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We enjoyed these two, the soggy bits didn't matter.

We enjoyed these two, the soggy bits didn't matter.


Postby martin.h » Tue Jul 02, 2024 6:45 pm

Route description: Moruisg and Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean

Munros included on this walk: Moruisg

Corbetts included on this walk: Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean

Date walked: 23/06/2024

Time taken: 5.45 hours

Distance: 12.5 km

Ascent: 1101m

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A weeks holiday in Balmacara meant we were fairly close to Moruisg a Munro I'd looked at both on the map and while driving past on the rare occasions we'd been in the Northwest of Scotland, it still had to be "blue ballooned" :lol: so we just had to make it a mountain to head for sometime during the week. We had just spent a relaxing week on Orkney so we were both looking forward to getting into the mountains.

The original plan was to do an out and back bagging trip just for the Munro so that was the intention to start with, however, the more I thought about it the more I realised it would be a waste of effort to get to the summit of Moruisg and then turn around and go back down, especially when there's a Corbett very close by, a demoted Munro, so well worth including :D

The weather forecast for Sunday 23rd was looking pretty good, too good to miss a day in the hills, we'd originally put Sunday aside for a bit of Otter spotting at the Kylerhea Hide but with our luck in actually seeing an Otter anywhere (no chance) we decided to wait a bit longer to spot the elusive (for us :lol: ) little fellows and slog our way up a mountain instead :lol:

A fairly early start to make sure we could get a spot in the layby on the A890 arriving at it at 09:15 there was just one car already there so no problem, good start :D The weather wasn't quite matching the forecast, it was overcast with the mountain tops hiding in the clouds, it did look to be getting brighter so, hopefully, as we were gaining height so were the clouds.

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We were following the WH route and, as usual, it's pretty spot on. Under the railway and through the gate in the deer fence then the bog hopping started, I was thinking this was going to be awful but, in reality, there's nothing much to slow you down, we were soon gaining height.

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There were a couple ahead of us so we were watching their progress, the path was wet in places but plain enough to follow, we could see the second gate and once through this the hillside became quite a bit steeper, we were seeing more of our surrounding, some nice views.

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The path is not that bad at all even on the really steep section, we didn't notice how steep it is until we looked down and thought it would be a tough descent, one where you might spend a lot of time making sure you didn't take some of the
hill side back with you on the seat of your trousers :lol: it was then that we decided to include Sgurr nan Ceannaichean, we had plenty of time and it would've been daft not to, much more fun than that descent :lol:

Higher up you cross two burns close to each other

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after this the slope eases off a bit and the next stop is the first and largest of three cairns on the summit plateau.

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We visited all three cairns just to make sure we claimed the top, I think the middle one is the summit although it's the smallest but if you're including the corbett you walk past them all anyway.

Middle one

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Looking back to the biggest cairn from the middle one.

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Third one

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By now most of the summits were clear, we were getting some nice views of Sgurr Choinnich and Sgurr a' Chaorachain, we did those in the mist so it was nice to see them, Maoile Lunndaidh was only just covered by a rogue cloud though that soon cleared, we've that one to do yet, we could just make out Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich, we've still that to do with Lurg Mhor, those are planned for next year, it would be nice to have some company for those. All of the Torridon mountains were clear, we could just make out Maol Chean Dearg another mountain we were hoping to do this week.

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Our next objective, Sgurr nan Ceannaichean was looking invitingly close, a nice looking mountain from this angle,

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We were looking forward to the walk over to it so, after a quick break and something to nibble, we set off down the ridge towards the bealach above Coire Toll nam Bian.

This is a pleasant section of the route, there are plenty of opportunities to stop and have your lunch on the easy angled slopes, we wanted to but there was a chilly biting wind so put lunch off until we found a more sheltered spot on the descent.

Looking back to Moruisg on the way down.

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The clouds looked to be getting lower again

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From Moruisg the climb to the summit looks steep, when we got there it turned out to be a fairly easy, slightly loose climb up to the big cairn then an easy amble over to the smaller summit cairn that's a few meters south on the edge of
Coire an Tuill Bhain.

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On the summit of Sgurr nan Ceannaichean the views were a bit muted, unfortunately the cloud was lowering over the taller mountains around us, not what was forecast, by now the skies were supposed to be clearing and we were going to be bathed in sunshine, not the case :? ahh well, at least we could see something :D

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Moruisg was now in the mist :roll:

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Looking back to the first cairn

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After a longer break we set off retracing our steps until we got to the top of the north facing shoulder where our descent started, there is a path here and its easily followed for the majority of the way, we had lunch half way down the path.

Lunchtime views

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It disappears in a boggy section above the Alltan na Feola, we headed down the steepish slopes towards the burn and could see the path on the other side, luckily there wasn't much water in the burn so we got across it without a problem.

The path is good all the way down as it follows the burn, soggy in places but it's not horrible. By now we were out of the wind and the sun was coming out making it feel more like summer, looking back as we went our hills were completely clear of cloud now with blue sky as the backdrop, that's the way it goes I suppose :roll: :lol:

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We had a really good day, very enjoyable, I'm glad we did the Corbett as well, this route would not have been the same if we just did the Munro so, instead of just one blue balloon we got two, not that we're bothered of course :wink: :lol: :lol:
User avatar
martin.h
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 700
Munros:228   Corbetts:32
Fionas:22   Donalds:18+2
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:151
Wainwrights:214   Islands:31
Joined: Jul 31, 2011
Location: Formerly Halifax, West Yorkshire, now Angus
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