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Corbetts: Beinn Leoid
Grahams: Meallan a' Chuail, Meallan an Fuar Loch.
Date: 20/01/2013.
Distance: 15 km.
Ascent: 1175m.
Time taken: 5 hours, 30 minutes.
Weather: Clear summits, but cold, grey and breezy.
Not really got off to a flying start on the hills this year - 20th of the month already and only my second walk. I think I've turned into a fair weather walker - I keep looking out for a good forecast then staying at home if it changes. As other folks reports have shown, there have been some good days this year - you just have to keep going out to get them.
I had been saving this group of hills for a more relaxed visit and a stay in either Glencoul or Glen Dubh bothy, but this weekend, it appeared that the entire country would be buried under snowdrifts apart from the far north. I had always considered Beinn Leoid to be remote, so was surprised when I measured off a route over the 3 main hills in this group that it wasn't a long day at all.
This meant I could ditch the early start, so leaving the house at 8 am gave me a 9:45 start (as expected, the driving conditions were fine up here). While things were looking a bit greyer than forecast, most of the summits were clear, with the exception of Ben More Assynt.
My initial plan had been to head up Coire Gorm to get onto the high ground, but I realised that using the most common approach between West Merkland and Kinloch was slightly shorter without missing out on anything. The path was good and views opened up towards Arkle then Foinaven. After levelling off and crossing some moorland, the path ended and I opted for a slightly descending contour into Loch Dubh, picking up another path. Beinn Leoid and Meallan a' Chuail popped into view.
Looking towards Arkle and Loch More:
...with Foinaven too:
The ground here was a bit tussocky and I floundered in the snow in places, but it wasn't too bad. There were some interesting ice formations on the face of Meallan a' Chuail, and before long I was back on a path. This zigzagged nicely up to the col between Meallan a' Chuail and Beinn Leoid.
Beinn a Bhutha and Loch Srath nan Aisininn:
Beinn Leoid from Loch Dubh:
Some ice on Meallan a Chuail:
Beinn Leoid from Drochaid Beinn Leoid:
On the ridge up to Beinn Leoid, there were a few floundery sections lower down, followed by some snow covered rocks higher up. Trying to avoid falling into the gaps between these was entertaining, as they were filled with soft snow. The wind increased dramatically on the final pull to the summit, making standing at the top less than fun. I was able to get a little shelter in the lee of the summit cairn and have some lunch.
Nearing the summit:
The views were not as good as they could have been on a sunnier day, but Quinaig looked impressive and I could even see Suilven. I could also look down onto the summit of the Stack of Glencoul, something I would have visited on the overnight version of this walk. Must try from the west sometime. Little of the widespread sunshine predicted by the weather forecast was evident, but a couple of shafts opened up over Kylesku. My camera was too full of moisture by now to snap them.
Canisp and Suilven:
Out to sea across Kylesku:
Quinaig:
Arkle, Foinaven and Meall Horn from the summit of Beinn Leoid:
Ben Stack:
I retraced my steps after a few minutes - going down was less pleasant as I was facing into the wind, but much faster! The ascent up to Meallan a' Chuail was steeper, and much more rocky higher up. I finally spotted the cairn, and was rewarded with an impressive drop straight down the other side into Lochan Meallan a' Chuail. While it was breezy here too, I only had to drop a couple of meters below the cairn to get some decent shelter. Good enough for another break.
Arkle and Foinaven catching some sun:
Meall an Feur Loch and Ben Hee from Meallan a' Chuail:
Loch Shin:
The descent was also quite rocky, with more care needing to be taken to avoid twisting an ankle in a hidden gap. All the way down the views back to the summit were impressive. Meallan a' Chuail is actually a more interesting hill than Beinn Leoid, with multiple lochans at different levels. The only thing it lacks is a good view of Quinaig, as Beinn Leoid sits directly in the way.
Lochan Meallan a' Chuail from the descent:
Arkle and Foinaven from Lochan Cul a' Mhill:
Onward to the third hill of the day, the much less imposing Meall an Fuar Loch. I hadn't realised this was a Graham until 3 or 4 years ago - in fact a friend had made the same omission and missed it out when he had done this walk back in 2006 or 2007.
Looking back to Meallan a' Chuail:
Meall an Fuar Loch adheres to the inverse law of importance when it comes to the summit cairn - it is quite substantial! From here there were good views to Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill, Carn an Tionail and Ben Hee, which I had done on a similarly snowy but worse day in 2010 (plus Beinn Direach, which hides away from this angle). Also the ever-dominating Ben Stack.
Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill and Carn an Tionail from Meall an Fuar Loch:
Ben Stack:
On the summit of Meall an Fuar Loch:
It was a pretty easy descent to the stalkers path that I'd started up, and there were good last views to Quinaig, Beinn Leoid and Meallan a' Chuail, with another glimmer of sunshine behind. I passed a rather conspicuous pair of Black Grouse on the way down.
Quinaig:
Meallan a' Chuail:
Beinn Leoid:
Quinaig:
Not very well disguised grouse:
All that remained was a quick retracing of my footsteps back to the car, watching out for some icy bits on the path. I had another break once down out of the wind and admired the views across Loch More. Then home.
Looking back at the stalkers path from the road:
I'll be back for my overnight visit to this area one day, but that was an enjoyable quick visit for now
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