free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Corbetts: Beinn Airigh Charr
Grahams: Meall Mheinnidh
Date: 17/02/2013.
Distance: 10.5 km (cycling),18 km (walking).
Ascent: 85m (cycling), 1415m (walking).
Time taken: 7 hours, 10 minutes.
Weather: Warm and sunny
Almost a month since my last walk and no real excuse for it - maybe it was the decorating or working away from home, but I would still usually manage to fit a walk in somewhere. I was definitely going somewhere on Sunday, but it was Dooterbang's query about Beinn Airigh Charr on Facebook that gave me the nudge I needed - I've been meaning to do it for years and it was my last major unclimbed hill in the area.
I was cycling away from Poolewe by 9:40. An easy pedal to Kernsary took only 20 minutes. I could have taken the bike further but I hadn't really decided my route in too much detail, so leaving it by the track to Ardlair kept my options open. The last time I walked in along the Fionn Loch path was in 2001, when my dad and I had done Ruadh Stac Mor and A' Mhaigdhean. A dull overcast day had suddenly turned great on the summit of A' Mhaighdhean, when the cloud had lifted, giving very sudden views down the Fionn Loch. Back then, the stalker's path had just been upgraded from a notorious swamp into the lovely pleasant walk it is these days. There were still a couple of swampy bits in the woodland though.
Ponies in the woods above Kernsary:
Looking back towards Loch Ewe:
Once clear of the woods, the anticipation was mounting. Conditions were still a little overcast, but improving all of the time. I had decided to approach the summit of Beinn Airigh Charr from the east as I fancied walking under the towering northern cliffs. My original plan had been to stop off on the way home and nip up a small Marilyn near Slattadale, but a better plan was forming in my mind. Why not add in an ascent of Meall Mheinnidh as well? It was barely 10 months since I was last up there, having approached from Kinlochewe that time, but the views of the Carnmore area were so great that I coudn't resist doing it again.
Beinn Lair and Beinn Airigh Charr:
The cliffs were in the shadow and I was also walking into the sun, so not such great views until I turned around and looked back.
Beinn a Chaisgein Mor, Ruadh Stac Mor and A' Mhaighdhean:
Cliffs on Beinn Airigh Charr:
By the time I left the stalker's path to ascend the NW ridge of Meall Mheinnidh, things were getting decidedly warm and I was down to my t-shirt. Slightly odd for February! There were a couple of short scrambly moves on the ridge (both avoidable I think) and the views improved with every extra metre ascended.
Looking down to Dubh Loch and A' Mhaigdhean:
Scrambly bit on Meall Mheinnidh:
Fionn Loch and Beinn a Chaisgein Beag:
There was a slight breeze on the summit, but overall it was more benign and even less snow covered than last April. I remembered the older guy that I'd met up here last time and wondered if he'd managed to finish his Corbetts yet (he only had a dozen or so left).
Beinn Airigh Charr from Meall Mheinnidh:
Classic view down to Dubh Loch:
Beinn a Chaisgein Mor and Fionn Loch:
Beinn Airigh Charr:
A' Mhaigdhean, Mullach Choire Mhic Fhearchair, Beinn Tarsuinn and Beinn Lair:
Across Loch Maree to Beinn an Eoin, Liathach and Baosbheinn:
Summer is here!
Beinn Dearg Mor:
An Teallach:
A' Mhaigdhean, Mullach Choire Mhic Fhearchair, Beinn Tarsuinn:
Then it was down again, taking a sligtly more southerly route than the one I had come up. I was aiming for a shallow rocky rib which led the whole way up to the summit from Strathan Buidhe. In retrospect, the way back down was slightly awkward - I had to re-ascend a couple of small bits to avoid crags - and I would have been better sticking to the NW ridge line that I had come up.
Route up Beinn Airigh Charr:
Meall Mheinnidh:
Fionn Loch and Meall Mheinnidh:
A' Mhaigdhean:
Beinn Eighe:
Slioch and Loch Maree:
It was a long but straightforward pull up onto Beinn Airigh Charr, the remaining dregs of snow near the summit being quite slushy. It was odd looking over to nearby Liathach and Beinn Eighe and realising that anyone on those hills would be in full-on winter conditions.
Summit approach:
Torridon:
The summit:
I'd been saving this for a good day, and I wasn't disappointed. Despite the slight haze, the views were some of the best I have had in the area. Time for another break.
Down to Poolewe:
Back to Fisherfield:
Loch Maree and Torridon:
I dropped down a little way to the north to look over the cliffs, then made a slightly awkward traverse back onto the NW face. Descent towards Spidean nan Clach was steeper than I expected, but I was back on nice grassy terrain before long.
Fionn Loch and the northern cliffs:
Back to the summit:
I decided to descend the NW ridge of Spidean nan Clach and rejoin my outward route. I had been out a couple of hours longer than expected by now, but had no real desire for the day to end. If I was in the habit of keeping my tent in the car, I would have taken it with me and pitched up somewhere - it would have been a perfect night to try some out of season camping. As it was, I had another break then strolled back to the bike.
Reflections of Carnmore:
Looking back:
Loch Kernsary:
I encountered the first people of the day less than a mile from the car. Back at the carpark, I chatted briefly to a woman who had Beinn Airigh Charr as the main feature in the view from her front room - wouldn't mind that myself
.
Going home took longer than usual as I kept having to stop and take photos. The sort of walk that I'm hoping will keep me in a good mood all week!
Beinn Airigh Charr and Loch Maree from the road to Gairloch:
Sunset over the Trotternish from Gairloch:
Passing Slioch:
Looking back at Beinn Airigh Charr and Meall Mheinnidh:
