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It was sheer good luck that plans were revised at the last minute which left us Tuesday free to head for the hills. We've been eying up the Glen Carron area for a while so decided to head for Maol Chean-dearg, as that gave us a plan B (circuit of Maol Chean-dearg) if the conditions looked too challenging
.
After our last outing with Menno, our dogs' favourite hillwalker, they were devastated to find he was working and they would just have to make do with their regular humans, therefore no almond croissants or bridies
. After debating whether this was a fatal breach of their terms and conditions they decided that it was too good a day to miss so agreed to head for the hills - oh with the odd photo stop on the way.
- Sgurr a'Mhuilinn (I think)
I think this is Sgurr a'Mhuilinn seen from the A832 - but please tell me if I've got this wrong.
The little car park was full by the time we arrived at Coulags - we'd planned to be there by 10am - but somehow had lost an hour en route. Not to worry the weather was wonderful, and warmer than the temperature I'd been expecting, so did I shed an unnecessary layer of clothing? - well eventually but only after getting rather too hot
.
Its an easy start to the route - although a rather menacing flock of sheep guarding the main road had the dogs scurrying for the safety of their leads - and they made no attempt whatever to investigate these woolly creatures.
- Main road guarded by sheep
Great path and we soon arrived at the bridge
- Fancy a swim?
and yes I did fancy a swim, but opted for getting rid of some clothes instead - nothing too exciting mind you I still had plenty of layers to go
We got to the bothy - and its building project
- Bothy with building project hiding behind it
Followed by the 'Henry Moorish?' tether stone - we tried it for size for Biggles & Bertie, but we'd brought the wrong leads
- Fionn's tether stone?
We stopped for a drink and nibbles where the path branches left for the Maol Chean-dearg summit, and I sheded another layer - I really had exaggerated the cold and as a result was hot and sweaty. At this point we'd done three fifths of the distance to the summit, but had only gained about one fifth of the height - the next section was only going to get hotter! So a drink before we go.
- One for the road
Our goal peaked over the slope - the bald red head wearing a white lace cap.
The dogs need sustenance too ...
- Did someone mention biccies?
- I thought so
We passed an icefall en route for the bealach
- Icefall
The route really was pleasant going and not a cloud in the sky - gradually the hills around us came into view - but as we got onto the blealach there was a haze just beyond An Rhuadh-stac, not an atmospheric one - this was smoke.
- An Rhuadh-stac
- Burn-off or wildfire?
From this distance it was impossible to see whether this was a controlled burn-off or a fire out of control.
We headed up the scree path - and what WH had advised would be the steepest section of the day. As scree paths go this was very good - although I suspect that was because the recent now melt meant the path was damp and therefore firmer. As we came out of the scree into the snow the path was very obvious.
- This way I think!
The footprints were a great help in navigating the snowy boulderfield - as were the winter boots - but it was a slower job than I'd expected. On this last stretch before the summit we met 3 encouraging people on their way down - they promised it would all be worth it when we got to the top - too be honest I didn't doubt them for a moment! What I could see already was pretty spectacular
- Sgurr Rhuadh and Bienn Laith Mhor
- Snow, sea and Skye
Once at the top it was - well what can I say?
- Beinn Allign
- Beinn Damh
- Torridon big beasts (sort of!)
- View north east
- Laithach again
We sat at the cairn eating and marveling at the views - well Roger ate - for some reason I wasn't hungry so I drank some water and munched an apple. Trouble set in when I tried to stand up to head down - cramp in both legs had me alternately squealing and swearing - I'd stupidly over heated to the point of losing too much liquid and that in turn made me gag at food - the consequence was only cramp but in a very inconvenient place
The walk down was slower and much more uncomfortable than the walk up - but hey that meant more time to enjoy the views. By the time we got the bealach An Ruadh-stac had fires on both sides.
- Fires to the right of me, fires to the left of me
On the snow coming down we noticed that the quartz scree had taken a toll on at least one of the dogs' paws, and although neither of them were showing any sign of distress I would think twice about taking them into this sort of terrain again.
After I slipped on some snow going down from the bealach and both legs cramped badly again Roger insisted on taking my pack as well as his own (what a star
) and I limped (a bit shame-faced) along the path.
Biggles got rather interested in a small group of red deer - the only wildlife we'd noticed that day, but came back (eventually) when called and seemed relieved to be put on the lead. No need to play the great hunter now
We eventually passed the bothy shillouetted against the late afternoon sky
- Heading home
and were soon back to the start of the walk - the menacing sheep had moved on - and despite the cramp and overheating it was a brilliant day.
And the moral - just be careful where you wear that thermal base layer
