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Bright and breezy, full of vim, (god knows how with Woodsys nostril inflamed turbo charged snoring all night - and sheet tearing farting) and eager to take on the challenge of the Creag Meagaidh 5.
We woke at 6am and as usual Woodsy took forever to be ready - left the bunkhouse at 7.30am.
Parked at the Creag Meagaidh car park and took off at 8.30am.
For those familiar with doing the 5 munros you know a bike or another car should be left at the finish which is 10mile down the road....we had decided to take a chance and hitch a lift
The start
Follow the path NW that leads to the house
Pass the house to the right and head North up a good path
Take in the views SW
Apart from one boggy section through Aberarder forest the path to the summit is well defined.
I was flying up this, yesterdays efforts not registering at all, and was soon on the plateau and heading the 100m East to the summit - Woodsy was way behind, i guess he had used all his wind power last night
Summit reached in 1hr 15m.
The wind was strong and i was feeling the cold slightly. I put on my outershell to protect me - i had forgotten my cape!
Woodsy arrived 15mins later and we sat for another 15. Again this would be the pattern at every summit, moi having a 30 minute break
To reach munro numero 2 head along the plateau West
The view to coire ardair from Munro No 2 Poite Coire Ardair is mesmerising
We sat here for 30mins and enjoyed the stunning view. We had these hills to ourselves the full day, which i couldnt believe being such a fine day
Creag Meagaidh lay ahead S up the ridge then SW across the plateau.
When walking last weekend the guys kept seeing frogs, i never seen any....but today i did
Views North to Lochan Uaine
Summit of Creag Meagaidh
After another break and enjoying the sunshine we headed to what would be the difficult part of the walk to link in the 2 final Munros of Beinn Chaorain and beinn Teallach. 5k to reach Chaorain, another 5k for Tealach and a 5k walk out.
Head West and follow the fence posts
This was a huge plateau and on several occasions wild deer crossed our paths
The ridge South to Chaorain soon appeared
Just before heading south to the summit you glare on the most wonderful of views West
Summit of Beinn Chaorain
Again we soaked up the rays - what a fantastic day to be out wandering the hills
To reach the final Munro was pathless down the western slopes of Choarain to a cairn at Tom Mor.
Woodsy then took the normal route up Teallach via its Northern ridge. I was feeling adventurous and took a direct steep route up coireachan garbh to then join the main path to the summit, hard going but fun.
Summit of beinn teallach - Munro No 5
South to loch treig
All that was left was the descent South to the forest - views SW incredible
Skirt round the forest and follow the path
Cross the river and take a well defined path West through the forest
Take the first right along the path and your 1k from the roadside.
Just before the road is a bench to have a rest and change gear if needed.
Across the road is stunning views east
The heat was now pounding and i didnt fancy walking/running 10mile to the car
luckily i have a fine set of pins and hitched a lift within minutes
Big thanks goes out to the couple from Edinburgh who had been exploring Dams in Fort Augustus.
Got to the car and headed down the A9 to Glasgow.
Absolutely fantastic weekend spent with my mate Woodsy.....met some nice folk, walked some splendid hills, viewed outstanding scenery, enjoyed a pint in a village pub, got a suntan (burn) but most of all forgot about everything that the modern world throws at you to just enjoy the simplicity of nature. Cant wait to do it all again next week
