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Another beautiful day, another late start, but I felt up to trying something. We headed down Strathconon with the plan of heading up Carn Faire nan Con… it was cold but there wasn’t yet any ice on the road as we parked up and headed towards the dam
We reached the Luichart Dam and there was something about the beautiful blue sky and the autumn colours that made us do something stupid….
Carn Faire nan Con and Loch Luichart
Malky enjoying the sunshine
Although he’s not as prepared as me
Before we knew it, we were across the dam and heading for Sgurr Marcasaidh instead! Once across the dam we were on a good track which led us steeply uphill for a short section before climbing more steadily around the corner
Unspecified bird (I’m sure someone will help me out here!)
We left the track and followed fence – there were traces of people or animals having gone this way but it was hard work with the bracken.
Eventually we came out around the top of the first bump in the ridge. Unfortunately this now meant we could see the next section
We could also see one of the weird transmitter things that are really large up close!
Looking back to enjoy the views (and have a break
)
After a breather we continued – the next section was looking impossible but we followed what looked like animal tracks up the first section before it got even steeper!
The next bit got a bit ridiculous – pulling ourselves up incredibly steep heather was hard work not to mention fairly unstable
We were both very glad to be up that bit (it turned out to be by far the worst section of the hill) and the views down onto Loch Luichart and Carn Faire nan Con were awesome
The ridge opened out ahead of us and the summit looked far enough to be out of reach for me, but now we were on better ground the distance was less of an issue
It was tough work despite the improvement in both gradient and underfoot conditions, but stopping to enjoy views out to Beinn Dearg was no hardship
Ben Wyvis
As we continued along the ridge we could see the next section of Loch Luichart
Sgurr a’ Mhuillin
Looking back we could see that we were making progress – the pointy end of the ridge was the top of the crazy steep heathery nightmare
Oh deer!
We were now onto the final ascent, and as we wound our way around some of the lumps (I was keen to avoid any extra ascent!) there was some frozen ground in the shade – winter was definitely coming!
Views to Slioch
At last we were there. I was exhausted, and the temperature was dropping as the sun was preparing to drop behind the Strathfarrar hills.
Extra layers were hastily added as we sat down to enjoy a breather as well as admire the views West. It was a spectacular viewpoint
Slioch and the Fisherfield hills
Ben Wyvis and Carn Cuinneag starting to appear to the left
The sun getting ready for departure
Looking towards the Beinn Dearg hills
Sgurr a’ Mhuillin
Achnasheen, Fionn Bheinn and Slioch
Managed to get up onto the trig – summit of Sgurr Marcasaidh!
The sun dropping over Loch Monar
Moon rising behind Ben Wyvis
West to Torridon and the Fisherfield hills
The Strathfarrar munros – dustings of snow on them now
The Cairngorms
As the sun finally dropped below the hills, we got going. As tempting as it was to sit and enjoy the last light, we had to get back to the car
We dropped down the hillside avoiding the worst of the rocks and made surprisingly good progress
Sgurr a’ Mhuillin
The Strathfarrar munros now visible only as outlines
Malky getting fed up of me stopping all the time, both for photos and for breaks
The start of a cool section with a waterfall which we had to dodge around
So nearly at the track – the moon would at least give us some extra light too!
Although it was easy walking now, it felt like an eternity that we were plodding along the track. I was getting really tired and had to keep stopping for breathers.
There was ice starting to form on the road by the time we were back at the car, in the dark
I was completely shattered and made Malky drive home, but it felt good to be out on something that felt like a real hill, even if it wiped me out