The Big Grey One..(and a few others)

[pigeon]

Liathach,The Big Grey One,been looking forward to this for a while so with a good forecast for the weekend it was at last on!Torridon camp site was the chosen digs ,arrived about half 7 on Friday to see Gavin's van already parked and tent pitched,ominous signs though as other folks milling about were all donning midge nets,noooooo!I was ready for them though,got the net out ,covered myself in smidge and broke the world record for pitching a tent,then it was off down to the safety of the Torridon Inn.Few pints and a check of the forecasts again and it looked good for Liathach on Saturday,also in the pub we had the pleasure of bumping into walkhighlands legend Rocket Ron who was up for the weekend on Mountain rescue training,a wee blether and back to the campsite to be attacked by the midge again. About six a.m and i was awakened by a strange sound,rain battering off the tent,nooooo!Still raining at 8 bells so we decided on plan B for Saturday,Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgurr Ruadh was a round that i'd been looking at for a while so rather than chance our luck in the wet on Liathach we set off Achnashellach with the hope of getting to Liathach on Sunday .Turned out a good plan too,still a bit wet as we set off up through the forest and onto the lower slopes off BLM,
Saturday and off up through the forest;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 001 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Up to the cairn where the paths meet;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 002 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Breif glimpse of Loch Coire Lair;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 004 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Eventually reached the big cairn at 876 metres with the clag not looking like shifting much,shame cos' it felt like a good ridge walk to the top of Beinn Liath Mhor
Big Cairn at 876m;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 006 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Along the ridge;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 007 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Nowt to see on Beinn Liath Mhor;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 011 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Much the same conditions on our way to Sgurr Ruadh as well,although a good view down to Torridon village and a good look at Maol Cheann Dearg was had,
Glimpse of BLM's ridge;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 016 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
An Ruadh Stac and Maol Cheann Dearg;

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 021 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Got to the top of Sgurr Ruadh and i knew Gav was hatching a cunning plan to bag the near by Corbett
Nowt to see on Sgurr Ruadh either;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 023 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Gavin hatches a cunning plan;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 024 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Fuar toll here we come,he's talked me into it;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 026 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
It was a struggle for me on the way up Fuar Tholl ,having not been on a hill for 5 weeks it was taking it's toll,but on the plus side the sun was coming out and it is an impressive hill so it would have been daft to miss it out so i soldiered on as Gav chuckled
Ruadh Stac and Maol Cheann again;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 032 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Fuar Tholl takes it's toll;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 033 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Better views now;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 035 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
A well earned break on a braw Corbett;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 044 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Steep scree descent;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 049 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Mainreachan butress;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 050 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
A fine end to the day;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 055 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
The sun had come out on the walk out and despite a damp start to our day we had high hopes the weather would be good for the main event on Sunday

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Indeed it was a fine night as we strolled along to the pub again for a beer and a burger and chips(chips good,burger terrible)met Ron again(good luck with the MRT thing Ron and good to meet you )and turned in early for an early start in the morning.
Alligin in the evening;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 061 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Sunday we woke and not a cloud in the sky,Liathach was on I'm not going to say much about Liathach,i'll just post the pics but it is in the top 3 walks i've done so far,we followed the WH route except for a detour to the top of Stuc a Choire Liath Mhor ,apparently great views of Beinn Eighe from here but not for us though as a wee bit cloud had rolled in but by the time we got to the first Munro summit all was clear and we could enjoy the views and the great scrambling over the pinnacles,simply majestic
Up;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 062 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
And up;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 065 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Spectre;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 070 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Cloud starting to burn off;

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 071 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Stob aChoire Liath Mhor;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 072 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
The cloud dissapears right on cue;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 075 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 076 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Gav on Spidean a Coire Liath pondering the route ahead;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 079 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Alook back to Beinn Eighe;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 083 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Scramble time on the ridge and pinnacles;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 084 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 090 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 093 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 098 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 099 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 100 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 103 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 105 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 107 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 116 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 117 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 119 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 120 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 122 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 123 by pigeon812711, on Flickr

Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 126 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
The scrambling has to end some time though but the views from Mullach An Rathain are amazing,
Upper loch Torridon;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 129 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Beinn Eighe again;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 130 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Lookin back;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 131 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Beiin Alligin;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 133 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Mullach an Rathain ;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 141 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
Steep descent;
Achnashellach,Torridon weekend 144 by pigeon812711, on Flickr
And that was Liathach,an absouletly magic day out ,the scrambling for me on about a par with the AE,not so sure about the by pass path,looked a bit ropey at times but save this for a good day and your in for a treat

[kev_russ]

Braw stuff!

[rockhopper]

Excellent stuff, pigeon We're getting closer and closer to meeting on a hill ! If you'd stuck to Plan A, we'd have met on Liathach on Saturday morning - did you not see me waving to you from Beinn Eighe on Sunday morning ? Think I've got a very similar Saturday evening shot to yours of Beinn Alligin - stunning sunset wasn't it - hopefully will do a report in a few days, too busy at the moment - cheers

[Ian Bayne]

What can I say!! the photos are brill another handfull of crackers Nice one

[Collaciotach]

Grand stuff

[soulminer]

Some memorable images in there pigeon Liathach is such a fine mountain it would be a waste to climb in anything other than sunshine, the Achnashellach pair I have vivid memories of-but will not share
Cheers for posting.

[rocket-ron]

ha ha pigeon. am no legend. just a legend in the making. Was good to meet you, and get a catch up with you and gav. Was a wee bit jealous off you guys on sunday. Looked a awesome day for the hills. I was busy doing training at the gorge at alligin car park getting bitten alive by midges. I did even think about a run up liatach on my way home at 4pm. But was tired from to much alcohol the night before

[pigeon]

Braw stuff!

What can I say!! the photos are brill another handfull of crackers Nice one

Grand stuff

Cheers guys

Excellent stuff, pigeon We're getting closer and closer to meeting on a hill ! If you'd stuck to Plan A, we'd have met on Liathach on Saturday morning - did you not see me waving to you from Beinn Eighe on Sunday morning ? Think I've got a very similar Saturday evening shot to yours of Beinn Alligin - stunning sunset wasn't it - hopefully will do a report in a few days, too busy at the moment - cheers

Looking forward to your report RH,another near miss eh,

Some memorable images in there pigeon Liathach is such a fine mountain it would be a waste to climb in anything other than sunshine, the Achnashellach pair I have vivid memories of-but will not share
Cheers for posting.

Come on Soulminer ye can't leave it at that ....spill the beans

ha ha pigeon. am no legend. just a legend in the making. Was good to meet you, and get a catch up with you and gav. Was a wee bit jealous off you guys on sunday. Looked a awesome day for the hills. I was busy doing training at the gorge at alligin car park getting bitten alive by midges. I did even think about a run up liatach on my way home at 4pm. But was tired from to much alcohol the night before

Aye the midges were bad at weekend Ron,we had a great day,you should have jumped in the motor with us when i seen you at the campsite,the steep start up to the coire would have sortedyour hang over

[Bod]

Amazing mountains in an amazing area pigeon, each and every one of them. So glad you got a great day for the 'Big Grey one' ....wonderful pictures

[Johnny Corbett]

2 great walks these and good to see the weather getting better on the first day. I did Fuar Tholl first when i did that round as i knew Jimmy and Mo wouldn't have been up for it after the 2 Munros

[pigeon]

Amazing mountains in an amazing area pigeon, each and every one of them. So glad you got a great day for the 'Big Grey one' ....wonderful pictures

Cheers Bod

2 great walks these and good to see the weather getting better on the first day. I did Fuar Tholl first when i did that round as i knew Jimmy and Mo wouldn't have been up for it after the 2 Munros

A cunnung plan Johnny,Gavin would never let me hear the end of it i hadn't made it up Fuar Tholl at the end so it had to be done Glad i did it though,a great hill

[gammy leg walker]

Looks like you & Gavin had a great weekend.

When you say the scrambling on Liathachis not on par with the Aonach Eagach you give me hope of doing the scramble & not the by-pass path.

[rocket-ron]

Looks like you & Gavin had a great weekend.

When you say the scrambling on Liathachis not on par with the Aonach Eagach you give me hope of doing the scramble & not the by-pass path.

willie i will do it with you. I have done it plenty off times. If needed i can take a rope. But it is easy to do

[Hill-loving lady]

Looks like you & Gavin had a great weekend.

When you say the scrambling on Liathachis not on par with the Aonach Eagach you give me hope of doing the scramble & not the by-pass path.

willie i will do it with you. I have done it plenty off times. If needed i can take a rope. But it is easy to do

Me too please Ron...not brave enough to do it without a rope!!!

[Sunny Speyside]

Looks like you & Gavin had a great weekend.

When you say the scrambling on Liathachis not on par with the Aonach Eagach you give me hope of doing the scramble & not the by-pass path.

willie i will do it with you. I have done it plenty off times. If needed i can take a rope. But it is easy to do

Me too please Ron...not brave enough to do it without a rope!!!

If that rope is long enough for another one, I'd love to give this a go too!