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Day two of what was turning out to be a three day long walking weekend dawned a bit overcast at the B-n-B. British Summer Time and we were on Greenwich Mean Time again. Apparently I was able to enjoy an extra hour in bed, but surely that’s just wasted mountain time……..isn’t it?
I’d often wondered about how I’d get Klibreck ticked, given its lonely position far, far away (well, far, far away from where I live anyway
). This weekend seemed like the perfect opportunity
, even though it was still a bit of a drive from where I had based myself (note to self: think about booking a B-n-B more convenient for my plans rather than “winging it” and panicking at the first one I find with vacancies
)
At least on the drive up the conditions appeared to be improving, with breaks appearing in the cloud and blue sky showing. As with Wyvis the day before mine was the only car in the parking area as I parked up just before the bridge at Vagastie.
- Cloudy on Klibreck
- Vagastie bridge
Unlike Wyvis the day before there would be no excellent approach path to the hill
Ordnance Survey suggest this is a proper track
I’d suggest it’s a proper boggy track
- Across Strath Vagastie
Still, good progress was made and height was gained good views opened up toward Ben Loyal, a cloudy Ben Hope and Ben Hee
Then there was Arkle and Foinaven way off in the distance
Also the views of the lochans nan Uan and Bad an Loch are superb
Once on the top of Cnoc Sgriodain Klibreck itself really came to life from a views point of view
Really though the pictures can do all the talking
- Klibreck
- The Bens of Hope and Loyal
- Meall nan Con
- Klibreck #2
- Ben Loyal
- Ben Hope
- Panoramic shot
- Arkle and Foinaven
- Loch nan Uan
- Hope, Loyal and nan Uan
Still a boggy path though……and now there were peat hags too
Eventually a good path contouring round Creag an Lochain was reached. I’d say the best bit of the walk for me, as it made its way along to the saddle just below A’Chioch and the final slog to the top of Meall nan Con.
- Ben Hee
- View to Assynt
- Panoramic shot to Creag an Lochain
- Ben Loyal
- Lone tree stump
Unfortunately clag was clinging to the summit and the final pull really was a slog, what with no views and all
Another cold and windy summit was eventually reached, but with no expectation of any break in the clag I was soon turning to go back down. Just off the summit and I met the only two other walkers on the hill. After a few words I left them to their final few yards to the top and I made easy work in descent of what had been an annoying slog in ascent
- An almost cloud free Meall nan Con
- Looking east
Rather than head back exactly the way I came I chose instead to go up and over Creag an Lochain, as it was looking pretty clear at the time.
Of course, by the time I was at the top the clag had rolled in again and so any views I might have enjoyed I clearly wasn’t going to
I also discovered that, with nae views it’s an easy place to become “temporarily misplaced” in clag
Eventually I managed to get myself back on track and it was a simple tramp over peat hag and bog back to Cnoc Sgriodain and the walk back out to the car.
- Ben Loyal
- Loyal again
- A still cloudy Kilbreck
All timed to perfection, as the rain started at just the point I arrived back. Just a few spits-n-spots initially, but within minutes of driving off it was stair rods
Luckily the couple I’d met were almost back at their car too by the time I pulled away
All in all a good wee hill this one, with great views across a wild and empty plain to the Bens of Loyal and Hope
