Stay at home

[Bod]

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We were due meet our boat at 10.00am just past the dam at the end of Loch Mullardoch. It was a glorious morning and we were greeted with fantastic clear views that helped us to look out and try to spot our vessel. After 10 minutes or so spent relaxing on the shore we could just make out the engine sound of a boat far off in the distance. We laughed and joked a little about did we really want to be collected and dropped off in the remote setting of An Socach, as we realised that by the time we started walking it would be 11.00am, with a long day to follow. Our Saturday evening previously had been a joyous time with our friends in Clachnaharry, Inverness. We were treated to a lovely venison stew hotpot, a few nice glasses, a fun otter-watch walk and then ending in the local pub somewhat later than planned......he he he..(cheers Marty and Sandy)....it was great fun, but perhaps bearing in mind our plan for Sunday an hour earlier in bed would have been a good idea.....but that's just being wise after the event..he he. (we spotted Mr. Otter by the way).

A spectacular vista looking westwards along the first 8 kilometres of Loch Mullardoch. View taken from our boat ride.

Marty and Karl our friendly ferry man.

Karl's wee Jack Russell dog "Fute" who was great company on board.

The jolly crew! Karl, Sandy, myself and Valerie (with Fute below the bench).

Dropped off on the shore by . Notice the boat's wake as it has sped off out of the picture.

Heading up Allt Coire a' Mhaim.

Another friendly wee chap!

Marty and I on top of An Socach after almost 3 and half hours of a fine climb up. Much munchies and juices were well appreciated by all during the climb and on the summit.

Heading along the East shoulder of An Socach....

Sandy with Bealach Bholla below....

Marty and I on the summit of An Riabhachan...good progess being made now, but still well aware of a long way to go with the highest mountain still to come.

Marty, Sandy and Valerie descending Creagan Toll an Lochain with Sgurr na Lapaich beyond.

Valerie leading the way down a lovely ridge....

Sgurr na Lapaich at 1150 metres above sea level.

Main munchies again......

The route off heading for Carn nan Gobhar.....some fine mountain side coming off this east side of Sgurr na Lapaich.

A cracking shot (cheers Marty) showing off the southern top and ridge of Sgurr nan Clachan Geala from just below the top of Sgurr na Lapaich (a glimpse of Loch Mallardoch too, it was nice to feel some progess being made along its length).

We experienced a magnificent Eagle flying proudly past as we dropped off Carn nan Gobhar. Wish I had been quicker with my wee camera, as we all felt in awe! It was a close and lengthy sighting, wonderful and rare....

Back safe and very satified!

This was a great day out in our wonferful mountains that I had been aware of for many years going back to my late teens, and it did not let down expectations. Marty's idea to use the ferry run was a good one, and a fun one to add some extra interest to the occasion, but anyone attempting this ought to be at least a little experienced, well equiped and well aware of the remoteness involved. When you are hiking over An Socach you should note on the OS map just how far you are away from any point of help other than then roadend at the Mullurdach Dam some 14km away. Might go back again and ascend Carn nan Gobhar in order to visit Sgurr na Lapaich approached from the East during winter? That would be special....

[Gable Gable End]

looks like a great day out! Nice photos

[BlackPanther]

Fantastic effort Good motivation for me - these Munros are practically on my doorstep and I still haven't done them!

[soulminer]

Cracking day for such a fine walk.You all looked delighted, and rightly so
Did walk in reverse and walked back along the Loch, an absolute sun trap nearly ended up with sun-stroke.Wished I had stuck to my original plan of the full round with camp on 'Finley'.
Cheers.

[Redrock]

Good one, Bod! I can't think of a more relaxed way of approaching a Munro walk than by boat! The picture of Sandy, Val and yourself on the boat - with the ferryman - says it all! It's clear you had a great day out and bagged four Munros to boot! That's a great shot down the ridge with Val leading!

[Bod]

Cheers Redrock, that was a fun wee ridge down to the bealach before Sgurr na Lapaich. After that it did feel like you were getting into the 2nd half of the day...a good feeling

Good one, Bod! I can't think of a more relaxed way of approaching a Munro walk than by boat! The picture of Sandy, Val and yourself on the boat - with the ferryman - says it all! It's clear you had a great day out and bagged four Munros to boot! That's a great shot down the ridge with Val leading!

[dooterbang]

Loving the boat ride.

have my eyes on these.

thanks for posting.

[bootsandpaddles]

How did you arrange the boat ride?

[Johnny Corbett]

Brilliant, what a day you all got. I enjoy reading your reports, did you not do your reports under the username bob and valerie before? Love the V Dub camper, living the dream in style eh

[Graeme D]

My mate Robin is always going on about doing exactly this - except that we'd stick a case of beer in the boat and wildcamp somewhere overnight. One day he'll stop talking about it and actually do it! Epic stuff! Great read and cracking photos.

[Bod]

Hiya,
Call Karl on 01456 415347. He runs his boat up Loch Mullardoch from 1st April to 1st August. Good luck and enjoy

How did you arrange the boat ride?

[Bod]

Thank you for your kind words. Yep, that was us, but Valerie has her own log on now - in our early walkhighlands days we had no idea how much we were going to use the site, and have since decided to have our own access....waiting for her first report...lookout for posts by Beanierocks (usually my reports count for us both). Cheers the noo

Brilliant, what a day you all got. I enjoy reading your reports, did you not do your reports under the username bob and valerie before? Love the V Dub camper, living the dream in style eh

[bradan]

Did this route, sort of, yesterday. The ferry is now run by Angus - http://www.loch-mullardoch-ferry.co.uk/ - £25 well spend.

Angus dropped us just round the corner at Am Mam. It makes for a steeper and more direct approch to An Socach and best of all, avoids the peat hags. It's a very good and obvious path in most places. I was on my own and so had no need to hang around, especially as there was broken, low cloud and a promise of thunder and heavy showers. Total time, 6 hours, the slog up Sgurr na Lapaich was tough in the humid heat. Coming off Carn nan Gobhar it makes sense to drop down left just before Mullach na Maoile and pick up the very obvious new Hydro track for the last 3k.

[Bod]

Cool, thanks for that, might just have to repeat this trip one day soon

Did this route, sort of, yesterday. The ferry is now run by Angus - http://www.loch-mullardoch-ferry.co.uk/ - £25 well spend.

Angus dropped us just round the corner at Am Mam. It makes for a steeper and more direct approch to An Socach and best of all, avoids the peat hags. It's a very good and obvious path in most places. I was on my own and so had no need to hang around, especially as there was broken, low cloud and a promise of thunder and heavy showers. Total time, 6 hours, the slog up Sgurr na Lapaich was tough in the humid heat. Coming off Carn nan Gobhar it makes sense to drop down left just before Mullach na Maoile and pick up the very obvious new Hydro track for the last 3k.