Sgurr na Diollaidh – Wanting time to stand still

[PeteR]

Day two of my Cannich weekend. Having enjoyed a superb day on Tom a’Choinnnich and Toll Creagach on the Saturday (http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33015) I had considered an attempt at the Strathfarrar four for the Sunday. Knocked the plan on the head though, as I had to consider the drive home and then work on Monday

Instead I thought I would have an easy start to the day and tackle the wee Corbett in Glen Cannich – Sgurr na Diollaidh I’d seen the report posted by dogplodder on this little gem around the time my Cannich trip was on the cards It’s the short walk I had half an idea to walk on the Friday evening after pitching my tent at the campsite. It would undoubtedly have been a great evening walk, but I’d probably have had to pretty much turn tail and head back down straightaway. I actually think I made a good call doing it in the day, giving me enough time to savour it

And oh, did this hill deliver on the savouring Once my car had navigated across the rickety bridge over the river Cannich On closer inspection later in the day that bridge looked decidedly dodgy

View of the route from the roadside parking

As far as the route up is concerned please don’t follow me I clearly had not a clue what I was doing on this one

I should have paid more attention to dogplodder’s excellent report it seems. Then I would have known that I should have made my way along the track to Muchrachd a short distance. Then look left and spot a sentinel tree straight ahead and pretty much aim for it. A faint path would eventually materialise, which would aim directly for point 496.

Didn’t do that.......

I headed straight(ish) up from where the car was parked in the general direction of point 496. Thick heather and no path Hard work in the heat

Still the views down Glen Cannich to Mullardoch and the back of the Glen Affric Munros was some compensation for the hard work I was making of a short walk Point 496 is also a great spot to sit and soak up these views too

Back down into Glen Cannich

Mullardoch dam and Affric Munros

Glen Cannich again, from point 496

Things didn’t improve for me path wise after my short stop at point 496. Even though I could see a definite line in the grass that looked like a path.......I ignored it More hard work in the heat as I headed to point 652 and my first sight of “peat-hag heaven” Thankfully the ground was pretty dry, so not as hard a job to circumnavigate as it might have been

View back down to "peat hag heaven" once I had navigated through it

Now things improved, as the last steep bit of the day was easily overcome, landing me near point 786 and the final stroll through some nice rocky outcrops to that first view of the twin peaks

The twin peaks of Sgurr na Diollaidh

Just below the "peaks"

Easy walking up into the summit ridge (if you can call it that) and then “wow” just doesn’t do it justice.

In fact, there just are no the words to describe the views from this hill “Stunning”, “sublime”, “superb”, “amazing”, “awesome” are all great words, but they don’t even come close to encapsulating what I was witnessing. Nor sadly, could my trusty point and click camera. The best views themselves aren’t actually from the summit tor (this has a scramble, which fact isn't much of a scramble but good fun all the same), but from the slightly lower tor to the west. Despite the camera’s failings here is a selection of the views.

The west (lower) top

The summit

The Strathfarrar four

View down Strathfarrar toward the Munros of Glen Carron and Glenuig

More great views toward Glen Carron

North Mullardoch Munro of Sgurr na Lapaich I think

Loch Beannacharan Glen Strathfarrar

Maoile Lunndaidh I presume

Sgurr Choinnich and Sgurr a'Chaorachain

East, toward Inverness

Another view east

A final view up to the west tor

I simply sat there in awe at the views. Solitude and silence in such an amazing setting on a beautiful warm summer’s day These were some of the best views I have ever had on a hill and in those moments I just wanted time to stand still so that I wouldn’t have to leave.

Eventually though I knew I did have to leave. I didn’t want to, but I had to.

This time I picked up the path on the way down that I should have on the way up Made for much easier walking and soon enough I was back at the car and the end of my Glenn Affric/Glen Cannich mini adventure

River Cannich on the way back down

Glen Cannich and the creaking bridge

Zoomed shot back up to point 496

By the sentinel tree

"That" tree

Final view back to Sgurr na Diollaidh from the creaky bridge over the Cannich

Those who have been there will know what I mean and those haven’t.......what are you waiting for, just get yourselves there

[pigeon]

A smashing couple of days Pete,want to be getting myself up to Affric soon me thinks

[PeteR]

A smashing couple of days Pete,want to be getting myself up to Affric soon me thinks

Aye pigeon, it's a great place and yes, need to be getting yourself up there. Plenty good walking to be had

[MarilynMunro]

Cracking TR and set of photos Pete, if you don't mind me saying your quite a dab hand at the photography lark
Simply stunning looking area

[pollyh33]

Jings Peter, you've left me speechless


An absolute delight

[dogplodder]

Superb photos with a distinct lack of whiteness from when we were there and sounds like you did a better job of the navigating than we did as we got a bit snarled up in the peat hags!

[SusieThePensioner]

Great report Pete, and some really beautiful views
Think I shall pencil this walk in for my husband to do in October

[Collaciotach]

Lucky fella with the weather and a fine set of pics and report

[dooterbang]

Great reports Pete...glad that bridge held you

Nice to see you enjoying the Corbetts.

[PeteR]

Cracking TR and set of photos Pete, if you don't mind me saying your quite a dab hand at the photography lark
Simply stunning looking area

Thanks MM. A simply stunning area I think it's more likely the mountains that make my photos look good, rather than any skill on my part

[PeteR]

Jings Peter, you've left me speechless


An absolute delight

Thanks polly. I was certainly lucky with this one. Pretty much perfect conditions and I really hadn't appreciated just how stunning the views of Strathfarrar would be

[PeteR]

Superb photos with a distinct lack of whiteness from when we were there and sounds like you did a better job of the navigating than we did as we got a bit snarled up in the peat hags!

Thanks dogplodder, and thanks for the inspiration to do this cracking hill One of my best days on the hills to date

[PeteR]

Great report Pete, and some really beautiful views
Think I shall pencil this walk in for my husband to do in October

Cheers Susie I hope your husband enjoys if he does this walk

[PeteR]

Lucky fella with the weather and a fine set of pics and report

Very lucky indeed

[PeteR]

Great reports Pete...glad that bridge held you

Nice to see you enjoying the Corbetts.

Cheers dooterbang. Although I'm hopefull to compleat the Munros at some point I'm certainly enjoying the Corbetts more this year Can't not enjoy them with views like these