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Just a wonderful day. Plenty longer winter walks since January meant I was ready for something higher up in the build up to a trip to Skye in May. Forecast for Saturday was blue skies, with a fresh dump of snow - what better day for the Creag Meagaidh circuit?
Got to the surprisingly quiet car park to set off for 9am. The fresh chill in the air was pregnant with potential, very few things get me more excited. Made quick work of the initially well-pitched path up Na Cpapanan. This looks to have been recently done, but with the little digger they have made an almighty mess - when the pitching finishes there is now a bit of a quagmire, so hope they get this part finished before the crowds come in the summer. Views opening up nicely.
- Back to Loch Laggan, towards Ben Alder & co
A tough sweaty climb and above the snow line, picking a route up towards the Carn Liath plateau, which was covered in freezing mist, quickly cooling me down. A short walk east to the cairn, and I passed by a couple and had a quick chat about plans. The usual 'doesn't get better than this' patter!
- Carn Liath
From here, navigation was a wee bit tricky across the broad ridge, initially in a white-out. Was keen not to go off-course, and didn't have any footsteps to follow, so took a bearing West after a few hundred meters of retracing my steps from the summit. Once the cloud cleared, the way became clear. Was surprised at the amount of snow that had fallen, and the drifting almost became an issue in the nook between Meall An T-snaim and Crom Leathad. The climb up the other side involved a steep (almost vertical) traverse across the drifted snow, so had to dust off the ice axe and kick some proper steps for the first time in a few years. Despite my first attempt being clearly the wrong route, got there the second time around, and hoped that those who followed would be able to follow my steps.
- drifting
- towards Crom Leathad
- route visible, with drifting towards top
From here, a lovely walk up towards the second munro of the day, Stob Poite Coire Àrdair, with the stunning Coire Ardair beginning to make itself visible, then a steep drop to the fabled window, where I passed a runner going the other way - I could see from footsteps he hadn't come up from Coire Ardair, so perhaps up the southwest ridge of Creag Meagaidh? Another bit of climbing in deeper snow up to the Meagaidh plateau - sun now splitting the sky. Brilliant views. Glorious.
- the window
- towards Creag Meagaidh
- Creag Meagaidh summit
Retracing my footsteps back to the window, I was a bit worried about the descent into Core Ardair, given that I had not brought my crampons, and was glad on arrival at the window to see the day's first groups coming up that way, footsteps having being left - they confirmed that apart from a snow patch at the top, it was mostly ok. I also chatted with the couple who I had met or Carn Liath about the dodgy step and my kicked steps. The descent into the corrie was, as promised, fine, and once in the warmth at the lochan, I sat and had lunch. Must be up there for the top lunch spots in all of Scotland!
- from the window
- ardair cliffs
- bliss
A delicious walk back down the valley on the now very busy path, and a realisation that my face and arms had caught some much-needed sun.
Best day in the hills for years. Bring on Summer

- looking back to the corrie