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Glorious November day, bright sunshine, the odd cloud, no wind!
Parked just off the Ben Hope road at the start of the Moine Path - there's probably space for two cars to park here.
Set off about 9.30am. Followed the Moine Path uphill beneath the crags and out onto the wide open space of the Moine proper. Path pretty wet, but easy to follow. Lots of tiny birch saplings starting to encroach in sections of the path on the lower slopes. Ben Hope looking huge and impressive to our right the whole time (and keeping us stuck in shadow where everywhere else around us was in glorious morning sun).
First two streams had rickety footbridges (there could easily be a small troll under the wooden one, worth checking).
Then we got to the An-Garbh-allt which was a splash-through job (could've been a problem if there'd been a bit more rain recently, but we were okay).
Once over the stream we decided to keep gaining gradual height on the path till the point where the fence on the left came in to almost meet the path (clear on the map), then we cut off to the right and started heading up towards Creag Riabhach Bheag.
Rough wet ground all the way up till the top of the crag, when it shifted to some very welcome stony turf that was blessedly easy to walk on after the rough heathery slopes. Some great boulders up the top there to go clamber on and take in the views.
- Great rocks with Ben Loyal in the background
Then straightforward over the Bealach na Creige Rhiabhaich (some peat banks and bogs to negotiate, but easy enough) to Creag Riabhach Mhor. Weather blasted heathers at the top bleached to white and ivory and plastered down to the peat - an indication of how ferocious it must be in wild weather. Absolutely fabulous views of Ben Loyal to the East and to the West Ben Hope and Loch na Seilig beneath it. Rocks on the top are rounded and glittery - perfect pews to sit and eat a piece and watch the light changing on Ben Hope.
From there it was very tempting to do some exploring of the shores of the three lochs below, but the glorious weather was deceptive. Almost felt like summer, but the length of the shadows told us we didn't actually have hours and hours of daylight still to play with.
- On the descent
Took a more direct route down, following the course of the stream and keeping an eye out for easier crossing spots. Which we didn't find, but would love to come back in summer with the kids for a dip.
- Ben Hope in the late afternoon sun from the Moine Path
Last stretch of the descent was cast in gold as the sun was starting to dip.
- The Moine Path as the sun sets
Got back to the car for 3.30pm and the last of the sun. So 6 hours in all. We took our time as a group of mixed ages, fitness levels and differing levels of enthusiasm for ascents and descents, so the walk could certainly be done quicker if that matters.
I now have plans to come back another time and do some more focused exploring of the lochs and other crags in the area.
- Ben Hope from the Moine Path