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6th July 2004 - Ben Hope
A little cloud on the hills today, but it looked like it would burn off, so we set off (from our campsite at Melness) to climb Ben Hope - the most northerly Munro.
We decided to take the "tourist route" - which proved to be a very steep muddy ascent to begin with (right), until we reached drier ground on the upper slopes.
We followed the path all the way as it zig-zagged up toward the broad summit plateau (reached at 2pm after 3 hours of walking).
Glad to sit down for a rest, lunch and a sunbathe (the cloud had indeed lifted off).
Took a wee walk along to the top of the north ridge (above the "bad step") for the fantastic view out north and west (left) as far as Cape Wrath.
Decided to descend across the plateau to the SE top for the views to the east, then down a broad tongue towards the long southern ridge, Leitir Mhuiseil.
View from Leitir Mhuiseil, looking back up to the summit (left) and SE top (right).
Followed the undulating escarpment, with fine views from its cliff edge over Strathmore below, then gradually descended to the top of the Allt na Cailleach waterfall (below).
Descended steeply back to the road, for our 2km walk back to the car.
As we walked along, a police car approached and stopped. "Have you seen a lady walker on her own - reported missing by her male companion form near the summit?" "No, but we'll watch out"
We both immediately thought "Jill!" (see yesterday's blog). Back at the car, I looked up the path, to see a lone figure descending. Might be her, so I headed off up the path. It was - and she was completely oblivious to the alarm that she had raised!
No mobile signal, so we headed out of the valley, and phoned the police, from the big house at the end of the road, to call off the mountain rescue!
Evening view of Ben Hope
(written 03/01/10)
July 2004 - Anne and I set off with tent for a couple of weeks in the far north, and were blessed with excellent weather. Here's what we achieved:
4th July Ben Klibreck
Parked on the A836 at the footbridge just north of Vagastie. Headed across boggy ground, gradually rising up to the broad ridge of Ben Klibreck. Followed a nice wee path along west side of ridge then final steep climb to Meall nan Con (M167).
New boots still not comfortable!
Ben Loyal from Ben Klibreck:
5th July Ben Loyal
Not a Munro, but surely one of the best hills in Scotland - especially when viewed from the the Kyle of Tongue (left) - and deserving of its nickname "Queen of Mountains"
From left to right:
Sgor Chaonasaid (708m),
An Caisteal (764m),
Sgor a' Bhatain (700m),
Sgor A'Chleirich (642m) and
Sgurr Fhionnaich (568m).
We started off by bike, but could only manage a short distance beyond Ribigill Farm, then continued on foot across the moor. The river was full, but we managed to cross dry shod on a fallen tree! From Cunside, a steep muddy ascent to the coire, then up steeper (but dry) grassy slopes to Sgor Chaonasaid. Navigation was a bit confusing in mist, but this lifted as we walked across the grassy plateau over to Sgor a' Bhatain (right), and the views opened up nicely.
We enjoyed some scrambling on the rocks, then continued to the huge rocky summit block of An Caisteal.
Chatted to a couple on the summit - earlier we had met the chap looking for "Jill" who had gone wandering off on her own. (see tomorrow's post for continuation of that particular story!)
Meanwhile we continued on along grassy slopes over Heddle's Top (Beinn Bheag), and round to Sgor a' Chleirich.
This final top is a superb viewpoint, looking across to Sgurr Fhionnaich (right). Returning to the col, we dropped into the coire below An Caisteal, then negotiated our way down through the crags and woods to the flat lands below. The next trick was to cross the Allt Lon Malmsaig - only a burn, but it had been channelled into a just-too-wide-to-jump canal. We found an old plank long enough to stretch across, and strong enough to get 1.5 of us across! I ended up with wet legs! Anyway, it was a warm day, so the experience wasn't too unpleasant.
The final challenge was extricating the bikes from the centre of a herd of cows!
(written 03/01/10)
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