Glen Affric - where have you been all my life?

[Pken84]

A nasty bout of Covid had put paid to my plans for a week-long Cannich-Kintail expedition that I'd hoped would take in around 12 Munros, but I'd always planned for a pal to join me for the Glen Affric leg and three weeks after the dreaded red line I was keen to give it a try.

I'm so glad I did! The walk in from the Affric car park was glorious, the weather and scenery combining to put me in the most chauvinist of moods: this really is the best country in the world. After around 3 hours, we reached the SYHA Alltbeithe where a warm, though perhaps slightly too enthusiastic, welcome awaited. What a great wee place, small but perfectly formed. I slept poorly, but only because I was anxious about my fitness - and the weather forecast - for the next day. The forecast rain and 50mph winds didn't come to much - drizzle for the first few hours, and some gusts requiring a walking pole as ballast.

We set off at around 0800, only 45 mins of faffing later than planned. The route up to Coire na Cloiche is very straightforward, with a good path all the way, which allowed us to concentrate on route planning. We decided our order would be highest (Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan), furthest (Mullach na Dheiragain), quickest (An Socach). This gave a lovely route. Some steep sections on the way up to SnanC (maybe that was just my post-viral legs!), the summit of MnaD came before I knew it (first wind/good company combo) and by AnS I wasn't over it enough to resent it, particularly after deciding to dump sacks at the bealach).

Returning by the same path was quick and easy, and we were back at the hostel by 6pm for shower, dinner and bed. As I wasn't now walking out to Morvich, we returned to Affric car park the next day. The last hour or so was a real struggle, but so glad I pushed myself out for this fabulous weekend of getting back in the saddle.

Munros 120-122