Beinn Sgulaird

[JimboJim]

Time for the hills again. Holidays are good! Unfortunately, weather isn't always the same, however seemed to be possibility of decent day, so time to head for Loch Creran, where good views are to be had - "on a clear day!" As luck would have it rain started to spit, as I got my boots on.
Ach, well, not coming all this way without having a bit of a walk, so I headed up the track behind Druimavuic. After about quarter of a mile it emerges from forest on to open hill. It is evident there has been recent work done on this road, so I wasn't too sure whether the cairn to head on to the ridge would still be evident, but spotted it ok about 20 minutes in. I thought I would head up as far as the big, conspicuous boulder and see how it looked from there, as wet and wind increased, in showery fashion.
From the top here (488m) could just about make out top of Meall Garbh, so headed down off the surprisingly craggy cliff, into the bealach, where one crosses a fence and then climbs steeply, back onto the ridge heading due east.
At times I was able to get a peak at the views to Loch Creran, Cruachan and beyond, though cloud and rain still came and went, leaving doubt as to whether I should head for the summit. (Might as well take a picture while possible, I thought. Well, it would have been possible if only some idiot had put batteries in his camera!) Beinn Sgulaird, however tempts one onwards, as another rise is cleared, only to find another, but eventually made it to the summit of Meall Garbh, in about an hour and three quarters. From here I could just about make out the summit although I near decided not to go for it as a thick bank of cloud rose up the hill to meet me, but seemed to split itself either side of the ridge and move on without actually getting as high as me.
As the sky brightened, the mood became more positive, though as described, the onward hike to the top, is deceptively hard going, up and down rough boulders, rock and scree, however made it to summit in 2hrs 15. Pondered about taking route off towards Glen Ure, but much though I didn't fancy return by same approach, I'm not one for getting too smart yet, either, so it was 'about turn.'
The hike back was fairly uneventful, though I did bump into a woman running up to Meall Garbh - "I only run on the flat bits," she said! I chose to take the southward descent, down the grassy slopes, to the road which continues up Coire Buidhe. Again, I saw a cyclist heading up there, which must be a brute of a climb, no matter how fit you are.
Made it back to the car in four and three quarter hours, glad I persisted through the showers and intent of a return on a better day for photo's of those views, but then again ........?
(Forgive pathetic mobile shots.)