Bald Hill of the Wet Place - and yep, at times it was that!

[PeteR]

With the clocks set to change I was looking for a final long walk before the Highlands gets plunged into darkness by 4.30 each afternoon I’d chosen Maoile Lunndaidh for this privilege. It would also mark the achievement of this year’s Munro target of 50 brand-spanking new summits what I have stood on Of course I now have a new target for the rest of what’s left of 2012, but we’ll see if we make that or not

So, Maoile Lunndaidh Not the Highland’s sexiest hill But, all the same it’s a good day out on the hills That is if you can survive the steep climb up the side of Fuar-tholl Mor

Parked up at the Forestry car park at Achnashellach with enough time for my porridge before heading off. It’s a long walk in. At times I’d wished I had the mp3, but then whenever I do take it I tend to ditch it after a track or two. I’d walked this way back in April when I did Sgurr Coinnich and Sgurr a’Chaorachain. That had been a tough day in the snow and I was about to discover that their neighbour was a tough cookie too

Is this the most photographed horse on walkhighlands?

It’s s good landrover track all the way to the Glenuaig Lodge and bothy. As good as it is though, it’s still a long, long walk in. Thankfully I don’t mind that and good time was made as I headed into the wilderness of Pollan Buidhe.

Beinn Liath Mhor and pals

View back toward Sgurr na Feartaig on the long walk in

Glenuaig Lodge

Toward Creag Dhubh Mhor

Just before the lodge I stopped to consider my route over the peat hag and bog to the base of old baldy, when I started to hear voices. Worried some sort of “hill madness” was setting in I was quite relieved when a couple of chaps came round the corner on mountain bikes. They were planning the same hill and after a quick chat they went off to dump their bikes at the lodge, while I set off to discover old baldy’s wet place

For probably the next hour and a half I thought I had been transported to some sort of living Hell Oh my It was a very wet place, over the stream and skirting the edge of Sron na Frianich before dropping down to the An Crom-allt. Thankfully I’d managed to pick up the path that has formed part way across. This helped make the wet place just a tad more bearable

Sgurr a Chaorachain from the An Crom-allt

As I stood there at the base of the hill the sun peered over the top of the hill meaning I couldn’t see a @!$& thing ahead of me. From what I could see though, as the sun blinded me (and looking at the map too) was that I had choices. First there was the option of Fuaran a’Bhuilgich. Looked steep to me Took me away from my target too, but once up high up looked like quite a nice hill top amble back along the ridge to the summit.

Then there was the standard approach via Fuar-tholl Mor. Looked horrific, as this great wall of rock rose up in front of me If I thought getting onto Beinn Liath Mhor the weekend before had been steep, then this was off the scale Surely I’d got it wrong. That couldn’t be the way up Could it Check map. Check it again, just to be sure No harm in checking it a third time, eh.......just in case

Nah, that’s the suggested route up And no path to follow either Oh, the joy if it.

Then I managed to convince myself I could see a line of attack which didn’t look too bad

Yeah right

I was only kidding myself. It was sheer Hell slogging up the side of the hill I did think at one point of turning round and heading home, but I’d only have to return to it one day. And I was closer to the summit than the car anyway, so it was a case of grit my teeth and suffer.

The start of my route up

It seemed to take ages to complete the rising traverse to the Coire edge, much longer than I had expected. At the Coire edge the climb then became easier, although initially the rocks here were slippery too, before I picked up a nice path picking its way up beside the Coire.. It probably did take longer than it should have, but the ground was wet, boggy and steep.....oh, and covered in deer poo too, so much care was needed when grabbing grass and heather to haul myself up or keep my balance I’m not convinced I had chosen the right line for my traverse, but then I’m not sure any other line of attack would necessarily be any easier

A tough, tough slog But eventually it was over and the steepness eased off nicely, as views into Coire and down to Lochan an Fuar-thuill opened up. From here on in it was a wonderful cliff top amble up to the summit cairn of Carn nam Fiaclan (slightly away from the cliff top I’ll admit) and then round the ridge to Creag Toll a’Choin and then the final few hundred yards to the summit of Maoile Lunndaidh

Almost at the Fuar-tholl Mor

Fuar-tholl Mor

As well as the wonderful cliff top walk the reward offered by this hill for all the effort and perseverance slogging up the side of Fuat-tholl Mor were the stellar views back to my previous weekends walking on Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh as well as the great Torridonian heavyweights of Liathach and Beinn Eighe as I made my way to the summit of Maoile Lunndaidh Simply stunning.

Beinn Liath Mhor

North Mullardoch hills(ish)

At Creag Toll a’Choin I dropped off the summit ever so slightly to take in the view down to Loch Monar At this point I was struck by the absolute silence. No breeze. No vehicles. No planes and no animals. Just complete silence as I walked the short distance to the summit

Loch Monar

Beinn Eighe

From the summit, looking back at the summit plateau with Sgurr a Chaorachain peeking over the top

Not entirely sure what hill or hills this is......Meall Seilich and An Sidhean perhaps?

Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh

Liathach

Fisherfield hills

An Teallach

At the summit itself I dutifully signed in with MrsR to let her know that all was well. Had a short stop, to soak in the views before heading down the north west ridge. This took me to a saddle with Creag Dhubh Mhor where I dropped off to my right down by the burn where I was able to pick up a path that eventually got me back to the track by the Glenuaig lodge.

View to the ex-Munro of Sgurr nan Ceannaichean

On my way back I was eventually caught by the two mountain bikers from earlier in the day. Earlier they had seen me toiling up Fuar-tholl Mor and hadn’t like the look of it. So they had opted for the other option I had considered, the climb up Fuaran a’Bhuilgich. Apparently that was steep too

The three of us then walked back to the lodge together, doing what hill walkers always do when they meet total strangers out walking................discuss our hill walking escapades A good time spent chatting with the two of them though on that short stretch of the journey. At the lodge they took to their bikes, while I enjoyed the @!$& mile walk back to the car. A bit of a trek at the end of a long day, but I could enjoy the changing light as the sun began to fade behind the hills Gave some nice views on which to finish the day, before eventually arriving back at the car.

Maoile Lunndaidh

View into Gleann Fhiodhaig from back on the landrover track

Not bad for a view on the long walk back

View from the Allt a'Chonais

Another great view of the ex-Munro

Thought I'd add another musical montage of the day too (any excuse to get a few more photos in the report ).

So, Maoile Lunndaidh? Actually a really good walk, taking you deep into the back of beyond, but with some great views all round Will I rush back to it though? Well I’m probably not in a hurry to at the moment (unless someone constructs a path up the side of Fuar-tholl Mor of course ) but then I’d never say never either

[Johnny Corbett]

Good one Pete, glad to see you got this one done before the dark nights arrive. Wheres all the snow gone?

[pigeon]

Sounded a tough one pete,well done getting round and making the most of the last long days

[ChrisW]

Sounds like a hard but really enjoyable day Pete, you certainly got some terrific views for your efforts maybe you should get a mountain bike for these types of hikes....personally I love a long walk in.....but I hate a long walk out Wonderful day mate with your own company for most of it too...even better

[dogplodder]

Now you've done it do you think it would it have been easier to have gone up the way you came down? Not that I'm planning on going next week - I'll have to leave it for the longer days. Good on you getting it done before the clocks changed.