnlaidh_appears.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">heading across the back of Carn Eighe towards Beinn Fhionnlaidh</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once across the back of <b>Carn Eighe</b>, I joined the path leading down from Carn Eighe's summit, making a short detour to the intermediate top, <b>Stob Coire Lochan</b>. Really nothing more than a bump on the long ridge out to <b>Beinn Fhionnlaidh</b>, but a good viewpoint nonetheless. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NPW7TS0RIFoxyhURRntVymx_i9spE8TL0-wvXE5KnE0yrijhySW4hHnV2poKuowCdCI-DOpISYOPsBVqA0o07o-oydwWn30umh20z49kqBVlYkveZNzXBFCodwWyKtooMJskHIzUoUod/s1600/016_towards_Fhionnliadh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NPW7TS0RIFoxyhURRntVymx_i9spE8TL0-wvXE5KnE0yrijhySW4hHnV2poKuowCdCI-DOpISYOPsBVqA0o07o-oydwWn30umh20z49kqBVlYkveZNzXBFCodwWyKtooMJskHIzUoUod/s640/016_towards_Fhionnliadh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stob Coire Lochan and Beinn Fhionnlaidh - with An Socach and An Riabhachan (Mullardoch) behind</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here I stopped for 5 minutes to take in the view down to (naturally) Coire Lochan (is that the name of the Coire or the name of the Lochan?!) and its outflow - would you believe it? - Allt Coire Lochan! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another short drop to "bealach beag", then a 150m grassy climb to <b>Beinn Fhionnlaidh</b>'s short summit ridge. An hour and a half after leaving <b>Mam Sodhail</b>, I reached the summit cairn, and met my first other human being for 6 hours! Enjoyed a chat for a while, before he headed off back down towards Iron Lodge. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSkCUGiwxw6FpSBmzAJFrf-N8nR97EiP45T4zuiRSWvxzAE3BxPYMx9RI_JdHKmBQT5IdIiK1sWTc6L08FrDk2_xRUer4OHCnbUL_HLviBkVggeCKBs1QJn5MLovJ642X-Cw17zRRM44M/s1600/017_BeinnFhionnlaidh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSkCUGiwxw6FpSBmzAJFrf-N8nR97EiP45T4zuiRSWvxzAE3BxPYMx9RI_JdHKmBQT5IdIiK1sWTc6L08FrDk2_xRUer4OHCnbUL_HLviBkVggeCKBs1QJn5MLovJ642X-Cw17zRRM44M/s640/017_BeinnFhionnlaidh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">happy Munroist on Beinn Fhionnlaidh</span></i></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Beinn Fhionnlaidh</b> is a fine peak in its own right, and one of the hardest Munros to get to. The options are either the long walk out and back from <b>Carn Eighe</b>, a long cycle and walk up <b>Glen Elchaig</b> or a trip up <b>Loch Mullardoch</b> by boat, followed by a 750m unrelenting slog to the summit. Whichever way, it is worth the effort - a fine viewpoint in the middle of nowhere. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was now mid-afternoon, the sky was blue, the sun warm, and I could easily have dozed off leaning against the cairn! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrodK_5V181dAzoawcrRgO4vH3HFIXgI1U-T8kpyQrxlXclHVSqI3jhEkTNvXNUET97HojWfi28oC2W1C09bYdpq_rH3qMyAqJJ4T8AWpQGP6R0QHWnhNUJwNzKPoe5iAhXMYWp9xlcW0/s1600/018_acrossMullardoch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrodK_5V181dAzoawcrRgO4vH3HFIXgI1U-T8kpyQrxlXclHVSqI3jhEkTNvXNUET97HojWfi28oC2W1C09bYdpq_rH3qMyAqJJ4T8AWpQGP6R0QHWnhNUJwNzKPoe5iAhXMYWp9xlcW0/s640/018_acrossMullardoch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">view across Loch Mullardoch to (the other) Sgurr na Lapaich, from Beinn Fhionnlaidh</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lovely as it was sitting alone on <b>Beinn Fhionnlaidh</b>, I was aware that I was 15km from base, and had 5 tops and 2 Munros still to visit, so my 25 minute idyll had to come to an end, and at 15.10 I set off back along the ridge towards Carn Eighe. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd0WlU8gOQK8LBzHDEZSsowGjciBj7JExiqzeQwEfSYjkQ4UKibZiEO_N4Vl9FbXcHs4-0IA1N2T49gI1v6nt0vXbxSSdK7QsC5KS3crTmj6Li_hlAgAva-3zGuMJAt3GtWNmlEng6yUD/s1600/019_CarnEighe_MamSodhail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd0WlU8gOQK8LBzHDEZSsowGjciBj7JExiqzeQwEfSYjkQ4UKibZiEO_N4Vl9FbXcHs4-0IA1N2T49gI1v6nt0vXbxSSdK7QsC5KS3crTmj6Li_hlAgAva-3zGuMJAt3GtWNmlEng6yUD/s640/019_CarnEighe_MamSodhail.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Carn Eighe (left) and Mam Sodhail (right) from Beinn Fhionnlaidh</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This time by-passing <b>Stob Coire Lochan</b>, it took just over an hour to reach the next Munro, a 350m ascent following the curving ridge around its massive northern coire. Hard going on tired legs up the steep middle section, but soon I reached its rounded summit plateau, and patted the massive cairn and trig point.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmGRK4_RlOO348rqeojlDYjvcHqx26qMCkeBrsTu8LdwWtC118xVGM62J0My3AxyRpqSJ37QamV_wgvJJcL6bO49p03gsPeYBh0SfCYZ29LbESC15Ohi791wQtu-lHww3_qzE4u3ncb69/s1600/021_Fhionnlaidh_fromCarnEighe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmGRK4_RlOO348rqeojlDYjvcHqx26qMCkeBrsTu8LdwWtC118xVGM62J0My3AxyRpqSJ37QamV_wgvJJcL6bO49p03gsPeYBh0SfCYZ29LbESC15Ohi791wQtu-lHww3_qzE4u3ncb69/s640/021_Fhionnlaidh_fromCarnEighe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">view north from Carn Eighe</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I found a nice place to sit, looking north over the very blue lochan towards <b>Beinn Fhionnlaidh</b> and the <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2009/07/50494847-mullardoch-marathon.html">Mullardochs</a>. I also discovered that there was a strong mobile signal up there, so was able to speak to Anne back home in Selkirk. However, the midges - which I thought had been left behind - reappeared, so it was soon time to get moving again.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But what a prospect - a delightful 5km high level walk (never dropping below 960m) over 5 tops to the day's final Munro, <b>Tom a' Choinnich</b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First, a gentle stroll down then along a broad grassy ridge to <b>Stob a' Choire Dhomhain</b> ("peak of the deep coire"), passing a couple setting up a tent in a green hollow for an overnight camp.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once over the gentle crest of this top, the ridge changed direction suddenly, with a row of jagged teeth sitting incongruously on a narrow section.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOpj5vIxhapeOefTiRnl-Jg3QGenrh_r3v1fpk1BvIEcLm83_tufRVTSJkIBp7e4IuAAdVvYzRv919bKGzTHzykQu0TXmhMz-xy2rSeLjG08VH9jUnltU9P4j6yIWvNuqMythtyj_8uWr/s1600/023_bumpy_ridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOpj5vIxhapeOefTiRnl-Jg3QGenrh_r3v1fpk1BvIEcLm83_tufRVTSJkIBp7e4IuAAdVvYzRv919bKGzTHzykQu0TXmhMz-xy2rSeLjG08VH9jUnltU9P4j6yIWvNuqMythtyj_8uWr/s640/023_bumpy_ridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">from S.a'C Dhomhain to the pinnacles, S.C. Dhomhnuill and Sron Garbh</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1AOetKCkvox6GNeEBH0nhsnbwypPGq_kjLTm5xb2UXGem5zaqGXC1ODfW4KZLpS9Er7HBe0_DVO_g0ciwaJoPthUTQXmYCKAFiFBZLY9i-6Mjbxqo75TrOw4gdXaKhCzOnJUkqF0De55/s1600/025_pinnacles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1AOetKCkvox6GNeEBH0nhsnbwypPGq_kjLTm5xb2UXGem5zaqGXC1ODfW4KZLpS9Er7HBe0_DVO_g0ciwaJoPthUTQXmYCKAFiFBZLY9i-6Mjbxqo75TrOw4gdXaKhCzOnJUkqF0De55/s640/025_pinnacles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the pinnacles, up close</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The pinnacles provided some minor scrambling fun, before continuing to the next top, <b>Stob Choire Dhomhnuill</b> ("peak of Donald's Coire"), scarcely a top, just a bump on the ridge - the Munro committee were clearly in a generous mood hereabouts! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Carn Eighe to Sa'ChD: 1km, 50m ascent, 20 minutes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sa'ChD to SChD: 1km, 30 m ascent, 15 minutes</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Only <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2009/08/half-way-june-2002.html">Fafernie</a> on Cairn Bannock is easier than that!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Still, I'm not complaining - it was a lovely stroll along the ridge - broad and green, then pinnacles, then broad and green again - to <b>Sron Garbh</b> ("rough nose").</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS137FkCXWm2_wGzFhJxpoDSbUkJ7EjhpbLoomFXlxrvOhAIJqQWBSQAVMXxASLM8YrxsmT3GrWj8kc7Vc_iQLYMmohjP5mMGaHVwmTju-K8T1QJC4xWmTMX-yazMEKp_JkeG7RWsGZZs/s1600/026_pinnacles_lookingback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS137FkCXWm2_wGzFhJxpoDSbUkJ7EjhpbLoomFXlxrvOhAIJqQWBSQAVMXxASLM8YrxsmT3GrWj8kc7Vc_iQLYMmohjP5mMGaHVwmTju-K8T1QJC4xWmTMX-yazMEKp_JkeG7RWsGZZs/s640/026_pinnacles_lookingback.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back over the pinnacles to the grassy top of Stob a'Choire Dhomhain (hardly a "stob" from this angle!)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sron Garbh</b> effectively marks the eastern end of Carn Eighe - beyond it the ridge drops to 960m, before rising to <b>An Leth-Chreag</b>, the western outlier of <b>Tom a' Choinnich</b>. An appropriate place, then for a 10 minute rest, slug of coffee, and whatever was left in the lunch box. It would have been possible to drop down from here to Gleann nam Fiadh, but I was going well, and decided to press on for the net two tops and Munro.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Despite the dip in the ridge, it still only took 25 minutes to the next top, <b>An Leth-chreag</b> ("the half-rock"). Then 10 minutes to <b>Tom a'Choinnich Beag</b> (a lovely little peak), and 15 minutes for the final pull up to <b>Tom a' Choinnich</b> ("hill of the moss") at 6.35pm.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had last been here back in 1981, when it was my 22nd Munro, with Anne and Marjory, and got to within a 100m of the top again in 1983 after climbing <b>Toll Creagach</b>, but it was late October and the rocky east ridge was very icy, so I turned back on that occasion.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga848ZwxQUKrhqsIN5zWevvLahnk11HQQWV-tRgC1ROl37UzWvarBqILWYKjLl8cKF3hJa2JKLN3GlvArCa5nZgIaYVgUZQSQ-eC_NsvGKtdM037HsYTfv2U1np-p26qun8mMdeLrvgT_r/s1600/027_TollCreagach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga848ZwxQUKrhqsIN5zWevvLahnk11HQQWV-tRgC1ROl37UzWvarBqILWYKjLl8cKF3hJa2JKLN3GlvArCa5nZgIaYVgUZQSQ-eC_NsvGKtdM037HsYTfv2U1np-p26qun8mMdeLrvgT_r/s640/027_TollCreagach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Toll Creagach from Tom a' Choinnich</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRTtjUIg5lxXH2QDhCmdEzHltVMgbpOFlE0IHv077MmhRA1qgslek3K8PjpN5_nZxlwC29-p3ZQfQ9DXN8ickv4HAYPNOe8LCqdC3b0Jf9MkAL2Oc4j8JcNuYWtVrCylQizoO4LDOzSGV/s1600/028_descent_fromTomaChoinich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRTtjUIg5lxXH2QDhCmdEzHltVMgbpOFlE0IHv077MmhRA1qgslek3K8PjpN5_nZxlwC29-p3ZQfQ9DXN8ickv4HAYPNOe8LCqdC3b0Jf9MkAL2Oc4j8JcNuYWtVrCylQizoO4LDOzSGV/s640/028_descent_fromTomaChoinich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking SE from Tom a' Choinnich towards Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another 10 minute rest on this last summit of the day. I had wondered about the route of descent - down the SW ridge? or down the E ridge then down the glen? Viewed form the summit, the SW ridge looked very inviting, so that was the decision. And it proved to be a good one, with a good path all the way, dropping fairly gently for the first kilometre, then more steeply down Creag na h-Inghinn ("the daughter's crag") into Gleann nam Fiadh ("Glen of the deer"), and still catching the sun, while the glen below was already in shade.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The last 15 minutes of descent brought a lovely surprise - the evening sun shining on the heather was filling the air with the most amazing scent of honey.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An hour after leaving the summit, I was back down to the main stalkers' path down Gleann nam Fiadh - and the midges!! No time for lingering here!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKHgzFXo8WKGOyryFdpdgoXxuMgAYeZXJIN7iXHzIbml6ZSUzre1oYokCjt6cO5IvE26WgetReMCc9n7v5OtJE03fNKNk068REE7bAteKx-Z5kwyX0Y1uNIUZUiXATMML7EZY6a9XFSo2/s1600/029_TomaChoinich_andCarnEighr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKHgzFXo8WKGOyryFdpdgoXxuMgAYeZXJIN7iXHzIbml6ZSUzre1oYokCjt6cO5IvE26WgetReMCc9n7v5OtJE03fNKNk068REE7bAteKx-Z5kwyX0Y1uNIUZUiXATMML7EZY6a9XFSo2/s640/029_TomaChoinich_andCarnEighr.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tom a' Choinnich (right) and Carn Eighe (left) from Gleann nam Fiadh</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, a quick march down the path, which soon turned into a track, and at 8.45pm I reached the road. I found the bike I had stashed there the previous evening, and cycled back up to the car park as rapidly as my tired legs would allow. Boots off quick, and into the car before the midges descended in their zillions!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHQw3RPmz7TakNMR-__B2Kqqkb2lshJmtxfIiL1sTbWDnFec0wHGY_9PXwXZlOWK06INJGThbB75gc7DpxpC_3AbLRuP294-xpxqvUmmQ29Io1D13iZaNwkq_GyL3kfzH0HO0HpXZItcr/s1600/affric_circuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHQw3RPmz7TakNMR-__B2Kqqkb2lshJmtxfIiL1sTbWDnFec0wHGY_9PXwXZlOWK06INJGThbB75gc7DpxpC_3AbLRuP294-xpxqvUmmQ29Io1D13iZaNwkq_GyL3kfzH0HO0HpXZItcr/s640/affric_circuit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Summary:</span></b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>4 Munros + 8 tops</i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>28 km walk + 2 km cycle</i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1950 m climb</i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>12 hours </i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Log:</b></i></span></div></div></div></span></span><br />
<table border="”1”"><tbody>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>left car</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>08:45</i></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Sgurr na Lapaich (T)</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>11:10 - 11:25</i></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Mullach Cadha Rainich (T)</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Mam Sodhail (M)</i></span></i></span></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>12:55 - 13:10</i></span></i></span></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>Stob Coire Lochan (T)</i></span></i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>14:00 - 14:05</i></span></i></span></i></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Beinn Fhionnlaidh (M)</i></span></i></span></i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>14</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>:45 - 15:10</i></span></span></i></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Carn Eighe (M)</i></span></i></span></i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>16:20 - 16:45</i></span></i></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Stob a'Choire Dhomhain (T)</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>17:05</i></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Stob Choire Dhomhnuill (T)</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>17:20</i></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Sron Garbh (T)</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>17:30 - 17:40</i></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>An Leth-chreag (T)</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>18:05 - 18:10</i></span></i></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Tom a' Choinnich Beag (T)</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>18:20 </i></span></td><td><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 20px;"><i>Tom a' Choinnich (M)</i></span></i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>18:35 - 18:45</i></span></i></span></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>Gleann na Fiadh path</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>19</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>:45 </i></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>back to bike at road</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>20:45</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>car park</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>20:55</i></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">written 22/04/11</span> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-29810180945458723282010-07-29T17:00:00.001+01:002011-04-14T22:28:55.297+01:0019,18,17,16: Strathfarrar Four<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>The Strathfarrar Four (29th July 2011)</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After a few days over in Lossiemouth waiting for the wet westerly winds to abate, we headed back towards the hills on Wednesday 28th, encouraged by a better forecast for the next day. Once more, we pitched the tent at Cannich, and marvelled at the arrival of "</span><a href="http://www.rotel.de/das-rollende-hotel/das-rollende-hotel.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">das Rollende Hote</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">l"- a bus with a sleeping trailer, fold-out dining shelter, and about 40 passengers - a truly bizarre sight (below)!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YLJWPAn5yJMukjOUh-Ej6qU6V7wlru-qR1AHMzMgklJyfLqioxJVP3kkxzlArKjCyb6XGck3vanqvN-PjcDThTKx4I1yGB6JGThbVaBgcN5QYQ72eA6uEhx6FzKtCm_qGA7g8uif925m/s1600/056_Rotel_Cannich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YLJWPAn5yJMukjOUh-Ej6qU6V7wlru-qR1AHMzMgklJyfLqioxJVP3kkxzlArKjCyb6XGck3vanqvN-PjcDThTKx4I1yGB6JGThbVaBgcN5QYQ72eA6uEhx6FzKtCm_qGA7g8uif925m/s640/056_Rotel_Cannich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Das Rollende Hotel at Cannich camp site</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next morning, we were up early to get to the gate at Struy for 9am. The road up Glen Strathfarrar is a private one, with locked gates, open from 9am to 8pm in the summer months, and by <a href="http://www.mcofs.org.uk/strathfarrar-access.asp">arrangement</a> at other times. As a further restriction, only 25 cars are allowed up at any time. We found three other cars waiting, so that was fine.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was a lovely drive up the glen, and we soon reached the starting point for the walk just beyond the top of Loch Beannacharan. I dropped Anne off here at 9.30am to begin the walk, then drove another 7km up the road, to the planned end point of our walk. Leaving the car there, I cycled back down the glen, and set off up the path at 10am.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXghYfqz_x_OTNykQ6bz0zWXEffvoJ3nvnB0ANsJIsLL31JycKJz40ejrMoLmIsGIV3Hf02KWCTJmPjNrvcZcTizsyxR5RG-py1PIcFYuYbyMHidZnOuC6Hg9ybFOXhPRE87DfG12wb6-B/s1600/strathfarrar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXghYfqz_x_OTNykQ6bz0zWXEffvoJ3nvnB0ANsJIsLL31JycKJz40ejrMoLmIsGIV3Hf02KWCTJmPjNrvcZcTizsyxR5RG-py1PIcFYuYbyMHidZnOuC6Hg9ybFOXhPRE87DfG12wb6-B/s640/strathfarrar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An initially good track turned into a boggy squelch for a mile or so up the Allt Coire Mhuillidh. I walked for a while with another solo walker, and soon we were heading up to drier ground on the broad south west ridge of <b>Sgurr na Ruaidhe</b> ("reddish peak"). About half-way up we caught up with Anne, then overtook another solo lady walker (who turned out to be from Gattonside, only a few miles from Selkirk). Soon the ridge began to ease off, and 2 hours from the car, we reached the summit cairn. A sociable lunch spot ...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpoOuT6Wd3M1HRu3ypwLUZdHpazImG4ZFVfMl31FUy99So06mhUdCyXRn2_1aHcvWJHskC5AfvLBprfhT5KrSzTmzCO7Dt0g15Sco-gZGUNw5MalX8eBrNbDb93-mwTjJfTaHWMHahD9J/s1600/040_SgurrnaRuaidhe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpoOuT6Wd3M1HRu3ypwLUZdHpazImG4ZFVfMl31FUy99So06mhUdCyXRn2_1aHcvWJHskC5AfvLBprfhT5KrSzTmzCO7Dt0g15Sco-gZGUNw5MalX8eBrNbDb93-mwTjJfTaHWMHahD9J/s640/040_SgurrnaRuaidhe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">summit of Sgurr na Ruaidhe, with Carn nan Gobhar in background</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We didn't remain long, though, as the air felt quite cold and damp. After 15 minutes, the chap in the blue cagoule set off westwards towards the next Munro, <b>Carn nan Gobhar</b>. We followed son after, and made quick progress down grassy slopes to the intervening bealach - where we caught up with him and handed over the lunchbox he had left behind; pity - I was looking forward to the chocolate biscuit!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From the bealach, more easy grassy slopes led us up toward the boulder-strewn top of <b>Carn nan Gobhar</b> (992m), the second Munro of the day. Hang on a second - weren't we on Carn nan Gobhar (992m) this time last year? Yes! Bizarrely enough, there are two Carn nan Gobhars, exactly the same height, and only 14km apart - one in the <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2009/07/50494847-mullardoch-marathon.html">Mullardoch</a> range, the other one here in the Strathfarrars. Maybe they were named after the same goats! (we didn't see any).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPpzXBKAvX59u9CUY-qkggVRNg0_T38JCREx2G5Y0_831_WAw95ITOcF9KfhCYwYYs6S4VWHldpJhKSjC0pmpmKqhMV8yinJhwr6xXk2NRiIWsFRt53UYHLF5hjba9_Ho9XfPAt7qiCZs/s1600/042_SaCG_from_CarnnanGobhar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPpzXBKAvX59u9CUY-qkggVRNg0_T38JCREx2G5Y0_831_WAw95ITOcF9KfhCYwYYs6S4VWHldpJhKSjC0pmpmKqhMV8yinJhwr6xXk2NRiIWsFRt53UYHLF5hjba9_Ho9XfPAt7qiCZs/s640/042_SaCG_from_CarnnanGobhar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Anne on Carn nan Gobhar, with Sgurr a'Choire Ghlais, Creag Gorm a'Bhealaich and Sgurr Fhuar Thuill in the background</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anyway, we lingered a few minutes on this one before heading off down the grassy highway to the next bealach, then up the steep curving ridge of <b>Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais</b>, the day's highest point at 1083m. The mist was coming and going on the twin tops of this peak, so we didn't linger for long (but made sure to visit both cairns), before continuing westwards. After skirting around the initial boulder field, we were soon back on springy mossy turf - a joy to walk on. Yet another bealach lay ahead, and a scalloped ridge leading up to <b>Creag Ghorm a'Bhealaich</b>, a fine peak in its own right, although only designated as a top.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCt_b__Q3W3ZN97zYxoXQV0eK5LgNSsVcbWV4TxmWZSUzVrjEkmENCFO3uCBqF-20wrHszJhr2iDNvh8DSt357zgtD9pfL4TR8tYUyAWY-gXJ-w5ti07e5k0FFiBvMlW6Qwj4vvInr4Ob/s1600/043_CreagGorma%2527Bhealaich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCt_b__Q3W3ZN97zYxoXQV0eK5LgNSsVcbWV4TxmWZSUzVrjEkmENCFO3uCBqF-20wrHszJhr2iDNvh8DSt357zgtD9pfL4TR8tYUyAWY-gXJ-w5ti07e5k0FFiBvMlW6Qwj4vvInr4Ob/s640/043_CreagGorma%2527Bhealaich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Creag Ghorm a' Bhealaich from Sgurr a 'Choire Ghlais</i></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4Vn01YJVcFROT7HuYhnsTd7gjaDUBlqlv88Kep_Z7ul7OTznWexkC50r6vCdYFJ-J8ERDDt2VOpiOcxFBfG47JQ_xJIJWKp2akx3NVSblxL7K69PB-SeRiD7b4NhYUDvOO6zG-WYhiKh/s1600/044_east_fromCGaB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4Vn01YJVcFROT7HuYhnsTd7gjaDUBlqlv88Kep_Z7ul7OTznWexkC50r6vCdYFJ-J8ERDDt2VOpiOcxFBfG47JQ_xJIJWKp2akx3NVSblxL7K69PB-SeRiD7b4NhYUDvOO6zG-WYhiKh/s640/044_east_fromCGaB.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back to Sgurr a'Choire Ghlais from Creag Ghorm a'Bhealaich</span></i><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Another 10 minute rest here before continuing. Each of the last sections had taken just under an hour, easy walking, but the final two tops were much closer together. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Twenty minutes after leaving <b>Creag Ghorm a' Bhealaich</b>, we passed over the top of the 4th Munro, <b>Sgurr Fhuar-Thuil</b>l (peak of the cold hollow) without stopping, and 15 minutes later we were on <b>Sgurr na Fearstaig</b>, the most westerly top - little more than a rounded hump at the end of the ridge. Job done!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvTXS64iR8ScxtK77lpjU4EOJYhj37_lK37H9-BfuVeqVIqboi6uaD4b6f6RcpmjHMKBhH6gZCuFNE4W1RxwctZWaZQgUzocw2hj9Sub248gWOUxwuznH0-EVUlezcaJxjGp186a-5idy/s1600/045_approaching_SgurrnaFearstaig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvTXS64iR8ScxtK77lpjU4EOJYhj37_lK37H9-BfuVeqVIqboi6uaD4b6f6RcpmjHMKBhH6gZCuFNE4W1RxwctZWaZQgUzocw2hj9Sub248gWOUxwuznH0-EVUlezcaJxjGp186a-5idy/s640/045_approaching_SgurrnaFearstaig.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the final stroll to Sgurr na Fearstaig</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;">We sat on the final top at 4pm, enjoying the view, but mindful of the "locked gate", we didn't linger too long, and were soon headed down the fine stalkers' path towards <b>Loch Toll a' Mhuic</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaYUXcvwPe0XGCyjSI-rwtzoZSIGseEqURG84cj0I7uCYOehgGHjbqvFpL4TEEKzYX7zSUcdzFKpxdRSvRo6PEq4RqRNOlP1v1PkQJi-kTXA_3UpD4BBCGU2iFa2lGm8YjUH19qe_3m8s/s1600/046_SgurrnaMuice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaYUXcvwPe0XGCyjSI-rwtzoZSIGseEqURG84cj0I7uCYOehgGHjbqvFpL4TEEKzYX7zSUcdzFKpxdRSvRo6PEq4RqRNOlP1v1PkQJi-kTXA_3UpD4BBCGU2iFa2lGm8YjUH19qe_3m8s/s640/046_SgurrnaMuice.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>the start of the route down past Loch Toll a' Mhuic below Sgurr na Muice<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">In less than 2 hours, we were back down to where I had left the car, and all that remained was to pick up my bike, and enjoy the run back down Strathfarrar to Struy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR2_tWZ6qWwtnlWCfeL9a15YWRCYFkA9gskET0GdL7iOcgdFuUkT-Le1suXDo1lyHcJvGtzb8hAWNeGN72seKzV_PCCgNr_MPqsenlItjcYC92S_WTPjO4FEkuHRQwMg7o_NZbU-zzmMD/s1600/049_LochaMhuillidh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR2_tWZ6qWwtnlWCfeL9a15YWRCYFkA9gskET0GdL7iOcgdFuUkT-Le1suXDo1lyHcJvGtzb8hAWNeGN72seKzV_PCCgNr_MPqsenlItjcYC92S_WTPjO4FEkuHRQwMg7o_NZbU-zzmMD/s640/049_LochaMhuillidh.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b>Summary:</b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>4 Munros + 2 tops</i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>17 km walk + 7 km cycle</i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1560 m climb</i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>8 hours </i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Log:</b></i></span></div></div></div></span></span><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>left bike</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>09:55</i></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Sg.na Ruaidhe</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>11:55 - 12:15</i></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>C. na Gobhar</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>13:05 - 13:15</i></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Sg. a Ch. Ghlais</i></span></i></span></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>14:10 - 14:20</i></span></i></span></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i>Cr. Gh a' Bhealaich</i></span></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>15:10 - 15:20</i></span></i></span></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Sg. Fhuar-Thuill</i></span></i></span></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>5:45 </i></span></td><td><br />
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<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Sg. na Fearstaig</i></span></i></span></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>16:00 - 16:10</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>road</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>18:00</i></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">posted 15/04/11 D. Bethune</span> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-43813207220074878382010-07-23T21:23:00.002+01:002011-03-09T22:13:32.170+00:0022,21,20: the Conbhairean group<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Carn Ghluasaid, Sgurr nan Conbhairean and Sail Chaorainn, 23rd July 2010</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After 7 Munros <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2011/02/7-in-day-it-can-only-be.html">yesterday</a>, a rest day might have been in order. However, the weather dictated otherwise! It's not often you get two blue-sky days in a row up the west coast, and when the opportunity comes along ...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We parked at Lundie on the shores of <b>Loch Cluanie</b> at 10am. We started up the old road as far as a communication mast, then off it on to an excellent stalkers' path which climbed steadily up the hillside avoiding the worst boggy bits.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To our left, a marvellous view of yesterday's hills opened up across the loch.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_nvbU4tcE9Jpqe0xmuzpbapmXcNfL7XEn6od4Kw_26To9OTXHK0aqUh9dXNyBrEK3o-o-wFjG3tpKqEzaxy8HSdBFdk1_4mj0Tk16BYbwEtLQyLhyx220OAKenNRQeuD8CrK0uS6oepI/s1600/026_CarnaMhaim_fromNE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_nvbU4tcE9Jpqe0xmuzpbapmXcNfL7XEn6od4Kw_26To9OTXHK0aqUh9dXNyBrEK3o-o-wFjG3tpKqEzaxy8HSdBFdk1_4mj0Tk16BYbwEtLQyLhyx220OAKenNRQeuD8CrK0uS6oepI/s640/026_CarnaMhaim_fromNE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Carn a'Mhaim and Druim Shionnach across Loch Cluanie</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We followed the path across a shallow coire, then up a series of wide zig-zags on to Carn Ghluasaid's SW ridge.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqEjcGP7nU-LF2FkFsv1jD84KLTUD6U1oHp8NI6ST3MF5Ix49vNE4TFL6f8-paugGyfW-8prKlJUcJGxa_luGFIrBKlrg4vhRnNvZRFRHkRUb77x-su-fKonLeL87MU4yfHmi5glQOcy2/s1600/027_climbingCarnGhluasaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqEjcGP7nU-LF2FkFsv1jD84KLTUD6U1oHp8NI6ST3MF5Ix49vNE4TFL6f8-paugGyfW-8prKlJUcJGxa_luGFIrBKlrg4vhRnNvZRFRHkRUb77x-su-fKonLeL87MU4yfHmi5glQOcy2/s640/027_climbingCarnGhluasaid.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on the way up Carn Ghluasaid</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The zig-zags opened out on to a broadening shoulder of rocky outcrops, leading up to <b>Carn Ghluasaid</b>'s remarkable flat summit plateau. A couple of hundred metres across to the far side, a large cairn marked the summit - only 2 hours from leaving the car at the lochside. Carn Ghluasaid means (possibly) "hill of movement", but there was nothing moving up there except for us! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOugydk9uigEQav489j3xK4fTT2yWV8e30gcJWUlEBuraf7oOFsTheYOdrXImdxncYpL1Y2_6IhN8fCkSe5yL-3XI7vLudKz1C1lwMxdoBN9PrLqjyR5gt2Mxx1pa6Dg8VoQe3FvLAuhK/s1600/028_Conbhairean_fromGhluasaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOugydk9uigEQav489j3xK4fTT2yWV8e30gcJWUlEBuraf7oOFsTheYOdrXImdxncYpL1Y2_6IhN8fCkSe5yL-3XI7vLudKz1C1lwMxdoBN9PrLqjyR5gt2Mxx1pa6Dg8VoQe3FvLAuhK/s640/028_Conbhairean_fromGhluasaid.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on the summit of Carn Ghluasaid, with Sgurr nan Conbhairean behind</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_Q1PX3EvgGXpOCFsxbbwozzph7Wjx3dwcMf1zKFglp7_09J14enezLSyAEuito4kO7qQh_ZlCUv7SPKA7uZpIGUsJXdZmlHPqePv-3mhp0ktFJ0ck7lAnvZeWfRoroVCJuyyk6MC9rxB/s1600/029_Ghluasaid_plateau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_Q1PX3EvgGXpOCFsxbbwozzph7Wjx3dwcMf1zKFglp7_09J14enezLSyAEuito4kO7qQh_ZlCUv7SPKA7uZpIGUsJXdZmlHPqePv-3mhp0ktFJ0ck7lAnvZeWfRoroVCJuyyk6MC9rxB/s640/029_Ghluasaid_plateau.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the summit plateau of Carn Ghluasaid</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was a bit early for lunch, but a grassy ledge behind the cairn, overlooking the deep coire Toll Creagach Beag, proved irresistible. We sat there for half and hour, enjoying the dramatic view spread out before and below us, before heading off towards the next Munro, <b>Sgurr nan Conbhairean</b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This took exactly one hour: a short, gentle descent from the plateau, then round the edge of the coire, then up on to the intervening top, <b>Creag a' Chaorainn</b> (Anne by-passed the top by cutting across to the left).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIA-egCAv0Eg0Tws0M35-pwvobdC8bcybVko1NzE_lTfFUEvo9Gi1G97oVJe-Z-Zmforlss5QXpnBqUsz7xiwYasK5K0Lj7fdrGJY0sdjxYenV-6LrWLVyaQckh9Ut9aKGXCaGQK_qimjV/s1600/030_Conbhairean_fromCreagaChaorainn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIA-egCAv0Eg0Tws0M35-pwvobdC8bcybVko1NzE_lTfFUEvo9Gi1G97oVJe-Z-Zmforlss5QXpnBqUsz7xiwYasK5K0Lj7fdrGJY0sdjxYenV-6LrWLVyaQckh9Ut9aKGXCaGQK_qimjV/s640/030_Conbhairean_fromCreagaChaorainn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Sgurr nan Conbhairean from Creag a' Chaorainn</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another slight descent around the rim of the next coire to Glas Bealach (above, left), then 140m of steady climbing, up a series of grassy solifluxion lobes, to Sgurr nan Conbhairean's impressive summit cairn.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqBW7oOXZmk2WTSk-0_BDKSR7JS9cpU47AKytFUE4peIRKQ7KMjp7GDBQesXyR_NvkX8M9coM0fkS8Lg7fB8omLzMbsyRYWBGdQlcvPJgwInMPP7zHiObFDsywc1SG55gsWIecvoclYuj/s1600/031_Conbhairean_summit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqBW7oOXZmk2WTSk-0_BDKSR7JS9cpU47AKytFUE4peIRKQ7KMjp7GDBQesXyR_NvkX8M9coM0fkS8Lg7fB8omLzMbsyRYWBGdQlcvPJgwInMPP7zHiObFDsywc1SG55gsWIecvoclYuj/s640/031_Conbhairean_summit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Anne looks happy to be on the summit of Conbhairean!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We'd already had some lunch, but it was a nice spot, so we sat a while to admire the view. Despite the blue sky, we had to sit behind the cairn to get some shelter from the cool breeze.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After half an hour or so, we decided it was time to make for <b>Sail Chaorainn</b>, the third Munro.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DlcqWtIJKdSI8-xaVm-a4tF9gObBmtJH84sd0NfqC_kouyoFfsj_bm5b4NPC4ZQHwS3C2zejWKOyt8wHZbOr0SmyaIjoZIYKf1-J-Mfvge47gHjReasxJU8NH08IpOfsSR67HvPYPEjs/s1600/032_SailChaorainn_fromConbhairean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DlcqWtIJKdSI8-xaVm-a4tF9gObBmtJH84sd0NfqC_kouyoFfsj_bm5b4NPC4ZQHwS3C2zejWKOyt8wHZbOr0SmyaIjoZIYKf1-J-Mfvge47gHjReasxJU8NH08IpOfsSR67HvPYPEjs/s640/032_SailChaorainn_fromConbhairean.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sail Chaorainn from summit of Conbhairean</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From Conbhairean, Sail Chaorainn was an easy 2km walk - down the broad ridge from the summit around the tops of two further deep coires (above) to a bealach at 913m, then a short rise to Sail Chaorainn's broad whaleback ridge, with the summit a rocky outcrop at the far end. 45 minutes and we were there.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Nk3ts2F-R-EhbvqPgYx5kmwazCL0KzTDWzs1H4SuYEoczfr7n-cnlYwvt8DWQT9okm7ilfAoErBVAwUWLhJfhlJi5bCB6vX7BmBK8mXdAaaxICqNJblFBymn8k9BzGHqd1tgcOav66mQ/s1600/033_MFCh_from+Conbhairean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Nk3ts2F-R-EhbvqPgYx5kmwazCL0KzTDWzs1H4SuYEoczfr7n-cnlYwvt8DWQT9okm7ilfAoErBVAwUWLhJfhlJi5bCB6vX7BmBK8mXdAaaxICqNJblFBymn8k9BzGHqd1tgcOav66mQ/s640/033_MFCh_from+Conbhairean.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">view from Conbhairean across A'Chioch to Mullach Fraoch-choire and Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anne waited patiently on <b>Sail Chaorainn</b> for half and hour, while I made a quick detour out to <b>Carn na Coire Mheadhoin</b>, Sail Chaorainn's north top (and only 1m lower than the main top). This proved to be a great viewpoint - into <b>Glen Affric</b>, and as far as <b>Torridon</b> to the north and the <b>Moray Firth</b> to the east.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduedAXkGqTTlh_Mq5FMBtifVp7uS7y4Eg04O7dRXstYHPbe_jEXzHS1M1Bf85H2a8yOBpVwwkmhKtJ6hvYLyehuR76UxDXYNa5KGDotlkLSXP2Io_ggnLF9kBR983QFlqycCIkOhzxn6v/s1600/035_north_top_SailChaorainn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduedAXkGqTTlh_Mq5FMBtifVp7uS7y4Eg04O7dRXstYHPbe_jEXzHS1M1Bf85H2a8yOBpVwwkmhKtJ6hvYLyehuR76UxDXYNa5KGDotlkLSXP2Io_ggnLF9kBR983QFlqycCIkOhzxn6v/s640/035_north_top_SailChaorainn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on Carn na Coire Mheadhoin (looking worried that the camera might fall off its perch!)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There is another top, <b>Tigh Mor na Seilge</b> ("the big house of the hunt") another mile beyond. Despite its intriguing name, I decided that I had gone far enough for the day, so headed back towards Sail Choarainn. Will I ever get to that outlying top, I wonder?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxwHgOg8FkJR76Hhl4EsDrpMgUgGcNPAKJjehrWgTK8Ve0lt0G0sNZuNAt6tOcRPW8-d8_WO8ac6AZn7VBMezhpxg6Jnu7gsX5iHrOyt3bLqwRpKArvS2dcGq_uIz3y25qc6dXYpDY3BP/s1600/036_Conbhairean_fromNthTop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxwHgOg8FkJR76Hhl4EsDrpMgUgGcNPAKJjehrWgTK8Ve0lt0G0sNZuNAt6tOcRPW8-d8_WO8ac6AZn7VBMezhpxg6Jnu7gsX5iHrOyt3bLqwRpKArvS2dcGq_uIz3y25qc6dXYpDY3BP/s640/036_Conbhairean_fromNthTop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back from the north top to Sail Choarainn (rocky top of green lump in middle distance), Sgurr nan Conbhairean's pyramidal summit (centre), Carn Ghluasaid's flat top (left), and Drochaid an Tuill Easach (just off to the right)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxckdFuuBzrboyW87uKHDDFY8pHVvKEfbcU0PzSvomN-glqT6rN9kNE8Y59mAhDLXYC-Fx-IwvR6M5dtX8fxirmw40diqkftOI6NB_BLwW0wq_q7YsoE7jsp0OUi5kM019ej1SLynU3NJ/s1600/conbhairean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxckdFuuBzrboyW87uKHDDFY8pHVvKEfbcU0PzSvomN-glqT6rN9kNE8Y59mAhDLXYC-Fx-IwvR6M5dtX8fxirmw40diqkftOI6NB_BLwW0wq_q7YsoE7jsp0OUi5kM019ej1SLynU3NJ/s640/conbhairean.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Back at <b>Sail Chaorainn</b>, Anne was feeling a bit chilly, so we quickly set off back towards Conbhairean. Part way up its north ridge, we struck off to the right and contoured across the west flank to join the path leading down the SW shoulder, saving ourselves 100m or so of climbing. Another short descent and ascent, and we were on the final top of the day, <b>Drochaid an Tuill Easach</b> ("the bridge of the watery hollow"). Two ravens were sitting on the cairn, looking like two old hags, but flew off as we approached.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was cool and breezy on top, so we didn't linger there, but stopped for a final rest part way down the south ridge, overlooking Coire Lair. Suitably refreshed, we pushed on down the ridge by an intermittent path, which brought us down to the road at the lochside at 6.10pm.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The car lay 2km away along the road, so I left Anne and my rucsac at the pretty little waterfall, while I made a quick march along to fetch the car.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Only 20 more to go - a productive two days!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><b>Summary:</b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>3 Munros + 1 top</i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>19 km walk</i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1300 m climb</i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>8 hours 45 mins</i></span></div></div></div></span><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Log:</b></i></span></div></div></div></span></span></span><br />
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<tr> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>left Lundie</i></span></td> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>09:55</i></span></td> <td><br />
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<tr> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>Ghluasaid</i></span></td> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>12:00 - 12:30</i></span></td> <td><br />
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<tr> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Conbhairean</i></span></td> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>13:30 - 13:55</i></span></td> <td><br />
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<tr> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Chaorainn</i></span></i></span></span></td> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>14:40 - 14:45</i></span></i></span></span></td> <td><br />
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<tr> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>north top</i></span></i></span></span></td> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>15:00</i></span></i></span></span></td> <td><br />
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<tr> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Chaorainn</i></span></i></span></span></td> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>5:15 - 15:20</i></span></td> <td><br />
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<tr> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Drochaid TE</i></span></i></span></span></td> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>16:25</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>road</i></span></td> <td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>18:10</i></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-2429769447911964842010-07-22T22:45:00.000+01:002011-03-03T23:00:18.715+00:007 in a day: it can only be ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>The South Cluanie Ridge (22nd July 2010)</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/07/30-sgurr-mor.html">Sgurr Mor</a>, we moved on up to <a href="http://www.btinternet.com/~highlandcamping/">Cannich</a> in Glen Affric, but the weather turned wet and windy, so not worth venturing onto the hills. Then we had to head home to (a) help Fiona move her belongings to her new flat in Stirling, (b) do some gardening, (c) sort out some Regeneration business, and (d) attend a Royal Society Computing at School meeting in London. By the 21st, we were free again, and, as the weather forecast looked better in the west, we headed up to the <a href="http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/caravanclubapps/applications/uk%20sites/Site%20Details.aspx?csid=21944">Morvich</a> campsite at the foot of <b>Glen Shiel</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wfqgl9o8DCu7PkKqW4-9P1EmBzWp3f4EXAggUlaUMA2z1FfMysXhs6PWMHXJdCW98A4WlPrLTjLhTcjVopmZ5ODt1OlJA-efZol78WNxrqvnSBhJyuvDhI6PpEAkbGRUhoPmmjuuOiBo/s1600/001_Morvich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wfqgl9o8DCu7PkKqW4-9P1EmBzWp3f4EXAggUlaUMA2z1FfMysXhs6PWMHXJdCW98A4WlPrLTjLhTcjVopmZ5ODt1OlJA-efZol78WNxrqvnSBhJyuvDhI6PpEAkbGRUhoPmmjuuOiBo/s640/001_Morvich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">we found a dryish patch to pitch the tent at Morvich!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A fine couple of days were promised, so it had to be the <b>South Cluanie ridge</b>. Anne was content to let me tackle this marathon alone, so she dropped me at the road end beyond the <b><a href="http://www.cluanieinn.com/">Cluanie Inn</a></b> at 9am.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RDPEWq2jEq_vQQTe3iTd1-OA5TL5cCPQ-Foh2o_5rr3en1C6f6w3ygJXExIJRRAelJ4tlT5ZLaV0D0Of7U2TDJmO0BfAFRDB33esimQa23mb3gtc5AbYLMp5w7p9q7Tnbf4fnAqJE4Ov/s1600/Southcluanieridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RDPEWq2jEq_vQQTe3iTd1-OA5TL5cCPQ-Foh2o_5rr3en1C6f6w3ygJXExIJRRAelJ4tlT5ZLaV0D0Of7U2TDJmO0BfAFRDB33esimQa23mb3gtc5AbYLMp5w7p9q7Tnbf4fnAqJE4Ov/s640/Southcluanieridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was a little apprehensive as I set off down the road. 7 Munros in one day's walk.... Could I last the distance? Should I have started earlier? At least I knew that if I had to abort before the end of the ridge, it wasn't a long distance back to the road, and the weather looked perfect.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The walk up the old road made an easy start to the day, and reminded me of the day back in 1979 (I think?) when we drove up here from Inverness in Marjory's Fiat 126, sat in the car for an hour looking out at the wind and rain, then drove back again!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In contrast, today's weather was perfect! I followed the road as far as the bridge over the Allt Ghiubhais, then headed off up a rather muddy path to a stile across the deer fence and onto the open hillside. The path continued to wind its way up, with the view across Loch Cluanie to the north Glen Shiel hills giving excuse for frequent rests!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MDhAnZZdCLo1niEIUE9MoZSLeagw0HWfBNx_5x6Or23TOtlfFGGEBCws7doqaLruffozqpW888fLOjfP9jE9wBKQV_kd4OsMgLtDgqrRJrswaXCXDz75aBUqqPaLIMkLsG5Qz9wQM5aK/s1600/003_Conbhairean_Ghluasaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MDhAnZZdCLo1niEIUE9MoZSLeagw0HWfBNx_5x6Or23TOtlfFGGEBCws7doqaLruffozqpW888fLOjfP9jE9wBKQV_kd4OsMgLtDgqrRJrswaXCXDz75aBUqqPaLIMkLsG5Qz9wQM5aK/s640/003_Conbhairean_Ghluasaid.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking across Loch Cluanie to Sgurr nan Conbhairean and Carn Ghluasaid</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I continued up the west side of <b>Coirean an Eich Bhric</b> (the corrie of the speckled horse!), slanted across its headwall on a narrow sheep track, and reached the ridge 200m east of <b>Creag a' Mhaim</b> (947m). Two hours from leaving the car, I was on the summit of the first Munro. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Any doubts about my ascent route were dispelled when another walker appeared 10 minutes later, having left Cluanie 10 minutes before me, having followed the old road to the watershed, then come up the east ridge - a better path all the way, but longer and slower than the route I had followed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1QjqGhxSVkmxC9ZGTHypOL8jczzc8mPGt21exvLRZZdUZM43TJEEjxmQSEeZ3_cxZVzEj2ENRKmSlkMdkuu4mkJjH9lb7zNm2bjLt0Em7NuvWcSZEOJWJxFvpUKcr9vOf8iPlROlcjWE/s1600/004_west_fromCarnaMhaim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1QjqGhxSVkmxC9ZGTHypOL8jczzc8mPGt21exvLRZZdUZM43TJEEjxmQSEeZ3_cxZVzEj2ENRKmSlkMdkuu4mkJjH9lb7zNm2bjLt0Em7NuvWcSZEOJWJxFvpUKcr9vOf8iPlROlcjWE/s640/004_west_fromCarnaMhaim.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking west from Creag a'Mhaim to Druim Shionnaich and the distant cliffs of Aonach air Chrith</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I enjoyed a 15 minute rest, a bite to eat and a cup of coffee while contemplating the wonderful view all around, including the way ahead along the ridge over <b>Druim Shionnach</b> towards <b>Aonach air Chrith</b>. The further tops remained hidden frown view.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlKOo3W5Ge4_KQwVK_sg2HTpoq-vYqNTQiHTmzgbNz0XNpzQzZ0uHwF0m-7h3uzOIHPbVZo0C8yiezU4pfH7O_1Qnet-aPpsJUIJLUypvGFGijjp8LNwM9W7et_42Cco6KKWa1X5v0U-D/s1600/005_SpMI_Gleouraich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlKOo3W5Ge4_KQwVK_sg2HTpoq-vYqNTQiHTmzgbNz0XNpzQzZ0uHwF0m-7h3uzOIHPbVZo0C8yiezU4pfH7O_1Qnet-aPpsJUIJLUypvGFGijjp8LNwM9W7et_42Cco6KKWa1X5v0U-D/s640/005_SpMI_Gleouraich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Spidian Mialach and Gleuoraich dominate the view to the south, with Sgurr Mor through the gap</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The east end of the ridge was easy walking - gentle gradients, short grass underfoot (and, of course, fresh legs!). I kept company with another walker for some of the way, and in half-an-hour was climbing the short rocky arete to the summit of Munro number 2, <b>Druim Shionnach</b> (987m), "the foxes' ridge".</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once again, time for a seat ...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMd6Pvz0e-Ug3inGQdAmQVdNXNS3aQa6pGZfoIV8xP3NT3K3SWyK9hjwYWSqMSxkDkJCtjx_ILUnVlasZq1JfF8G6m2425JjAf3owlA1sI4Y3UQBtR452ClusnX0OcVzIhtueETI6VyLf/s1600/006_onDruimShionnach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMd6Pvz0e-Ug3inGQdAmQVdNXNS3aQa6pGZfoIV8xP3NT3K3SWyK9hjwYWSqMSxkDkJCtjx_ILUnVlasZq1JfF8G6m2425JjAf3owlA1sI4Y3UQBtR452ClusnX0OcVzIhtueETI6VyLf/s640/006_onDruimShionnach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">sunglasses and bare legs on Druim Shionnach!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The views were constantly changing, both of the way ahead, and of the surrounding mountains and glens, with the <b>Five Sisters of Kintail</b> starting to dominate the view ahead.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX8iDJ3_IsJouvF9BfoWtJJlgyfGsm7Kig27lqRX6vJZWPc6OMqsmInoyozKYTG7fGyJF_5KiX1iRcaGEXayYetCRvjbJ7_gULjWqLqevOVnaeBFMBRGj3rrSGN6azTgjf4R4q1AgOwXS/s1600/008_FiveSisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX8iDJ3_IsJouvF9BfoWtJJlgyfGsm7Kig27lqRX6vJZWPc6OMqsmInoyozKYTG7fGyJF_5KiX1iRcaGEXayYetCRvjbJ7_gULjWqLqevOVnaeBFMBRGj3rrSGN6azTgjf4R4q1AgOwXS/s640/008_FiveSisters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Five Sisters from Druim Shionnach</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After the initial gentle grassy section, the ridge began to get more interesting beyond Druim Shionnach, with steep drops to the right into <b>Coire an t-Slugain</b>. Still the ups and downs were fairly modest, over Druim Shionnach's <b>West Top</b> (the only Munro top on the ridge), and nowhere dropping below 868m between Creag a'Mhaim and Aonach air Chrith.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fdZoxDWw5BZJUsbk_iFtrIB5vUZ3bL_JToc2W5wWbrF7R0qDPGYNYgKREuM5M2MLlqgANQ0_GbUBpwxG2QrYdM9F5huedw4ffqD6k_uQezXlfNFbLg_wDbN0_nx6Zi_yZTf_rbde0RVX/s1600/009_towardsAonachAirCrith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fdZoxDWw5BZJUsbk_iFtrIB5vUZ3bL_JToc2W5wWbrF7R0qDPGYNYgKREuM5M2MLlqgANQ0_GbUBpwxG2QrYdM9F5huedw4ffqD6k_uQezXlfNFbLg_wDbN0_nx6Zi_yZTf_rbde0RVX/s640/009_towardsAonachAirCrith.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Aonach air Crith from Druim Shionnach</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another 50 minutes from <b>Druim Shionnach</b> to the top of Munro number 3, <b>Aonach air Chrith</b> (ridge of trembling) - today's highest point at 1021m. 12.45 - lunchtime! I met up with another group of 4 walkers on the summit. One had a Borders accent - and turned out to be my neighbour's daughter's boyfriend's father! Small world.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK54uTnXqX1bGp80YkVKdwI-0hzwd9q72UIhBrmxIOKiwuuvbd2NKGfb6FmevTuYb_VwMEmr8GRZubyrDHAdrtxn2JnPeZJi3VrIYjd0-_cl4Xj8atvXRL96ypVpqog6tYqZuRB0YsLPB3/s1600/011_north_from+AonAirCrith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK54uTnXqX1bGp80YkVKdwI-0hzwd9q72UIhBrmxIOKiwuuvbd2NKGfb6FmevTuYb_VwMEmr8GRZubyrDHAdrtxn2JnPeZJi3VrIYjd0-_cl4Xj8atvXRL96ypVpqog6tYqZuRB0YsLPB3/s640/011_north_from+AonAirCrith.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking north from Aonach air Chrith along Druim na Ciche to A' Chioch and Loch Cluanie beyond</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjewKleC8E_LYHUXGTPcArSMRfs9f12ovGgu-Zt2q1Bm33RVBVfB3Vv2L5kLM_tjw8cxdJbF-xWJvs-2suCmECxDh4YXIq4UqF9-chi-MUSVgbQ3LYmt8lxpoJxCcwcBP_CRGonUxLai1/s1600/012_east_fromAaCrith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjewKleC8E_LYHUXGTPcArSMRfs9f12ovGgu-Zt2q1Bm33RVBVfB3Vv2L5kLM_tjw8cxdJbF-xWJvs-2suCmECxDh4YXIq4UqF9-chi-MUSVgbQ3LYmt8lxpoJxCcwcBP_CRGonUxLai1/s640/012_east_fromAaCrith.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back from Aonach air Chrith to Druim Shionnach and Creag a'Mhaim</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We continued on more or less together - now in the heat of the day, but quite pleasant with a gentle breeze to keep us comfortable towards the next Munro and half-way point, <b>Maol Chinn-Dearg</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EQKu77hrvhyCPHyQIyHSMCByzNpZhjVUcaRzfHsnR-_gZ3C0Y_n5XKhwSko0VMlFS5omq7X7nnZ3dMPlmvoL21aoJSGDmtsRfAvtdCvay5nRVx2lUwvhYXffG1P9cDdEv-lEna4YdECt/s1600/015_towards_MaolChinnDearg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EQKu77hrvhyCPHyQIyHSMCByzNpZhjVUcaRzfHsnR-_gZ3C0Y_n5XKhwSko0VMlFS5omq7X7nnZ3dMPlmvoL21aoJSGDmtsRfAvtdCvay5nRVx2lUwvhYXffG1P9cDdEv-lEna4YdECt/s640/015_towards_MaolChinnDearg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">westwards towards Maol Chinn-dearg from Aonach air Chrith</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This next section was quite similar to the previous one, with continuous grassy slopes falling away an unbroken 600m on the left, and a series of craggy bites on the right, dropping into <b>Coire na Eirechanach</b>. The path wound its way along between these, with great view on both sides. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To the south, <b>Sgurr a' Mhaoraich</b> was now the dominant hill.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5AmS0Bx5Z-GjvGqemNmsLOT2-te_XBC2OFioPSqN1B1lxGDAvO2AuCOr9YDYp8csAt3XCkFx6Jdql0rtJJdTN47gkMIoQlWtd0f-1DncMZCVVrk0rRkLrwGM-QaovdrJpayK0g7Yo8vB/s1600/014_SgurraMhaoaraich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5AmS0Bx5Z-GjvGqemNmsLOT2-te_XBC2OFioPSqN1B1lxGDAvO2AuCOr9YDYp8csAt3XCkFx6Jdql0rtJJdTN47gkMIoQlWtd0f-1DncMZCVVrk0rRkLrwGM-QaovdrJpayK0g7Yo8vB/s640/014_SgurraMhaoaraich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sgurr a' Mhaoraich, with Glen Quoich airport at its foot!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A short steep ascent led up to the top of Munro number 4: <b>Maol Chinn-Dearg</b> (bald red head). The group of 4 were there just ahead of me, one sporting a "maol chinn-dearg" of his own - a reminder that we needed to renew our sun protection! It was now 2pm, and everyone was happy to chat and lie out on the grassy summit for half and hour or so before gradually setting off on the second half of the ridge, now all visible ahead. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9ifFoJDXtpRUVpOp80b44UsuLaW8-0iPMFb6DZlxUOUyzunx9aJGt1QGnEbZbJ41LPuFxGogT2bG4yrkznCeRUH0Wc5AyVK3wkY-jksi83DV83XK2gHWfZOGPT9gpvtTAXBGWqQcDK1C/s1600/016_craggy_bit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9ifFoJDXtpRUVpOp80b44UsuLaW8-0iPMFb6DZlxUOUyzunx9aJGt1QGnEbZbJ41LPuFxGogT2bG4yrkznCeRUH0Wc5AyVK3wkY-jksi83DV83XK2gHWfZOGPT9gpvtTAXBGWqQcDK1C/s320/016_craggy_bit.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From <b>Chinn-Dearg</b>, the ridge dropped steeply over a rocky outcrop (left), before continuing much as before, by-passing the minor bump of <b>Sgurr Coire na Feinne</b> on its south flank. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A further drop to an 800m bealach means an ascent of 200m to the next Munro, <b>Sgurr an Doire Leathain </b>(peak of the broad oak thicket!); in fact, this is the biggest re-ascent of the day, so no complaints! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No sign of any oak thickets!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The summit lay 200m out to the north of the ridge on a spur, with a tiny lochan where it joins the main ridge. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcH2su1YlAwz6QYYmeoaf75sx5WKQ7MTzPQP35Ha8veylEIYTgV1OCUx994nkvVhkjwXwxEmAp0oVU21OG-Kt3TFqgJACHKtE4lr5mVN_od_5yng0hhTK6K8QGCTrumokLqmIT0CBjP_o/s1600/017_Sgurr_anDoireLeathainn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcH2su1YlAwz6QYYmeoaf75sx5WKQ7MTzPQP35Ha8veylEIYTgV1OCUx994nkvVhkjwXwxEmAp0oVU21OG-Kt3TFqgJACHKtE4lr5mVN_od_5yng0hhTK6K8QGCTrumokLqmIT0CBjP_o/s640/017_Sgurr_anDoireLeathainn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sgurr an Doire Leathain from the lochan on the main ridge</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The others were a little way ahead, so I had this summit to myself for 10 minutes, apart from some flying ants! Again, an excellent viewpoint, especially looking north and west down <b>Loch Duich</b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To the south, <b>Ben Nevis</b> appeared over the shoulder of <b>Gleouraich</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfR7pf1vQzM36oV5a6DqEH5P5Aqpc7qeCokeqjbtbxbCJ7Op2HwGQd6cfYgCfu_yx3x9PMif0R8obqGqum57UUuXzuKZjaBujqMUC-M13ey9pSlF6GQ4umin5ISdKwognzOBlOZFwXiEQ8/s1600/020_toGleuoraich_BenNevis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfR7pf1vQzM36oV5a6DqEH5P5Aqpc7qeCokeqjbtbxbCJ7Op2HwGQd6cfYgCfu_yx3x9PMif0R8obqGqum57UUuXzuKZjaBujqMUC-M13ey9pSlF6GQ4umin5ISdKwognzOBlOZFwXiEQ8/s640/020_toGleuoraich_BenNevis.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the main ridge (foreground), Gleouraich, and Ben Nevis (in the distance)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From here to the next Munro, <b>Sgurr an Lochain</b>, was an easy 1km down and up, along the grassy ridge, but with some impressively deep gullies dropping into <b>Coire an Lochain</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccy8INo7uEb4hEYkPly5aicz6G6jwRhZruYvKn1eaY-mBEJbGcGS0o7bbuGTlCE4b-CsWU6DkUIRe5FtDjbZlVR9f9EZ0w3-x2YNT_kHxw_2ylLKjkzNEY26TUy9twXicmtMLUsdOM2st/s1600/021_Sgurr_anLochain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccy8INo7uEb4hEYkPly5aicz6G6jwRhZruYvKn1eaY-mBEJbGcGS0o7bbuGTlCE4b-CsWU6DkUIRe5FtDjbZlVR9f9EZ0w3-x2YNT_kHxw_2ylLKjkzNEY26TUy9twXicmtMLUsdOM2st/s640/021_Sgurr_anLochain.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the ridge continuing towards Sgurr an Lochain and beyond</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2j9enSisSguiakPDM46g3yhDKIXvMDtGVdgOJPG2pz6tacY_ocGXZ_eRfLhwtv_iOGDjVhNJMdCaDcauItbvRDLqGesY4DYYCJNgHnJnFRv1eKxVSpBG5ZkNiycxDEy2HwcQCOUAmAx9/s1600/022_fromSgurranLochain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2j9enSisSguiakPDM46g3yhDKIXvMDtGVdgOJPG2pz6tacY_ocGXZ_eRfLhwtv_iOGDjVhNJMdCaDcauItbvRDLqGesY4DYYCJNgHnJnFRv1eKxVSpBG5ZkNiycxDEy2HwcQCOUAmAx9/s400/022_fromSgurranLochain.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(left) The lochan, in Coire an Lochain, below Sgurr an Lochain! </span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></i>Not the most imaginative of names for a mountain, but a superb peak nonetheless!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I sometimes think the locals must had a wee twinkle in their eyes as they gave the OS surveyors the names of the hills. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The worst/best example is A' Bhuidheanach Bheag, east of Drumochter. The name means "the wee yellowish place", hardly the name for a mountain! I can just imagine the conversation that took place down in the glen. OS surveyor, pointing up towards the skyline, to local: "What's the name of that mountain?" The local raises his eyes to the hills, but looks puzzled ... "You mean that wee yellowish bit up there?" The OS surveyor dutifully notes this on his map ...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And, so, 30 minutes after leaving </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sgurr an Doire Leathain </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(1010m), I was on the 6th Munro of the day, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sgurr an Lochain</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (1004m). Not often you can climb a Munro in half-an-hour! Its fine grassy top deserved a short stop - 10 minutes - before embarking on the final leg of the ridge.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sgurr Beag </b>(896m) was the next wee bump on the ridge. The purist would insist on the 100m of ascent to include Sgurr Beag, but my now wearying legs yielded to the temptation of another by-pass path cutting across its southern slope. This also gave the chance of refilling my water bottle from a spring next to the path.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once back on the ridge proper, the path led down a broad shoulder to the <b>Bealach Fraoch Choire</b>, complete with its own wee lochan, reflecting the still blue sky.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFrE-NDnVOTT1jSjnW7-r9B6ycb9g-AdMgibVED59qsGtDW-xl5HssPepYUbGXZcpa8_aZ_8qNVrTV0LVPleGhs32P3uQ_nytIwT1nvhaiW-plj9Ya0YeBj998nPC3s7q8cJAxqn-HHkt/s1600/024_north_from+BealachFraochChoire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFrE-NDnVOTT1jSjnW7-r9B6ycb9g-AdMgibVED59qsGtDW-xl5HssPepYUbGXZcpa8_aZ_8qNVrTV0LVPleGhs32P3uQ_nytIwT1nvhaiW-plj9Ya0YeBj998nPC3s7q8cJAxqn-HHkt/s640/024_north_from+BealachFraochChoire.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ahead, the final Munro, <b>Creag nan Damh</b>, filled the view. The line of the ridge was much less well-defined here, but a well-worn path led up the final weary 190m to its rocky summit.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbEayoJZsV149A0mAI37_-fXRwkUwj05bbQZabv5fiRuSAMvNy3gMUMASEd9mtSg6HA9nzJxYJTaCGLDrOjMhUCe9gsI7JZadbPAdGsC90upx_OQ4gh1ZobxuBirLUH6_BDls3uquDNkg/s1600/023_CraiganDamh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbEayoJZsV149A0mAI37_-fXRwkUwj05bbQZabv5fiRuSAMvNy3gMUMASEd9mtSg6HA9nzJxYJTaCGLDrOjMhUCe9gsI7JZadbPAdGsC90upx_OQ4gh1ZobxuBirLUH6_BDls3uquDNkg/s640/023_CraiganDamh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Creag nan Damh from Bealach Fraoch Choire</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And so, at 17.05, I stood on the final Munro - the 7th that day, and my 260th. I had caught up again with some of the other walkers, and we spent 15 minutes chatting and enjoying our achievement.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All that was left now was to make our way back down to the road. Two routes looked feasible - the shorter one over <b>Sgurr a'Chuillin</b> - or the longer one down the <b>Allt Mhalagain</b>. We chose the latter, enticed by the prospect of an excellent stalkers' path. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I texted Anne to let her know I would be at the roadside at Malagain Bridge in about 2 hours. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So we continued on along the ridge for 2km, gradually descending over some rocky steps to reach the <b>Bealach Duibh Leac</b> at 730m. This was the first time below 750m since before the summit of Creag a Mhaim, 7 hours earlier and 14km back. In between lay 7 Munros and a Munro top - a superb high level traverse.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6GMVsZPcDobEWdNCesLBB5NBU6-rPUwb93XCXQeA2te_LCtXCXyqclTZsizpL4IqLWEmO5Deseswb_FCIFlCcJaAC45jv0luz4F-NRcTITp7Ca9Z7kjzNuKEwD3AMzi4XuqAQmhwJdQ9/s1600/025_AlltMhalagain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6GMVsZPcDobEWdNCesLBB5NBU6-rPUwb93XCXQeA2te_LCtXCXyqclTZsizpL4IqLWEmO5Deseswb_FCIFlCcJaAC45jv0luz4F-NRcTITp7Ca9Z7kjzNuKEwD3AMzi4XuqAQmhwJdQ9/s640/025_AlltMhalagain.jpg" width="425" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From the bealach, we made a steep and rough descent over broken ground before picking up the path beside a lochan at 600m. The path descended by a number of wide zig-zags, to cross the burn at 370m, then descended steadily down the glen (left). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Aware of my promise to be down in two hours, I pressed on downwards at speed, leaving the others behind, and reached the roadside at Malagain Bridge at 7.15pm.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No car waiting! For some reason, the text hadn't arrived, but a quick phone call soon brought Anne from where she had been waiting a mile or so up the road.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A fantastic day!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Summary:</b></i></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>7 Munros + 1 top</i></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>23 km walk</i></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1600 m climb</i></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>10 hours 15 mins</i></span></div></div></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Log:</b></i></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>left Cluanie 09:00</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Creag a' Mhaim 11:00 - 11:15</i></span></div></div></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Druim Shionnaich 11:45 - 11:55</i> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Aonach air Crith 12:45 - 13:05</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Maol Chinn-Dearg 14:00 - 14:30</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Sgurr Doire Leathainn 15:15 - 15:25</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Sgurr an Lochain 15:55 - 16:05</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Creag nan Damh 17:05 - 17:20</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>return to A87 19:15</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">written 03/03/11 D. Bethune</span></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-86218162653008852382010-07-13T15:21:00.001+01:002011-02-26T17:41:01.347+00:0030: Sgurr Mor<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Sgurr Mor (Glen Kingie) 13th July 2010</b><br />
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After our big day yesterday on the <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/07/32-31-glenfinnan-horseshoe.html">Corryhully Horseshoe</a>, a rest day would have been ideal, but unfortunately(!) the weather was fine. Too good a day to waste, so this time, leaving Anne to potter about in Glen Nevis, I set off on my own back up Loch Arkaig. Two days earlier, it had been foul and murky; today, the views up the loch were superb.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWSfdgF_c6R0mbYUAc5bO3LHYmT5VQGHvYnY8g4MVgT_H86i5M1qCMXI4dcc8ATCm8OoBXy4dFTv2x0huoYjgwbOB6A-nGiW4X-KuqktaJVTkiLBP6KP1isq71crHmgomT9zjfY94P6Ji/s1600/025_Clunes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWSfdgF_c6R0mbYUAc5bO3LHYmT5VQGHvYnY8g4MVgT_H86i5M1qCMXI4dcc8ATCm8OoBXy4dFTv2x0huoYjgwbOB6A-nGiW4X-KuqktaJVTkiLBP6KP1isq71crHmgomT9zjfY94P6Ji/s640/025_Clunes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">view up Loch Arkaig</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>After a few stops to take photos, and a seemingly endless succession of blind summits and bends, I reached the end of the road at <b>Strathan</b> at 10.20am. Across the valley, yesterday's hills - <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/07/32-31-glenfinnan-horseshoe.html">Sgurr Thuilm and Sgurr na Coireachan</a> were shrouded in cloud.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhyphenhyphenWSl-AN7ssWWCYlBTHdabG-B3kUUHDaXNzR-0jFf2_MZhll1a7Hz2ZMqDQY_S1Ipu1OEKmEs2D40TX9D623_2CaZp3uP0EhkT2UVYC4NKh6ZSkj-wNpwkvLSnoTuFWvpoXfY62dAvqy/s1600/027_Streap_andThuilm_+fromStrathan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhyphenhyphenWSl-AN7ssWWCYlBTHdabG-B3kUUHDaXNzR-0jFf2_MZhll1a7Hz2ZMqDQY_S1Ipu1OEKmEs2D40TX9D623_2CaZp3uP0EhkT2UVYC4NKh6ZSkj-wNpwkvLSnoTuFWvpoXfY62dAvqy/s640/027_Streap_andThuilm_+fromStrathan.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>at the top of the road - Streap and Sgurr Thuilm in cloud</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I loaded my rucsac, and cycled 3km up the road, almost to Glen Dessary House. The map shows a path heading up on the north side of the stream, but a rough track could be seen heading up on the south side, so, leaving the bike by the side of the track, I made my way up this squelchy track. <i>Note to anyone thinking of doing the same - don't! There is a much better path on the north side!</i> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyway, I squelched my way up the track, which improved a bit higher up, but then evaporated completely on the level bealach. A line of well-spaced stobs seemed to suggest a route through the peat hags - fortunately it was a dry day! After 25 minutes of floundering across the moss, I joined a better path leading down into Glen Kingie, with <b>Sgurr Mor</b>, today's destination, dominating the skyline ahead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaN5a0MZt0Oktm0uUZfxDqm7umkgEgCXzE7TzWw2lKn0t4AQGTqXEZWeQQf2KABSowvWBHetd11WZ5S0qXVFT1iStBY8xw_qcIsmi7cl6AWwDqwW-RI_eD9PPDyVt7UEGifuy8Ee2QWmx/s1600/028_SgurrMor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaN5a0MZt0Oktm0uUZfxDqm7umkgEgCXzE7TzWw2lKn0t4AQGTqXEZWeQQf2KABSowvWBHetd11WZ5S0qXVFT1iStBY8xw_qcIsmi7cl6AWwDqwW-RI_eD9PPDyVt7UEGifuy8Ee2QWmx/s640/028_SgurrMor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>the boggy bealach between Glen Dessary and Glen Kingie - Sgurr Beag (left) and Sgurr Mor ahead</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>No sooner had I found the path, but it started to turn eastwards towards Kinbreck, so I abandoned it and headed north west and down towards the River Kingie, which I reached at 12.10. The water was pretty low, so it was easy enough to cross to gain the good stalkers' path up the north side of the glen. Actually, this path (highly rated in the guide books) was a little disappointing, badly worn and quite boggy in places. Still, it was much better than anything I had been on so far today! <br />
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After following the path for a couple of kilometres, it started to climb, then rose in a series of beautifully engineered zig-zags up to the col between An Eag and Sgurr Beag at 660m. About half way up the zig-zags, my stomach demanded food, so a 15 minute stop to refuel at 1pm. <br />
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Soon the col was reached, and the superb path continued in graceful curves up the ridge to Sgurr Beag (890m). Behind me, <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2009/06/knoydart-adventure-5-sgurr-na-ciche.html">Sgurr na Ciche</a> started to pop up over the nearer hills, and soon the whole ridge to the west was visible in its full rugged splendour. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmrM6sEJ0o1ETzNnkht_8SmtqPrl71ZgHSZYx3ZN6GK3hTgjFLZyXuUpTxpME46XrRlf9ifFcRDUIKXxuZxeJBiFT76yI3KXpGdVXBvi6AB3KO1UlGVjC8wGHTzreQ1ipNSjA5y9ZyDuS/s1600/030_Ciche_fromSgurrBeag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmrM6sEJ0o1ETzNnkht_8SmtqPrl71ZgHSZYx3ZN6GK3hTgjFLZyXuUpTxpME46XrRlf9ifFcRDUIKXxuZxeJBiFT76yI3KXpGdVXBvi6AB3KO1UlGVjC8wGHTzreQ1ipNSjA5y9ZyDuS/s640/030_Ciche_fromSgurrBeag.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sgurr na Coireachan, Garbh Chioch Mhor and Sgurr na Ciche, from Sgurr Beag</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>This was a fine place to rest (now 2.10pm), with just a warm breeze blowing from the south, and a fine view looking down to the head of Loch Quoich. A short shower swept across, but had passed almost as soon as I had got my cagoule on.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Another series of well constructed zig-zags led down to the next col, followed by a long slog up the steep SW ridge of <b>Sgurr Mor</b>, with my legs complaining after yesterday's exertions. Suddenly, just after 3pm, the top appeared, and I flopped down at the cairn for a 25 minute rest. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yqY7mpDAYoTMPXdhHr_oUY8MnTciepvFe8CQeePTF0GwByMIwa1QxpckN3iC0Fy67mpj9BzxolAORM6PcTmvDvAZ-MUtCFJzIgJC8mGMLwAPJQJ_aahmFoYw-VVQxEnSxZdHHt7EoQqs/s1600/032_SgurrMor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yqY7mpDAYoTMPXdhHr_oUY8MnTciepvFe8CQeePTF0GwByMIwa1QxpckN3iC0Fy67mpj9BzxolAORM6PcTmvDvAZ-MUtCFJzIgJC8mGMLwAPJQJ_aahmFoYw-VVQxEnSxZdHHt7EoQqs/s640/032_SgurrMor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>summit of Sgurr Mor</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table> To the west, <b>Sgurr na Ciche</b>, to the north across Loch Quoich, <b>Sgurr a' Mhaoraich</b>, <b>Gleouraich</b> and <b>Spidean Mialach</b>, and to the east, <b>Gairich</b> - I had already climbed everything in sight!</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnngNKWsjfgWLavjlsYitUxjBiKjJHS_BPUYUzeEEU4pQKgJB9-Ca33ameojUJHx_XirID7rbI9Gbc5k-dXkL-Bdj82WryIyJB63izL9aWby0MJ75_tcutW3SHzzfXBBaYi_C5mH9n4fk/s1600/033_Gleouraich_SPMialach_+from+SgurrMor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnngNKWsjfgWLavjlsYitUxjBiKjJHS_BPUYUzeEEU4pQKgJB9-Ca33ameojUJHx_XirID7rbI9Gbc5k-dXkL-Bdj82WryIyJB63izL9aWby0MJ75_tcutW3SHzzfXBBaYi_C5mH9n4fk/s640/033_Gleouraich_SPMialach_+from+SgurrMor.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach across Loch Quoich from Sgurr Mor</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>3.30pm - time to move off. The only other climber I had seen all day had left the summit before I reached it. I descended east along the summit ridge, then continued down the ridge towards <b>Sgurr an Fhuarain</b>. It looked like it would be an enjoyable walk to continue to its top, but not for today! At the lowest point of the ridge, I dropped off south down grassy slopes (Anne would have hated them!) and was back down to the Kingie an hour after leaving the summit. Time for another wee refreshment break there, before toiling back up to the boggy bealach, and retracing my steps across and down into Glen Dessary.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The bike was where I had left it, and it proved its worth as I trundled effortlessy back to the car in only 10 minutes, overtaking the other walker I had seen earlier. 6.05pm, and a lovely evening.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The final bonus was the view across Loch Lochy to the Nevis range on the drive back to Glen Nevis.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBd2lQSnCJdEQLIViGgR5BkdOmvmg0Z9XWbKwnQcWUCPH9Kr38TYqns52PEVNASNGBAG3F2k3nZ0DlT4yEX67qKdz0kVNuLrliswdIc7nll78wyC38Cn49RvVXqGkDm8fSCU4giV4ShlJ/s1600/037_BenNevis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBd2lQSnCJdEQLIViGgR5BkdOmvmg0Z9XWbKwnQcWUCPH9Kr38TYqns52PEVNASNGBAG3F2k3nZ0DlT4yEX67qKdz0kVNuLrliswdIc7nll78wyC38Cn49RvVXqGkDm8fSCU4giV4ShlJ/s640/037_BenNevis.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ben Nevis and CMD across Loch Lochy</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>And so, apart from the Aonachs, that completed all the Munros accessible from Glen Nevis, and it was time to head further north - Glen Shiel and Glen Affric beckoned ...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdfbRFPWFZl8KTQ4krV3CyqzNH3y4J0vN6pmQjg1yw4z_Q1sEmJLPnqBb0QUEikw-7KtYuVY5pjDEzyMyjTgr1gvpxHeShJt7VwrKIqHT5TM_X1DWbTRFtdXGSXSCm4wmIvxAnBwerahV/s1600/SgurrMor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdfbRFPWFZl8KTQ4krV3CyqzNH3y4J0vN6pmQjg1yw4z_Q1sEmJLPnqBb0QUEikw-7KtYuVY5pjDEzyMyjTgr1gvpxHeShJt7VwrKIqHT5TM_X1DWbTRFtdXGSXSCm4wmIvxAnBwerahV/s400/SgurrMor.jpg" width="363" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><i><b>Summary:</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><i>1 Munro</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><i>6 km by bike</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><i>15 km walk</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><i>1250 m climb</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><i>7 hours 40 mins</i></span></div></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">written 26/02/11 </span></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-45067957812874373262010-07-12T16:58:00.000+01:002011-02-19T19:00:48.469+00:0032, 31: Glenfinnan horseshoe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sgurr Thuilm and Sgurr na Coireachan (12th July 2010)</b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We had decided that we wouldn't book any fixed holidays in summer 2010, but would use it to make a big inroad into my last remaining Munros. Already, trips to <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/04/4140-loch-ossian-trio-part-1.html">Loch Ossian</a>, <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/05/3837-ceathreamhnan-and-dheiragain.html">Kintail</a>, <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/05/rest-day-on-skye.html">Skye</a> and <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/06/33-weird-rock-formations-on-ben-avon.html">Ben Avon</a> has reduced the target list from 42 to 33.</span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first few days of the holidays were spent getting Fiona sorted with a flat and a car in preparation for her starting her teaching career in Larbert, but we managed to get organised to head up north on Sunday 10th July. We set up our tent in <b>Glen Nevis</b> campsite in the afternoon, and 1 hour later the rain started to fall! And all the next day ... which included sitting in the car at the top of <b>Loch Arkaig</b> for an hour or two before deciding to return to base without climbing anything. The falls at the top of Glen Nevis and at <b>Steall</b> were impressive, though, in the evening!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSazqps1a3OqAg7hrCmtV3_fYe09t8Cu6dq-4JBA0xFJWSORkSnxrZoLgCSHciytkODkmGi5pFAFB_o6hDiGdXV8DINw0sXd63nr7sAjPFXB_dN5U5e6K9qYKgNFdGZPCf9uCh4dMc0k00/s1600/002_GlenNevis_falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSazqps1a3OqAg7hrCmtV3_fYe09t8Cu6dq-4JBA0xFJWSORkSnxrZoLgCSHciytkODkmGi5pFAFB_o6hDiGdXV8DINw0sXd63nr7sAjPFXB_dN5U5e6K9qYKgNFdGZPCf9uCh4dMc0k00/s640/002_GlenNevis_falls.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">lower falls at top of Glen Nevis</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5hVLGlQ8YSSkvxEI1B5WTU_DnRC0ej7un-o3m3i6gqa2xOfpSEP1bEEPfaiyjf33trRzFR-CE0DhAVzcEBSBslYCkgb2C2OUFvmTjdxLVcylLfZ54ZddKcj_8RDu5pL-F-T4-4X7nBcv/s1600/009_Corryhully.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Monday morning looked a bit more promising, although there were still some pretty heavy showers around. So, off we went up to <b>Glenfinnan</b>, and parked the car at the road end just beyond the NTS visitor centre. We waited for a heavy shower to pass over, then got our bikes out, and headed off under the viaduct and up the glen. 10.20am. Enjoyed the cycle up smooth tarmac, and the views ahead to the hills (although still looking a bit damp).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5hVLGlQ8YSSkvxEI1B5WTU_DnRC0ej7un-o3m3i6gqa2xOfpSEP1bEEPfaiyjf33trRzFR-CE0DhAVzcEBSBslYCkgb2C2OUFvmTjdxLVcylLfZ54ZddKcj_8RDu5pL-F-T4-4X7nBcv/s1600/009_Corryhully.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5hVLGlQ8YSSkvxEI1B5WTU_DnRC0ej7un-o3m3i6gqa2xOfpSEP1bEEPfaiyjf33trRzFR-CE0DhAVzcEBSBslYCkgb2C2OUFvmTjdxLVcylLfZ54ZddKcj_8RDu5pL-F-T4-4X7nBcv/s640/009_Corryhully.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">view up Glen Finnan</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After 30 minutes, we reached <b>Corryhully</b>, where the tarred road came to an end. We cycled on for a short distance, until the track deteriorated so that we decided it would be quicker walking. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An hour after leaving the car, we were at the foot of <b>Sgurr Thuilm</b>'s SW ridge. Here we left the main track over to Loch Arkaig, and began the ascent of the ridge's grassy nose. Steep and squelchy at first, we were soon climbing up onto drier ground. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzQl1Y5ivfh55A6lYGf-1rNpgjvfllRPzJEKe2T3JTUdsCFy1os3EvdArlwufP9FcwQVkKfLH56jdSruCMSP2G2J0wuN3edRw0_Ei2lG28RymFYTILUkeZhatO6WkS262UyGvi-hxEJND/s1600/011_sth_fromSgurrThuilm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzQl1Y5ivfh55A6lYGf-1rNpgjvfllRPzJEKe2T3JTUdsCFy1os3EvdArlwufP9FcwQVkKfLH56jdSruCMSP2G2J0wuN3edRw0_Ei2lG28RymFYTILUkeZhatO6WkS262UyGvi-hxEJND/s640/011_sth_fromSgurrThuilm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back down Glen Finnan from Druim Choire a' Bheithe</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At around 700m, the gradient eased off, but there was still a long slog along <b>Druim Choire a' Bheithe</b>, before we would reach the final slopes to Sgurr Thuilm's summit. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tQ2am3ojKNxhKB66l0vLBIp2fQxgmoE1CIklBOok2U0WU9U04cDsMLv2aMgQiIxRdCW191MVYHNL4JbCXAkpWlzuUkYRhH_WX3Fpc4EiHl_R9h9_cPQBVcN4TLyK2QK7fsKpIPt9F8Dm/s1600/010_climbing_SgurrThuilm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tQ2am3ojKNxhKB66l0vLBIp2fQxgmoE1CIklBOok2U0WU9U04cDsMLv2aMgQiIxRdCW191MVYHNL4JbCXAkpWlzuUkYRhH_WX3Fpc4EiHl_R9h9_cPQBVcN4TLyK2QK7fsKpIPt9F8Dm/s640/010_climbing_SgurrThuilm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anne on Druim Choire a' Bheithe - the summit still 2km away!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We plodded onwards - warm and muggy, with various showers all around, but none falling on us. At 13.45 we flopped down against the summit cairn - time for lunch, and a well-earned rest!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The views were good, though - to neighbouring <b>Streap</b>, north into the rough hills beyond <b>Glen Dessarry</b>, and west along the ridge towards <b>Sgurr na Coireachan</b>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzjbzTMC6lI_4FLa2Cnau_oXaJfxd6P4KTjQ7-4jhdRCWueltU35G5kBmVRX6uW9tu2CB0XKs1pJLPwikg7O9EKS8RcYUhV0FZAyxELzT5zDoMUeRuCVLQpFE9gnkQ4u5SS2YMhG4YJ0C/s1600/014_LochMorar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzjbzTMC6lI_4FLa2Cnau_oXaJfxd6P4KTjQ7-4jhdRCWueltU35G5kBmVRX6uW9tu2CB0XKs1pJLPwikg7O9EKS8RcYUhV0FZAyxELzT5zDoMUeRuCVLQpFE9gnkQ4u5SS2YMhG4YJ0C/s640/014_LochMorar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking west from Sgurr Thuilm along Loch Morar to the sea</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXdgGf7f-FpIbG3IyjzpfET41cJUVIm5hiR9pPJNa5vmERJm1VQNpO-_yTA2QEf8d7vzs62Nb5dastANSPFkBplJ0Vzwiy_UA8v0CYH18E4yANUWBj8y70XgSCrHZpn3rmMbIR0lnkDgZ/s1600/015_LochArkaig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXdgGf7f-FpIbG3IyjzpfET41cJUVIm5hiR9pPJNa5vmERJm1VQNpO-_yTA2QEf8d7vzs62Nb5dastANSPFkBplJ0Vzwiy_UA8v0CYH18E4yANUWBj8y70XgSCrHZpn3rmMbIR0lnkDgZ/s640/015_LochArkaig.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking down on Strathan at the head of Loch Arkaig</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcVMo-nnMgtRRoHGHdTc7fbBN1mbHASIhOSXOd6noTFAdzaPPRvPvNgqGeNY_LkckKVlrAOen0TEnTFln1a46KN5z-XJoyWtuFFMaeDST9MmY0UWPdhpd_kvM1u1XZAtjgfj7NUnaaS19/s1600/016_Coireachean_fromThuilm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcVMo-nnMgtRRoHGHdTc7fbBN1mbHASIhOSXOd6noTFAdzaPPRvPvNgqGeNY_LkckKVlrAOen0TEnTFln1a46KN5z-XJoyWtuFFMaeDST9MmY0UWPdhpd_kvM1u1XZAtjgfj7NUnaaS19/s640/016_Coireachean_fromThuilm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the ridge from Sgurr Thuilm to Sgurr na Coireachan</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On the map, it doesn't seem far from Sgurr Thuilm to Sgurr na Coireachan, but in fact the 4km high level walk took us 2.5 hours, twisting up and down over a seemingly endless series of minor tops. That's not a complaint - we were just surprised at the time it took us. A careful study of the map shows 4 intervening tops, and although ridge never drops below 730m, there is about 400m of climbing involved along the way! Fortunately, the views ahead towards Loch Morar and the west made it all worthwhile.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjkb0RXEaw1UItYbM1QDVGFeQ0t_VvUTvVTELuO_RjEVr5vpAniG3CRj_fGMzPMDsgVmCiJKoCJVzmR8DAVJZXxSMXjdA9PdRY0G4Cib1zpQ_tl7-fO3Chuld4JyDdt6iW9qpoJgrehCf/s1600/017_Thuilm_fromridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjkb0RXEaw1UItYbM1QDVGFeQ0t_VvUTvVTELuO_RjEVr5vpAniG3CRj_fGMzPMDsgVmCiJKoCJVzmR8DAVJZXxSMXjdA9PdRY0G4Cib1zpQ_tl7-fO3Chuld4JyDdt6iW9qpoJgrehCf/s640/017_Thuilm_fromridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking back towards Sgurr Thuilm from half-way along the ridge</span></i></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OF5uDVrEVX7aJwluxI64dzL1YlMImTboy5eY-QBmuF5czg52oHaLjIYkxKN3hBRL4LXetkqMFF7TEBFTpHQKUh3hS_PDUfB7aprRlgM9SJrORRn4OtaIsu9eDhKqlPxqTMrMxOayUm1N/s1600/018_Coireachean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OF5uDVrEVX7aJwluxI64dzL1YlMImTboy5eY-QBmuF5czg52oHaLjIYkxKN3hBRL4LXetkqMFF7TEBFTpHQKUh3hS_PDUfB7aprRlgM9SJrORRn4OtaIsu9eDhKqlPxqTMrMxOayUm1N/s640/018_Coireachean.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>view across the dramatic Coire Thollaidh to Sgurr na Coireachan, with the rocks glistening from the rain</i></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAq1m-7AHrx4-dBYBxX0DYQvaiWTQ1lw49h8xTMsuz-SOlw-_yxGBLgfWuLnqCTmwARN-u66q4DS880ZPUADqnyKorvkXGQXehko3z5PGQa7Nu8Rubo5xJxG-Tj0RkdEkZjBpeGbv0yo4H/s1600/019_fencepost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAq1m-7AHrx4-dBYBxX0DYQvaiWTQ1lw49h8xTMsuz-SOlw-_yxGBLgfWuLnqCTmwARN-u66q4DS880ZPUADqnyKorvkXGQXehko3z5PGQa7Nu8Rubo5xJxG-Tj0RkdEkZjBpeGbv0yo4H/s400/019_fencepost.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OF5uDVrEVX7aJwluxI64dzL1YlMImTboy5eY-QBmuF5czg52oHaLjIYkxKN3hBRL4LXetkqMFF7TEBFTpHQKUh3hS_PDUfB7aprRlgM9SJrORRn4OtaIsu9eDhKqlPxqTMrMxOayUm1N/s1600/018_Coireachean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All the way along the ridge, we were following a line of old rusty fence posts, this one standing erect against a dramtic blue and white sky, like a modern art sculpture, or an alien antenna sending signals to a passing UFO!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eventually, we climbed the final steep 170m ascent to the summit of <b>Sgurr na Coireachan</b>, with a wonderful view to the west of <b>Rum</b> silhouetted against the evening light (below). </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XIbbUoFvfXNNWoWg7qvS4xYRVkNXtB0w7HioqTXzjfv37S407LlXWbPiudoMVzRLrTZSonq13CG8n-el7uTZfyQNvnof-cImmioPJiBfuz0RwfwsZG_-o05X_P5WYwZZwxZkXWotHeEd/s1600/020_Rum_fromCoireachean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XIbbUoFvfXNNWoWg7qvS4xYRVkNXtB0w7HioqTXzjfv37S407LlXWbPiudoMVzRLrTZSonq13CG8n-el7uTZfyQNvnof-cImmioPJiBfuz0RwfwsZG_-o05X_P5WYwZZwxZkXWotHeEd/s640/020_Rum_fromCoireachean.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rum and Loch Morar from Sgurr na Coireachan</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It would have been lovely to linger on the summit, but it was already 5pm, and some heavy-looking showers were heading our way from the east, so we set off down the long south ridge. This was like a series of giant steps. Firstly, dropping down off the summit cone to a relatively level section along the tops of the crags encircling Coire Thollaidh to the minor top <b>Sgurr a' Choire Riabhaich</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVm_3Yo3C2v7sJPFAwmD_FMxXzCosmilsZ2JNm_uRg36rJTNF1PPmnFUARb88xsDPKsQJIxCH5s8dqimVZWjTswN3WxPRserWa7ddzLQ5egJei1RNlJItjTAiWsqNEu2zklU_yP3tDMZcv/s1600/022_BenNevis_fromCoirechean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVm_3Yo3C2v7sJPFAwmD_FMxXzCosmilsZ2JNm_uRg36rJTNF1PPmnFUARb88xsDPKsQJIxCH5s8dqimVZWjTswN3WxPRserWa7ddzLQ5egJei1RNlJItjTAiWsqNEu2zklU_yP3tDMZcv/s640/022_BenNevis_fromCoirechean.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">distant view of Ben Nevis from Sgurr na Coireachan</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From this top, we dropped down steeply at first, then along a pleasantly narrow section of ridge, still descending, but more gently, then another steeper section, until at about 350m, we joined a superb stalkers' path. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavCEInRgQF4Sev5HnH0S_VxW8PrhN4B63ddqmo7-Wr2DXMsExWYNO9-2SPW_9VBDfjHaLyUjBr8943S11RKUfa9FLsU6mHZpy8-sucfATLPTvbSkm46pQD7HdpWw2uKoUQn3sKXpGd0w8/s1600/map_Thuilm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavCEInRgQF4Sev5HnH0S_VxW8PrhN4B63ddqmo7-Wr2DXMsExWYNO9-2SPW_9VBDfjHaLyUjBr8943S11RKUfa9FLsU6mHZpy8-sucfATLPTvbSkm46pQD7HdpWw2uKoUQn3sKXpGd0w8/s400/map_Thuilm.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This was a great relief as the descent had been pretty tiring and slow at the end of a long day. Unfortunately, a heavy shower also caught up with us, and with a couple of minutes we were soaked. Fortunately, it didn't last too long, and soon we were back down to the track in the valley, where we found our bikes, just as we had left them. It had taken over 2 hours to come down from the summit, but once back on our bikes, we flew effortlessly back down the valley, under the viaduct, and to the car, with our clothes drying as we went!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Summary:</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>2 Munros</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>8 km by bike</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>13 km walk</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1300 m climb</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>10 hours </i></span></div></span></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-40253816567233428172010-06-25T12:50:00.022+01:002011-02-13T15:36:01.981+00:0033: Weird rock formations on Ben Avon<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Ben Avon (Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe) 25th June 2010</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Despite many weekends and trips to the Eastern Cairngorms, often camping at Braemar or sleeping in the back of the Espace, Ben Avon had remained unexplored.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Uuo_SnqePXNJPybpWCfQ2tkK5W2CrD3dqhSsHc7SvZxDi_RLlr-sNlsJfd_HKd0yyZHEAKRLzSJlNPPz_A0CmaCBx5QZOm4pp3eOXMGbLNO2Nid7Gqzvz9xR57adfKgcx_aMa0UGWv2E/s1600/map_BenAvon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Uuo_SnqePXNJPybpWCfQ2tkK5W2CrD3dqhSsHc7SvZxDi_RLlr-sNlsJfd_HKd0yyZHEAKRLzSJlNPPz_A0CmaCBx5QZOm4pp3eOXMGbLNO2Nid7Gqzvz9xR57adfKgcx_aMa0UGWv2E/s400/map_BenAvon.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The obvious route is to approach from the south, but following perusal of the maps and various books, I decided that an approach from the north would be more interesting - giving a good cycle run in, and a chance to explore some of its more interesting granite tors, and include a couple of extra tops on the way.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And so it was that Anne and I headed up the A9 (once again, but first time this year!) and then off to <b>Grantown-on-Spey</b>. We arrived on a pleasant summer evening, and pitched our tent at the (deserted) <a href="http://www.caravanscotland.com/camping.htm">campsite</a> just on the edge of the village.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next morning looked fine, so we made an early start for the drive up to <b>Tomintoul</b> (the highest village in the Scottish Highlands). We parked the car in the car park at the south end of the village, on the minor road to Delnabo, at about 9.15am, and unloaded the bikes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PuHvvZPMNcAVmvOOlMFbEapsDw7TPmdFROvIcVnCHhun5QeAyObQ1gzMuA9U4d-nKYTFyIU0yApx-WHBTbbm4zSrFQ5OeQCnfqpziGAbvreQ9KO8TFtRzfKGgqJw1evKOD5md3gOtWkF/s1600/IMG_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PuHvvZPMNcAVmvOOlMFbEapsDw7TPmdFROvIcVnCHhun5QeAyObQ1gzMuA9U4d-nKYTFyIU0yApx-WHBTbbm4zSrFQ5OeQCnfqpziGAbvreQ9KO8TFtRzfKGgqJw1evKOD5md3gOtWkF/s640/IMG_0502.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">approaching Inchrory</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Initially the track was a little rough, but improved where the main "road" joined us across the river at Delavorar. The next hour or so was a delightful cycle run up the wooded glen, gaining height gradually, until we reached the shooting lodge at <b>Inchrory</b>. Shortly beyond Inchrory, we abandoned the bikes at a bridge where the track turns sharply west to follow the <b>River Avon</b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was now 10.30am, and a beautiful warm (but lightly overcast) morning, and already we were above the 400m contour. A fine stalker's path took us steadily up on to <b>Carn Fiaclach</b> - good walking, dry underfoot. Following the (sometimes intermittent) path, we passed to the west of <b>Meall Gaineimh</b> (1m short of being a Munro top).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmanVndPRdE9RC8aBFdiGoDl1WYL6COGZFtdAToLc6w887-XYm6y2uI-IHUEjLjIla9iIqz9xBuSzh2b6Pfs_6tIxMIdXA3Gb9H3HR1hdgwfMov6tMqUQV2-wahM7RKNNvdMo-wZ7w_IF/s1600/IMG_0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmanVndPRdE9RC8aBFdiGoDl1WYL6COGZFtdAToLc6w887-XYm6y2uI-IHUEjLjIla9iIqz9xBuSzh2b6Pfs_6tIxMIdXA3Gb9H3HR1hdgwfMov6tMqUQV2-wahM7RKNNvdMo-wZ7w_IF/s640/IMG_0503.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>approaching Clach Bhan (right) - East Meur Gorm Craig in the distance</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I made a detour to explore the massive granite tors of <b>Clach Bhan</b> (below) - and had some fun exploring around and over them, including finding the hollows on top which were reputed to ease childbirth for any pregnant women who sat in them! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9lN_w1uwCKCgqePyPietTzxaN_2AivrEtd_qVASNTIMrSESGKAVkSCx6McjqcAhOjNGq0lIJsOUL9yR2RrvbjQJinuGgtWg-6lcuH_BvxzkVSsnM3fbNctFUHidiUSTHGLA1XpUxbwsQ/s1600/IMG_0506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9lN_w1uwCKCgqePyPietTzxaN_2AivrEtd_qVASNTIMrSESGKAVkSCx6McjqcAhOjNGq0lIJsOUL9yR2RrvbjQJinuGgtWg-6lcuH_BvxzkVSsnM3fbNctFUHidiUSTHGLA1XpUxbwsQ/s640/IMG_0506.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Clach Bhan</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQG7C3wx-NnxtlosUgaPbVoSlIMkj_sIDB_8E5cLQtFXQPmcUG9Dl7Ngt66LNGwT0Gvsmt62EnUEXKyut2gnJKit3Nly2CGdMiI_h2vcOrH96VlCmhjt8PhN4SrYyf7V3J0_Rs9v2n45ge/s1600/IMG_0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQG7C3wx-NnxtlosUgaPbVoSlIMkj_sIDB_8E5cLQtFXQPmcUG9Dl7Ngt66LNGwT0Gvsmt62EnUEXKyut2gnJKit3Nly2CGdMiI_h2vcOrH96VlCmhjt8PhN4SrYyf7V3J0_Rs9v2n45ge/s640/IMG_0507.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Great Sphinx of Ben Avon?</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhLhC9etfHfnGV3KJupeTWlpj0zpO_BSHSuRIDtjOhhxg2de1FisVPKIz-ZWMd7ifii9zEtqsQNbue8C-BnniYfUhov0-uloWM_euXvji5_G6IgJnWKW9gZGo1uAyAS5FTcOLGY8Z9kNF/s1600/IMG_0508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhLhC9etfHfnGV3KJupeTWlpj0zpO_BSHSuRIDtjOhhxg2de1FisVPKIz-ZWMd7ifii9zEtqsQNbue8C-BnniYfUhov0-uloWM_euXvji5_G6IgJnWKW9gZGo1uAyAS5FTcOLGY8Z9kNF/s640/IMG_0508.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the hollows on top of Clach Bhan</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After some clambering around on the (very rough) granite, I hurried on to rejoin Anne on the main path, and we continued another mile or so to reach the summit of <b>East Meur Gorm Craig</b> at 12.30. This was our first Munro top, and the cloud was breaking up to give some fine blue patches, so we stopped here for lunch. To the east, the high heather-clad moorland rolled away endlessly. To the west, rocky cliffs fell away dramatically, with some snow lingering in sheltered north-facing gullies.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRM7tfjWiTFMvteJQuS4Opcmc7aYZHKnAbxFh71L-GiDa-ShbaVY0nL6hU9fQizMDQRkCVuA9HJJ2xNYj9IKWZT11VTD4pNmO2suh-buv3RGOQJIsy5Ic76iZm86clRim2NGZc9EAptc0/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRM7tfjWiTFMvteJQuS4Opcmc7aYZHKnAbxFh71L-GiDa-ShbaVY0nL6hU9fQizMDQRkCVuA9HJJ2xNYj9IKWZT11VTD4pNmO2suh-buv3RGOQJIsy5Ic76iZm86clRim2NGZc9EAptc0/s640/IMG_0511.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on East Meur Gorm Craig</span></i><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">From <b>East Meur Gorm Craig</b>, we dropped down to rejoin the path as it continued on towards <b>Big Brae</b> (below). </span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8ri9A2kCN-6QZXj9PJMYHXWUrqU7Hl8t05BQv6i3DLKV36eK__ZQbAtDzfvPWj5sRwo2IAAR7LKuKgo8TK_lPsaurwmA0I8jtCa0peuzZbRzgSQn1pxtzvjnGMsCQizgksNtfflEsj0v/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8ri9A2kCN-6QZXj9PJMYHXWUrqU7Hl8t05BQv6i3DLKV36eK__ZQbAtDzfvPWj5sRwo2IAAR7LKuKgo8TK_lPsaurwmA0I8jtCa0peuzZbRzgSQn1pxtzvjnGMsCQizgksNtfflEsj0v/s640/IMG_0512.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>heading towards Big Brae (with its own rocky tor)</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our presence sent a large herd of deer running away over the moorland (above). </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2SKvz8sBFNqsYrTw1WfTZ37Q8gk5jhf1Jyi14dQEk27SI3AZ4t5gQgIL5By_tVpRAzrSLwxIbcmVul6jS2By2Wa-cpQNkuRaqJOKamaEos2I6Fv-RMHU9rbl80i-PuqGDx3ZXGxSz-oM/s1600/IMG_0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2SKvz8sBFNqsYrTw1WfTZ37Q8gk5jhf1Jyi14dQEk27SI3AZ4t5gQgIL5By_tVpRAzrSLwxIbcmVul6jS2By2Wa-cpQNkuRaqJOKamaEos2I6Fv-RMHU9rbl80i-PuqGDx3ZXGxSz-oM/s400/IMG_0513.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once beyond the head of the coire, we struck across to the west, and up easy grassy slopes to reach the top of <b>West Meur Gorm Craig</b> (left), our second Munro Top of the day. A fine little rocky top, perched above steep drops to the north, and looking across the coire to the previous top.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was now 13.25, so we stopped here for a second lunch, and to admire the view, especially to the north.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From here, it was an hour's walk across the deserted plateau to reach the maim summit.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Initially, the route was across a flat stony area, then </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> we threaded our way</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> up a short steeper section covered in boulders, <b>Mullach Lochan na Gabhar</b>. A large tor ahead looked like it might be the summit, but as we reached the next skyline we realised that it was actually <b>Clach Choursaich</b>. Up here in mist could be confusing - bad enough on a clear day! </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After visiting <b>Clach Choursaich</b>, we contoured around a wide depression, then up the final slopes to <b>Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe</b> (which might mean "the bed of the yellow stag" or "the hill of the bright one").</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLHUWi52uFwEct-YCBXMx0tTvwKULYijeNOyz3uAL3VQ_3d84rhgGe05ETXbabAfaP1WzNVXs3tMFsEJryq0DotS3pVrHYnL1pqR3Y5Bl0NZHycKwPis_kiC0A1sc3qMopy8hoyezLZkI/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLHUWi52uFwEct-YCBXMx0tTvwKULYijeNOyz3uAL3VQ_3d84rhgGe05ETXbabAfaP1WzNVXs3tMFsEJryq0DotS3pVrHYnL1pqR3Y5Bl0NZHycKwPis_kiC0A1sc3qMopy8hoyezLZkI/s640/IMG_0514.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>summit tor, Ben Avon</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Impressive rocks! Very similar to the summit of <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/11/bodmin-moor-and-himalaya.html">Rough Tor</a> on Bodmin Moor that we visited later on in the year. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXjgTloEz5_GYj_i6mJ3yO8Cvc54lzazRiiIUjPWEnViwKc51E7HDkH5xzT7h2f9J2_CfcvXh5_vZ9yNgwa2nUC7QjhXQbq91NX0k-gsW3xooTdWTIP-2DoL3uV5dXXgPCUjTJ7rmJmLw/s1600/IMG_0516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXjgTloEz5_GYj_i6mJ3yO8Cvc54lzazRiiIUjPWEnViwKc51E7HDkH5xzT7h2f9J2_CfcvXh5_vZ9yNgwa2nUC7QjhXQbq91NX0k-gsW3xooTdWTIP-2DoL3uV5dXXgPCUjTJ7rmJmLw/s640/IMG_0516.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anne on the summit - a good spot for a cup of coffee!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8kJhvRz4HuTJEekcuKSf4eje1BuG1yxPwbOcyu3e0OslaQNjLQLTwMybNKXuGNmNexTN9jspzW3AxlXdnJHRgtxmUM1dEJUnud8z2htjMAZmk3OvD0vLZSmZawzjSpG5YoCt-MECKHcV/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8kJhvRz4HuTJEekcuKSf4eje1BuG1yxPwbOcyu3e0OslaQNjLQLTwMybNKXuGNmNexTN9jspzW3AxlXdnJHRgtxmUM1dEJUnud8z2htjMAZmk3OvD0vLZSmZawzjSpG5YoCt-MECKHcV/s640/IMG_0520.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beinn a' Bhuird seen through a "window" of Ben Avon's summit tor</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjcbC9fHfuzCkZL88swX-Q65zW_-lp3KqQszr2d9A36HyHiOkcDxR0v1lzsHd7kZVhN_47RTFlabmrj9ol3WUhfFMtZpOt1OwJ9fjvOMefwytLwHU0y3_vgSpRBfg-2iz42_TNg0UqHI8/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjcbC9fHfuzCkZL88swX-Q65zW_-lp3KqQszr2d9A36HyHiOkcDxR0v1lzsHd7kZVhN_47RTFlabmrj9ol3WUhfFMtZpOt1OwJ9fjvOMefwytLwHU0y3_vgSpRBfg-2iz42_TNg0UqHI8/s640/IMG_0521.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>scrambling around on the summit rocks</i></span></td></tr>
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What a fantastic place - and we had it all to ourselves! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A worthy Munro number 250!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We spent 40 minutes scrambling around and over the summit rocks, and admiring the views across to <b>Beinn a Bhuird</b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, time was marching on, so at 15.20 we began our descent. To begin with, we headed back NE along the highest part of the plateau towards <b>Mullach Lochan na Ghabhar</b> - easy going over short grass and small stones - then headed off NW toward <b>Stob Bac an Fhurain.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtIFzh_pTmvSDvmAsbExiZtOqZDcXKLepGsxz-T_xg2TcwqUp5PBz72EF9ZuVCT4gDFcwExTh4LoBoHDU7k7PZpfkOrEOYRR1wABGiSrlWOheE6rRvVCJgpvEYRysORAoZE_40PFL52tC/s1600/IMG_0523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtIFzh_pTmvSDvmAsbExiZtOqZDcXKLepGsxz-T_xg2TcwqUp5PBz72EF9ZuVCT4gDFcwExTh4LoBoHDU7k7PZpfkOrEOYRR1wABGiSrlWOheE6rRvVCJgpvEYRysORAoZE_40PFL52tC/s640/IMG_0523.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">East and West Meur Gorm Craigs from Stob Bac an Fhuarain (Lochan Gabhar just visible)</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpiapXbWPSQs_W1oc8CW6Vp2AK0EA5NfcUuy0pVp6x4nKk-45kpnpRnaZW3zMY3j5xMCWK82grZPQJ_4ex9OpjDFaJcOofnwVpqLwhwdMH9Jp64qo5os23gv1fvZ0DT_ludBGs6cbE8UP/s1600/IMG_0524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpiapXbWPSQs_W1oc8CW6Vp2AK0EA5NfcUuy0pVp6x4nKk-45kpnpRnaZW3zMY3j5xMCWK82grZPQJ_4ex9OpjDFaJcOofnwVpqLwhwdMH9Jp64qo5os23gv1fvZ0DT_ludBGs6cbE8UP/s640/IMG_0524.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking down the ridge towards Clach Bun Rubhtain</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcoWoh-9KIjgUQrWg0fdFupjNO_JK3tzam4MzabI8bGWehn1avevn6kJHanKBahSd0U1bwLoc61CiudIYoCpuZMHzQU6WL30IXJ_e_PNYU1GGq68hmTyiHl3jbGNYlpfsH4fG0hzYV8Me/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcoWoh-9KIjgUQrWg0fdFupjNO_JK3tzam4MzabI8bGWehn1avevn6kJHanKBahSd0U1bwLoc61CiudIYoCpuZMHzQU6WL30IXJ_e_PNYU1GGq68hmTyiHl3jbGNYlpfsH4fG0hzYV8Me/s640/IMG_0527.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">weird face on Clach Bun Rubhtain</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There was time on <b>Stob Bac an Fhurain</b> for a 5 minute stop to spy out the route ahead, before heading off down the ridge towards the next point of interest - the dramatic rocks of <b>Clach Bun Rudhtair</b> ("stone of the needles"), Ben Avon's highest tor.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beyond and below, we could see or descent route along the broad grassy ridge of <b>An Druim Lom</b> and back to the valley of the River Avon.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It didn't take long to get down to the rocky tor, where we marvelled at its weird shapes: one part like a huge face, another like a small dog scrambling up the rocks, and another looking like a bird perched high up on the rocks! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The 2 km stroll along the gently descending grassy ridge was a pleasure - with only the final slither down a steep sandy path to the river giving the knees any pain!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Debris entangled in the deer fence told a story of huge Spring floods, but today the river was in its bed and no danger to anyone. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We followed the deer fence for a few hundred metres, until we could join the land rover track where it crossed by a plank bridge.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From here, it was only a 2km walk, on now weary legs, down past the <b>Linn of Avon</b> to our bikes by the bridge above <b>Inchrory</b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was good to have a seat by the burn for 15 minutes or so, before heading off down the track/road on our bikes.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Although only gently downhill, gravity assisted our run down the valley, and we were back at the car at 7.30pm, exactly an hour from Inchrory.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyt73FI_L7zTAHHrFiKadn43SNm8rVEd4baYlLcNr0hHz3Dt1PW67RzQmlmK-XwbTkSCjqThlJWEA8eL2Ih2MNdI-BJqrH3vhUNaB2ViB2hncyfqNVXHkkTYrbO0_g6c95_K8JIYKyEB9/s1600/IMG_0529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyt73FI_L7zTAHHrFiKadn43SNm8rVEd4baYlLcNr0hHz3Dt1PW67RzQmlmK-XwbTkSCjqThlJWEA8eL2Ih2MNdI-BJqrH3vhUNaB2ViB2hncyfqNVXHkkTYrbO0_g6c95_K8JIYKyEB9/s640/IMG_0529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the Linn of Avon</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Summary:</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1 Munro</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>2 Tops</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>24 km by bike</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>18 km walk</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>820 m climb</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>10 hours 15 minutes</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(written 13/02/2011)</span></i></span></div></span>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-71950522980301444732010-06-03T20:58:00.028+01:002011-01-28T22:59:32.042+00:00solo day revisiting Cuillin peaks<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sgurr na Banachdich and Sgurr Dearg</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What changeable weather! After the continuous low cloud of Wednesday, this morning I was greeted by a clear (although hazy) sky. Perfect conditions for today's plans. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All my previous encounters with the Cuillins had been with a group, usually including at least one more experienced person. Today, the plan was to go on my own, but to hills that I knew were well within my capabilities, because I had been up both of them twice before. In addition, I planned to be at the In Pinn in time to get some good photos of Winky, Pam, Tony and Andrew making their ascent.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7AomW_yiaQKNtq8a_HZ36cSeIxcaO_OoNxCk960JlSsYlU4SyP34Z6brdGv2-CVNvmNK6g1et808tsK27Eq8_m-ZIlEPCSS2ZceK8Qg-xxzLmC2lVRTnD_i-159XG26hqSKv1Snz0uyS/s1600/075_SgurrDearg_fromBanachdich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7AomW_yiaQKNtq8a_HZ36cSeIxcaO_OoNxCk960JlSsYlU4SyP34Z6brdGv2-CVNvmNK6g1et808tsK27Eq8_m-ZIlEPCSS2ZceK8Qg-xxzLmC2lVRTnD_i-159XG26hqSKv1Snz0uyS/s640/075_SgurrDearg_fromBanachdich.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sgurr Dearg from my route up Sgurr na Banachdich</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, at 10am I set off from the Youth Hostel down the road to the Glen Brittle Hut, then turned up the path past the Eas Mor. Above this impressive waterfall, I made good progress up into <b>Coire na Banachdich.</b> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The plan was to get to the col, and head up to <b>Sgurr na Banachdich</b> by its south ridge. However, feeling a wee bit adventurous, I decided to take a rising traverse up an obvious line I could see slanting across the west face of Sgurr na Banachdich. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I crossed the burn, and climbed upwards quite steeply on grass and rock to gain the start of my traverse. This proved to be a broad sloping shelf of broken ground (right), with crags above and below, which led upwards with excellent views down to the coire below. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eventually, this led out on to Banachdich's west ridge, and I joined the more usual path coming up from Coir' an Eich at about 800m. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV9rlF23ez5wCWSSFWHPkvC0Ihqr5wllGsQo49HZzScYLlw1Q3oSxfuDkiUmzCZXy-K3YrueXtV4X-I7vsM3JV7WN2VePWXBMzK580-pgWPMfLQK8zigIg8N25roH_R91GWP_Gu2G9m9F/s1600/076_SgurrnanGobhar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV9rlF23ez5wCWSSFWHPkvC0Ihqr5wllGsQo49HZzScYLlw1Q3oSxfuDkiUmzCZXy-K3YrueXtV4X-I7vsM3JV7WN2VePWXBMzK580-pgWPMfLQK8zigIg8N25roH_R91GWP_Gu2G9m9F/s640/076_SgurrnanGobhar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sgurr na Banachdich's west ridge, leading out to Sgurr nan Gobhar, just before I joined the main path</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpkvhqX-BHTrNOKKc25vlyrk7h6fn-rc6ijFsgANbc_cbvkx9amUfsvXsbejsQM7aNASbLanpen_NP2cgA_XVkqGBBUZlzsiyUv76KvIgCx9SjgBJ4n7RecETq0uFUY5z7l_CzBPHQEuR/s1600/081_SgurrDearg_fromBanachdich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpkvhqX-BHTrNOKKc25vlyrk7h6fn-rc6ijFsgANbc_cbvkx9amUfsvXsbejsQM7aNASbLanpen_NP2cgA_XVkqGBBUZlzsiyUv76KvIgCx9SjgBJ4n7RecETq0uFUY5z7l_CzBPHQEuR/s640/081_SgurrDearg_fromBanachdich.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking down Banachdich's south ridge toward Sgurr Dearg</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By 12.30 I was on the Banachdich's summit (for the third time). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I found a good spot right on the ridge crest just a few metres south of the summit to have a lunch with a view!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And what a view (left)! <b>Banachdich's south ridge</b> below my feet; <b>Sgurr Dearg</b> beyond, with the top of the <b>In Pinn</b> peeking over; <b>Sgurr Alasdair</b> in the distance; vertiginous drops down towards <b>Loch Coruisk</b> on my left! All rock - hardly any vegetation anywhere.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I was sitting virtually astride the ridge, some members of a group had to use my shoulder as a handhold as they made their way from the south ridge up towards the summit! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After half an hour or so enjoying this airy perch, I set off carefully down the rocky ridge.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlD12x-DvbO3Q9IWFCzw4yRZfW2VlSebJlXSzy1FPzb9REkFOzgPZCu5u4ovpJLaQP8NDYKqCkXFDONI4ztzqVQufe5r41QdDTgJqvUzBpdth8E-_0uhyphenhyphenhR0LzI9XxSYvVFqY_AJo_gi4/s1600/082_Banachdich_southridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlD12x-DvbO3Q9IWFCzw4yRZfW2VlSebJlXSzy1FPzb9REkFOzgPZCu5u4ovpJLaQP8NDYKqCkXFDONI4ztzqVQufe5r41QdDTgJqvUzBpdth8E-_0uhyphenhyphenhR0LzI9XxSYvVFqY_AJo_gi4/s640/082_Banachdich_southridge.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on Banachdich's south ridge</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On a <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2009/09/cuillin-weekend-part-2.html">previous</a> (misty day) we had by-passed the South Summit on its west side, and I decided today that "discretion was the better part of valour", especially as I was on my own - but that's a Munro top I may want to return to some day!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I made my way on down the ridge (right), I stopped to chat to the lady of a couple I had met earlier down in the coire; lower down, I also spoke to her husband who was waiting for her. They asked for a recommendation for a Cuillin guide, so I passed on Winky's contact details (who else?).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Soon I was down at a notch on the ridge and faced with a small rock step. In fact it was the col, but I hadn't quite realised it, and instead of climbing up the rock step as I should, I headed down and round, which then meant a bit of a hairy ascent up a steep loose scree-covered slope to regain the proper path up Sgurr Dearg. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6lTn5Tl9KMs1eMKcuyyUhmBq_X2zGrvWM2GT6-Gv-Mo_pXLH_Awbp4uUvpILxt9CSSPbw67HiPsl-dJH0mFfR3gTKEOn21zdNIC4pqzQX9oQGMjtfIVhqAtu80OW8EQtvKW6EhDgHLqB/s1600/083_InPinn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6lTn5Tl9KMs1eMKcuyyUhmBq_X2zGrvWM2GT6-Gv-Mo_pXLH_Awbp4uUvpILxt9CSSPbw67HiPsl-dJH0mFfR3gTKEOn21zdNIC4pqzQX9oQGMjtfIVhqAtu80OW8EQtvKW6EhDgHLqB/s640/083_InPinn.jpg" width="436" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>climbers descending the In Pinn's west face, seen from Sgurr Dearg</i></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once back on track, the climb to the summit of Sgurr Dearg was straightforward, and I soon emerged opposite the <b>In Pinn's west face</b> at 2pm. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was expecting my friends to get there at about 2.30pm, so I sat and watched some groups abseiling down the west face (left). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After enjoying this spectacle for a while, I decided it was time to head round to the other end of this bizarre blade of rock, so I carefully made my way down the sloping rocks below, and round to the foot of the east ridge ("tourist" route).</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9-4KdwIrBP89-TGZcm7IJm1RwTDGknTKNB1OJ5vyovtpitZBj6Yog5Tw_nCm2i1njJKGOfj0Zty_LwNwSio1gwweDEROyVwY88PrjPOFfRxsXQh-WqdT5iS6BAlHD_6bUFh4PKAYlK52/s1600/084_InPinn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9-4KdwIrBP89-TGZcm7IJm1RwTDGknTKNB1OJ5vyovtpitZBj6Yog5Tw_nCm2i1njJKGOfj0Zty_LwNwSio1gwweDEROyVwY88PrjPOFfRxsXQh-WqdT5iS6BAlHD_6bUFh4PKAYlK52/s640/084_InPinn.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Classic view of the In Pinn from Sgurr Dearg - groups gathering at the foot of the east ridge, and one climber on the top.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbWmhjeGNuhcqumP-44IwQGiu_GPhk57TJsulZjXIZIBrND1R3XhWLj37EE_esN_qFkpgcwnlPzbxFubrlTbnwch91daFfgGuDM2dTQbqJrgTaoFoGVVzzPIGTfk-KJ_nb6ZL2dn_Of77/s1600/086_InPinn_E_ridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbWmhjeGNuhcqumP-44IwQGiu_GPhk57TJsulZjXIZIBrND1R3XhWLj37EE_esN_qFkpgcwnlPzbxFubrlTbnwch91daFfgGuDM2dTQbqJrgTaoFoGVVzzPIGTfk-KJ_nb6ZL2dn_Of77/s640/086_InPinn_E_ridge.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I found a good vantage point on <b>An Stac</b> opposite the foot of the east ridge, and watched the sport from this viewpoint - groups of climbers making their way up the east ridge!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Busier that Selkirk High Street on a Saturday afternoon! There was quite a queue at the foot of the ridge, with an average wait time of about 1 hour!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I realised how lucky we had been <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2005/05/at-last-inn-pin.html">back in 2005</a> when Iain, Pete and I climbed it with Winky and Donna - the weather wasn't so good then, but that meant there was no queue - so no time for me to get nervous!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was now 2.30pm, and right on cue, Winky, Pam, Tony and Andrew appeared up over <b>An Stac</b> behind me, having had an exhilarating scramble / climb up its east buttress.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bFFowh082htmxDI5mGD_RzF2kFGp8y29MMRgYp6D1_mNItNP5AvAIUIYafHLJS_0J1AQ0XALzlhpOhh00V3o-AxXcMl-_Qmif_ktoz9tGPK_aw5fDxJRrgzPmUFM5QHeLM9-3GeoJq0Y/s1600/096_ready_forInPinn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bFFowh082htmxDI5mGD_RzF2kFGp8y29MMRgYp6D1_mNItNP5AvAIUIYafHLJS_0J1AQ0XALzlhpOhh00V3o-AxXcMl-_Qmif_ktoz9tGPK_aw5fDxJRrgzPmUFM5QHeLM9-3GeoJq0Y/s400/096_ready_forInPinn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They joined the "queue" at the foot of the East Ridge (right), and got themselves sorted out, ready for the ascent. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eventually - after more than an hour's wait - their turn arrived.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Meanwhile, I remained on my comfy vantage point, drinking coffee and watching several groups heading upwards.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQVCdMt1CgNE0Tdmhcn9iH51YemoiOoO6qsnvVE12JYOv4XjiikDhCmA6qnz7lcJxmXNB4T6ljnSSdDLnXtX-Dip48hZROCs_XS2aSBrymD_9n6yiV0zLDWzivY7-OHLTbZ0ZtjlwwIxx/s1600/098_Winky_InPinn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQVCdMt1CgNE0Tdmhcn9iH51YemoiOoO6qsnvVE12JYOv4XjiikDhCmA6qnz7lcJxmXNB4T6ljnSSdDLnXtX-Dip48hZROCs_XS2aSBrymD_9n6yiV0zLDWzivY7-OHLTbZ0ZtjlwwIxx/s640/098_Winky_InPinn.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(left) First, Winky leads the way up the initial crack, showing where to step over on to the ridge proper, and then continues on up to the midway belay stance.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFGcMhRgG-77zLyw2gF0zUKBNZPtU8bSUFWsp5UfkcF5133-BT2rE-UODUAvq98RsQWIM6fEk8rToeEu-wHfUA8gpj2XhwG8GTyqJbDFumhBfu6Y5DDwXiK7egP6J9AAjrDAPfwBbSZe3/s1600/100_goforit_Tony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFGcMhRgG-77zLyw2gF0zUKBNZPtU8bSUFWsp5UfkcF5133-BT2rE-UODUAvq98RsQWIM6fEk8rToeEu-wHfUA8gpj2XhwG8GTyqJbDFumhBfu6Y5DDwXiK7egP6J9AAjrDAPfwBbSZe3/s640/100_goforit_Tony.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tony, Pam and Andrew follow on. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's Tony just on to the ridge proper, with Pam coming to the "step across", and Andrew following up behind.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLxVANRhSOrofNcdiUfse7htPYPI_iOPRODHns5JluzVEz2fFVgTtromilK_xvfPtS7BDikxLgDUcxcRZeEuD_1nHECszDOdTD9_RGjqzSVEDzdARkjCPqMAyyatk6-QfdN4myr6_KnLC/s1600/101_almost_halfway.jpgg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLxVANRhSOrofNcdiUfse7htPYPI_iOPRODHns5JluzVEz2fFVgTtromilK_xvfPtS7BDikxLgDUcxcRZeEuD_1nHECszDOdTD9_RGjqzSVEDzdARkjCPqMAyyatk6-QfdN4myr6_KnLC/s640/101_almost_halfway.jpgg.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And now the intrepid trio swarm up towards the belay point, where Winky is ensuring that they are safe.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It'll be a tight fit for 4 all on the tiny ledge at once!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLxpVxnfTxRszM5PPSYzRyAMhIp0aVIX-og_9wXt0eczV46swRh32-ewJV9n2EnLgkr_eAY6xOuXKuU3TinSMvYP32IpwvG4ieDC_T1WPda70l2P-W8uJLprbw-_2LYp95kcLcZt7zYZz/s1600/103_Winky_heads_for_the_top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLxpVxnfTxRszM5PPSYzRyAMhIp0aVIX-og_9wXt0eczV46swRh32-ewJV9n2EnLgkr_eAY6xOuXKuU3TinSMvYP32IpwvG4ieDC_T1WPda70l2P-W8uJLprbw-_2LYp95kcLcZt7zYZz/s640/103_Winky_heads_for_the_top.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">... but they all do manage to squeeze onto the stance. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's Winky heading off up the most exposed and steep section just above the stance, while the other 3 wait for her to give the "climb when you're ready" signal from the top.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another pair are coming up from below - traffic management required!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg7ETs29hz_Qg__6sipN3OVLBeS0pIZRmUyu35ZMlJeDpg-n8H4o3E2qk0qXdF2sMlDGuYMUA95IuQOtva-CysPXL7oA27Ekb3Uq-8VLJ5H1gV7lcl1xG_-JeHHBv-RsHXDroDieBIW_D/s1600/105_nearly_there.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg7ETs29hz_Qg__6sipN3OVLBeS0pIZRmUyu35ZMlJeDpg-n8H4o3E2qk0qXdF2sMlDGuYMUA95IuQOtva-CysPXL7oA27Ekb3Uq-8VLJ5H1gV7lcl1xG_-JeHHBv-RsHXDroDieBIW_D/s640/105_nearly_there.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">... and soon they all arrive onto the easier final section - not so steep, not so exposed!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just a walk to the top from here!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Meanwhile, I left my perch, and scrambled up the sloping slabs below the In Pinn's south face and back up to Sgurr Dearg, to watch the descent!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(below) Tony appears over the top, looking very pleased with himself!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And soon Pam and Andrew join him on the summit ledge. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now it's time to get ready for the abseil ..</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tony is first to go over the edge (right) ....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">... and Pam soon follows ....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">... then Andrew, with a fine view of Sgurr Thearlaich, Sgurr Alasdair and the Great Stone Shoot (below)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This ascent was in memory of his mother, who had fallen off the In Pinn's west face as a young woman. She had survived the fall, but had never climbed again.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here he goes ... with us shouting encouragement and advice ... and very soon he was back up to the top! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well done, Andrew!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhzh3Gs8JMUrmqd7FJFvGRlCJ_N9uroKj8dDqI2oiLvXzPFApwQ1x8Xttq1lX-c1_HV7pREDaK5F90hyD5PO5CyLmNcDwx-LcParKh6TyaY8qf66IPuFqpl-QYsIntwWToyuv_r5pLZ59/s1600/119_InPinn_Andrews_route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhzh3Gs8JMUrmqd7FJFvGRlCJ_N9uroKj8dDqI2oiLvXzPFApwQ1x8Xttq1lX-c1_HV7pREDaK5F90hyD5PO5CyLmNcDwx-LcParKh6TyaY8qf66IPuFqpl-QYsIntwWToyuv_r5pLZ59/s640/119_InPinn_Andrews_route.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Andrew's route up the east face (left).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, a great day had by all, and plenty to chat about as we headed off down Sgurr Dearg's west ridge, and back down to Glenbrittle YH at 7pm.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then farewells to Winky, Tony, Pam and Andrew - and a hope that we might meet up again on some other summits before too long!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf2QOFzOnFBDuedhAKLT9Sc6oSL9WltbAcJGvA5qNA8Rs6C8IF8m02FOAoZO7ZsZbN5HPKedq4NFUHYnvnAT1CkO1BYxrNAeajKyntwezlsbNfcigTZ8zbwMGrt23zGAGVQeqQ4Uux2W8/s1600/122_SgurrDearg_fromYH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf2QOFzOnFBDuedhAKLT9Sc6oSL9WltbAcJGvA5qNA8Rs6C8IF8m02FOAoZO7ZsZbN5HPKedq4NFUHYnvnAT1CkO1BYxrNAeajKyntwezlsbNfcigTZ8zbwMGrt23zGAGVQeqQ4Uux2W8/s640/122_SgurrDearg_fromYH.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Sgurr Dearg (right) from Glenbrittle Youth Hostel</i></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>written 28/01/11 DB</i></span></span></div>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-17871797465799701142010-06-02T23:00:00.002+01:002011-01-16T23:00:26.291+00:0036, 35, 34: A wet day on Skye!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>2nd June 2010 Sgurr na Eag, Sgurr Dubh Mor, Sgurr Alasdair</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After the fantastic blue-sky day on Monday, and the glimpses of sun through the mist on Tuesday, it was a bit disappointing to wake up on Wednesday morning to find the cloud was well and truly down on the hills this morning as I peered out of <b><a href="http://www.syha.org.uk/hostels/islands/glenbrittle.aspx">Glenbrittle Youth Hostel</a></b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, as agreed, I met up with <a href="http://www.skyeguide.co.uk/">Winky O'Neale</a> (Cuillin Guide par excellence!) and her 2 clients for the day, Pam and Tony. The decision was to go for the 3 southern end Cuillin Munros, and hope for a better day tomorrow for Pam and Tony to do the <b>In Pinn</b>. That suited me well, as it would allow me to keep my Munro tally clocking up.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, off we drove down the road, and parked at Glenbrittle Campsite at 9.20am. The first 10 minutes was dry, then we were into the cloud as we marched up the track into <b>Coire Lagain</b>. Soon we branched off the main path, to cross the coire to the foot of the <b>Sgumain Stone Shoot</b>. Steady upward progress on big wet boulders. </span><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Half way up we met a group of climbers looking for the route up to <b><a href="http://www.climbskye.co.uk/TheCioch/thecioch13.html">The Cioch</a></b>, but they seemed to be unsure of the way, or whether they were capable of it. We were very glad we had a reliable guide! Soon we reached the col, and then quickly dropped down to <b>Coir a' Ghrunnda</b>, very spooky in the mist, with huge boulders looming up around the lochan. From here, the going was easier, up rough and broken ground, to reach the rocky summit of <b>Sgurr nan Eag</b> at 1pm. This must be one of the best viewpoints in Scotland, but I'll need to return another day to see it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzzPEwEz5BRkawSGtcFFFOieY4fAF6UEuyyEFO-ywYxqvYD5nmjak5UZynMhOhMTVodU_inDw9cjZCKVIcPU8fzOUWTg9ijC0wkLoIhJ8lyp_LgbJ5UTxFKbvI-h5J24f9-FLiKWmeVI8/s1600/070_DavidPamTony_SgurrnaneEag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzzPEwEz5BRkawSGtcFFFOieY4fAF6UEuyyEFO-ywYxqvYD5nmjak5UZynMhOhMTVodU_inDw9cjZCKVIcPU8fzOUWTg9ijC0wkLoIhJ8lyp_LgbJ5UTxFKbvI-h5J24f9-FLiKWmeVI8/s640/070_DavidPamTony_SgurrnaneEag.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">David, Pam and Tony - summit of Sgurr nan Eag</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There was a cold wind, but it was nicely sheltered below the cairn, so we rested for 30 minutes, eating lunch. Then tIme to move on again, initially retracing our steps, but keeping to the ridge as it descended northwards. <b>An Caisteal</b> loomed out of the mist ahead, and we skirted it below its eastern flanks, passing some incredibly contorted <b>peridodite</b> boulders en route. Returning to the ridge beyond An <b>Caisteal</b>, we scrambled up to reach the summit of <b>Sgurr Dubh an Da Bheinn</b> (a Munro top) at 14.40. Rather than stop here, we dropped down a little on the east side to a sheltered platform (below), where we left the rucsacs, and put on harnesses.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From here we scrambled down below dramatic pinnacles to the col on the ridge linking to Sgurr Dubh Mor, then scrambled up the other side (roped for security on the damp rocks) to the summit. Again, no view, so a quick about turn, and retraced our steps back to the rucsac howff. 40 minutes out to <b>Sgurr Dubh Mor</b>, and 25 minutes to return.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbozskeFWEFALn36y76m4Rg7yrBAvzYXPqToakka8IAplEZ10TGpRh54HKQNpUZWL0cojNzh7gBWiKoNWd90ZtaV7HOsNdcioxQJ_3TqzaDXTxCoKsg4cndyl9VfxFJKVM7gBXPPJ9Rv-M/s1600/072_TonyPamWinky_SgurrAlasdair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbozskeFWEFALn36y76m4Rg7yrBAvzYXPqToakka8IAplEZ10TGpRh54HKQNpUZWL0cojNzh7gBWiKoNWd90ZtaV7HOsNdcioxQJ_3TqzaDXTxCoKsg4cndyl9VfxFJKVM7gBXPPJ9Rv-M/s640/072_TonyPamWinky_SgurrAlasdair.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For here to <b>Sgurr Alasdair</b> on the main ridge is "rock climber only" territory, with the "<i>Thearlaich-Dubh gap</i>" slicing across the ridge. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To avoid this, we took an easy path which led down below the T-D gap, and across the southern face of Alasdair to gain the bealach between Alasdair and Sgumain. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We traversed a short distance across to the foot of a greasy chimney (right), which was to be our route of ascent (the more direct ridge to the summit is blocked by a "bad step.")</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We roped up for the climb up the chimney, which required a few tricky (for me!) moves, but at least it wasn't exposed. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The last shove up out of the top required some commitment. "Just go for it", said Winky, "I've got you on the rope!"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From the top of the chimney, steep broken ground led up to the summit of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sgurr Alasdair</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, the highest point on Skye, adorned with a line of Tibetan-style prayer flags! Now 17.10, but still no view, and a biting wind blowing the drizzle into our faces, so we didn't even stop on the tiny summit - each of us just touching it as we passed over, and down the east ridge to the top of the "great stone shoot" (below).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From the bealach, the "great stone shoot" drops more than 1000ft down to Coire Lagain below - the shortest and quickest descent route from Alasdair, but certainly not the pleasantest (especially on a claggy day like this).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qMQBgAOtnWpbLkigPnLK8oQsfjVpdqn8DORadRTu-uSLSEx5hgawMUB8cKUY-Po0jD9S-00bEuE9NrUJv4l_9uN4C2ydHJ8nopdmflXpMPRPDmYTtSzBUYVt88bdTM5g0uG_j_EXsBoy/s1600/073_Tony_GreatStoneShoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qMQBgAOtnWpbLkigPnLK8oQsfjVpdqn8DORadRTu-uSLSEx5hgawMUB8cKUY-Po0jD9S-00bEuE9NrUJv4l_9uN4C2ydHJ8nopdmflXpMPRPDmYTtSzBUYVt88bdTM5g0uG_j_EXsBoy/s640/073_Tony_GreatStoneShoot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">descending the "great stone shoot"</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCLpUQc5DuX-8kpv5PtPYGWvl0C8TiHWgVqvNm_qHZPZzzLTP1e4yGTDKKDmUHq3CiJWcdY24vQNtXkrsmYe24c-dENyHr7Rp1HZg9Q9fuAGw0Z2WW4N8ZhWR3B3P9vr8PVgqjKsUm473/s1600/109_GreatStoneShoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCLpUQc5DuX-8kpv5PtPYGWvl0C8TiHWgVqvNm_qHZPZzzLTP1e4yGTDKKDmUHq3CiJWcdY24vQNtXkrsmYe24c-dENyHr7Rp1HZg9Q9fuAGw0Z2WW4N8ZhWR3B3P9vr8PVgqjKsUm473/s640/109_GreatStoneShoot.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Photo (right), taken on the following day, shows the summit of Sgurr Alasdair, the bealach, and most of the stone shoot.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Awful muddy gravel slide" might have been a more apt name for it. The consistency on this wet day was like ready-mix concrete, and we each descended independently under partial control!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We all breathed a huge sigh of relief once we reached solid ground again in Coire Lagain.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fron Coire Lagain, we followed the good path back down towards the campsite, where we emerged into brilliant sunshine and a heatwave at 7.30pm!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Worth doing again on a clear day!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49onB4vj5jjmUk6WVzx5UrvBBxyRs72WRL2d4cZ__Ro4j1r9EYeGev_pDrUkqCS4mSt8xAqDOFDTBcNmvVYsL-nuO6myl3NPtJsYcAyZaGsxZVcJT_44qzOBvYQOqaT0Pa6Ve4UIZFqh5/s1600/map_cuillins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49onB4vj5jjmUk6WVzx5UrvBBxyRs72WRL2d4cZ__Ro4j1r9EYeGev_pDrUkqCS4mSt8xAqDOFDTBcNmvVYsL-nuO6myl3NPtJsYcAyZaGsxZVcJT_44qzOBvYQOqaT0Pa6Ve4UIZFqh5/s400/map_cuillins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Summary:</b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>3 Munros</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1 Top</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>10 hours</i></span><br />
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</span>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-28172460661067357282010-05-31T21:13:00.003+01:002011-01-15T20:48:28.101+00:00A "rest" day on Skye<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Monday 31st May 2010</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What a beautiful morning! A perfect blue sky overhead. Perhaps a day for <b>Bidean a' Choire Sheasgaidh</b> and <b>Lurg Mhor</b>? Maybe not! After yesterday's <a href="http://thoselast50munros.blogspot.com/2010/05/3837-ceathreamhnan-and-dheiragain.html">mega-walk</a>, I had a slight tweak in one knee, so decided that my tired muscles needed a rest ...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRUFYyzsiZ4zQxYDTkTHhdX1s-_Ul17RdKf6L0rUR72nVdCOFooYeMz0xHjEKbiyURcoLcoVPRobgz10NE674VS_WkIBQo1Mf10GBsd09MAMPlLXz9BE3AcX4N1MG9giP26fN47kQzQqM/s1600/022_SkyeBridgeCuillins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRUFYyzsiZ4zQxYDTkTHhdX1s-_Ul17RdKf6L0rUR72nVdCOFooYeMz0xHjEKbiyURcoLcoVPRobgz10NE674VS_WkIBQo1Mf10GBsd09MAMPlLXz9BE3AcX4N1MG9giP26fN47kQzQqM/s640/022_SkyeBridgeCuillins.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>The Cuillin above the Skye Bridge, seen from Balmacara</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After a (Balmacara) <a href="http://www.balmacarahotel.co.uk/">hotel</a> breakfast - "did I realise that I had slept right through a fire alarm? - answer No!" - I set off up the road to Kyle and across the bridge to Skye. The plan was to head up to the north end of Skye and explore the Quiraing (which we had failed to find in mist 30 years ago!).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, at Broadford, on impulse, I turned left along the Elgol road, passing <a href="http://www.kilbride-self-catering.co.uk/">Kilbride farm</a>, where Anne and I had honeymooned in a log cabin 30 years earlier. Through Torrin, and down to the shore of Loch Slapin - and there stood <b>Bla Bheinn</b> (Blaven) in all its splendour. Cue a stop by the shore and many photos ...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizh0UBA3TleyHPwQs0MUhBQXCQz2xWuhO0aTl9W8vlzZ0LUL5H2uq0vOC2QGKReQmsAXIaRuGoNxXYMaudqssjooO5eoOrdDkCoEHYxVY_madC0nqHqJP3UYLSZ1awFCU3WLhL0zAXIjzI/s1600/025_BlavenClachGlas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizh0UBA3TleyHPwQs0MUhBQXCQz2xWuhO0aTl9W8vlzZ0LUL5H2uq0vOC2QGKReQmsAXIaRuGoNxXYMaudqssjooO5eoOrdDkCoEHYxVY_madC0nqHqJP3UYLSZ1awFCU3WLhL0zAXIjzI/s640/025_BlavenClachGlas.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Bla Bheinn an Clach Glas above Loch Slapin on a perfect morning</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eventually, I tore myself away from this fantastic view, and continued by car around the head of the loch. As I passed the car park at the foot of the hill, I was sorely tempted to stop and climb - but reckoned a steep ascent and descent might leave me struggling for the rest of the week, so (regretfully) I drove on by, and down to the road-end at <b>Elgol</b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We had been here 29 years ago, to watch the sun set over the Cuillin on a beautiful July evening ... and experienced a horrible sinking feeling as I wound the camera film forward (as you did in those days!) past 36, then 37, then 38 .... and realised that I had taken a whole film of 36 photos without the film having been properly loaded! So no pictures of the climb of <b>Bla Bheinn</b>, or of the sunset from Elgol ... :-(</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now was time to make amends ...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just one of many pictures I took from Elgol this beautiful morning:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRXCl-aGR9c-mEEOfdBxhvh8jTVTPFkMj_dOurHiY9UtZudQHGMA4ktiAppLYTUT_pJd9ZVJUHeVZV7F9tTe5ITf3uZo84zzzR2gN5KWvwAaNr5HR7WXZp5h_xl-ts7CNLwmHFZU3G1II/s1600/033_Cuiliins_fromElgol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRXCl-aGR9c-mEEOfdBxhvh8jTVTPFkMj_dOurHiY9UtZudQHGMA4ktiAppLYTUT_pJd9ZVJUHeVZV7F9tTe5ITf3uZo84zzzR2gN5KWvwAaNr5HR7WXZp5h_xl-ts7CNLwmHFZU3G1II/s640/033_Cuiliins_fromElgol.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Cuillin from Elgol</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After a while wandering along the beach, and then along the cliff top, I headed back up the road. I was a bit reluctant to turn my back on the Cuillins on such a fine day, so I stopped and parked at <b>Kilmarie</b>, and decided to walk across to <b>Camusunary</b>. It would be a good leg stretch to keep me from seizing up altogether, but without any too strenuous ups or downs. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Five minutes up the track, I heard a car alarm go off back at the car park. Was it mine? Hesitation... Probably not, so I carried on walking a bit. Then I heard it again, and doubt crept in - better go back and check. So, back down the track! Sure enough, it <i>was</i> mine! Just as well I had returned! Sorted the problem, then set off once again! This time, I was able to continue, and soon was at the top and looking down on <b>Camas Fhionnairigh</b> (Camusunary), with superb views of the hills behind. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJJeLn1pqfyEQFTk4YB7W7QoJZDdvvXES1nNpcefVV5lFHsgr4r1KjXjQF1uTLGRR12na_3u9RVj06oSO12GBtkxcL88k-vpNm6NWNe3YLiStCZv3e5jO_uOhEAG-C6xxHT96gz2l287D/s1600/044_Cuillins_Camusunary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJJeLn1pqfyEQFTk4YB7W7QoJZDdvvXES1nNpcefVV5lFHsgr4r1KjXjQF1uTLGRR12na_3u9RVj06oSO12GBtkxcL88k-vpNm6NWNe3YLiStCZv3e5jO_uOhEAG-C6xxHT96gz2l287D/s640/044_Cuillins_Camusunary.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Camasunary Bay, with Sgurr na Stri and the Cuillins behind</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjbsjj68SVbArhTl3WpvfOrxgyfd90E0SIz8ueI7LxrzTYOTz0KyvNgEg8-4akuwYS7YXxfZXKfKCuebb7dLQVjsTgq5NITiBMfiay_2MnrJjWQq-nsnkLQeON_ijoiXBLsE-9l5eoR97/s1600/Skye1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjbsjj68SVbArhTl3WpvfOrxgyfd90E0SIz8ueI7LxrzTYOTz0KyvNgEg8-4akuwYS7YXxfZXKfKCuebb7dLQVjsTgq5NITiBMfiay_2MnrJjWQq-nsnkLQeON_ijoiXBLsE-9l5eoR97/s400/Skye1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anne on the Camasunary bridge in 1980</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Why stop at Camasunary? This was a day to continue round to Loch Coruisk! So, I carried on down the hill, and soon I was strolling across the meadow above the beach. The suspension footbridge across the river at the far end had been pretty shoogly back in 1980 (right), with missing planks etc. Now all that was left were the attachment points on either bank. Fortunately the river was very low, so it was easy enough to hop across on the stepping stones. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I followed the good path round the point, below <b>Sgurr na Stri</b>, with the waters of <b>Loch Scavaig</b> a deep blue, and the mountains towering ever higher as I got nearer.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1keHhO4Oy77KXqLWOUPDgd_YGqNBs_G1r9tkV-4yvBE4Z2uQaMxNXPUxErln8uvYfkNwoJaDQD8Ds79ClqLSJdnZ-Jm2W_G-A3-kyM-6jX0QqWHHKUNhiRPwFMQMjYl3aWH6EOedjY51l/s1600/046_LochScavaig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1keHhO4Oy77KXqLWOUPDgd_YGqNBs_G1r9tkV-4yvBE4Z2uQaMxNXPUxErln8uvYfkNwoJaDQD8Ds79ClqLSJdnZ-Jm2W_G-A3-kyM-6jX0QqWHHKUNhiRPwFMQMjYl3aWH6EOedjY51l/s640/046_LochScavaig.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on the path round towards Loch Coruisk</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1v8K3Yt4K0KCUwK24cafGBEE0cXJ6kvVhkob7_lH2V4C_yPvNnrdNK3cEOzjdQuh-3cREQO1FUpphTMwWE5cuHSch3ywejGktrdWa4Qcgk_NXFGAGI5LGhsOiQtPqO9Hbka6R-Vxiggq/s1600/Skye2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1v8K3Yt4K0KCUwK24cafGBEE0cXJ6kvVhkob7_lH2V4C_yPvNnrdNK3cEOzjdQuh-3cREQO1FUpphTMwWE5cuHSch3ywejGktrdWa4Qcgk_NXFGAGI5LGhsOiQtPqO9Hbka6R-Vxiggq/s320/Skye2.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">David on the "bad step", 1980</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next obstacle approaching - what about the <b>"bad step?"</b> My memory (for 30 years back) was that it wasn't nearly as bad as some guidebooks described it.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We had managed it fine back in 1980 (left), so surely "no worries!"</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Soon I was approaching it, and could see a family making the "crossing". I was surprised to see that it wasn't really as I had remembered it. It definitely looked a bit trickier! I manoeuvred carefully round under the "cave", and peered round to where the family were coming down the "crack" one by one, the Dad helping each one down to safety (below).</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jV3SIkV2BIeklXy1rCa9Zys9xVY5VTHU2wqEm0_k0V2klEoifEB_E47upWEZYGTWvsJqTNFO65bNBu6KDROAQRE_VuAW5Zc97wTDZ6DLYD8cCrzKU4TLfeXwg-dz9dXAdU5ggoebb_zU/s1600/048_TheBadStep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jV3SIkV2BIeklXy1rCa9Zys9xVY5VTHU2wqEm0_k0V2klEoifEB_E47upWEZYGTWvsJqTNFO65bNBu6KDROAQRE_VuAW5Zc97wTDZ6DLYD8cCrzKU4TLfeXwg-dz9dXAdU5ggoebb_zU/s400/048_TheBadStep.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">OK, was I ready to try it? I must have looked doubtful, as the Dad offered to help me across. "It's easy enough going up, but a bit trickier coming down", he said. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Suddenly, I had cold feet! I didn't like the look of it at all! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What if i managed to get "up" (with help around), but couldn't get back down on my own later? </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I retreated, and found a good place from which to sit and watch, about 100m back. A cup of coffee should steady the nerves!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"This is ridiculous", I said to myself. "Tomorrow you are going on to the Cuillin Ridge with <a href="http://www.skyeguide.co.uk/">Winky O'Neale</a>, and you're going to have to admit you bottled out on the 'so-called bad step'! You're going to have to do it!" </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGMBNS57c3yZp9QmvDXb-Gn_mWY6-Ds6IDepBV_uMLRhYwyPBi_wah1x_miyp5WDqUJDvy33EeHqW9EvE0WQNX92uQSeZPPDxuRlARkWAhuBdQn1ac7OuXwssyXXJRgJcGBhMWh5zGoWP/s1600/047_TheBadStep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGMBNS57c3yZp9QmvDXb-Gn_mWY6-Ds6IDepBV_uMLRhYwyPBi_wah1x_miyp5WDqUJDvy33EeHqW9EvE0WQNX92uQSeZPPDxuRlARkWAhuBdQn1ac7OuXwssyXXJRgJcGBhMWh5zGoWP/s640/047_TheBadStep.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the "bad step", family in the "cave" below the "bad step"</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">nce the family had moved off, I returned for another look. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Very gingerly (as there was no-one around to fish me out of the sea 20m below if I fell) I eased myself up out of the "cave" and astride the crack, then pulled myself upright and got a good fingertip hold on the upper crack, then shuffled my way up. Two minutes later, I had succeeded! Whew, what was all the fuss about?!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once the heartbeat had returned to normal, I continued round the shore, then up the rock slabs for a view up Loch Coruisk (below). No-one else in sight. What a dramatic spot! </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOUCi7_f6kdijZsVA-ZKsWnrwHpBooSlADLtdMRC7KUAYB04AFCZfIgbl3KauaOZzBe8KQ1Tdg3UygP-VmvuYoEdZuyOkerUcebTfSooFfJ0CsGpV0dh32z58aqNRe3x9hijwgoFGPnsb/s1600/053_LochCoruisk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOUCi7_f6kdijZsVA-ZKsWnrwHpBooSlADLtdMRC7KUAYB04AFCZfIgbl3KauaOZzBe8KQ1Tdg3UygP-VmvuYoEdZuyOkerUcebTfSooFfJ0CsGpV0dh32z58aqNRe3x9hijwgoFGPnsb/s640/053_LochCoruisk.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Loch Coruisk</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The afternoon was drawing on, though, so I couldn't linger if I still wanted to visit the Quiraing before checking in to <b><a href="http://www.syha.org.uk/hostels/islands/uig.aspx">Uig Youth Hostel</a></b> (which I had pre-booked). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, about turn back to the top of Loch Scavaig. How would the "bad step" feel in reverse, I wondered? I suddenly remembered that I had never done it in this direction. 30 years earlier, we had decided to return to Camasunary over the ridge of Sgurr na Stri. I wonder why??!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHv0ug0qCaYiIM1bIytZ3RfINnAI9dYX6VZS-oIQewGAbtPyX4YE7AZyZb2pIcuhgYcaqL2R6aWCmCihVNPH_bwrBCeKhQujSBlqSZMxQ_j1eU7dsiyms9MUJJxdw9Ye-rvS3sXDlR39I/s1600/052_TheBadStep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHv0ug0qCaYiIM1bIytZ3RfINnAI9dYX6VZS-oIQewGAbtPyX4YE7AZyZb2pIcuhgYcaqL2R6aWCmCihVNPH_bwrBCeKhQujSBlqSZMxQ_j1eU7dsiyms9MUJJxdw9Ye-rvS3sXDlR39I/s640/052_TheBadStep.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>The "Bad Step" from the Loch Coruisk end - the route is along the slanting crack across the slab</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I waited until a boat load of tourists had headed off back towards Elgol, them, taking my courage in both hands, I climbed up onto the slab. The top end is the most dangerous bit, I think, as the crack is at its slimmest, just enough for the toe of the boots, and the handholds above are fairly slight. Slowly, slowly, I edged my way down. No room for error here. Gradually the crack widened, and the foothold more secure. Then a big step down and I was off the crack and on the cave and safe! Whew! A combination of relief and exhilaration! </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now it was time to head back round the point to Camasunary, where I caught up with the family I had been watching earlier on "the step". We exchanged e-mail addresses, so that I could send them the photos I had taken of them. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>PS "If you (the Staley family described above) are reading this, did you ever receive the pictures? I sent them to the e-mail address you gave me, but had no reply?"</i></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNNUUXaaoYLx4zCkp8StPk9mrpReFzFZkxoVXm0_R8cNLEUTslXytGe2BKUP9KnNIws0UqZXiVQ4XFu9Xzagw7pmctt-J7LMH9JP7lU71LOd-Kt6Od6N6SlZdifRaRR-FzwWRSCDUlU3D/s1600/054_TheStorr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNNUUXaaoYLx4zCkp8StPk9mrpReFzFZkxoVXm0_R8cNLEUTslXytGe2BKUP9KnNIws0UqZXiVQ4XFu9Xzagw7pmctt-J7LMH9JP7lU71LOd-Kt6Od6N6SlZdifRaRR-FzwWRSCDUlU3D/s400/054_TheStorr.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Storr above Loch Fada</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Got back to the car at 5pm, with the main planned activity for the day not even begun! Did I still have time for the Quiraing? Well, the days are long at the end of May, so ... probably!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hurried up the road, with a brief stop to buy food in <b>Portree</b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As ever, <b>The Storr</b> and its <b>Old Man</b> (right) were looking impressively dramatic against the evening sky, but I had no time to stop, with another 15 </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">miles still to go up the winding road.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Before long, I reached <b>Staffin</b>, and took the turning off up the narrow twisting road, past the graveyard and up the hairpin bends as far as the car park at the top of the escarpment, where an excellent path begins.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I decided trainers would do (a decision I regretted later) - no need to put on my heavy boots - and set off along the lovely level path towards the Quiraing (below):</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2taqEOLW-XgbzWgWAjz5Zb-mDxjUgE6o-3sv1vbQLRvPwkKRQybJMAzl4VQ6_t7owrvXgyvlzqsx4iTCrMbxhzi2PZGJgVpIM_GuUqd3MXBpyk5ZXiSj_kpiVAevLMeW34w2ROxDy25e2/s1600/055_Quiraing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2taqEOLW-XgbzWgWAjz5Zb-mDxjUgE6o-3sv1vbQLRvPwkKRQybJMAzl4VQ6_t7owrvXgyvlzqsx4iTCrMbxhzi2PZGJgVpIM_GuUqd3MXBpyk5ZXiSj_kpiVAevLMeW34w2ROxDy25e2/s640/055_Quiraing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A mile or so of (mainly) easy walking - there were a couple of eroded sections - and I was at "The Prison" (the notch on the photo above) with "The Needle" towering above me to my left (below). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6jhcen78fBEuyAyMYaWhKAYta40SMGaBoS3kppVBdfsY63x90vfeQZf0sgIw9zWRm3B32Vw5G7ChPUk5dwPZDgB8QF3FzgLmPmJs3i24T4y1GD-vox6p5LNAg65MPyjw7Y5Hu2UwfYp2/s1600/056_Quiraing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6jhcen78fBEuyAyMYaWhKAYta40SMGaBoS3kppVBdfsY63x90vfeQZf0sgIw9zWRm3B32Vw5G7ChPUk5dwPZDgB8QF3FzgLmPmJs3i24T4y1GD-vox6p5LNAg65MPyjw7Y5Hu2UwfYp2/s640/056_Quiraing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The scramble up loose scree / eroded path to the foot of "The Needle" was very unpleasant - probably the most dangerous place I had been all day, especially as it was now after 8pm, and there was no-one else around to help if I slipped. So - proceeding cautiously, I scrambled on up and round the side of The Needle into a secluded hollow behind it. Various paths led off in different directions, and I followed one up through another very eroded gully between steep cliffs into another green area. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCbihdFhOeIxytmcOUUT4WLF780vBbj4aiSibVUFGpEWnp0KCp40WxSKdaXzpS9AwVS0dlTFDgGuPj-R8BxXhdxXGUAqkoCMpc_yB7eMxeCcc70Savuu5zHRFgkn35lfx6Wk_d_qGcXv3/s1600/060_Quiraing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCbihdFhOeIxytmcOUUT4WLF780vBbj4aiSibVUFGpEWnp0KCp40WxSKdaXzpS9AwVS0dlTFDgGuPj-R8BxXhdxXGUAqkoCMpc_yB7eMxeCcc70Savuu5zHRFgkn35lfx6Wk_d_qGcXv3/s400/060_Quiraing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Table</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How to get up to "The Table" was the next puzzle, but again I found a steep rough path leading up to the next level, and suddenly I was standing on a football-pitch sized green area, with only of a few sheep for company.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If there had been time, I would have liked to get up onto the hillside above the cliffs, but dusk was now falling, and it was time to return to the car.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Could I find my way back through the maze of paths? Yes, with only one wrong turning! The descent was pretty hair-raising, with very slippy loose sandy gullies to descend, and nothing much to use as handholds. However, I made it in one piece, and was soon heading back along to the car.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A short drive across the moor, and I arrived at Uig Youth Hostel, in its beautiful location overlooking Uig Bay: </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZuuFgas6OtMEZN3k5EW8ErKLll6NJBXIql8BSMW_GQ9Q72EZJS5ejCPlL4iJxoutY39NMqhKxzj5_0dM0-POu4hGRIa-5IeaECbbGPQ736KNf2R0F2rmqyBt92wEEfMJSCPHDH8fsqYu/s1600/062_Uig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZuuFgas6OtMEZN3k5EW8ErKLll6NJBXIql8BSMW_GQ9Q72EZJS5ejCPlL4iJxoutY39NMqhKxzj5_0dM0-POu4hGRIa-5IeaECbbGPQ736KNf2R0F2rmqyBt92wEEfMJSCPHDH8fsqYu/s640/062_Uig.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Western Isles ferry arrives in Uig (morning of 1st June)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A superb and varied day! So much for a rest!</span>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-58382236509626810912010-05-30T22:21:00.015+01:002010-12-31T16:07:56.948+00:0038,37: Ceathreamhnan and Dheiragain<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan and Mullach na Dheiragain</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These two remote Munros have been on my target list for a year or two, but require a good long day to reach. The chance came along at the end of May. With Anne off to <a href="http://www.rockuk.org/centres/whithaugh-park">Whithaugh Park</a> with Selkirk High School youngsters for a week, I had deliberately kept my diary free, and fingers crossed for a good week of weather. And so it proved ...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_F45ICktqDxAXjtZqRq3Mad8RdONhvDuhHrcND65FvcT3OunQaCbgpCDrWjJFBCpjWFYUvJM0pVIh6Mx3jNvAZ44QDEfrDRXYkTAtApjAMKRpA96nPMgn609FCxNxLCkbgyeCoSCW9BK/s1600/CandD_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_F45ICktqDxAXjtZqRq3Mad8RdONhvDuhHrcND65FvcT3OunQaCbgpCDrWjJFBCpjWFYUvJM0pVIh6Mx3jNvAZ44QDEfrDRXYkTAtApjAMKRpA96nPMgn609FCxNxLCkbgyeCoSCW9BK/s400/CandD_map.jpg" width="372" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Firstly, names! Often shortened to "C and D" for fairly obviously reasons, but 2 questions to be answered: <i>what do the names mean, and how should they be pronounced?</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan</b> means the "peak of the quarters", pronounced approximately "scoor nan kerrufnan". <b>Mullach na Dheiragain</b> means "hill of the kestrels", pronounced "moolluch na Yerakin".</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_c3OLiLIEmcaBWqV-TaSJfqvDT1vIMGY7yVMtSGoCzq91b1xj39367lANgjFq2ES8OC-g93ePNh3_Frkklp59ltRIbWXoL_e5w2U5a_EHYo3ndJko9lgcAoMNXybhZaL2-aPAdYu3MZM1/s1600/001_basecamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_c3OLiLIEmcaBWqV-TaSJfqvDT1vIMGY7yVMtSGoCzq91b1xj39367lANgjFq2ES8OC-g93ePNh3_Frkklp59ltRIbWXoL_e5w2U5a_EHYo3ndJko9lgcAoMNXybhZaL2-aPAdYu3MZM1/s400/001_basecamp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>base camp at Killillan</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had figured out a circular route beginning and ending in <b>Glen Elchaig</b>, which should take around 12 hours - maybe 14 hours if I included a detour over An Socach - so an early start we required.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I drove up on Saturday afternoon - coffee at <a href="http://www.blairathollwatermill.co.uk/">Blair Atholl Watermil</a>l (highly recommended) and fish supper at Kyle of Lochalsh - and parked in the car park at <b>Killillan</b>, where the public road ends. Fell asleep in the back of the Espace to the sound of rain on the roof!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQbjgSCtcMU6DrYsSUpS9lXkVD2JcKLxL-hWc_Lwrn6xG4DXoiMqLF2aVh1mbfNeLdB0_jBcNJSgPhMmSvQ0mmGlZGCVrfm_5yFi5UsOrhE3gs9dbyEBYXpgfQtTYw2dn6yfRKL1Lgj3V/s1600/002_Carnach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQbjgSCtcMU6DrYsSUpS9lXkVD2JcKLxL-hWc_Lwrn6xG4DXoiMqLF2aVh1mbfNeLdB0_jBcNJSgPhMmSvQ0mmGlZGCVrfm_5yFi5UsOrhE3gs9dbyEBYXpgfQtTYw2dn6yfRKL1Lgj3V/s400/002_Carnach.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking toward the hills from Carnach</span></i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Woke at 5am - rain had stopped, but cloud ominously low, so snuggled back down in the sleeping bag. Had another look at 7am, and spotted some blue sky through a break in the could, so got up, had breakfast, got the bike out ready to go, and set off up Glen Elchaig at 8am.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha37HjwvM_e0X7iqsekvfXRG3r12tu5IdeUylgiZb4LY3xjEoL_AXEup9c435gsS3QkDp39johG80S0bnbI5xwzV6o2hLl0fnE3mq6_8T_7YAzwTk9UR_GHRly6R59Wb0IvrENOe39zimy/s1600/004_downGlenElchaig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha37HjwvM_e0X7iqsekvfXRG3r12tu5IdeUylgiZb4LY3xjEoL_AXEup9c435gsS3QkDp39johG80S0bnbI5xwzV6o2hLl0fnE3mq6_8T_7YAzwTk9UR_GHRly6R59Wb0IvrENOe39zimy/s400/004_downGlenElchaig.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Initially a tarred road, then a good landrover track gradually climbing up the glen, past the <b>Falls of Glomach</b>. Reached <b>Carnach</b> at the top end of <b>Loch na Leitreach</b>, 11km up the glen, at 8.55am and tied up my bike. I could have cycled on up to Iron Lodge, but the plan was to come off the hill above Carnach on foot at the end of the day. A pleasant half-hour walk brought me to <b>Iron Lodge</b> - the herd of cattle seemed unperturbed as I walked through them! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Form Iron Lodge to the first top, <b>Mullach na Sithidh</b>, was only 4 miles on the map, but took fully 3 hours.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first section was hard work, following a good path as it zig-zagged steeply up the side of the classic u-shaped valley, providing a great view back down the glen (right). </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4EjO5e1Bz-EKi0achKmv5ZPhA8xsUhkxESp_4jxW0bmQB_NagK8qQ7KUcRkvL3NuRYvq8ei4UpkfgrbIdKgkodzlpHqrOusOvcrqRgPUjiPU2SY5cifT7fc9DV_Yr82iU2WGWv1YST5h/s1600/007_Ceathreamhnan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4EjO5e1Bz-EKi0achKmv5ZPhA8xsUhkxESp_4jxW0bmQB_NagK8qQ7KUcRkvL3NuRYvq8ei4UpkfgrbIdKgkodzlpHqrOusOvcrqRgPUjiPU2SY5cifT7fc9DV_Yr82iU2WGWv1YST5h/s400/007_Ceathreamhnan.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Within a few minutes, though, the gradient eased off as the path wound its way up the hanging valley to <b>Loch an Droma</b>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just beyond the loch, I branched off the main path to cross a couple of large burns - fortunately each was spanned by a construction of old railway sleepers. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The steep grassy slopes of <b>Mullach Sithidh</b> now stood directly ahead, and had to be tackled pretty well head-on. This was hard going, but glimpses of the snowy summit of Ceathreamhnan (left) encouraged me to continue (and gave an excuse for photo stops). Even on reaching the crest of the ridge at about 700m, it was still a long slog up the summit ridge. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At 12.25, I flopped gratefully onto the summit rocks, sheltered from the cool breeze by the small cairn. 1 top down, 7 more to go!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Cac na Con Dhu from Mullach na Dheiragain, <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The cloud that had been lingering around the tops had now lifted clear, and the way ahead to Ceathreamhnan along the broad ridge of <b>Mullach na Dheiragain</b> was now visible (right). After a 20 minute rest, it only took 10 minutes to reach the summit of Dheiragain, around its eastern coire. A 5 minute pause there (12.55-13.00), before continuing along the ridge to the next top <b>Cac na Con Dhu</b>, with the bulk of <b>Carn Eighe</b> and <b>Mam Sodhail</b> across the deep glen to the left. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here I met the first other walkers of the day, who had come up from the Glen Affric side and were heading out to Dheiragain. Continued over Cac na Con Dhu's multiple summits (not sure which bit is the highest) and paused for a rest on a rocky outcrop looking towards Ceathreamhnan at around 14.00. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxZXXfJMoCKQiVExaMUA3xecijgVSaB3lgP9w4wGkIVhN0qN27XY8rvTqnXGv6dXSSfPC77UVph9ZpEsTSerYn0ce4uOSLm73_0uQ4552yy3KJNwxwjZT_Npv2IYODlxf6lHTXCuGs3Rc/s1600/013_Ceathreamhnan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxZXXfJMoCKQiVExaMUA3xecijgVSaB3lgP9w4wGkIVhN0qN27XY8rvTqnXGv6dXSSfPC77UVph9ZpEsTSerYn0ce4uOSLm73_0uQ4552yy3KJNwxwjZT_Npv2IYODlxf6lHTXCuGs3Rc/s400/013_Ceathreamhnan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">on the summit of Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The ridge ahead looked quite daunting, but proved shorter than it appeared. Only the last 50m required careful footwork up a steep snowy crest to the summit (15.00).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After a brief pause for a photo (left), I continued gingerly along the snowy arete leading to the snow-covered West Top. There were no footprints, so looked like I was first person along there today! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TB_awI9gHCG8iwlzpQ8BgqIAvRbNEg8tCnCS6hOGxiDk2cjByN83H8S4E9T6PszRFXpx8TKld8cqSR9IAbxSkSPum80ucB7Ah22zwkCxW6Mc3-Ac_YT3f1wvB_dG2ri6JYh04teCEnCg/s1600/015_Ceathreamhnan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TB_awI9gHCG8iwlzpQ8BgqIAvRbNEg8tCnCS6hOGxiDk2cjByN83H8S4E9T6PszRFXpx8TKld8cqSR9IAbxSkSPum80ucB7Ah22zwkCxW6Mc3-Ac_YT3f1wvB_dG2ri6JYh04teCEnCg/s400/015_Ceathreamhnan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Soon, I was climbing up the snowy slope to the west top - only 8m lower that the main summit, giving Ceathreamhnan its characteristic twin peak profile.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In contrast to the main summit, however, the west top proved to be a broad plateau, covered in packed snow, with dramatic cornices at its northern edge (right).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">looking down the north ridge from Ceathreamhnan's west top</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The views to the west were now superb, with the clouds dispersing to reveal blue sky over the distant hills and islands. Time for a longer rest before making the descent and return to Glen Elchaig!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The homeward route looked inviting, down the initially snowy north ridge, then over 3 further Munro tops - <b>Stuc Bheag</b> (1075m), <b>Stuc Mhor</b> (1041m) and <b>Stuc Fraoch Choire</b> (918m). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This was a lovely descent - all the hard work now over, the weather improving, and fine views in all directions. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Time to stop and enjoy the view from each of the three rocky tops in turn: Stuc Bheag (16.00-16.10), Stuc Mhor (16.25-16.40), and Stuc Fraoch Choire (17.05-17.15) overlooking Loch an Fraoch Choire.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i>looking back to Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan's main top from the north ridge (right)</i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0VqkAeYz4SwUtD38WZmX6h6JLz8xNkL2bZY9GkfPsNc8sjWwoxfIuSRWTRWNuGPhK1oLWNRcAxSCj_KGVDhyvn33ItDIIWszYRLdlU1D9jkGX8Jruu19d2VUzPZum6p-JS5B0Svmh1ei/s1600/019_view_to_west.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0VqkAeYz4SwUtD38WZmX6h6JLz8xNkL2bZY9GkfPsNc8sjWwoxfIuSRWTRWNuGPhK1oLWNRcAxSCj_KGVDhyvn33ItDIIWszYRLdlU1D9jkGX8Jruu19d2VUzPZum6p-JS5B0Svmh1ei/s640/019_view_to_west.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">west to Skye from Stuc Mhor on Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTgoQv26gaX9Qzpi-qcBbzbPp98gag6qBoUOHJlQC8U8_GCovZL38pm66HcQdjlsAwPTLDyLEptn2tEFY1OyZPLVSA1oMtllhv0EKhF1bt2jImNcDtrgUvDEbmo63oDXdPeIJIEzQv9Sq/s1600/020_falls_Carnach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTgoQv26gaX9Qzpi-qcBbzbPp98gag6qBoUOHJlQC8U8_GCovZL38pm66HcQdjlsAwPTLDyLEptn2tEFY1OyZPLVSA1oMtllhv0EKhF1bt2jImNcDtrgUvDEbmo63oDXdPeIJIEzQv9Sq/s400/020_falls_Carnach.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Leaving the final top at 17.15, a long grassy descent led down to <b>Loch Lon Mhurchaidh</b>, where I joined a stalker's path leading down beside a lovely waterfall to Carnach.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then came the most nerve-racking part of the day - negotiating a herd of highland cattle with their calves. I'm glad to say they behaved well as I made my nervous way through them and safely back to my bike at Carnach at 18.45!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The return cycle back down the glen only took 45 minutes, mostly freewheeling - a good way to end a long day. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tired legs - so decided to treat myself to B&B and a bath at the <a href="http://www.balmacarahotel.co.uk/">Balmacara Hotel</a> - bliss!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><b>Summary:</b></i></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>2 Munros + 6 Tops</i></span></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>22km cycling</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>21km walking</i></span></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>1600m climbing</i></span></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>11 hrs 30 mins</i></span></div></div></div></span><br />
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</span>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728248260425703318.post-86881206434592024732010-04-08T22:17:00.005+01:002010-12-29T12:31:04.752+00:0039: Loch Ossian trio (part 2)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Beinn na Lap 8th April 2010</b></span><br />
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A chance to combine two of my interests - mountains and railways! <b>Beinn na Lap</b>, above <b>Loch Ossian</b>, can only easily be reached by train from the remote <b>Corrour Station</b>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And so it was, that Anne, Fiona and I set off from our wee holiday cottage at <b>Kinloch Rannoch</b> for the lovely drive up Loch Rannoch to Rannoch Station to catch the 11.08 train to Corrour. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsKByt53-9bhf7bJjfmG0N5NDS3MEhubduJRYMZxDcaklFjK8WYyvsrob85L-oXoVih8W1BbTeoskWaGtZv-Lnj3twUvzmLxnNfweovtU2rgg8EFOlIqDEyna6qt9fcfBmUmyUXa8wrmv/s1600/BeinnNaLap_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsKByt53-9bhf7bJjfmG0N5NDS3MEhubduJRYMZxDcaklFjK8WYyvsrob85L-oXoVih8W1BbTeoskWaGtZv-Lnj3twUvzmLxnNfweovtU2rgg8EFOlIqDEyna6qt9fcfBmUmyUXa8wrmv/s320/BeinnNaLap_map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The train was delayed 50 minutes due to some problem further south, but it was no hardship waiting in such an attractive location. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eventually the train trundled into view, and we </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">climbed on board for the 12 minute journey across the desolate Rannoch Moor to Corrour. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeMZx8LDOIA58lXgs4QhyphenhyphenKNrFsA6Jafy2AMoo6_9MpQ5or2pSakEfuKNXhJLWem0OU9erJuUmWxCfD6lHfQlV8R_Gb6IQ-6NL3_eiPO3_nIDIg1FeZsqq4KHKkcXRQG-_sqcpi4MyuEFH/s1600/038_Beinn_na_Lap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeMZx8LDOIA58lXgs4QhyphenhyphenKNrFsA6Jafy2AMoo6_9MpQ5or2pSakEfuKNXhJLWem0OU9erJuUmWxCfD6lHfQlV8R_Gb6IQ-6NL3_eiPO3_nIDIg1FeZsqq4KHKkcXRQG-_sqcpi4MyuEFH/s400/038_Beinn_na_Lap.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We watched the train trundle on northwards out of sight, then took a short walk along the track to wards <b>Loch Ossian</b> to where a boggy path headed off up the rather uninviting slopes of <b>Beinn na Lap</b> (right). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A brief sandwich stop, and we were off. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7pVjDIuPo_5WkihuhifS72NfTVOsRF0CwXQL7mEFyzcxGpry2mJUx4l5zXIkMxYDfy1oJM7snszErAnb-46jfVy07yx2Fow2vazCZfL4U_EfOrDMfxZSbTt_vYOSeKyV4ki9spN2x_CX/s1600/039_snowslope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7pVjDIuPo_5WkihuhifS72NfTVOsRF0CwXQL7mEFyzcxGpry2mJUx4l5zXIkMxYDfy1oJM7snszErAnb-46jfVy07yx2Fow2vazCZfL4U_EfOrDMfxZSbTt_vYOSeKyV4ki9spN2x_CX/s400/039_snowslope.jpg" width="323" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fortunately the "path" became a bit drier higher up, and we made steady progress towards the snowy skyline.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kicking steps up the final snowy slope (left) to the ridge was a pleasant diversion from the grassy trudge.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once on the ridge, the going became easier, the ground firmer underfoot, and soon we were approaching the summit area. The actual summit was at the far end of the hill, and we were glad to get some shelter form the cold wind behind the summit cairn and rocks at 2.30pm, 2 hours 15 minutes after leaving the station.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6MyLd-SWgdx9UbUGjV7R7-pk00VJwR7I_imNNqhnoKiPIo657DVB5LR4aFgBXo_zjERdDbpK5xhLLQO_9gZYZBMMlrX7JDSvrvCI1XAEvtfIWO61UKd9gpMRX1cM-J9pih9vxTG6glhU/s1600/040_CDandSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6MyLd-SWgdx9UbUGjV7R7-pk00VJwR7I_imNNqhnoKiPIo657DVB5LR4aFgBXo_zjERdDbpK5xhLLQO_9gZYZBMMlrX7JDSvrvCI1XAEvtfIWO61UKd9gpMRX1cM-J9pih9vxTG6glhU/s640/040_CDandSG.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Although an undramatic hill, the views were good across Loch Ossian to Ben Alder and to the hills we had climbed yesterday, <b>Carn Dearg</b> and <b>Sgor Gaibhre</b> (above).</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eteXRb3LROU6mwBOPY800wMCgbAVqqC2_JVGAYsVNbyaCruvvgHSms7y1n_obCUempe342L0n8lcM2eO188nfc2_UlDoR4cp86CZZYiooExtsTZHjaVaPCwdrE-j2KBHOSj4unBOufIA/s1600/042_LochOssian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eteXRb3LROU6mwBOPY800wMCgbAVqqC2_JVGAYsVNbyaCruvvgHSms7y1n_obCUempe342L0n8lcM2eO188nfc2_UlDoR4cp86CZZYiooExtsTZHjaVaPCwdrE-j2KBHOSj4unBOufIA/s400/042_LochOssian.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We descended by a slightly different (and drier) route, slanting across the face of the hill and dropping down to the northern shore of Loch Ossian (right).</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTK2MsdZvfv7cNd7rvoibp1T3Sy0CVWHqsYRu6_L21t7PY2nm5aKWUDpdQx-kRskFDqu_I2zc9s4mQX7iE8dgWNLvHxhiiyF_lvYKadD7T9kVeVoxuNwnwmxUu_0nb9eUUSYcaTPpgCWu7/s1600/044_LochOssianYH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTK2MsdZvfv7cNd7rvoibp1T3Sy0CVWHqsYRu6_L21t7PY2nm5aKWUDpdQx-kRskFDqu_I2zc9s4mQX7iE8dgWNLvHxhiiyF_lvYKadD7T9kVeVoxuNwnwmxUu_0nb9eUUSYcaTPpgCWu7/s400/044_LochOssianYH.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our return train wasn't due until 18.25, so we had a couple of hours spare to explore around the loch and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> the Youth Hostel. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><b><a href="http://www.syha.org.uk/hostels/highlands/loch_ossian.aspx">Loch Ossian Youth Hostel</a></b> (left)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjw0E3NIl8axebQHCnMC1qfM83gEmqOIs4UcduQaH2ceJGELWAqyjpr-nR1d8eKL0me6ApyyKkl1vGWqWcGWOWvnwzpABUAZyt96BE3_8VMQ5CBPyUFq3bldr2Wg4__ArTzYh5khjSEr0/s1600/045_CorrourStation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjw0E3NIl8axebQHCnMC1qfM83gEmqOIs4UcduQaH2ceJGELWAqyjpr-nR1d8eKL0me6ApyyKkl1vGWqWcGWOWvnwzpABUAZyt96BE3_8VMQ5CBPyUFq3bldr2Wg4__ArTzYh5khjSEr0/s320/045_CorrourStation.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corrour Station, with Corbett Leum Uilleam beyond.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then back along the track to Corrour Station, for the train back to Rannoch.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><b>Summary:</b></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>1 Munro</i></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>9km walk.</i></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>550m climbing.</i></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>4hrs.</i></span></div></div></span><br />
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</span>David Bethunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09169055581588641822noreply@blogger.com0