Stay at home

[maxie23]

When Muriel Gray was climbing Slioch for an episode of the Munro Show, she described Kinlochewe as the centre of the midge universe and described how criminals in the 17th century were stripped naked and tied to a tree at dusk as punishment.
She may have been joking about the criminals but not about the midges.
She also made a funny observation about anglers. Funny if you are not an angler.
Weren't the 80's great ? That's why I have kept all my clothes from that decade. Pity nothing fits.

Anyway, I arrived at the car park at Incheril at 08.30 after an hours drive up from Dornie, home to the famous and much photographed Eilean Donan castle, where I was based for a weeks holiday.
Very scenic drive up past Loch Carron and through Glen Carron on various types of roads.
Stopped at the viewpoint at the head of Glen Docherty for a couple of photos.

Glen Docherty to Loch Maree by robert irvine, on Flickr

The weather was a bit overcast with very little wind.
The car park is surrounded by trees so I made myself midge proof before I opened the car door.
You were immediately covered by them.
I left the car park and joined the path, passing by the cemetery as described in the W.H. guide.

Walking along Glen Docherty by robert irvine, on Flickr

Beinn Eighe behind a burial ground by robert irvine, on Flickr

Beinn Eighe zoomed in by robert irvine, on Flickr

Not long after the cemetery the path goes through a thick growth of ferns for quite a while.
I managed to find one photogenic spot.

Path alongside Kinlochewe river by robert irvine, on Flickr

The path follows the Kinlochewe river for a while and then cuts off to reach the shore of Loch Maree.
Slioch had its head in the clouds at this point.

Slioch, rear view by robert irvine, on Flickr

Loch Maree by robert irvine, on Flickr

Cross over the Abhainn an Fhasaigh on a bridge and look out for a fork in the path shortly after.
Turn right here and head up towards Gleann Biannasdail.
At the next fork go left and head away from the gorge, aiming for the right of Sgurr Dubh.

View to Sgurr Dubh, Slioch in cloud behind by robert irvine, on Flickr

Loch Maree, Torridon hills behind by robert irvine, on Flickr

The way up becomes a lot steeper now and a bit more rocky.
After a lot of huffing and puffing you go round the base of Sgurr Dubh and into Coire na Sleaghaich.

Coire na Sleaghaich by robert irvine, on Flickr

I followed a well defined path across the bowl of the coire and then diagonally up the west wall up to the lochans above.
The climb up from the lochans is on very eroded and steep rocky ground at first. Then a grassy section up to a sandstone outcrop.
Slight dip after this and then the climb up to the trig point. Not much in the way of views from here. Bit cloudy.

Misty summit by robert irvine, on Flickr

The true summit is a bit further along from the trig point.
The cloud never lifted enough to get really good views.

Loch Garbhaig, Lochan Fada behind by robert irvine, on Flickr

Spooky view back to second summit by robert irvine, on Flickr

Misty Loch Maree by robert irvine, on Flickr

Ridge to Sgurr an Tuill Bhain by robert irvine, on Flickr

View to Fisherfield forest by robert irvine, on Flickr

Loch Maree middle view by robert irvine, on Flickr

I sat for a while and had a bite to eat and then descended by the same route.
The walk out seemed twice as long on the way back.
Nice walk, wish the weather had been a bit better

[rockhopper]

Probably my favourite Munro. Pity about the weather as the views are excellent but at least you did manage to see some of them. From many family holidays up here, I can agree with you about the midges - cheers