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Walking today with my brother-in-law and nephew, over staying a couple of nights on their way to Skye.
Alan hadn't done these two in his 250-odd munros claimed. so seemed an ideal opporchancity to get them done. Away at 7.30 and ready to go from the car park at Morvich by 8.15. Weather was almost dry and pleasnat at this time- no way was that going to last.
P1020885 by
23weasels, on Flickr
We'd decided to go along Gleann Choinneachain to Bealach an sgairne, head up A'Ghlais Bheinn and then go over to Beinn Fhada, thereafter choosing to return the way we'd come or over the ridge to Meall an Fhurain Mhor if weather permitted. The initial section of the walk was along a well laid path, through heather and pine trees.
A Ghlas Bheinn
P1020886 by
23weasels, on Flickr
The path to the Falls of Glomach went off to the left- maybe for another day - and we passed through a gate warning of bull and calves in the fields - but must have been an invisibul
as we saw nothing of the sort. We reached the waterfall of Allt a choire Chaoil which was easy enough to cross on the stepping stones. Then up into the bealach between the hills where we reached a large cairn and stopped to check our route.
P1020887 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1020888 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1020889 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Allt a choire chaoil
P1020891 by
23weasels, on Flickr
view back west from bealach a sgairne
P1020892 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Up quite steeply to out left to AGB -
P1020894 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Alan "pushing the mountain" - he said it was "stretching exercises"....
P1020895 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1020896 by
23weasels, on Flickr
the path undulates after reaching the top with several drops and rises
P1020897 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Overlooking Loch a Chleirich afforded some good views over the hills to the west.
P1020898 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Finally the top came into view -
P1020899 by
23weasels, on Flickr
stopped there for a breather then back down to the bealach for a bite to eat.
P1020900 by
23weasels, on Flickr
Loch Duich
P1020901 by
23weasels, on Flickr
looking south from AGB
P1020904 by
23weasels, on Flickr
The wind had risen significantly over the last hour and was gusting ferociously at times. Looking up at the top of Beinn Fhada I was not by any means certain that we were going to be able to survive the wind up there - the idea of returning along the ridge was out for sure. We set off back along towards the waterfall crossing and turned up to our left before we reached it.
P1020905 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1020906 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1020907 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1020908 by
23weasels, on Flickr
In retrospect, following this path wasn't the best idea as it involved losing about 250m from the bealach - an alternative would seem to have been to contour round the east side of Meall a'Bhealaich and rejoin the route further round, but we stuck to the path and had the displeasure of losing so much height. Winding round the side of the coire was pretty miserable - the rain was smirring, David was dispirited and asking if there was "much further to go" and the ascent was slow, slow, slow. Every so often we'd be met with a blast of wind, and i was dreading how powerful the wind was going to be when we pulled over the lip of the coire. As it happened, it was much less fierce than I had expected. The clag came in for the last 100 metres or so - no views from this top. On the return leg I looked over to the ridge with interest - be one for a better day, up to Hunter's pass etc.
P1020910 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1020911 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1020912 by
23weasels, on Flickr
View to AGB
P1020913 by
23weasels, on Flickr
P1020914 by
23weasels, on Flickr
The walk back to our starting point went on for hours, or so it seemed. There was still no bull in the field, despite David having donned a bright red waterproof coat and we made it back to the car in time to head off to Dornie for a bar meal and a couple of well earned pints.
