Sunshine on Maol Chean-dearg

[Helen Bruce]

This was our first walk on a week's holiday in Strathcarron, a fantastic introduction to these amazing mountains hidden away between Torridon and Strathcarron. Maol Chean-Dearg is tucked away from the road, but what a great viewpoint it is. We just followed the usual route as on Walkhighlands and fortunately there were no dramas along the way, but I thought I'd share a few autumnal photos.

We'd expected to romp along this route and probably take in the Corbett next door too, An Ruadh Stac, but we hadn't anticipated how tired we would be on the first day of our holiday. I guess I'd worked like mad to get everything tied up before leaving the office late on Friday evening, then it was a 5-hour drive north with a stop on the way, so my legs were feeling heavy. The Bruce had been suffering from a bad back for the previous couple of months and wasn't even sure if he'd be able to walk at all - fortunately the endorphins must have kicked in and helped him along as he felt fine that day - and the rest of the week! So we took it easy and enjoyed the fabulous views knowing we only had a few miles to drive back to our holiday cottage afterwards.

Bit cloudy at the start, but fabulous autumn colours at Coulags.

First of all there's a great path to walk in for a couple of miles, over the bridge and past the bothy (locked shut until 20th October for the stalking season - though this was 21st Oct. Glad we hadn't arrived late in the dark expecting to stay the night!), then you bear left and there's a long pull up to the bealach. We followed bike tracks all the way! Is it a sign of age when you realise someone has taken a mountain bike up really rough terrain and you don't think "Wow! what a blast that must have been!", but "They must be mad, it looks exhausting!"? Then at a cairn, turn right and a brief scrambly, loose scree section to the first top and finally a slog across rocks to the summit. The views on the way up were getting better all the time, but from the summit cairn looking over to Torridon it was incredible and very clear.

The final push to the summit

Torridon village and Beinn na h-Eaglaise from the summit

And Beinn Damh on the left behind me.

After our second lunch on the summit we headed down. Had another break at the bothy just as the sun was disappearing behind the hills, great views of Strathcarron on our way back to the road.

Strathcarron in late afternoon sunshine.

So it took us about 6 hours altogether, a really enjoyable day at a steady pace. No rain, no wet feet, plenty of sunshine - altogether another quality hill day!

[Paula Hubens]

Woohoo! Must get myself up there, those views are stunning!
Nice one Helen

[Helen Bruce]

Thanks Paula. Yes it's a great wee hill!

[judbend]

Absolutely Stunning!!! What am I doing in London!!!!!

[BoyVertiginous]

Lovely stuff.

Particularly nice to see "The Bruce" modelling his "fabulous autumn coulours".

[Bod]

Love Maol Chean-Dearg! Need to get back there and climb An Ruadh-stac too

[Helen Bruce]

Thanks for the comments!

Judbend - you're right, why are you in London when it's as sunny as this every day (ahem!) in Scotland?

BoyVertiginous - yes, The Bruce does add a certain class to my photos!

Bod - I never thought I'd be tempted into carrying on to the Corbetts once the Munros were climbed, but as I get closer to that point I'm getting really excited since so many Corbetts (like An Ruadh-stac, Beinn Damh, Beinn Dearg Mor in Fisherfield, etc) are so stunning. Do you feel the same?

[gammy leg walker]

Its a stunning mountain

Beinn Dearg Mor

[Lenore]

Love Maol Chean-Dearg! Need to get back there and climb An Ruadh-stac too

We'll be doing just that in May, Bod, so get yourself over (with some of those peat logs) and you'll have a bonny group to keep you company!

[dogplodder]

This will always be a special hill to me, it being the first I climbed after moving north. We started at Annat so I'd quite like to try it the traditional way as well.