Walkhighlands

Apologies if I shouldn't have clicked on this as a Walkhighland route as I realise our route was rather different - although some of the pics are still relevant to WH route and it was a really good route to do.

Having climbed her first Munro a couple of weeks earlier in May, and despite getting frozen half to death my Dutch friend Bregtje was keen to do some more! More than happy to aid and abet I suggested two of the Fannichs (never know if there's meant to be an extra 'a' in there - answers please on post card). MWIS was looking good so we parked at Lochdrum in high spirits and followed the small access road that crosses the west end of Loch Droma. We continued along the track beside large water pipes to the dam across the Allt a Mhadaidh.

Bregtje and dogs on the walk in to climb Sgurr Mor


First sighting of Sgurr Mor (left) and Carn na Criche


We kept to the stalkers path along the north side of the Allt a Mhadaidh until a river crossing we didn't fancy inspired a wee detour further to the north. Actually the crossing wasn't too difficult but I wasn't sure how waterproof Bregtje's boots were and didn't want her getting soaked feet quite yet! We picked our way along sketchy paths heading in the general direction of the bealach between Meall a Chrasgaidh and Carn na Criche. That brought us nicely and with dry boots to just north of Loch a' Mhadaidh.

Loch a' Mhadaidh


Time for a mutt shot. Tess declined but Jack is a bit of a poser


Sgurr Mor and the craggy north east face of Carn na Criche


Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich - our second Munro of the day


We watched a pair of walkers ahead of us taking a line up a shallow gully just below Meall a' Chrasgaidh but rightly or wrongly we took a more direct line climbing steeply up the slope west of Loch a' Mhadaidh.

Bregtje with Loch a' Mhadaidh below


We had a short break for some calorie intake and to enjoy the views north to the Beinn Dearg hills and back to where the car was parked by the Ullapool road.

Note dogs' leads wrapped round foot. Hopefully Jack won't spot a hare he has a sudden urge to chase!


Meall a' Chrasgaidh, Fisherfields and An Teallach from Carn na Criche


Sgurr nan Clach Geala and Sgurr nan Each from Carn na Criche


View south from Carn na Criche


View west to Sgurr Breac and A' Chailleach




Clach Geala ridge again


Summit of Carn na Criche with Sgurr Mor beyond


About to climb the summit cone of Sgurr Mor


Sgurr Mor summit - highest of the Fannichs


View north west to Fisherfields, Loch na Sealga and An Teallach


Jack has learned that we spend a bit of time at the top of hills while I admire views and take pics so he uses this opportunity to get some kip!

Summit snooze


View towards Torridons


East along ridge to Meall Gorm and Loch an Fhuar Thuill Mhoir


We took the path down the east side of Sgurr Mor, bearing north east following the ridge towards Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich. I expected this descent to be steeper than it was.

Sgurr Mor behind


Sgurr Mor from ridge leading to Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich


An Teallach and Loch a' Mhadaidh from Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich


Final shot to water babe Tess


The descent off BLMF was causing Bregtje a lot of knee pain (so it's not just us oldies with dodgy joints ) so I gave her one of my poles which helped. We worked our way down the north east side dodging the stony sections and rejoined the path by the Allt a Mhadaidh and (still with dry feet) back to the car at Lochdrum as Bregtje regaled me with stories of her grandfather who escaped from concentration camp during WW2, walked hundreds of miles sleeping in ditches and barns and made it safely home. I think I see where her determined spirit comes from.

All in all another fantastic day in the Fannichs!

Doggles!!

kevsbald wrote:Doggles!!

Afraid so.

I've retitled this report in honour of Bregtje who is more used to flat Dutch cycle paths than steep Scottish stalkers paths - but is loving every minute of it!

Great report thanks, and nice to see some spots that we passed through in the clouds earlier this year. Need to get back and complete more of the Fannaichs....

I'll second that Bod. Love the two dogs, they sure like to pose

Bod wrote:Great report thanks, and nice to see some spots that we passed through in the clouds earlier this year. Need to get back and complete more of the Fannaichs....

Thanks Bod. They're great hills if you get the weather!

Johnny Corbett wrote:I'll second that Bod. Love the two dogs, they sure like to pose

They've got more posing lined up. We're just off to climb Am Faochagaich with kath098 complete with wellies to save getting numb feet.

Just realised I didn't include a summit shot from Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich so in the interests of giving a well rounded report here's one from when I climbed it with gizmogirl in 2005.

Looks a good route for doing these two.

shredder wrote:Looks a good route for doing these two.

Thanks for the prompt to look at this again. Feels a long time ago now.

How was the bog at this time of year? I climbed the Eastern Fannichs at the height of the dry spell in June this year and the bog was nice and dry but I imagine it would be a chore in the wetter months?

sakura1989 wrote:How was the bog at this time of year? I climbed the Eastern Fannichs at the height of the dry spell in June this year and the bog was nice and dry but I imagine it would be a chore in the wetter months?

This actual walk was done in June 2011 so not much use for knowing what it would be like in November 2023.

I don't remember bogs being an issue and I've commented on dry boots so must have been fine. When I did the eastern Fannichs the route from the north had a reputation for bogginess so I did them from the south with no bog at all but I've heard the route from the north is now much improved.

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20268

November before the snow comes can be a good month for underfoot conditions but this year with all the rain we've had even normally bog free routes are pretty wet!