Drove over to Fort William, on Thursday after work with Laura and the dogs to stay at her sisters on Conaglen Estate. After much debating on hills to walk i opted for Stob Coire Sgriodain and Chno Dearg as they looked like the best in terms of lack of Snow covering on the way over, i also want the dogs to get more practice on the hills before introducing them to full on ridge walks with cornices etc.
- Waiting on the Corran Ferry, looks like it'll be a lovely day
Woke at 7 and got the 8.30 ferry at Corran and drove up to Fersit to the turning circle and parked the car. There were already 2 cars there and two others appeared as i was changing. Walked down the path signed for Corrour Station and passed a few houses and corssed the bridge then over the Railway line. Headed uphill towards the Farm passed an outhouse where the Farm Collie's stayed, they were barking and furious that outsiders were walking through 'their land'
My two ignored them and continued to pull me through the Farm and up to where the Metal Barns come into view. I saw the Farmer in the field to the right next to a wee hut so decided to cut up into the hill so as not to come into contact with him, read a few reports about him not being very receptive towards hill walkers. Dogs still on leads at this point. I had to squeeze through a gate as it was tied shut which was a nightmare with two eager Spaniels pulling me as they were needing to get going up the hill!! Must have looked ridiculous to the farmer but i consider it a win for me as he had the gate tied to stop people getting through but i sueezed in, hehe.
- Straight into the nearest water/mud the second they were off the leads
Headed uphill along the stream South towards the days first target Stob Coire Sgriodain.
- First target Sron na Garbh Bheinne ridge towards the first Munro
- Chno Dearg
I decided not to start the climb right away and instead followed the stream a bit more up and then cut over when i saw it was a bit easier to get up onto Sron na Garbh-Bheinne. I found this climb up quite tiring due to the heat, but the thought of the views at the summit pushed me onwards, plus the dogs rush on ahead so it makes me go slightly quicker than i might otherwise go.
- Climbing up onto Sron na Garbh-Bheinne
Reached the ridge and got a peak of the stunning views that were to come. I followed the ridge and saw the Summit and noticed a couple of guys there already and their Collie, got up top sweating and knackered and the views were stunning
- Roy and Lochy South of the Summit and me on the Summit taking photo
- Looking South along Loch Treig into Glencoe
- West to the Easains
I got talking to the two guys at the summit and it was a father and son combo, the son was only 13 years of age and he's done 80 odd Munros already, well done Mountainboy12
They took off at a steady pace and i stayed on the summit for another five minutes to take in the scenery myself which was superb. I then set off South and followed the ridge round to the East towards Chno Dearg.- Dogs enjoying the snow that still lay in the hollows round towards Chno Dearg
I met the father and son again on the way round but i was out of puff so they carried on to the summit and i took a breather and then met them up at the summit again. If i thought the views on Stob Coire Sgriodain were good then the top of Chno Dearg blew my mind, that extra 67 meters must have made a fair difference as we could now see the 'Ben' and all the way to Schiehallion! This is why you put yourself through the pain of getting to these summits!!
- Ben Nevis in the distance (Middle)
- Aonach Eagach and Bidean nam Bian
- Schiehallion in the distance (zoomed in)
Spoke to another couple of lone walkers on the summit and had a coffee and then took off down from Chno Dearg on the snow. This proved really quick as the snow was soft enough that you did not slip but hard enough that you did not sink in too far so made really good time. Almost running some sections.
- Dogs loving the Yomp off Chno Dearg
- Looking back up towards Chno Dearg, lovely day for it
Headed towards the farm road and joined it further East than i set off from it. Retraced my route back to the car park with a stop in the river beside Fersit to dook the dogs in as they were sodden with mud as route was quite boggy with snow melt. Glad to be back at the car as was still harbouring plans of getting back to Conaglen to pick up Laura to then head to our accomodation in Aviemore and drop the stuff off and head to Inverness to see the Dons but a mishap on the estate involving Laura and a barb wire fence meant we spent 3 hours in Fort William A&E with a deep cut to her leg, ah well we can't get everything, lifes Chno Joke you know
