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The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 7:46 pm
by IainG
This report is for a very long walk completed on 19th April 2009.

The six Fisherfield munros are often regarded as the 'crux' of any munro round, and it's easy to see why. A huge undertaking if walked in a oner, and still a big task if taken in sections.

We had this walk planned for quite a while, but with the excellent weather forecast, it was definitely on for this weekend.

Mid-week we planned to walk in with the big packs, complete the first four, camp overnight, bag the remaining two then walk out. We knew that with a walk on this scale, a night in the bothy was a risk both in terms of available space in the bothy, and the opportunity to grab some sleep. So we were settled on the camping option. With bags stripped to the lightest possible, and trying to get enthusiastic about spending a night in a tent, we were packed and ready to go.

Last minute, however, we decided to scrap the idea and instead go for the Corrie Hallie to Corrie Hallie walk in and out, staying in the Camel the night before and after. Although a punishingly long walk, I have no regrets at all about this. With the cracking weather, we didn't really need to rush other than to hit the outward track by sunset, and we'd have the opportunity to travel with lighter daypacks without the handicap of either camping or bothying paraphernalia.

So, with that plan in mind, we headed up north on the friday afternoon. We stopped at the Aultguish for a beer. It has recently changed hands, and I'd heard good reviews, but at £3.20 for a bottle of Pale Ale, I won't be hurrying back. From there, we headed along to Dundonnell, where a pint draught of the same beer was £2.60. Now that's reasonable :D

We parked up at Corrie Hallie. We don't normally park up on a roadside, but we wanted to be right at the start of the walk. There were 2 or 3 cars already there. It was a remarkably quiet road at night, and were not disturbed at all by passing traffic.

Next morning was the start of the big day. We were up, kitted out, and off at an unbelievable 0515 8O

We headed up the track and although a touch frosty, the weather was already looking good.

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In the shadow it was freezing, in the sun it was roasting.

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An Teallach in the morning.

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Even from the east, Beinn a' Chlaidheimh was a fair grunt. The views took the mind off it though.

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We arrived at the summit just after 0900.

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A bit of a push along the ridge, down by the loch, and a hard slog up the boulder slopes took us to Sgurr Ban just after 1100.

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Then it was another drop and a grind up the steep scree of Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair.

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We arrived at the cairn just before 1200. Ahead were a pair of walkers doing the six from Shenevall.

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Looking back at the first three munros from the pull up Beinn Tarsuinn.

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Arriving there at just after 1300.

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The ridge with the tennis court :wink:

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We headed across the 525m bealach and onto A'Mhaighdean

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Looking back to todays work after arriving at the summit at just after 1500.

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The reputed best view in Scotland from the most remote munro.

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The howff below the last hill of the day, Ruadh Stac.

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Looking at Fuar Loch Mor from the slopes of RS.

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This hill had the only scrambling of the day, a loose slot between the cliffs.

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Then at about 1630, we were on the last of the big six, Ruadh Stac. Only 20km from the Camel. 8O

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So it was off back down towards Shenevall for a long walk out. Some nice views on the way.

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We passed Shenevall on the way out.

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Getting back to the Camel in Corrie Hallie at 2140. Over 16hrs after we'd left.

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Certainly a day to remember. One of the best days out in the hills.

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 7:54 pm
by kinley
:lol: Pair of mentalists you are 8)

I'm copying this to Alec Salmond - I reckon 2 treadmills and a supply of cheap beer and Scotland vids and you 2 could power Fife :lol:

:D

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:03 pm
by Paul Webster
That is one helluva epic walk. Just 'cos I've finished making our mini-campervan, it doesn't mean I have to walk from the crack of a May dawn till dusk, does it?

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:07 pm
by IainG
It's just a case of placing one foot in front of the other for a very long time :D

I would definitely recommend this but only if you've got the weather. The benefits of taking a light pack, no tent-mat-bag etc is the obvious advantage.

It's not a rush round the group of munros either, it's just the opportunity to spend a whole, and I mean 'whole', day in some absolutely stunning landscapes. Go try it, 26miles, 6 munros, 14hrs :D :D

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:11 pm
by Paul Webster
Ah Kinley has just sold me on doing them separately... though it involves twice as much walking in the long run. I need to find a few grassy hills first to build a bit of confidence on the knee- though it seems quite a bit better already (dislocated last week on Beinn Buidhe).

Your report was a belter.

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 9:31 pm
by cjwaugh
Yet another topper IainG are you from Krypton what a walk :lol:

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 9:58 pm
by LeithySuburbs
The Big Six. Not without reason, highly prized for the bagger. Looks a fantastic day and some great pics and weather.

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Fri May 22, 2009 12:00 am
by maddjock
very nice. impressive feat. I love the early starts on a hill in the summer. something magical about watching the sun come up as your on your trek.

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:05 pm
by holtlynx
Man, all I can say is you guys must be super fit. A couple of guys and I did all six last Sunday, in the same direction, in pretty near ideal conditions (ie not too hot, not too much wind, dry underfoot and clear all the way but for one brief shower after we had left the last top). It still took us fourteen hours starting and returning to near Shenavall (actually we camped about 2km further up the glen where the vehicle track comes down off the moor just under the north-east ridge of Beinn a Claidheimh. The walk in from Corrie Hallie took us the best part of two and half hours. So that means you must have been about four hours quicker than us on the main route.

Now our party may not be in the first flush of youth (I was the oldest at 52, the others still to break the big five-oh) but none of us are exactly couch-potatos and we are experienced hillgoers. So to anyone contemplating this trip, while I agree that the techncial difficulties are minimal, be advised this is a serious endurance test. The walk out after Ruadh Stac Mor seems to go on for ever.

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:31 pm
by bigbertie
Huge walk, stunning weather, superb photos............I am really envious. I still have four of these to do and have not felt any great enthusiasm for them - now I can't wait. (but I think 4 will be enough for me in one go). Well done and thanks for a great report. BigBertie

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:42 pm
by Lifeonloop
I did this route two years ago and it remains the longest and most strenous two dayer I have done. I don`t know where writer Cameron McNeish gets his walk times from for this route(10-14 hours)...I`m not sure if he included the walk in/out from Shenavell Bothy in those times but it took myself and 2 friends 21 hours total walk time, albeit with full packs ( we are all reasonably hill fit too). We also had great weather apart from a shower coming off Ruadh Stac Mor. The walk in from this last hill is an absolute killer tho, we descended it around lunchtime but did not get back to our car at Corrie Hallie untill 7pm. We camped overnight after bagging Sgurr Man (2nd hill) but were up early the next morning and were on top of Mullach Coire by 6am. Day two was a very long day though and we only just made the fish and chip shop in Ullapool before it closed. I`m impressed you managed the same route in a single day mind!

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:45 pm
by petejkenny
Great hills - I did them in twos from an extended wild camp by Lochan Fada, pulling in Slioch on the way... and I felt knackered every day!

Re: The Fisherfield Six

PostPosted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:02 pm
by ketzster
I finally did A'Mhaighdean last summer. At Easter a couple of years ago I set off with a mate from Poolewe to do A'Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mor. Sadly the weather wasn't great and we literally got to within two metres of the top of Ruadh Stac Mor only to be defeated by the ice, a huge halestorm and gale force winds. That is the hardest turn back I will ever have to do as it's a very long way to go and back in a day