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After 4 days of guided classic scrambles and climbs in the Cuillins in the glorious early June weather, we stopped off overnight near the Cluanie Inn in Glen Shiel on the way home. The weather was just too good to miss out so we decided to do a quick foray up the nearest two munros on the eastern south Glen Shiel ridge: Druim Shionnach and Creag a Mhaim:
We took the path up to the small lochan (Loch a' Mhaoil Disnich) and then the intermittent/non-existent path up the northern ridge of Druim Shionnach.
- Looking back down on the Cluanie Inn, western end of Loch Cluanie and Am Bathach (centre) from low on the route
- Just above the lochan, a couple of deer crossing the ridge in front of the two Munros for today.
- We were a bit concerned on the approach about the short step just below the contrail here, but it was straightforward and nothing like as steep as it looked from this angle.
- looking back down towards the Lochan.
- The steep grassy final slopes below the summit
- Beautiful views of Glen Shiel
- And a quite sweaty exit onto the summit cairn, which we had to ourselves for a short while as others were starting at the eastern end.
- Great views of the Five Sisters and Glen Shiel
- and over the other side to Coire nan Leac
- It was a relatively short walk over to Creag a Mhaim, which was quite a bit busier.
- On the descent we decided to take this shortcut down to the estate track to the north of the main path, which was indicated on the map down this shallow scoop, but the path is now non-existent and is not a recommended option
- Looking back up from the road, it is clearly not a sensible option, steep and pathless over heather (and I'd assume quite boggy under normal conditions)
- Starting the surprisingly long tramp back down the estate track.
- Cluanie Lodge
- The Cluanie Inn and back to the van.
A quick round in absolutely stunning weather!
