Sron Uladal and Oireabhal

[magicdin]

Friday 15th July
Great sleep at Drinisaider hostel, nice to have a bunk after two nights camping.
Wasn’t away as early as planned and it was just after nine when I parked at the entrance gates of Abhainn Suidhe estate.
Set off along to and up the landrover track to the power station beyond Loch Leosiad. Had hoped to climb the two grahams plus visit Sron Uladal but with the top of the hills clad in cloud decided to walk through to see the famous crag first. Track allows good progress and was soon at the dam on Loch Chliostair.

Dam at Loch Chloistair
Path works being carried out beyond the dam, no doubt this is now a popular walk especially since the BBC programme.

Elf'n'Safety
Only an hour and half to get below Sron Uladal – sure is a big lump of rock.

Sron Uladal

Sron Uladal profile

After a break started back up to the high point of the path at Loch Aiseabhat getting there just about mid-day.

Heading back up to bealach

The weather which had been fine for my low level walk so far looked at that point as though it might improve further.
Decided to go over Ulabhal and Oireabhal and leave Tiorga Mor for another day.
Just minutes after starting up it closed in and started raining steadily,and did so for the next hour or so.
A soft grassy plod up towards the broad ridge to the north of Ulabhal.
Must have trended a bit more to the right than I thought in the mist so hit the ridge higher than expected,so not a long climb up to Ulabhal.
No view however and wet and windy.

Cairn on Ulabhal
Took my bearings for Oireabhal and set off just after 1 pm– less than an hour to Oireabhal where there is two cairns.

Oireabhal cairn #1

Oireabhal cairn #2
Very cold now,found a place to shelter out of the wind to study the map and decide on route down.
North west from the summit and then down in to the corrie looked shortest but the name Lag Garbh had me thinking it could be rough ground.
As I dropped down to the shoulder I started to get brief clearances below and not too long after could see the way ahead.

Will it clear ?

Maybe not !

Better now - Loch Aiseabhat
Route looked OK so turned down towards the corrie.

Cleiseabhal clear now

Ulabhal not so clear

Came to a steep slope and it was pretty rough going right enough, that horrible mixture of broken rock and heather.
Took my time and was soon down on easier ground. When I got to the pipeline just above the dam the ground was really rough,and after a couple of wee tumbles decided it was easier to clamber up on to the pipe and use that as my walkway.
Back on the track it was a short walk back to the car (there about 3.30 pm)

Photos at Abhainn Suidhe


What a good idea - to stop the boulder rolling away - they've anchored it back to the tree


Back to Tarbet for the standard pints - then to Drinisaider

Never did get Tiorga Mor climbed before going home
Ach well - hill will still be there when I go back

[kevsbald]

Wow - that is a helluva overhang - really sums up how hard that climb must have been by Dave Mac.

[kinley]

certainly is a most eye-popping geological feature

Your weather wasn't a lot better than ours

Cheers for that.

[magicdin]

Your weather wasn't a lot better than ours

Wasn't was it - just been reading your report
Didn't half slip up the next day - played the tourist in Stornoway on a cracking day
Hoped to go on to Tiorga Mor on the Sunday - but the weather was p*** awful
I refuse to just go up hills in any weather nowadays just for a tick.

[kinley]

I refuse to just go up hills in any weather nowadays just for a tick.

We were camping most of that trip - it was sit in the car and watch it steam up in the rain or go out walking.

I far prefer being out

Suspect if we'd been in a cottage we'd have slobbed around though.

[foggieclimber]

I was lucky with this one
Nice to see the Sron again, it is one huge lump of rock.

[monty]

Sron Uludale looks impressive. Nice walk. I am still going up for a tick in any weather but i hope that wears off soon

[icemandan]

If there was ever a Scottish Mount Rushmore, Sron Ullaval would be a good candidate. You wouldn't need many alterations to do Gordon Brown.

[magicdin]

I am still going up for a tick in any weather but i hope that wears off soon

It will wear off in time - but it took too long in my case

[malky_c]

Top stuff - must make sure I wander past Sron Uladal when I finally get to these hills

[magicdin]

You wouldn't need many alterations to do Gordon Brown.

AAAARRRRGH !!!!

[walk aboot]

That sure is a big lump of rock , loved the tree anchor

[Bryan59]

Had a walk up here today with a bunch of Hearrachs. Surprise, surprise we did it in reverse. We've done both a few times before and each has benefits...One wee thought that occurred is the time given. We would say relative to the mainland walking times it is too short. Those unused to pathless and unforgiving terrain, could struggle with route finding, we feel an hour added would be useful.

[hills]

Excellant walk, could never tire of western isles TR's. havent been to see sron uladall yet, must rectify that.