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Three Fannaichs

PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 6:12 pm
by trekpete
Date: 24/7/11
Hills: Meall a’Chrasgaidh, Sgurr nan Clach Geala & Sgurr nan Each
Present: Just Me
Weather: Dry, but cool and windy with some clag
Distance: 13mls approx
Height Ascended: 4630ft approx
Time taken: 6hrs walking, 3.45hrs loafing.


Our week in Skye was coming to an end so we decided to head up to Ullapool for a couple of extra days as the forecast was still looking good. Packed up on the Saturday morning and the weather was very fine indeed. Stopped in at Eilean Donan Castle for a while to explore with Alix, before continuing on up to Ullapool. We had never booked anything ahead, so we went straight to The Caledonian Hotel and were very lucky and got 2 rooms no problem :D .

After breakfast in the hotel the following morning I was soon heading for the central Fannaichs in so so looking weather :) . Not quite what I had been hoping for but it was looking like it might get better as the day went on. Parked up at the normal starting point on the A832 and was soon heading back along the road a few meters to the private road leading to Loch a’Bhraoin.

Start of the private road.
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You soon reach a crossroads of sorts where a notice advises you to take the new path by passing the old lodge which is supposed to be being rebuilt. It’s still a ruin! Anyway, I took the new path as it looked like a bit of easy walking.

Crossroads.
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A couple of walkers in front crossing over the new bridge.
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The walkers in front paused to look at their map and I passed them to continue up onto the stalkers path described in the SMC guide book. I did notice a rather boggy looking path heading east just after the bridge and on looking back I saw the two walkers making their way along it.

Waterfall on the Allt Breabaig.
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I continued on up the stalkers path and crossed over the Allt Breabaig at NH162741 where a small cairn was visable on the opposite bank.

Crossing point on the Allt Breabaig.
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The stalkers path heads up the pass with Sgurr nan Clach Geala (left) & Sgurr Breac (right).
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I kept heading up the stalkers path looking out for a cairn marking a point to strike off eastwards up the slopes of Meall a’Chrasgaidh. Seems there isn’t one, so I struck off the path at NH166731 and made my way up over steep mossy grass and heather.

View across to Sgurr Breac.
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View across to An Teallach.
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Sgurr nan Clach Geala hangs onto the clag.
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The steep slope soon gives way to an easier angle of ascent and you soon reach the shoulder of the hill. The wind was getting fresher at this point and the weather as a whole was not looking too great.

View out across Loch a’Bhraoin
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The 2 walkers I saw at the start just disappearing into the clag.
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Panoramic view back down before I am swallowed by the clag.
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Reached the summit in clag :x , so got settled down for a bite to eat in behind the cairn. After about 15mins with no sign of the clag breaking I got set up for the summit pose.

Summit pose and the clag starts to break 8) :D .
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Panoramic view and a burst of sunlight as the clag lifted.
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Summit with Carn na Criche and Sgur rnan Clach Geala behind.
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Moving on from the summit and down an easy s/e slope towards the wide saddle , I could see the other 2 walkers disappearing into the clag on Sgurr nan Clach Geala and another walker heading up towards Carn na Criche, where I was also making for.

Heading down to the wide saddle.
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A look down a steep gully towards Loch a’Mhadaidh.
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Looking back to Meall a’Chrasgaidh.
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Approaching the summit of Carn na Criche.
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By now it was blowing a right hoolie over the tops and I had no chance of setting the camera up for a summit pose :x . I joined the other walker I saw in the lee side of the summit(you can see him in red jacket in photo above) for a while and another snack. He was just up from Loch Droma to bag Carn na Criche. Seems it’s a Murdo. As we both left and headed back towards the saddle the weather had a right wintery feel to it, the strong wind really cutting in to you with the wind chill effect. We soon parted company and I headed off for Sgurr nan Clach Geala.

Which is still catching the clag :x .
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More walkers approaching from Meall a Chrasgaidh.
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A look back across to Carn na Criche and Sgurr Mor.
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A look back down to the saddle once I picked up the main path on Sgurr nan Clach Geala.
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Finally on the ridge leading to the summit.
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Into the clag as a walker catches up on me.
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And then he is gone, leaving me in his slipstream.
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Another few minutes and I joined him on the summit. No views, not much in the way of shelter from the wind, so it was a rather quick snack and summit shot with the tripod on it’s lowest setting. The other walker only spent a few moments before returning the same way.
No view summit pose :x .
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Made my way along and down the ridge heading for Sgurr nan Each. Easy walking and I soon cleared the clag which seemed to be lifting a bit now.

Looking down Coire Mor to Loch Fannich.
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I stayed put for a while as the clag was coming and going, giving tantalising views back to the summit and across Coire Mor.

Worth the wait as it cleared just as 3 other walkers now caught up with me :D .
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The clearing clag reveals the fine route onto Sgurr nan Each.
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Sgurr nan Each.
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Taking in the view.
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Easy walking.
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Walkers making their way along the ridge.
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A look back at Sgurr nan Clach Geala as the clag rolls back in.
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Sgurr Breac.
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Looking back along the ridge to Sgurr nan Clach Geala.
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With the wind at my back this was surely one of the easiest munros I have had the pleasure of summiting to date.

The Summit cairn.
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Looking onto Sgurr a’Chadha Dheirg.
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Got settled down to scoff the last of my sandwiches as the other walkers left, and right on cue the clag starts to roll in again. I had thought about heading over to Sgurr a’Chadha Dheirg as it may well be some time before I am ever here again, but it looked like the weather was going to put paid to that.

Sitting down pose again .
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A final look out over Loch Fannich.
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Heading back down as the clag continues to roll over the hill.
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Not the usual style of cairn back at the Cada na Guite.
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An easy descent west down to the head of the pass below Sgurr Breac.
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You are now faced with a 4mile hike back to the days starting point :lol: .
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A look back up to the head of the pass and the tops are briefly clear again.
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After a long plod down the pass, Loch A’Bhraoin comes into view with Meall an t-Sith behind.
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I continued on and followed the old path that goes along the shore and by the old lodge just for a nosey.

Looking back at the lodge and the clag covering the summits again.
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Another very enjoyable walk on my hol’s and I was very lucky to get a view from the summits in between the clag :D :D .

Re: Three Fannaichs

PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:39 am
by Johnny Corbett
Some lovely photos there Pete. I did four Fannichs in August and met a few walkers along the way all doing differant variations,

Re: Three Fannaichs

PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:47 am
by soulminer
I took the hit of the '4mile hike' first on a claggy and torrential day :thumbdown: not my favourite hills :lol: Only took about 6 photos all day, hardly worth taking the camera.
The usual fine photography TP :)