Stay at home

[kevsbald]

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And so the 200th Munro arrived. I had intended to do Stob Coire Easain but I decided to combine Beinn na Lap and an overnighter in Staoineag bothy before a nice walk out over Beinn na Cloiche and Leum Illlil...William's Leap. I had company so was mindful of CF's hill fitness. I think he was very relieved we didn't add in SCE but I'll leave that and Creag Guanaich for another overnighter in Staoineag - one of the finest bothies I had the pleasure of staying in. We decanted off the train on Friday and were assaulted by a snow storm in full sunshine. Odd. The trek over to Beinn na Lap was interrupted by an attractive young lady and her dog who were going to run around for a bit before getting the train back. Nice to spraff with her but we had a hill to do. The walk up Beinn na Lap isn't the most scenic until you look back and see the vast wilderness of Rannoch Moor open up. Schiehallion was stunning. A very serene place to be and not a sound except laboured breathing and digested korma. Nice, CF. We topped out after an hour and I did the celebratory pose.

Rannoch Moor from Beinn na Lap

Stunning Schiehallion

No lap dancers for the 200th

We descended off the Munro and made for Creaguanaich lodge to take it in. I walked around only to hear some very odd sounds from a green North Face tent. Seemed they too were enjoying the surrounding scenery. Exit right. The walk over to Staoineag was a bit boggy but we found the bothy and it was a delightful location. Furthermore, there was an axe and a tree, which afforded a night's worth of wood and burning. Much chopping was had and there was even a fresh air swipe combined with a triple salco that Torvill would have been proud of. And that was before the Laphroaig. We got the fire going, had dinner and a few drams while celebrating future generations, shortly to be with us. I took in the cyan night sky, which was so dark but still illuminated by the moon. Lights out at 2330 and a decent night's kip before dawn broke and we broke the fast.

Fiery bliss

Night lovely night

Morning view from the bothy

We ascended the steep North escarpment of Beinn na Cloiche and the visibility was immense. The Grey corries, Ben Nevis, back down to the bothy and beyond.

Fabby wee bothy below Guanaich

Approach to Beinn na Cloich

The descent off the Graham was quick and we took a train-check - 3 hours from here up and down from the Corbett should see us there in plenty of time. The re-ascent was tough with the heavy pack and CF was flagging.

Come on matey...almost there

Take a Leap, Bill....

However, discussion of an evening dinner in Stravaigin seemed to spur on the famished. The train duly arrived 25 minutes after we did and we relaxed on the way back to Glasgow. A nice way to hit the 200th and another one indoctrinated into the way of the hill....

[Gavin99]

Many congratulations on your Bicentenary

[mrssanta]

beaouuuutiful

[Bod]

Great stuff Kev! 200 munros, love yer summit photo, and what a cracking looking wee Bothy.....it's time I returned to a bit of Bothying

[gammy leg walker]

Well done that man.

[tamw51]

Stunning Schiehallion very true, it looks fantastic from there! looks like a cracking circuit, iv still to hit a bothy and Staoineag looks braw what a setting!

[Collaciotach]

A good score the 200 eh ... enjoyed that report and grand photos

Many years since i visited Staoineag grand bothy

[PeteR]

Well done on the 200.

[pigeon]

Laphoaig ,a fine malt to celebrate your 200,well done kev,looked a good trip

[mrssanta]

Here's to the last 83!!

[mountain thyme]

weather looks fab... well done on reaching 200... and it is a stunning pic of schehallion

[meangarry]

Great report, its also opened up my eyes to the train. Marvellous invention and being as that I don't drive a way for me to get to the mountains! Cheers kevsbald.
Schehallion looks like a movie mountain. Beauty of a pic.

[Musicfinder]

Kev, congratulations on 200! Wonderful photos, especially the summit pose.

[kevsbald]

Thanks for the comments folks. Wish I was back out there but only 11 days until a week in Skye! Bring on the InnPinn!

[malky_c]

That's a top way to hit the 200 mark

Great bothy - stayed there last summer and did some bits of your route. Good memories