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For the second time in my short hill-walking career I lost my walk report after spending over an hour polishing it up and inserting the photos all in correct sequence with explanations etc. Aaaaargh! Well, here is a much more succinct version....
I was on the path by 7:30am as I have a fear of getting stuck on a hill in the dark and now that the nights are closing in I have to start earlier and earlier!
Here's Beinn Alligin as the sun was rising.
Beinn Alligin at dawn by
AnnieMacD, on Flickr
And further up...
Maol Chean-dearg with the sun behind. All these hills are so familiar now and there is a certain sense of 'ownership' now that I have climbed them.
I intended to visit all four tops of Beinn Damh and hoped to take a short-cut up to Beinn nan Bana Mhoraire diagonally NW to emerge on the small bealach just below the summit. However, there had been a lot of rain the previous 24 hours and off-path was just one big bog (at least down at 250m) so decided to use the well-worn path up to the bealach by Toll Ban. By this time the sun was up and the light was amazing. I toodled over the bealach to have a look down to Loch Damh with its pretty little beaches (and dreaded fish farms) and then took a right to go over Meall Gorm and on to the north-west top.
A wee cairn near the Toll Ban bealach.
Looking down to Loch Damh from the bealach.
The steep scree sides of Beinn Damh by
AnnieMacD, on Flickr
The corries of Beinn Bhan from the bealach.
View from Sgurr na Bana Moraire of Torridon and Liathach.
Torridon & Liathach from Beinn Damh (Sgurr na Bana Mhoraire) by
AnnieMacD, on Flickr
I returned the way I came and then took the bypass path round the 868 top then headed straight for the summit. I found the remains of a ptarmigan which had very recently been eaten - wondering if it was an eagle - I don't think there would be any foxes up here.
Looking back from above the bealach.
Summit ahead with Maol Chean-dearg and Sgorr Ruadh.
From the summit - Maol Chean-dearg and An Ruadh-stac.
Looking down to Coire Roill with the craggy side of Beinn Damh. Torridon beyond!
Loch Damh and Beinn Bhan from the summit.
There were two people at the summit who were just about to leave and with another couple further down they were the only people I saw all day. It was so cold and a bit windy and the clouds were starting to blow in so I had a quick lunch and left in record time.
Stopped for a while at the 868 top though as it was warmer and the views are even better. I then made my way down the shoulder to the top of Creag na h-Iolaire (Eagle's Rock). Any little difficulties were got over by following the deer paths of which there are quite a few - away from the madding crowd!
The north-west tops from the 868 summit.
Alligin and Beinn Alligin from the ridge.
Liathach and Beinn na h-Eaglaise (on right) are starting to get a cloud covering.
The high corrie of Toll Ban is beautiful and very sheltered. All scrambling can be avoided by following the deer paths.
There are great views of Coire Roill. From left - Beinn Liath Mor, Sgorr Ruadh, sunshine on Fuar Tholl, Maol Chean-dearg and An Ruadh-stac.
Descent route from the top down to Creag na h-Iolaire.
I then turned WNW to get down the side of the Creag on a steep but easy slope and headed for the path not too far above the tree line.
Torridon and Liathach from Creag na h-Iolaire.
Back on the path - here's lovely Beinn Alligin.
Looking back the clouds had closed in and the two summits were covered in the mists. Creag na h-Iolaire stands out.
After a great day on the Four Tops I was home in Applecross before sunset!
