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Monday, 31st. May, 2021:
This was an(other) superb May Bank Holiday Monday in the mountains! Alex, Steve, Tommy and I had come over Bidean on the preceding day and, having camped high in Fionn Ghleann, we were in a good place from which to head south over the lonely Munros west of Glen Etive in the sunshine. Certainly the day began brilliantly with a short traverse into Coire nan Cnaimh below Stob an Fhuarain and the sight of two white tailed eagles circling around the summit crags.
We headed up to the ridge from the corrie and enjoyed a bit of scrambling before arriving at the top of Fhuarain and then heading over to the main Munro of Sgòr na h-Ulaidh. The top - like everywhere else in these hills - was deserted and, with only a slight haze to obscure the sunlit horizons, it was a stunning place to be.
- Steve and Tommy surmounting some slabs on the east ridge of
Stob an Fhuarain with the steep south side of Bidean behind
After a good half hour or so, however, we stirred ourselves and headed off down the south east ridge and, ultimately, down long, grassy slopes to the deep Bealach Caol Creran from where, after a pause and a long drink of water, we plodded up the steep northern slopes of Beinn Fhionnlaidh.
- Alex traversing upwards across the northern slopes of Beinn Fhionnlaidh
We were, though, able to leave our big bags on a high col to the east of the summit and run (well, it felt like running) up to the top light-footed.
- Tommy and Steve heading up to the summit of Beinn Fhionnlaidh
- And heading down again
A long, grassy descent then took us south down to some undulating terrain and through to a camp site on the small beach (blighted only by the presence of a large drain designed, we assumed, for future track construction) at the east end of Lochan na Fola; Alex, Steve and Tommy went straight in for the swim! It had been a short day but demanding enough to make sure that we continued to pay attention... and there isn't anywhere else on the planet that I'd rather have been on that day.
- Camp site on the beach (1)
- Camp site on the beach (2)
- Camp site on the beach (3)
Next Report:
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=105593&p=448203#p448203.