Walkhighlands

With a smashing weekend of weather ahead I headed up to Kinlochleven early and was parked at Mamore lodge and away walking for half -six , enjoying the beautifully warm and hazy morning . The landrover track and stalkers path made for good going as far as Coire an Lochain , with lovely views south to Glencoe . Rounding a corner into the coire I had to detour around a large landslide which blocked the path . Looking up I could make out where a cornice had collapsed and started the mud/rock/snow slide , glad I wasn't passing when it happened !
First hill of the day was Sgurr Eilde Mor , ascending the south ridge on scree and through small crags, the views from the summit were a treat .
I left the summit by the NW ridge , steep and loose scree making for a rapid and exciting descent ,made even more exciting by the noise of a large boulder crashing and cracking its way down the path of the landslide
Again the stalkers path made the walk up towards Binnein Beag a pleasure , a lovely looking wee hill, the ascent of which is very similar to Sgurr Eilde Mor . After a bite to eat I had a good look over to Binnein Mor before heading down a small gully SW from the summit , obviously a well used route but on pretty steep and loose scree, going back down the S ridge might have been better . I traversed across the level col to reach the two small lochans which sit between the N and the NE ridges of Binnein Mor .
From the lochans an easy grassy slope leads up to join the N ridge which curves up towards the summit.
The summit of Binnein Mor is a magic place , narrow and airy , with amazing views all round , the ridge leading on to Na Gruagaichean beckoning . All the hard work of the day is worth it for this ridge walk alone , beautiful.
From the summit of Na Gruagaichean I headed NW to the second top , I had read in a geology book that on this short section you pass from quartzite to granite to schist , interesting , but also steep and very slippy on the granite gravel .
From the NW top there are fine views to the Ring of Steall , with Am Bodach looking grand . From the top I descended to the bealach above Coire na Ba ,from there a path winds down into the valley to rejoin the track back to the lodge .
And off to The Clachaig for tea

Looks a cracking day out, was swithering about these 4 for today, along with almost every other hill in the land, now itchin to get up there! i think Sgurr Eilde Mor looks great, but when i read about it gets a bad writeup! good stuff!

Fabulous views there Gavin.

I've got this route in my sights for this July, hope I get similar clear skies as yourself.

Cracking walk, Gavin, and I do like the views you got from higher up I'm hoping to get up to these hills (this year, maybe, fingers crossed) and this certainly whets the appetite - cheers

Brings back the memories, i did this walk 3 years ago. It's a hard one but a superb one

Did this same route about 2 hours after you. Didn't see the landslide, as perhaps I split off the stalkers path a bit earlier to ascend Sgurr Eilde Mor. Coire an Lochain has to be one of the most amazing locations I've seen. Was thinking about doing this route with a wildcamp here.

Although the climb up to the north ridge of Binnein Mor was up easy grass slopes at first, it did get pretty steep the closer you got to the ridge line!@"&$*. Got a good view of a golden eagle soaring about the summit of Binnein Mor.

Good report and a fantastic day.

Neurone.

Good stuff and an area that I haven't been to yet. It seems to have a very special quality and the hills are all so individual. I'll have to wait to do this for a bit longer but thought the report was really informative with some good pics. Well done and especially like the pic of Ben Nevis from another direction.

Niceone Gavin.

Now i see what i mist up there last week cracking views and a iformative report will use it on sunday when i go backup to do Binnein Beag and Sgurr Eilde Mor cheers.

tamw51 wrote:Looks a cracking day out, was swithering about these 4 for today, along with almost every other hill in the land, now itchin to get up there! i think Sgurr Eilde Mor looks great, but when i read about it gets a bad writeup! good stuff!

Cheers Tam , I'm sure you'll enjoy these.

skuk007 wrote:Fabulous views there Gavin.

I've got this route in my sights for this July, hope I get similar clear skies as yourself.

Good luck with the weather , though it would still be a fine walk in the cloud .

rockhopper wrote:Cracking walk, Gavin, and I do like the views you got from higher up I'm hoping to get up to these hills (this year, maybe, fingers crossed) and this certainly whets the appetite - cheers

It's a fantastic area , can't wait to go back myself, hope you get up there soon .

Johnny Corbett wrote:Brings back the memories, i did this walk 3 years ago. It's a hard one but a superb one

Cheers Johnny , superb is right

neurone wrote:Did this same route about 2 hours after you. Didn't see the landslide, as perhaps I split off the stalkers path a bit earlier to ascend Sgurr Eilde Mor. Coire an Lochain has to be one of the most amazing locations I've seen. Was thinking about doing this route with a wildcamp here.

Although the climb up to the north ridge of Binnein Mor was up easy grass slopes at first, it did get pretty steep the closer you got to the ridge line!@"&$*. Got a good view of a golden eagle soaring about the summit of Binnein Mor.

Good report and a fantastic day.

Neurone.

Yes Coire an Lochain is a beautiful spot , so secluded . Seeing the eagle must have made a great day even better ,Cheers

Jockstar wrote:Good stuff and an area that I haven't been to yet. It seems to have a very special quality and the hills are all so individual. I'll have to wait to do this for a bit longer but thought the report was really informative with some good pics. Well done and especially like the pic of Ben Nevis from another direction.

Thanks Jockstar , that was my first visit to the Mamores and I loved it , sure you will be the same

quoman wrote:Niceone Gavin.

Now i see what i mist up there last week cracking views and a iformative report will use it on sunday when i go backup to do Binnein Beag and Sgurr Eilde Mor cheers.

Cheers Quoman , enjoy your day , watch out for landslides !

Great report and pics. Enjoyed this. Ps Nice meating you on the hills today and I hope I didnt slow you down to much

Nice one Gav - I love the wildness of this area - and an impressive 4-Munro tally too!

Good report Gavin. Good set of pictures. One of my favourite areas. Good to meet you in Kintail.

Very atmospheric photos Gavin. Hoping to talk Kamila into saying yes to a trip away to the West Coast later this years. Want to see it for myself.

Del246 wrote:Great report and pics. Enjoyed this. Ps Nice meating you on the hills today and I hope I didnt slow you down to much

Cheers Del , bumping into the two of you made a pretty miserable day a good laugh (apart from the 30 mile walkout ! )
Cheers Kev and Monty , may see you in Braemar ,
Ric ,enjoy your trip,hope you get the weather for it .

That was a mega walk back to the cars. My legs are still moaning about it today