Cnoc an t-Sabhail (West) circular

[Hills4dogs]

Had been planning to do An Cabr near Loch Fannich but it had rained all night at home and so probably snowed all night near Achnasheen (according to XC Weather) so decided to do another more eastern Marilyn. Had almost done Cnoc an t-Sabhail a couple of months ago when we had gone cycling along the forest trails and I hadn't actually realised it was a Marilyn. So a quiet weekend meant I had the opportunity to tick it off. I had read Malky C's report and was going to do it in reverse and try and turn it into a circular walk. By doing the walk in reverse I could get close to the top on good tracks before having to tackle the woods.
Parked off the B9176 in a small carpark suitable for several cars. Then set off along the forest track.

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Followed the track which climbed gently around and up the side of the hill for about 5.25 km.

Cnoc an t-Sabhail ahead

Is it time for a swim yet Dad! The outlet of Loch Sheilah.

Looking back at Beinn Tharsuinn on the way up

Felled trees are not pretty but at least we could see out to the Cromarty Firth now!

Actually went past the paths apex and started going slightly down again before turning NE up one of the firebreaks between trees. It wasn't the biggest break shown on the map but it was actually the widest one we saw that day. It was now up the slope over the grass in pretty much a straight line to the summit.

The firebreak we went up

Soon the break narrowed but there was a clear animal trail to follow over the grass and between the wee conifers. Went past the navigation pole on the map and up to the top although there was no clear marker of the summit. As the path got higher, it got wetter and wetter. With hindsight, pushing through the trees and grass after all the recent rain, it would have been better to have put on my waterproof trousers, as my walking trousers got rather wet!

Look Dad I've found some snow!

The navigation pole

The route to the summit

Dillon at the unspectacular summit!

I then carried on past the summit, walking N to the end of the forest.

The Struie ridge

Looking out to the Dornich Firth inlet

Then turned west and followed the fence down the hill. The fence was surprisingly low for a deer fence which was fortunate because there were quite a few trees down and the low fence allowed us to hop over it, to walk down in the heather!

Dillon modelling the deer fence for height challenged deer!

At the base of the hill, there was a logging trail heading off to the SW leading past Loch Sheilah which eventually led back to the original trail. As always, Dill had to have a dip in the Loch to clean up regardless of how cold the water was!

Loch Sheilah

Walked back along the path to the car, another good, albeit wet (despite their not being any rain), day in the hills