video as usual :
A get away to the NW highlands would be fantastic and an inaugural venture for the real purpose of buying the kayaks!! A microadventure was planned as I had to be back by afternoon the next day to go shopping!!! The plan was to kayak across Loch Quoich to Gairich and head up the northern ridge. This was to be the first outing for the kayaks for their intended purpose i.e. access to the hills via boat! In order to achieve this (i.e. being back relatively early the next day) we decided to head up the night before and crash in the back of the cars, enabling a nice early start
I left Perth around 17.30 and made the long drive north toward Glengarry and KinlochHourn. Arriving around 19.00 allowed the possibility of fitting in a wee hill in before bedtime! I had looked at Sgurr na Eugallt and thought this would be nice, with many reports suggesting it was a fantastic viewpoint. The weather was ok, however Gairich and the Gle Sheil hills were shrouded in cloud so my chances of a nice via were not looking good. However the forecast said that the cloud may move east later in the day – (bearing in mind it was after 5pm when I started) – there was a small chance of descent weather perhaps?
I left the car about 50m east of Coireshubh and headed up the slightly boggy stalkers path. Having not eaten since about 11 I was finding the going a little tiring! I was also deliberately taking my time as I wanted to conserve energy for tomorrow and also the later I got to the summit – the better chance of a decent views. It was not until traversing round Stob Dubh when the view started to open out, firstly back east down Glengarry then as you gain height Sgurr na Ciche and its neighbours start to dominate the southern sky line. As I reached the final (steep ) pull up, the GlenSheil hills were still covered in cloud and things were not looking too great. Due to the geography of the hill, you do not get a chance to look out west until you reach the summit crest. Just before gaining this there is a short , sharp steep pull onto the crest which involves a little hands on rock action (hardly a scramble but steep nonetheless.) Once getting up this the crest is reached and the first top is only a few minutes away.
As I crested the views were bloomin fantasic. Made better by the fact that I was not expecting to see anything, the Knoydart peninsula was below me and the Cuillin were silhouetted and moody with the lowering sun. I stopped at the trig point taking it all in then decided to head out the westerly peak of Sgurr Sgiath Airigh. The view into Glen Barrisdale is fantastic and it was hard to watch where I was putting my feet as my eyes were not looking downwards!!! Many photos later and I decided to head back it was near 20.00 now, I had spent over an hour up here and was still to top out on the true summit. I bagged this on the way back and was back at the car around 21.30ish.
- first trig point
- Larven and Cuillin
I now needed to find a suitable spot to park up, but also to launch the kayaks from the next morning. I met with my friend and we scouted the shore line for a short portage point. This was harder than expected!!! Eventually we settled on a spot almost opposite the north ridge of Gairich, and nearing midnight we hit the hay!!
- looking into Knoydart across Loch Quoich at Midnight
Four hours later and we up raring to go. A coffee and some porridge and we were off getting the kayaks ready and gear in the appropriate holds!
- Gairich at 04.30
- breakfast
A tricky descent got us to the loch side and at 06.00am exactly we were in the water paddling across Gairich. The weather was good , and much better than the rain and 300m cloud level which was forecast
It only took us about 10 minutes to cross and by the time we had changed into our walking gear, it was just after 06.30. The pull up the north ridge was pathless but fine and we took our time, reaching the summit at 07.45am. Unfortunately my good views from the summit “tokens” had all been used up the night before and the summit was in clag Never mind – we headed back down as it was freezing (this weekend is the official first day of summer)! I am sure I saw some flakes of snow at one point!!
We were back at the Kayaks at 08.50 so decided on a little paddle around Loch Quoich before heading home. We headed up past the island ad back to the cars. A steep portage of the kayaks back to the car and we were done and I got home in time earn my brownie point for shopping
A successful microadventure – one Corbett, One Munro and a paddle in a Loch with views to KNoydart – not a bad 22hrs !!!
Higher resolution piccies at Flickr : http://www.flickr.com/photos/scotlandsmountains/sets/72157633870917513/
- black cuillin
- old tea pot at Coireshubh
- look into Glen Barrisdale way below
)) I als usea point and shot Sony cybershot HXV9 I think or something like that 
