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

Beinn Airigh Charr Friday 21 May 2010

 Beinn Airigh Charr from approach path from Poolewe

We decided at the last minute to climb this hill although have looked it over in the SMC Corbett guide a few times.  After leaving the car at the car park in Poolewe walked down the private road towards Inveran which then goes towards Loch Kernsary. Before reaching the loch we cut across the open moorland for around 1km to rejoin the same path that would go down to Loch Maree, before reaching the loch we met the great path that heads east then southeast uphill to reach the col between Spidean nan Clach and Meall Chnaimhean. As we were climbing up to the col although sunny a few spots of rain started which then turned in to a heavier shower, this was not at all surprising as it had been very close all morning and there was a forecast of thunder & heavy showers.

On the path heading for the col Spidean nan Clach just visable

Lovely flowers that were around the path uphill

On reaching the col the rain went off and a few patches of cloud where skirting the summits but on the last pull upto our summit it started to lift. I just simply love when this happens you're standing on the top and you know it's gonna go and whaaaamm it clears. The views where mind blowing, the Islands of Loch Maree to the west, Poolewe and Loch Ewe to north, Kinlochewe to south and the brilliant Munro of A'Mhaighdean east, alot of walking to nail that Munro.

The Islands on Loch Maree

Ben Lair, Slioch & South End of Loch Maree

Eerie cloud rising from Ben Lair

Spidean nan Clach, North End Loch Maree & Loch Ewe

A'Mhaighdean

Myself on summit with A'Mhaighdean and Fionn Loch in background

Video from summit showing the islands & zooming on A'Mhaighdean

Returned to Poolewe by same route and saw these lovely bluebells on the way back.

Another fabulous day's hill walking in the NW Highlands.

Beinn Damh Wednesday 19th May 2010

Been looking at climbing Beinn Damh on and off for a while so decided this was the day. My Dad (who is 78 hope I can still walk at that age) had come up for a few days to join us at the cottage and since his knee can give him a few problems on descent we did not want too big a day, mind you saying that all these hills up here have nearly a sea level start so you really are climbing all the way. Parked the car at the Loch Torridon Inn and followed the climbing path beside the Allt Coire Roill through the beautiful Caledonian pines.

The Path through the Caledonian Pine Forest

After leaving the forest we were rewarded to some lovely views of Upper Loch Torridon.

Upper Loch Torridon

Now after leaving the trees and almost reaching the col which separates Sgurr na Bana Mhoraire from the main Beinn Damh mass we went into cloud which never lifted till we were back down at this level on the return which is a real shame as denied us the views hence no more photos, nevertheless onward and upward we went, following the path marked with occasional small cairns until reaching the quartzite boulders at the dip which then narrows, and you could still tell this even in cloud, up the narrow ridge to reach the summit cairn which is right on the edge of the steep east facing corrie. It was just like looking into a big white hole. On way back though we kind of went off path and lost the cairns in the cloud but what impressed me was how accurate my satmap was, I said to Dad & Paul we're about 20-30 metres lower down than on way up according to the snail trail so we started to ascend a little and bang right back on the path again.As soon as back at the col as I said before out of the cloud and nice lower down views came into view again. Still a five hour walk by the time back at car and then dad took us for a nice run to Diabeg where the film Loch Ness was filmed starring Ted Danson. Another brilliant day !

Diabeg

Beinn Dearg (Torridon) Sunday 16 May 2010

 Beinn Dearg from Coire Mhic Nobuil

 

What a belter of a hill !

Had weeks holiday in Kinlochewe and this Corbett was always going to be the first day out in the hills.

This hill was resurveyed in 2008 as was thought it might actually be a Munro but turns out is only one metre short !!!

We started at the car park at Coire Mhic Nobuil and followed the path on the E side of this river which goes round by the horns on Beinn Alligin and up towards the Bealach a' Chomhla.

Beinn Alligin and the horns from the approach path

Just before the bealach we turned to climb the west spur of Stuc Loch na Cabhaig which is very steep and craggy near the top.

Looking up the ascent of Stuc Loch na Cabhaig

Baosbheinn & Loch na h-Oidhche from ascent ridge

From the top of this ridge it was an airy ridge walk with some easy scrambling to the summit of Beinn Dearg.

Looking towards the Summit from Stuc Loch na Cabhaig

After leaving the summit we continued along the ridge SE where we had the rocky steep decent of what Peter Barton describes in his book, Torridon: A walkers guide, as the enemy, we had a few other adjectives for it but enough said.There are three rocky towers to descend if doing the ridge W to E which must be descended by turning into face the rock, according to the SMC Corbett guide this can be bypassed on the south but that looks like steep grass ledges and I prefer to cling to solid rock, thank you.

Myself after the enemy descent

Continued along the ridge to the final top called Carn na Feola which is a great viewpoint of the whole mountain and surrounding hills.

The Ridge of Beinn Dearg

View from Carn na Feola N towards Baosbheinn & Beinn as Eoin

From this top it is a steep descent S down torridonian sandstone terraces back to meet the path beside the Coire Mhic Nobuil and the long walk out back to the car park. But what a great day and start to my hols.

Video is taken after downclimb of "The Enemy"

Mullach nan Coirean & Stob Ban Sunday 9 May 2010

Mullach nan Coirean from Stob Ban

I never get tired of walking the Mamores as they give a good long or short day out and can be tackled from a number of directions and they also have a feel of real mountains about them. We left the car at Achriabhach and followed the forest path to emerge out of the wood at the stile that gives a good easy angled climb up the north east ridge.

Myself having a breather on the ascent of Mullach nan Coirean

Sgurr A Mhaim & Stob Ban from NE Ridge of Mullach nan Coirean

From the summit of Mullach nan Coirean we descended east to walk round the northern corries and follow the path that leads to the rocky climb of Stob Ban with great views towards Ben Nevis and Stob Ban's quartzite slopes.

Ben Nevis from ridge to Stob Ban

Approching Stob Ban from Mullach nan Coirean

Views from the summit of Stob Ban were excellent and was quite warm given that the forecast said the wind was meant to make it feel like -10, I never had a jacket on as seen in photo below and I don't carry a spare leg with me, that's a girl sitting at cairn with rest of body out of the shot although sometimes I could do with a spare one !

Beinn a Bheithir & Loch Linnhe from summit of Stob Ban

Bidean nan Bian from summit of Stob Ban

From the summit we headed down Stob Ban's rocky east ridge, where there is a great view of Stob Ban's eastern cliffs, to reach the stalker's path at the col at the head of Coire a' Mhusgain which we followed back to Achriabhach.

Stob Ban from the descent of east ridge

Beinn a' Chrulaiste Sunday 18th April 2010

Beinn a' Chrulaiste

Sometimes the big hills are not always the best and this hill (a corbett 857m) is an example of that, although not that much to look at, the views are jaw dropping and it takes quite something nowadays for me to say that.When we left home in the morning it was lashing down but given the good forecast by MWIS we carried on with the plan, it did rain all the way over but the forecast was for it to get better by midday so stopped for a coffee at the Green Welly in Tyndrum to give the sun a chance to come out. After that it was up to the Kingshouse Hotel where we started the walk but not before feeding some of my new friends.

My new friends with Beinn a' Chrulaiste in background

Friends with Buachaille Etive Mor in background

As this is really only a half days walk we decided to really take the time to enjoy it instead of going full pelt and we were well rewarded with some absolute stunning views

Myself at summit with Buachaille Etive Mor in background

From the summit we continued heading west to descent the west ridge which gave great views right up Glencoe and across to Ben Nevis and the Mamores.

Ben Nevis from descent route

Buachaille Etive Beag, Bidean nam Bian & Glencoe from descent route

Descented west ridge down to Althafeadh where we walked back the West Highland Way (much improved since I walked it in 1987) back to the Kingshouse Hotel. Day was made all the better by knowing that it had been chucking it down all day at home.

Meall nan Aighean, Cairn Mairg, Meall Garbh Sunday 11th April

Have always enjoyed walking the Carn Mairg group but due to circumstances we had to be home early for, we only did 3 in an east to west direction, descending at the col between Meall Garbh and Carn Gorm. These hills give really great walking on good going terrain and great views, apart from that my photos say the rest, and of course the weather was terrific. Hope this is a sign of a great summer to come.

Carn Gorm & Glen Lyon from W ridge on Meall nan Aighean

Schiehallion from Cairn Mairg

Myself on Meall Garbh with the Lawers Group in background

Looking NW towards Loch Rannoch and Ben Nevis

The Top of An Sgor from descent route

Check out the colour of the sky it's real