Maoile Lunndaidh in perfect conditions

[gld73]

Always had in my head this would be a tough walk with a long walk in, potentially difficult river crossing, uncertainty over best way up and down and difficult navigation in cloud, all for an unspectacular hill. No idea why I thought that, I enjoyed the day and had no real problems - it was a beautiful day after several dry days though, so the ideal time to do it (though only one other person doing this hill today from what I saw). Navigation wasn't a problem with no cloud, bogs were reasonably dried out or avoidable, burns could easily be crossed on exposed rocks, and even the long walk in and out on the track was okay. I'd probably only think about doing it in those perfect conditions again though!

View back to Fuar Tholl, Sgurr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhor from the high point of the track

I left the track here with Glenuiag Lodge just up ahead

Setting off over the boggy ground, this was the view of Maoile Lunndaidh ahead. There was one dark, uninviting stretch of slow moving water to cross early on which took a couple of minutes to find a good place to cross, but other than that the ground wasn't too bad

Approaching the Allt Crom-allt, though I couldn't see the crossing point yet as I'd have to drop down to it. I was going to do the route anti-clockwise, so after crossing the burn, went straight up the steep slope on the very right of the picture

After the recent dry spell, it was no problem at all to cross the Am Crom-allt where it met the Allt an Fhuar-thuill Bhig. Still enough water to see the waterfalls though, and a good place to refill water bottles.

Going up this way was much steeper than I'd expected, though photos never show this! This was looking back down on the crossing point where the burns meet, the usually very boggy area I'd covered from the track, the small plantation area that I'd just passed before leaving the track, and the impressive corbett of Sgurr nan Ceannaichean (which I've only done with Moruisg from the other side).

Still doesn't convey just how steep it was!

Once the steep section was done, it was a pleasant walk over short grass towards the summit, with views down into Fuar Tholl Mor corrie and across to the nearby munro Moruisg

Maoile Lunndaidh's summit, view to Loch Monar

...looking NNW to Moruisg (right) and Sgurr nan Ceannaichean (left)

...and west to Sgurr a'Chaorachain

Nice easy stroll from the small summit cairn to the larger cairn at what was previously thought to be the high point

Descent route was down the wide NW ridge, a mix of low grass, stones, then heather near the bottom

Waterfalls coming from the outfall of Lochan an Fhuar-tholl. More good opportunities for water bottle filling around here

Rather than head back to the same crossing point of the Am Crom-allt, I headed down towards Glenuaig Lodge just to vary it a bit. The burns crossed were beautifully clear, tempting to go in for a dip on a day like this

Had a quick look in the walkers shelter / tiny bothy next to Glenuaig Lodge as I arrived back on the track

Pano of Maoile Lunndaidh before starting the long walk back to the car, a cracking day, really enjoyed it!

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[Coop]

Hey G, did this a few days after you, it is a steep ascent upto about 850m.
I enjoyed the walk in and out on this one
Hope you also got out the past few days

[gld73]

Yes, a long walk in and out, but nice views so not the soul sapping slog I'd expected! Shame our days didn't coincide, you've made quite some progress since we last met ...only 4 to go to compleation, wow!