
Usually I keep the long hill days for a Saturday……..that way I have Sunday to recover before work again on Monday




But the forecast for Sunday was definitely better than the Saturday and so it was that I was leaving the house just after 10 p.m. and heading up overnight to the remoteness of Glen Cannich. It felt very eerie in the total darkness (well, I did have my headlights on


Looking heavenward I was struck by the simply awesome view of the starlit night sky



After a few hours uncomfortable sleep on the back seat of my car I was up and away soon after 6 a.m. There was a definite nip in the air that morning. Winter is coming me thinks!
I was heading slightly earlier than I had planned, but oh how I was to discover later in the day just what an excellent decision that turned out to be

The initial part of the walk was decent with views starting to open up. The cloud was a bit low still, but I set off hopeful that it would lift in time to bless me with stellar views from the summit


At the ramshackle hut the first obstacle of the day stood in front of me. If you like your ascent to be steep, predominantly pathless and @$%& hard work then can I say that the climb up onto Mullach na Maoile will be right up your street



But there was nothing for it other than to grit teeth, gird loins and get on with it

In truth, despite its initial steep steepness, predominantly pathless nature and the fact it was too huffing early to be slogging up such a steep huffing slope, once the worst was over it was a nice stroll to the top of Mullach na Maoile with Carn nan Gobhar, the first target of the day, coming into view ahead of me. Sgurr na Lapaich had an atmospheric covering of mist shrouding it, which I was hoping would clear before I arrived

From here it was a pleasant walk up on to the summit of Carn nan Gobhar. The mist kept drifting in over the summit, but thankfully I was able to claim a cloud free summit when I arrived at the first of the summit cairns. Between there and the true summit the next band of clag had rolled in, but seemed to be moving fast enough, so I hung around in the hope of some views. I didn’t quite get the views I’d been hoping for, with mist continuing to roll in around me, and Sgurr na Lapaich stubbornly holding on to a veil of cloud. But I still got enough for me to class it as a cloud free summit

Heading down off Carn nan Gobhar toward Bealach na Cloiche Duibhe and Loch Tuill Bhearnach framed by the cliffs of Sgurr nan Clacham Geala was an impressive sight

I was hopeful of a second cloud free summit as I started the climb up Sgurr na Lapaich; the cloud base seemed to be lifting and the waves of mist reducing

I quite enjoyed this climb

Sadly, I arrived as a large clump of cloud settled on the top


In the cloud it was definitely breezy. And with the breeze came the cold. I have to admit, standing there on a cloud encased summit, with no views, a stiffening breeze and a definite chill in the air my spirits dropped


I’m not sure if it was the fact I was descending or the cloud was lifting (or both) but I was soon enjoying views toward my third target of the day. And there seemed to be a good chance I would be back in the cloud free summit zone


I should add a note of caution on the descent from Sgurr na Lapaich. I found myself on a path leading me toward steep, near vertical, slopes to the northwestish


It was another enjoyable climb up Creagan Toll an Lochain and onto what must be the longest summit ridge in the Highlands




Fanniachs, Monar, Torridon, Skye, Kintail. Affric. It was all there on show




At last I had a chance to text MrsR and let her know I was still alive


There is a nice right hand turn to An Riabhachan, with an initial steep drop down to a narrow ridge leading to a minor top. It was then another steepish drop down to Bealach a’Bholla and the short, steep pull up onto the pleasant ridge of An Socach

Had I not been on a timetable and had the joints not started to complain by the time I was dropping down off An Riabhachan, I might have enjoyed this section a bit more





Before then though there were still great views to enjoy!



A time was I had once had delusions on undertaking a full round of the Mullardoch Munros as part of a three day adventure


Looking across to the eight Munros on the Affric side the enormity of such an undertaking really hit home. I was completing just four big hitters, albeit in a single day, and the eight on the other side of the water looked every bit as formidable, if not more so. All I can say is, standing on the crescent ridge of An Socach, I felt massive, massive respect for all those who have taken on (or plan to take on) such a challenge



The descent off An Socach, via Meall a’Chaisg was an easy, gentle affair. Great views toward Affric, with Loch Mullardoch also taking centre stage


Then came the delights of the peat hags of Coire Mhaim

I made a slight boo boo at this point


I was striking a direct route through the hags that would have taken me over the small incline of Meall Bac a’Chul-dhoire. What I should have done apparently is taken a slight turn to my left once I’d dropped off Coire Mhaim and cross the Allt Coire a’Mhaim to pick up a stalkers path down to the lochside. Discovering my error (eventually) I opted for an early river crossing in order to correct my mistake and get myself on the correct side of the water as soon as possible. Got a wet foot doing so

Then a few hundred yards further on and I came across a footbridge that would have taken me across anyway......keeping my feet dry


After that it was plain sailing to the lochside

Now it was just a matter of the long walk out

Oh, and how it was a long walk

In all my research into this route on walkhighlands (well the reports that weren’t by those who CHEATED and paid the ferryman


For those that don’t do words



















Just about sums it up……..What…….the…….F….




Setting off though I was thinking “It’s not too bad”. “What’s all the fuss about?” “It’s a piece of piddle”

Then it got boggy

Then it undulated

Then it was boggy and undulated


Then sometimes, having skirted too close to the lochside, small sections of landslip meant it wasn’t there

Then there was the wading through bracken and all the risks that brings with tired legs

Sometimes it might have been there, but I apparently wasn’t on it

Energy sappy, will braking.
And all the time it just went on and on and on and on and on and on and on and………………..on……


Thankfully the Allt Taige crossing was a breeze when it arrived, so I avoided and trials and tribulations there
But that there path fair near broke me


As much as I was tempted to give up, perhaps it was the knowledge that I hadn’t CHEATED and paid the ferryman that kept me going………..purist that I am

It seemed like a lifetime since I had first struck off up toward Mullach na Maoille from the ramshackle hut. Finally I was back there. Now I knew it was just a short walk back to the car

Arriving at the car though I was pounced upon by a swarm of hungry midges






Midge bites aside though this was simply a fantastic day





I might have taken a few more than 25 photos on this trip, and if you're up for the challenge the full set can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/beardybaldybloke/sets/72157635452629501/