route map from my memory as forgot to switch navigation on on my GPS.
Clockwise circuit.
Set off from Pitlochry at 0700 an reached car park about 9.40. Had passed and been passed several times in the past 2 hours by a Land Rover and we pulled into the car park at the same time. So on finding we were doing the same walk more or less its driver and i set off together on the long walk-in to Coire Mhic Fhearchair. Very gradual ascent on this long walk so company much appreciated. Because the path curves round so much , several times i thought we must be nearly there only to be disappointed.
I had read great things about this coire being one of the most beautiful in Scotland but i suspect it looks much more awesome towards the evening as in the late morning with the sun behind the triple buttress , it looked a bit ordinary on first sight.
- Triple Buttress with scree gully on left
Having decided to ascend Sail Mhor rather than the scree gully , my fellow walker and i parted company at the far end of the loch.
- looking north west across Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair
The route was more plain to see than i had anticipated as there was an obvious long rocky outcrop to be bypassed on the left before turning right once above it.
- from above the outcrop. Sail Mhor top left
- Looking back at the Triple Buttress with later scramble right of centre on skyline
No breeze in this ascent and very hot on this steep slope.
- zooming in on the Black Carls distant left skyline ; scree gully seen on nearest ridge
Didnt meet anyone on Sail Mhor despite rest of Beinn Eighe being busy.
Walked down the broad curving ridge towards Coinneach Mhor.
- from col looking down at ascent
- Scramble ahead
This scramble looks quite intimidating from here but proved to be superb. Thought required to find the best route and although i sometimes thought that i wouldnt like to be descending the way i had come , there was always a way upwards-very rewarding. I scrambled almost in the centre of the picture then heading left to the top. There was a bypass grassy/stoney gully just out of shot to the right.
- looking down from top of scramble
The above picture shows the access path faintly this side of the lochans.
Walked round the top of the Triple Buttress on the flat summit of Coinneach Mhor and decided to give Ruadh-stac Mhor a miss as i had taken a surprisingly long time so far and i didnt fancy losing a lot of height on a very hot day and it was mobbed with walkers , so headed along the main ridge.
- looking forwars to Sgurr Ban
- Looking back along the ridge with Coinneach Mhor the green flat top
- Loch Maree seen top left. Centre is Ruadh-stac Beag
- Spidean Coire nan Clach
Spidean Coire nan Clach was one of the few places that day with any breeze so i dallied there for a while knowing it was going to be a very hot descent in 25 degree C straight into the sun , with my remaining water so warm it was almost undrinkable.
After descending i was hoping to hitch a lift back to the starting car park but no luck.
Superb day on the hills.
