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We originally set out to do this circuit in January but a puncture on the way turned complicated so we ended up without a car for 6 days
Life intervened and it was 5 weeks later that we make our second attempt to visit the Shenavall Bothy. As we are planning to do at least part of the Cape Wrath Trail later this year the trip was also a bit of a reccy for that adventure.
We're not known for early starts – unless backpacking - so we left Corrie Hallie about 10:45, crossed the road and within minutes had snow capped An Teallach peeping over the moor at us.
We did the circuit in and anti-clockwise direction, heading over the lower slopes of Sail Lath for the Shenavall Bothy first. There are advantages doing it this way round, once up onto moor above the path to Kinlochewe the views are just stunning. The whole panorama was beyond any photos I could take, the snow capped mountains surrounding the moorland plateau must be one of the most beautiful sights I've seen in our amazingly beautiful country – it almost brings tears to the eyes just thinking about it!! The pics below only give a hint of the beauty I'm afraid.
Looking southwest - Beinn a'Chiadheimh on the left, Sail Laith on the right.
Looking south towards Kinlochewe.
Sail Laith, and a sharp cornice.
An Teallach being coy in the mist.
Sail Laith and An Teallach
The Fanniachs.
Beinn Eighe in the distance.
Zoom to An Teallach
(The other big advantage of doing it in this direction is we got to walk down the path by the Alt a Chiaiginn, it will be a steep start to the day coming up from the bothy with a big pack.)
Although the north of Scotland has avoided the extreme weather that has plagued places further south, over the last few weeks we've had more rain, snow and rising temperatures – so a path known for its boggieness had winter rain and snowmelt to add to the normal standing water – resulting in a the path that was like a burn running through a bog – difficult to spot in all that wetness!!
No fording a stream here - straight for the bridge
Reflections on a path.
Even the dry bits were wet.
The only consolation were where the path crossed stone slabs and some kind person / people had pointed the way with cairns.
Roger in search of a (dry) path.
The Shenavall Bothy dwarfed by Beinn Dearg Mor
We met a group having lunch in the sunshine outside the bothy, they were doing the circuit in the opposite direction to us.
They confirmed that the 2 black animals we'd spotted on the path ahead of us going down to the bothy weren't their dogs – they only had one – but feral goats. Our dogs hadn't showed the slightest interest.
After lunch by the bothy and more photos
the trip description is correct Beinn Dearg Mor is magnificent
we set off along Strath na Sealga next to the river Abhainn Strath na Sealga. The river looked benign that afternoon, but you can see from the photos that it creates plenty of space and depth for itself in spate.
The path soon passed the 2 cottages at Achneigie
Complete with an old stove
From here on the path got wider and firmer and soon we had beautiful views back along the Strath na Sealga,
Storm damage.
Route to Kinlochewe.
Farewell look at Beinn Dearg Mor
A lovely walk – just proves that a relatively gentle trip can be really rewarding.
