Walkhighlands

I don't know about you but whenever I'm away off anywhere I spend the first couple of hours wondering what I've left behind this time. Nearly always I have left something. And nearly always its something minor. Well this time its wasn't. So 3 hours into my journey and nearing Ullapool I got that d'oh moment - no sleeping bag! I was due to spend 2 or 3 nights at the SMC Naismith Hut (yes, him of the rule) with my fellow Granite City Hillwalkers. There was nothing for it but to call in at North West Outdoors in Ullapool and buy their cheapest suitable bag. So £60 lighter and considerably grumpier I made my way north.

I had thought to tackle Stac Pollaidh as my afternoon treat but seeing as I was in a foul mood decided I best leave this for another occasion and so settled on Cùl Beag in its stead. The steep way. There had been a few showers on the drive over and there were still a few about as I set off dead on 2pm. Initially easy (if soggy) progress along the path north to just after the wee lochan (Fhionnlaidh). I missed the small cairn marking the turn off east (probably distracted by the great views north) but shortly after cut across the rough ground to pick it up higher up. Things soon get pretty steep and stay that way till the top, with a brief respite at the bealach to the wee subsidiary peak of Cioch a' Chuil Bhig.



Cùl Beag West Approach




Suilven From Cùl Beag
From the path to the west of Cùl Beag before you start the acent.




View North From Cùl Beag
View from most of the way up Cùl Beag's northern flank. Stac Pollaidh on the left, Cul Mòr straight ahead with a bit of Suilven poking out behind it. A stitch of 5 portrait shots encompassing around 150°.




Stac Pollaidh From Cùl Beag




View NW From Cùl Beag
Another pano from Cùl Beag, this time from near the summit and looking NW.



The top of Cul Mor was still draped in cloud but the views of Stac Pollaidh and surrounds were wonderful. But 10 minutes before I got to the top a shower cloud caught up with me so it was on with the full rain kit. Thankfully it wasn't too heavy so once I got to the top I sat about recovering and taking on a bit of sustenance. After 20 minutes I got bored and the clag seemed to be about to clear so had a wonder about to see if I could get some better views. I got my view just a bit south of the summit. There were shafts of sunlight about but Lioch Lurgainn & Stac Pollaidh were in deep shade. But I had plenty of time - the other's weren't due to get to the hut till around 7pm - so I waited some more. Eventually my patience paid off and I got one of my best shots of the year.




Loch Lurgainn From Cùl Beag




Inverpolly From Cùl Beag
Suilven poking it nose out from the side of Cùl Beag with various Inverpolly lochs below. The nearest is Loch an Doiré Dhuidb while the largest is Loch Sionasgaig.




Cul Mòr From Cùl Beag
Taken from the wee 566m subsidiarity peak of Cìoch a' Chùil Bhig. And I could clearly hear the waterfall outflowing from the lochain nestled on the southern flank Cul Mòr - Lochan Dearg a' Chùil Mhòir if you must know.




Loch Lurgainn Sun And Rain
Rain showers approaching over Loch Lurgainn as I made my way down.



By this time it was 5:15pm and I didn't want to be descending the steep stuff in the dark so off I went. I did have time to visit the Cioch a' Chuil Bhig peak, especially as the cloud had now cleared from Cul Mòr. The steep descent wasn't too bad and then as I was making my way along the faint soggy path back to the main stalker's path it started to rain again. I cursed my luck as I got my rain jacket on again. But it was in fact a stroke of luck because when I rounded a bend of the track I was struck by some magical light. So it was out with the camera again and luckily I managed to get some shots without any rain getting on the lens. It ended up being of of the best sets of photos I taken and some compensation for the p*** poor start. And five of these photos ended up getting into Flickr's Explore pages. Back to the car in the gathering gloom at 6:50 pm (but was probably only walking for three & a half hours).





Inverpolly Evening
I don't often get the camera out in the rain but this was a must. The hill in the background is Beinn Mhòr na Còigich (aka Ben More Coigach) and the loch is Loch Lurgainn.




Cùl Beag Rainbow
Couldn't fit this in one shot so this is a stitch of three portrait shots.




Pinebow




Inverpolly Sun And Rain
The setting sun is reflecting off Loch Lurgainn with Ben More Coigach looming in the background.




Cùl Beag Double Rainbow




Loch Lurgainn Sunset


Flickr set over here.

Bump... report & photos now done. Enjoy

Stunning as ever, Alastair Photos really bring out the character of this area - cheers

You just can't beat a bit of Assynt It would be hard not to take a good picture in the area, but difficult to take exceptional ones- but you succeeded in doing so

oh my!!!

Beautiful pictures. The double rainbow is a cracker. I love this corner of Far North You had more luck than us on Cul Beag, we did it on a cloudy day and all the pictures turned out sad-grey...

Wow, been past this one so many times and many of those occasions just for photos, as opposed to bagging anything in particular. Some of my best pics are from the same patch but yours have remonded a trip back is in order and Cul Beag can't take too much effort, at least with rewards such as these.

Fantastic photos...now I just have to pick a day !

Wow

Some incredible photos. Thanks for posting

Absolutely beautiful Alastair, worth every penny of that £60 sleeping bag Great to see the wonderful side of rain showers, and to see you back out there capturing them

stunning..........

I'd be schouten from the rooftops with those photos - stunning.

Aye some great shots er

Thanks all

Definitely got lucky with the weather - I had great plans for the next day but the weather didn't play ball. Still to process all the photos so it may be some time before I post a report. In the mean time here's a preview:


Soggy

What is it about this area which makes for such good photography?

Having said that, your photographs take it further still, they are wonderful.

I am sure you could take good photographs anywhere but the combination you have here of a brilliant subject and a skilled photographer (and I neither know nor care if you have tweaked) just give a finished result that is stunning to the eye.

Well done

Missed this one, but your entry in the photo comp alerted me to it. Pretty special

I was out on Coigach the next day which was one of my highlights of the year, but I didn't get anything quite this spectacular.