Knoydart Day 1. Munro Bagging Without a Beard
Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 11:27 pmWhen I started hillwalking over 2 years ago many of my friends and family used to ask me what was the point of climbing munros and ‘ what enjoyment did I get by walking up to the top of a hill and then back down again?’
At the time I was reading Muriel Grays book The First Fifty munro bagging without a beard…… and each time I was asked that question I would try to answer the same way that she did…. And this was……
‘ Because it mixes the challenge of strenuous exercise with the reward of an amazing view, a fuller understanding of the geography of our land and intoxicating amounts of fresh air’
One of my reasons for climbing munros was to see more of Scotland. I was ashamed to say that I didn’t know Scotland that well until I started hillwalking….I knew Ireland like the back of my hand but could not tell you where many a place in Scotland was situated on the map…. And now im about to present a Scottish holiday programme!
Well Knoydart certainly done it for me…. Strenuous exercise, amazing views. Improved my understanding of the geography of our land ( and no Mo you cant cycle around the island of Knoydart! Haha) …intoxicating amounts of fresh air….and a few well deserved beers thrown in….
When I started reading up on Knoydart I fancied reaching it by ferry rather than the long walk in.
We ( Johnny Corbett, Mo and Jimmy) travelled from Mallaig to Knoydart on the Western Isles ferry… Very friendly chappies too they were..the ferry men that is.
Stayed in the Knoydart Foundation Bunkhouse… the 4 of us sharing a room with 2 guys until Mo rearranged them to another room the following evening.. after rearranging the tables, chairs, lamps, sofas, fires, beers…..What were you diagnosed with again Mo … from the psychotherapist? MAD as a hatter!
Started our walk from the Bunkhouse following the excellent track up towards the monument. A short distance from the monument we took the track off to the right and crossed over the Inverie river towards Druim Bothy. Keeping on the track towards a second bridge and headed north east up the Druim Righeanach. We kept the walking in order of ages…. Therefore we let Jimmy lead and I kept at the back!!
Quite a slog up this hill especially in the heat… and with me carry all the supplies again.
Gained the ridge and headed east to the summit of Meall Bhuidhe. Munro 280 for me.
We decided to keep going and headed to the Bealach Ile coire and down passed Meall Coire na Gaoithe n Ear where we stopped for lunch and sampled some of the delights a friend had given me from his army kit…
Here we chatted with a female who came from my part of Glasgow… Maryhill.. according to JC she must be from the posh part … don’t know what he meant there! She had come down the west ridge off of Luinne Bheinn.. we headed up the grassy slopes of the east side of the ridge and headed west to reach the summit. Munro number 281!
Headed north west to Bachd Mhic an Tossaich and down to pick up the path at Mam Barrisdale along the Gleann an Dubh Lochain and back to the bunkhouse.
My feet were killing me to say the least as was Johnnys ....a breeze for Jimmy and Mo though. A few brufen at the pub and just to bring money into the economy of Knoydart we had to sample the Old Forge Bars food and beer. After this we were set up for the evening and ready for the next days adventure of Ladhar Bheinn
A fabulous day, stunning scenery and great company
10 hours
At the time I was reading Muriel Grays book The First Fifty munro bagging without a beard…… and each time I was asked that question I would try to answer the same way that she did…. And this was……
‘ Because it mixes the challenge of strenuous exercise with the reward of an amazing view, a fuller understanding of the geography of our land and intoxicating amounts of fresh air’
One of my reasons for climbing munros was to see more of Scotland. I was ashamed to say that I didn’t know Scotland that well until I started hillwalking….I knew Ireland like the back of my hand but could not tell you where many a place in Scotland was situated on the map…. And now im about to present a Scottish holiday programme!
Well Knoydart certainly done it for me…. Strenuous exercise, amazing views. Improved my understanding of the geography of our land ( and no Mo you cant cycle around the island of Knoydart! Haha) …intoxicating amounts of fresh air….and a few well deserved beers thrown in….
When I started reading up on Knoydart I fancied reaching it by ferry rather than the long walk in.
We ( Johnny Corbett, Mo and Jimmy) travelled from Mallaig to Knoydart on the Western Isles ferry… Very friendly chappies too they were..the ferry men that is.
Stayed in the Knoydart Foundation Bunkhouse… the 4 of us sharing a room with 2 guys until Mo rearranged them to another room the following evening.. after rearranging the tables, chairs, lamps, sofas, fires, beers…..What were you diagnosed with again Mo … from the psychotherapist? MAD as a hatter!
Started our walk from the Bunkhouse following the excellent track up towards the monument. A short distance from the monument we took the track off to the right and crossed over the Inverie river towards Druim Bothy. Keeping on the track towards a second bridge and headed north east up the Druim Righeanach. We kept the walking in order of ages…. Therefore we let Jimmy lead and I kept at the back!!
Quite a slog up this hill especially in the heat… and with me carry all the supplies again.
Gained the ridge and headed east to the summit of Meall Bhuidhe. Munro 280 for me.
We decided to keep going and headed to the Bealach Ile coire and down passed Meall Coire na Gaoithe n Ear where we stopped for lunch and sampled some of the delights a friend had given me from his army kit…
Here we chatted with a female who came from my part of Glasgow… Maryhill.. according to JC she must be from the posh part … don’t know what he meant there! She had come down the west ridge off of Luinne Bheinn.. we headed up the grassy slopes of the east side of the ridge and headed west to reach the summit. Munro number 281!
Headed north west to Bachd Mhic an Tossaich and down to pick up the path at Mam Barrisdale along the Gleann an Dubh Lochain and back to the bunkhouse.
My feet were killing me to say the least as was Johnnys ....a breeze for Jimmy and Mo though. A few brufen at the pub and just to bring money into the economy of Knoydart we had to sample the Old Forge Bars food and beer. After this we were set up for the evening and ready for the next days adventure of Ladhar Bheinn
A fabulous day, stunning scenery and great company
10 hours
- ferry from mallaig
- hardcore!!
- the reason johnnys feet were sore in his boots
- inverie
- 1st bridge
- Druim Bothy
- 2nd bridge
- the ridge to Meall Bhuidhe
- hat stop!!
- water stop!!
- bus stop!
- 281
- loch hourn, barrisdale bay
- hurry up johnny..its nearly closing time!
- moooove oot the way
- monument
- our corbett room
