Dun da Ghaoithe Isle of Mull Monday 21 June 2010

Dun da Ghaoithe to left from Lochaline to Fishnish Ferry

This is the only Corbett on Mull so since I am kind of climbing the Corbetts on & off it was the  first on the list. Started late afternoon as although it was dry and very warm the mountains in Mull were producing orographic cloud, so we where trying to hang off as forecast was for better later on. Now according to the SMC Corbett guide the preferred route begins at Scallastle (Farm, alarm bells already ringing !) Anyway walked up the road to the so called gate between farm and coachworks where we could not go through  as was blocked off and then saw a Staff Bull Terrier coming our way so it was out of there. Back at car drove further down road past Craignure to begin near the turn off to Torosay castle. This is a nice approach especially for the views south  but the downside is it is partly a bulldozed road to reach phone masts.

Duart Castle from start of hillwalk

Ferry from Oban on way to Craignure

Alpine flowers on the ridge

After passing the two phone masts gaining height all the way (cos although hill is only 766m its a 10m start) we finally reached the top of Mainnir nam Fiadh were there was thousands of midges so no stopping then it was along a narrowing ridge, which by this point was partly in and out of cloud to a dip in the ridge and final pull up to the summit which again had even more midges, never been at a summit cairn where have I seen so many, really could not stop or it was eaten alive.We just returned the same route in reverse.

Looking towards Tobermory from near the summit

Stuchd an Lochain Wednesday 9 June 2010

Looking towards Stuchd an Lochain from Creag an Fheadain

A phone call on Tuesday night from my sister made me decide to go out with her and a friend for a short days walking as her friend not long started hillwalking and two munros would be too much I think.We started at the east end of Loch an Daimh, the usual place to start, by climbing up the steep grassy hillside to reach ridge that leads to Creag an Fheadain.

On Creag an Fheadain

Looking across the Loch to Meall Buidhe

From Creag an Fheadain it was SW across the broad ridge to the top of Sron Chona Choirein and then W to the summit of Stuchd an Lochain.

Norma & Angie approaching the summit

From the summit we just retraced our route back to start, with lovely views towards the Lawers group and down Glen Lyon

Looking down Glen Lyon and towards the Lawers Group

Stob Ghabhar & Stob a' Choire Odhair Sunday 30 May 2010

Stob Ghabhar from Victoria Bridge

Done these two munros many times and have always enjoyed them. Because this weekend was a bank holiday the car park at Victoria Bridge was very busy and many people had chosen to do these mountains, so for a change and to avoid the crowds we decided to climb Stob Ghabhar first therefore doing the hills in a clockwise direction, every other time  I have climbed them and the SMC guide go to Stob a' Choire Odhair first. It is a longer haul up the at first steep ridge on Stob Ghabhar but lovely views are had of Loch Tulla, Beinn Dorain and Deinn an Dothaidh and the path climbs up past a lovely waterfall.

The Waterfall on Stob Ghabhar

The view from the ridge on Stob Ghabhar to Beinn Dorian, Beinn an Dothaidh & Loch Tulla

The view over the Black Mount hills from summit of Stob Ghabhar

After leaving the summit we traversed the narrow ridge known as the Aonach Eagach then it was a steep descent to the bealach between the two munros

Bidean Nan Bian from the Aonach Eagach ridge on Stob Ghabhar

Looking back on Stob Ghabhar on descent to bealach

Stob a' Choire Odhair from the bealach

From the bealach it was a straightforward climb up the west ridge of Stob a' Choire Odhair

View to Stob Ghabhar from Stob a' Choire Odhair

From the summit of Stob a' Choire Odhair we descended to meet the zigzagging stalker's path to join with the path at the start of walk and followed the Abhainn Shira river back to car park at Victoria Bridge.

Loch Tulla, Beinn Achaladair & Beinn an Dothaidh