Hot day in the Ullapool Hills.

[Hillwalker and Her]

From our Ullapool base, it was only a ten minute drive to the car park at Inverlael. We were staying for the week having driven up from Yorkshire. It was a beautiful morning. 8.30am and the sun was already warm. Heading into the forest we soon found ourselves re-routed by the tree felling forestry boys, so we walked on a parallel road, slightly higher up but still following the River Lael upstream. Finally leaving the trees behind, closing the gate, to emerge into Gleann na Sguaib. On a good clear path we slowly but surely elevated ourselves to Lochan Lathail. A lovely spot. Then higher still to reach the Bealach, Lochan Uaine. We were looking for the dry stone wall which guides you almost to the summit of Beinn Dearg. It wasn't difficult to spot, as we were enjoying perfect conditions. A warm day now as we began our ascent over a large boulder field, still retaining small pockets of snow. The rock was very grippy and was negotiated with ease. Higher up the wall swerved off to the right and we left it here, finding a gap in it to make the short pull up to the summit of Beinn Dearg, our first Munro with it's large cairn.

Summit of Beinn Dearg

After a short drinks break, we headed back down, over the wall and made or descent back down to the Bealach Lochan Uaine. From here we could easily see our next objective, Cona Mheall, standing at 978m. First we skirted the Lochan then headed downwards towards Coire Loch Tuath and then zig zagged up through the scree, cooled by dipping our neckachiefs in the Lochan. Another bit of boulder hopping near the summit ridge, before we hit the fairly insignificant summit cone. A brief stop and a brief chat with another walker, before making our descent again.

No2. Summit of Cona' Mheall

We stayed wide of the Bealach Lochan Uaine this time, instead climbing the small hill between the Lochan and Plat Reidh, which was still covered in large tracts of snow, knee deep aswell. With the snow out of the way we ate lunch. A good spot to eat and as it was 3pm, we were hungry. Twenty enjoyable minutes later we were off and upward again. This time it was a fairly straight forward pull up to the summit of Meall nan Ceapraichean. Happy with our Munro 'hat trick', we chatted briefly as we had planned to descend back to the Bealach from here, my persuasion won! We were to press on. The weather was a crucial factor, still hot and sunny, we walked over endless boulders to the subsidiary cairned top of Ceann nan Gharb. Then made an awkward descent over boggy ground to the Bealach and Lochan Chnapaich. Faint paths up a steep grassy slope made it a bit of a slog, the sun was beating down and we were getting tired. But the sight of the twin cairned summit eased the aches and pains. A big hug at the cairn and we were a happy pair. Eididh nan Clach Geala also in the bag! We descended the west ridge and eventually picked up the stalkers path which carries walkers over to the distant Seana Bhraigh. This then linked us up with the outward path down Gleann na Sguaib once again. We trudged downwards both of us now running on empty, back through the forest, which seemed to go on forever. Boots off, sandals on. And fifteen minutes later we were sampling the delights of Ullapool's hostelries...A cracker of a day!

[Bod]

Nice one! And as you say a cracker of a day
Good pics too. Need to get up these ones myself and sample a few beers in Ullapool as well

[Hillwalker and Her]

Yes, it's well worth the long trip up to the far north west. We've been to Ullapool three years out of the last four. I never tire of the place, it's such a good base and the landscape between Ullapool and the top end is just fantastic.