Wednesday 13 October 2010

Marsco, Isle of Skye Sunday 10 October 2010

A last minute decision on friday night was to head for Skye on saturday morning and walk sunday, we did not want a huge day as had an early start to work on monday (4 hour drive home as well) but boy did we make the right choice! Had decided it was to be Glamaig or Marsco but I have always wanted to do Marsco as have a painting of it by Jean Thomas from Portnalong, the late great hill man Pete's widower.
Marsco from Sligachan















There are a few different ways to tackle this hill but we decided to use Andrew Dempster's route in the book The Grahams, as the walk in from the starting point at the head of Loch Ainort is shorter than starting at Sligachan and given the rain that Skye has had over the summer the less time walking over wet boggy ground the better and it would also mean finishing earlier too. After parking the car at the lay-by we followed the burn up Coire nam Bruardaran (Corrie of Dreams) with the red deer stags bellowing all round about us, to reach the bealach at 320m where the jaw dropping views of Corbett Garbh-bheinn and ClachGlas on Bla Bheinn came into view.
Belig, Garbh-bheinn & Clach Glas on Bla Bheinn















From the bealach it was up the steeping & narrowing SE ridge with the views of the black cullin ridge  appearing all the way up. At around 650m the ridge flattens out before a slight dip and another short pull up to a short narrow arete which leads to the summit cairn.
Sgurr nan Gillean & Summit Ridge of Marsco















On the summit ridge looking towards The Red Cullin 

Pinnacle Ridge on Sgurr nan Gillean















The views from the summit are some of the best from any mountain in Scotland especially on a day like what we got. Our descent route was just the ascent in reverse with brilliant views looking towards Bla bheinn and Loch Scavaig.
Looking to wards Bla-Bheinn & Loch Scavaig

4 comments:

  1. What a fantastic day to be up there !

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  2. Looks fantastic, great photos and views.

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  3. Wow, I think you made the right call heading for Marsco in those conditions. It looks an absolutely amazing day. Simply stunning photos.

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  4. Eth they are fantastic looks stunning so jealous but thanks for share.

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