Autumn Corbetts

At the end of October Andy and I took advantage of a break in the weather to spend a couple of days in the northwest, based at the terrific Saddle Mountain Hostel in Invergarry.

Arriving late on the Tuesday evening, we left reasonably early the next day to drive north to Coulags in Strath Carron with a view to climb An Ruadh-stac. The weather was perfect with no wind, blue skies and a warm sun which was starting to melt the overnight frost as we set off up the Fionn-abhainn. There was a light dusting of snow on the tops and the path up to the bealach was frozen solid where the sun hadn't touched it. We stopped at the lochans for a quick snack then climbed southwest, first up steep slabs then steeper loose rock, to the summit.

Summit of An Ruadh-stac and view west

The next day we decided to drive in to Kinloch Hourn to climb Sgurr nan Eugallt. I had failed to reach the top of this Corbett two years ago when we had to turn back from the ridge due to very strong winds, and then last year the landslip on the Loch Quoich road meant I had to change my plans to climb it along with Beinn Bhuidhe.

This time the weather conditions were perfect as we left the car near the Coireshubh ruin and set off up another excellent stalkers' path, very soggy in places, and on to the ridge which narrowed and steepened. There was more snow here than on yesterday's mountain but there were no difficulties climbing up to the trig point before walking northwest along the broad, snow covered ridge towards Sgurr Sgiath Airigh.

Cowal

 Loch Goil from Stob an Eas

Inveraray and Loch Fyne

R+R

End of September we enjoyed a short break in the warm sunshine of Seville.....what a beautiful city!

Northwest highlands

In mid September I was back in the northwest leading a group for About Argyll Walking Holidays based in Torridon and Lochinver. By and large the weather was kind to us with only one really wet day and some other heavy showers so we enjoyed some magnificent views and some great walks.

 Skye from path to Sands

 Sgurr a' Chaorachain

Beinn Alligin

Suilven

Old Man of Stoer and view north

Breaking camp early on Isle of Arran

A few northwest summits from our August trip

We were lucky again with the weather on a 4 day trip to the northwest highlands based in Torridon hostel.........apart from day 4 climbing Meall a' Ghiubhais in appalling weather before heading home!

Looking east from the summit of Beinn Dronaig after a long cycle in.

Sgurr a' Chaorachain

Torridon

En route to Sgurr na Feartaig across the Allt a' Chonais to pick up the fantastic stalkers' path

Sgurr na Feartaig

Sail Mhor

Friday was my last day in the sweltering heat of the north-west and I was keen to climb Sail Mor before driving home.  A great start up the side of the impressive Ardessie Falls and a totally fantastic summit with views to take your breath away.........a real gem of a mountain! A good finish to four wonderful days, and still no-one to be seen.

Beinn Dearg Mor + Beinn Dearg Bheag

Sail Mhor

Summit welcoming committee

Sail Mhor from Ardessie

Corbett bagging 2

This trip the weather was getting hotter by the day and on Thursday my temperature gauge was showing 28 degrees as I drove up one of my favourite glens - Strathfarrar - with the intention to climb An Sidhean on the north side of Loch Monar, starting from the dam. It's a great path round the lochside and another good stalkers path leads up the lower slopes of the hill to about 500m. From there, though steep at first, it was good walking up the broad ridge and across the summit plateau to the top. A breeze was blowing here which kept at least some of the clegs away and I took quite a long time at the cairn, drinking in the views. As in previous days, I had the place entirely to myself and it was hard to tear myself away and make tracks back to Loch Monar in the increasing heat.

Looking west along Loch Monar

The Mullardoch hills

An Sidhean

Corbett bagging 1

Last week I found some unexpected free time and so decided to drive north to climb some far flung Corbetts which I had wanted to do for a while.
I left early on Tuesday morning via the A9 and turned off at Tomatin to drive down the delightful Strathdearn following the River Findhorn. Leaving the car at Coignafearn I cycled the rest of the way to Dalbeg in hot sunshine - and a very strong headwind! I ditched the bike here and took the good track up the Allt Creagach and Allt Odhar towards Carn na Saobhaidhe an unimpressive summit area, surrounded by peat hags and landrover tracks. I did, however, have a close encounter with a beautiful mountain hare. I carried on to Carn Mhic Lamhair to try to avoid the worst of the peat hags on the way back to the track. A strong wind was still blowing and I was glad it would be at my back for the cycle out along the glen.
The next day I left the Black Isle Berries Bunkhouse at Tore in pouring rain with the intention of climbing Carn Chuinneag from Strathcarron and Glen Calvie. As I started up the glen the rain had stopped and the sun had come out - it was going to be a lovely day. I could have taken the bike up as far as Diebidale but I had all day and walking up the glen was a pleasure.
A good stalkers path is a beautiful and effort saving thing, and the path zigzagging its way up the steep slopes of Carn Chuinneag's west top was one of the best. The views were opening up in all directions as I approached the summit, with not a living thing to be seen anywhere. I enjoyed my solitude at the cairn for a while before starting back down the slopes to the glen, and my drive to Ullapool.

Carn Chuinneag

Looking north-east from summit

View west

Assynt + NW Sutherland

A few days later I was back up in the north-west with Kay, helping her to climb some more Grahams in the area. We had failed to climb Carn an Tionail and Beinn Direach the previous September due to stalking so these two hills north of Loch Merkland were the first on our list. The two together make up a grand horseshoe route, and Carn an Tionail particularly is a lovely hill giving great views north towards Ben Hope, Ben Loyal, Cranstackie and Beinn Spionnaidh.
Next day on Ben Stack we were not quite so lucky with the weather which closed in on us on the last steep 200m to the summit so that we only got a limited view of the interesting split summit area and sadly no views across to Arkle and Foinaven. We left the summit cairn and what I gather is a solar powered police aerial to enjoy a quick sandwich beside the trig point before heading back down in increasingly heavy rain. Only on the lower slopes did the cloud clear and the sun came out for us. Making the most of the afternoon, we drove to Scourie for a cup of coffee and a glorious stroll round Scourie Head to end the day.
We were driving home the next day so left Inchnadamph early in order to climb Meall Doire Faid from Braemore Junction. A good moorland path to Home Loch bypasses any houses and from there we climbed directly north-east on steep grassy slopes to reach the summit where we disturbed a ptarmigan and her chicks - a real treat to see them. From there we dropped down to the north-east to reach the col between the Graham and the Corbett Beinn Enaiglair and a good path down to Home Loch and back across the moor.

Ben Stack from Scourie

Scourie Head

Sgurr Gaorsaic

Looking west from Sgurr Gaorsaic

View north into Gleann Gaorsaic

Mullach Fraoch Choire from summit

North-west Scotland

July has turned out to be a fantastic opportunity to get out in the hills, both with clients and a fantastic wee jaunt all by myself!
At the start of the month we aimed to tick some Corbetts from Ratagan YH (why still only 1 female shower and toilet??) in varied weather.
An early start on our driving day gave us time to tackle Carn Mor in Glen Dessary, cycling in from Strathan in what started as a light drizzle. The weather did not improve and it turned into a bit of a slog to reach the summit which looked quite interesting through the thick cloud. With no views, no photographs and no incentive to hang around we headed down into Coire an Eich and back to the car, wet through, to complete the drive to Ratagan.
Day two was a big improvement with some sun and only a light wind. Our objectives were Beinn nan Caorach and Beinn na h-Eaglaise from Glen Arnisdale. Cloud descended as we reached the top of Beinn nan Caorach and views disappeared but as we descended to the col the views to the west opened up and made for a grand climb up the narrow NE ridge of Beinn na h-Eaglaise to the airy cairn followed by a very steep descent back into the glen.
The next day conditions were great for climbing Beinn Bhan. We walked north along a good path at the side of the river Kishorn to get wonderful views of the mountain's eastern corries, having decided to make our ascent from Coire an Fhamhair, a lovely route which showed the mountain off at its best and allowed us to traverse the entire length of the ridge as we reached the summit and continued our descent south-east. Our day was made on the ascent when we encountered a fox at around 600m on the ridge - a beautiful creature!
Our last day the sun continued to shine and we walked into Sgurr Gaorsaic from Morvich over the Bealach an Sgairne. For the fourth day in a row we saw no-one else on the hills as we climbed up beautiful Gleann Choinneachain flanked by Beinn Fhada and A'Ghlas-bheinn towards Gleann Gaorsaic and a steep pull up the grassy slopes in searing heat to the flat summit, beating off the clegs as we went!

Torridon from Beinn Bhan

 

Coire na Poite Beinn Bhan

Coire na Fhamair

Beinn nan Caorach

Isle of Mull

I was lucky enough to be leading a group for About Argyll on Mull during a great spell of weather.
Ticks aside, we had a brilliant week with an amazing trip to Staffa and Iona, where one of our number attempted a round of golf on the interesting links course.
Other walks on Ulva and Treshnish, Ben More, Lochbuie and the cliffs of Carsaig were enjoyed in the heat.

Lochbuie

searching for shade by Lochbuie

View towards Jura and Colonsay from the Ross of Mull

Wonderful views from the summit of Meall Mor in Glencoe.
Starting in Ballachulish we followed the River Laroch for a couple of kilometres before striking out up a very soggy and steep hillside to reach the rocky south-west ridge of Sgorr a' Choise and climb to the airy summit.  A steep descent on grassy slopes took us eventually to the col below Meall Mor and a 300m ascent to the broad summit ridge and an easy walk to the summit cairn which stood on the edge of a long rocky bluff.

Glencoe from Meall Mor summit

Looking towards Ardgour and the Ballachulish bridge