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Well it was another showery day but the best weather looked to be further north, so I decided to do this combination of hills. There are several reports for this pair, but nobody seems to take the same route, needless to say, I thought I should try a different one too, which I was wondering whether it would be the shortest Circular route.
On the lower slopes of the walk (both out and back) near the Allt a Mhile if you weren't on the path (which I drifted off going both ways) the ground was pretty rough with lots of holes, but the path itself was fine.
I parked up at the normal car park at the Braemore Junction and then started off along the path around the wood, for some unknown reason I decided to try going straight towards the hill incase the deer fence was down but after a short period of time stumbling over the rough ground it was apparent that the fence was still there so I then stumbled back towards the path to aim for the gate in the deer fence. Once through the fence I then headed off to try and take the "most gentle approach" to the lowest point on the Meall Doire Faid ridge. This was all quite simple walking, over low heather and grassy slopes.
- Looking back to Braemore Junction from the slopes of Meall Doire Faid
Although the slopes weren't too steep, it seemed to take a long time to get up to the ridge, I think I was mentally struggling with the low clouds and frequent showers, so at that point I wasn't convinced that I would manage both hills today. After almost 2h I got to the summit and had a wee rest and lunch #1.
- The Summit of Meall Doire Faid and the shower clouds started to clear
At that point, I decided to at least go down to the lochs between the hills because if I decided not to do Beinn Enaiglair then I could walk out, round the base of the hill back to the intended return route path.
- Looking down to Loch Feith nan Cleireach between the two hills
As I got to the lochs, the clouds started to lift and the showers stopped, so I took the opportunity to have lunch#2 to give me some energy and the weather more time to improve. I crossed the river in between the two lochs which was no problem and then after that I set off for Beinn Enaiglair.
- Looking back at Meall Doire Faid from the start of the ascent of Beinn Enaiglair
The walk up Beinn Enaiglair, seemed much easier than I expected and within about 90 mins of reaching the top of Meall Doire Faid I was on the top of Beinn Enaiglair.
- At the summit of Beinn Enaiglair
- Beinn Dearg hills were lost in cloud
- Looking out to the Fannichs and Loch a Bhraoin
- Looking back towards Loch Glascarnoch
After a wee break, I carried on heading NW along the ridge towards the return foot path out which again was fairly easy walking
- A double rainbow in the showers
- Looking up toward Ullapool over Loch Broom
As I came down the slopes, we startled a huge herd of deer which ran off in the direction I had come from. I eventually hit the return path out which was pretty indistinguishable from the rest of the hillside! Having a route on my phone helped me realise I was "on the path" because it wasn't at all pronounced. I pottered along this path which seemed to take quite a long time but again wasn't difficult walking.
- Walking back along the track, past the end of the valley between Meall Doire Faid on right and Beinn Enaiglair on left
After this point, we hit a "proper" estate track and the walking was much easier up to Home Loch.
- Home Loch on the way back to the car
Past Home Loch, I think I turned off towards the car park too early, as I lost the path and then had to meander my way up and down over fairly tussocky pathless ground back to the gate in the deer fence. After that, it was plain sailing along the path back to the car park.
Despite my lack of enthusiasm part of the way around the walk, overall another enjoyable day in the hills.
