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16.8.2020…..Cùl Mòr Set off after breakfast on the Sunday morning for the long drive up from Glasgow. After a brief stop off in Ullapool for some lunch, I was lucky enough to get the only available space in the parking layby for Cùl Mòr a little before 1400hrs.
A good track from the layby took me north then NW across the moor. Met quite a few people walking back downwards.
NE towards Conival
Up and over Meallan Diomhain then aimed for the base of the northerly ridge to the right of the next photo.
It was surprisingly windy on the way up – more exposed on this side of Coire Gorm and I had to watch my footing at times.
Up to the summit trig with more extensive views of Assynt and the neighbouring hills
Suilven
I headed downhill round the cliffs of Coire Gorm and got a little shelter from the wind
Stac Pollaidh
Some interesting rock formations
Selfie
Then NW over Sròn Garbh to the 758m point
Another selfie
Looking back above Coire Gorm
I retraced my steps before going south and up to Creag nan Calman
Stac Pollaidh
Cùl Beag
Panorama
It was then just a case of going down eastwards alongside an allt aiming for the stony ground of Meallan Diomhain after which I rejoined the track to get back to the car.
I was now the only car in the layby. Wouldn’t have to use this as I’d brought my own.
17.8.2020….. Cùl Beag & CanispA rather inauspicious start as I woke to low cloud and mist before dawn. No point in getting up that early so the alarm was snoozed for an hour. Eventually set off at around 0615. Initially on a track skirting the edge of Lochan Fada then round Druim Donn. After going over a low fence, the track seemed to disappear so just a case of heading westwards into the clag.
Not much to say really from here until near the top as I couldn’t see much at all in the clag. I was convinced it was going to be this way for the whole way until up past Meall Dearg and the lochan I started to come out above the mist.
Inversion
The view towards Cùl Mòr continued to clear over the final 100m to the summit cairn.
Cairn
Stac Pollaidh was completely clear
Suilven in the distance
The wind was strong making it difficult to take photos. Waited for a while just watching the inversion blowing over then headed back down the same way – back into the clag after about 100m of descent then back to the car.
Drove up the road to the layby at the start of the Canisp track. Only a couple of other cars there when I arrived. One walker set off a short time before me and two other walkers with a dog set off a little after me.
Initially the track goes back down towards the loch until arriving at a bridge over a stream then changes to eastwards. I followed the track upwards over a small hillock then down towards the stream and up to the north of another hillier section where I came across a large slabby area – this made for very easy walking.
After that the path seemed to disappear but the going was straightforward enough often over some rocky ground. Some walkers in the distance who were descending.
View towards Suilven
Arrived at the summit with plenty of time for photos before the two walkers with the dog arrived.
Large stone shelter at the top
Quinag
Suilven
Conival
After the two walkers arrived, we said our suitably distanced “hellos” and I then set off back down. A little down from the summit, the other walker from the car park arrived – not sure which route he had taken as I hadn’t really seen him since shortly after he departed.
Stopped for a selfie
Basically retraced the outward route back to the car.
I then drove up towards Loch Assynt and stopped in the car park to walk over and visit Ardvreck Castle.
17.8.2020….. Glas Bheinn & Breabag Parked in a small layby at NC238285 across from Quinag. Initially followed a path eastwards before turning to follow another track southwards until I got to around NC240279. Left the track at this point and aimed for a grassy gully which rose steeply up the hillside in a SE direction. Discovered a track for much of the way up the gully which aided progress. Some light scrambling needed at times until I got up to the rim of Coire Dearg.
Quinag
I then followed upwards round the rim of the corrie.
Got to the cairn above the corrie then headed over to the summit cairn.
Inversion to the east
Took a few more photos then returned directly NW to retrace my steps back to the car.
Loch na Gaimhich and track back to the car
Got back to the car about 0900hrs then drove south through Inchnadamph to the car park for the Bone Caves. The car park was empty at this point but another car arrived to drop off a walker just as I was setting off.
There’s a good path to follow alongside the Allt nan Uamh. Stayed on its northern side for the ascent until I crossed the Allt at NC275172 and headed eastwards up the hillside. A mix of deep heather, bog and rocky sections made for tricky walking at times.
Quinag
The walker from the car park had his dog with him and wasn’t far behind – he had taken a slightly more direct route up from south of the Allt.
Arrived at the top a little before him
Suilven, Canisp and Quinag
Conival and Ben More Assynt
Had a socially distanced chat with the other walker at the summit and for part of the way down. He had completed two Munro rounds and used to be in the Tayside MRT. We parted company before getting to the Allt as I wanted to take a direct route to see the caves and he was going to descend via my ascent route.
I headed west and contoured round the hillside to stay high where possible.
Canisp with the caves to the left of the photo
Got the foot of the caves path then went up to have a look inside them.
After that I descended directly from the caves, crossed the Allt and walked back to the car park. Met quite a lot of people walking up to the caves. By this time the car park was full. Got changed and waved to the walker I had met earlier as he was driving off.
Long drive back to the south of Glasgow – no major holdups other than the usual roadworks on the A9 and was back in time for dinner.
