Memories of Summer I

[johnbythell]

I have a few walk reports to catch up on, or recall, from August. My memories of summer consist mostly of snatched days of sun in between a lot of rain and clag - but this was one of the sunny ones - looked hot too! Hard to remember being hot as I look out on the squalls and rain at the moment.

This round took in Sgor na h-Ulaidh and Beinn Fionnlaidh from Glencoe in the north, with an ebike from the Glencoe campsite and up the farm track to the head of Gleann Leac-na-Muidhe:

Ulaidh Fhionnlaidh 11 Aug 2024.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Glencoe looking magnificent in the early sun

The tops still in the cloud in the early morning, but it was forecast to clear later on

Heading up the steep grass and scree slopes of Stob an Fhuarain

Clouds starting to drift off as I approached the summit of Stob an Fhuarain

But the clag was back in by the time I got to the summit

Starting to get glimpses of Sgor na h-Ulaidh on the traverse

And tantalising glimpses of Glen Etive and Loch Etive

Sgor na h-Ulaidh finally revealed

Approaching the summit

Crossing the airy step over the gully near the summit

Nothing like a bit of white cloud to make the scene a bit more dramatic

Spectacular view over to Glen Etive and the next objective, Beinn Fhionndlaidh

Looking back on the massive expanse of Sgor na h-Ulaidh from the top of the Coire na Tullaich

The Ben Starav group to the south

Loch Etive with Ben Cruachan in the distance

One of two short easy scrambling pitches on the way to the summit

Spectacular views towards the sea, with Lismore and Mull in the distance

I made a long and arduous traverse on pathless, steep terrain back around the southern and western flanks of Sgor na h-Ulaidh to get back to the Bealch Easan.

It was a long day by the time I got back into the upper Gleann Leac na Muidhe (10 h in total), and I was very glad to retrieve my stashed bike for the ride back down to Glencoe