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The route of 7 started innocently with the decision to take the train to Corrour and climb Sgor Gaibhre and
Carn Dearg. Having checked the map I thought it would make sense to make a 2 day trip out of it and add Beinn Bheoil and Ben Alder for a relaxing weekend of not too much walking...So far so good until the epic trip 3 weeks ago which left with 3 Munros on the other side. Sitting down I did my calculation and my planned relaxing trip turned out into a monster walk of 52 km - gulp.
I stayed at Inverarnan Campsite the night before and having to listen to a couples drunken argument right until midnight, reminded me why didn't like that particular campsite anymore...too many people were out to get drunk and did not cared if they kept others awake. With murderous thoughts in my head...
should I drive my car next to their tent at 6 am and beep my horn, or should I take all the pegs out,
I fell asleep until my alarm woke me up just before 6am.
The campsite was covered in low early morning mist and I was the only person awake. Even though the thought of revenge was still in my head, I let them sleep, had a shower, packed my gear and re-packed my backpack for the upcoming trip. A short 10 min car journey later I arrived at Crianlarich train station and waited for the train to Corrour at 7:46am.
At the train station
The train journey wasn't as lovely as I had hoped for, as low mist covered most of the countryside, but the seats in the sleeper train were mega comfy.
I arrived with a bunch of other hill walkers and we were soon spreading out in different directions. My path lead me along side Loch Ossian. The mist was still low and covered the hills around me and I particularly loved the trees on the wee islands on the loch.
Loch Ossian in the early morning mist
Lovely
Close to the end of the loch lovely Rhododendron bushes lines the path and mushrooms the size of my outstretched hand covered the forest floor. By the time I reached the first houses, I made my way up a track and promptly took the wrong turn out of the forest.
Luckily my instincts kicked in as soon as I left the forest and checking my map and GPS I realized my mistake and made my way around the forest to catch the right path again.
The easy path
The huge mushroom
Another close up
Back on track I continued the track which had turned into a huge construction path. Not the prettiest sight and when a temporary sign told me that hill walkers should leave the construction path now, I was glad to step on wild moorland.
I have seen nicer paths!
The ground was boggy, covered in heather and peat hags, but right next to Allt Feith a Mheallain was a faith deer track which made the long walk up the hill a wee bit easier. The weather had improved slightly since the morning, but the visibility was pretty poor.
Allt Feith a Mheallain
On the way to the top- pretty featureless
Having a rest
I reached the first top of Beinn Eibhinn and after a short break made my way to the summit. At the top I met another hill walker who had made his way from the A 86 and chatting away, we made our way towards Aonach Beag. Somehow I had not expected the drop in height (should have paid more attention to the map) but closer to hand it wasn’t that bad and we were soon standing on top of Aonach Beag.
The first top of Beinn Eibhinn, looking back towards Loch Ossian
Towards the west
The top
The first cairn
Panoramic views
The second cairn on Beinn Eibhinn, looking towards Aonach Beag and Geal-charn
Me on Beinn Eibhinn
Summit of Aonach Beag
Saying our good byes, I walked on and was over the moon when I finally reached Geal-charn. It meant that I had completed the missing Munros from 3 weeks ago. Looking around Beinn Bheoil was not in sight yet and so I walked along the flat top towards the Munro I climbed before. It looked so far away!
Towards Geal-charn
On the way
Geal-charn summit
Yeah!
Time to move with Carn Dearg in the distance
Loch Coire Cheap
Snow heart
When I reached the edge of the mountain Loch an Sgoir came into view and with it Beinn Bheoil in the far distance. Climbing down the rocks, I made my way all the way down to the shore of the loch and briefly considered to camp at the shore. Luckily the last midges of the season soon managed to change my mind and pushed me on. Walking along the loch I started to feel the first aches of the day. I was glad when I found an old stalkers path I was able to follow. Originally I had planned to cut across the hill site much earlier, but the easy path made me change my plans in order to made the walk easier.
Loch an Sgoir
Panoramic views
The loch
Beinn Bheoil in the far distance
The path which would lead to Culra bothy , looking towards Ben Alder
Pretty impressive mountain shapes
Walking along I finally saw some people again, who I guessed were on the way to Culra bothy. A tempting thought, but I knew that I had to reach the next Munro if I was to make my train the next day. Pushing myself onwards, I could feel the strain of the day, the pain I had felt in my shoulders from carrying the heavy backpack, had changed into a stabbing pain between my neck and shoulder blade. Tired I pushed on and when I finally reached the lower slopes of Beinn Bheoil, I was done in. I sat down and checked the map. Should I just camp and climb up to the summit during the next day? It was a battle with myself and I am still not sure how I managed to convince myself to move on after 9.5hours walking.
Should I stay , or should I go?
Getting up I shouldered my backpack and made my way up to the top. Never I had walked slower, but eventually after another hour I reached the summit. Knackered I took a quick photo and looked down towards the loch...my planned campsite was near.
The summit of Beinn Bheoil comes into view
Looking down towards the loch
The summit
Climbing down the slopes, I could hear the first stag roar of the year and by the time I reached a flat area next to the burn, I collapsed .. 11h can take their toll.
Setting up my tent I had a quick wash and made dinner in the approaching darkness. Listening to the orchestra of animal noises around me, of which most of them I did not recognise, the pains of the day slowly faded away. After a yummy dinner of paste, puréed tomato soup and meatballs it was time to go to sleep.
Dinner time
My alarm woke me at 7am and looking around, low mist covered the hills around me. I got dressed and cursed myself for forgetting tea bags, as muesli bars washed down with water from the burn, wasn't a great breakfast.
Packing my gear up afterwards, I looked up towards the bealach. Time to make a move.
Leaving my campsite
The walk up was a gentle warm up and by the time I reached the top of the bealach I saw 2 people stepping out of their tents. Mist surrounded Sron Bealach Beithe and it was time for the first climb of the day. Soon I was deep in the clag and while climbing higher and higher, I lost all sense of direction. Stopping I switched on my GPS and got my bearings. As I wanted to save battery power, I switched it off again and climbed further towards the top. Walking along I kept a look out for the edge I was supposed to walk alongside. I guessed as long as I was walking uphill I was fine. I reached a flattish area and still walking ahead I felt ok, until I started walking downhill again.
Confused I stopped. I was so sure that I was walking towards the right direction, but following my instincts soon turned out completely wrong.
Switching my GPS back on I realized that I had walked towards the completely wrong direction. Really confused I turned around and fair enough a short distance later, I suddenly reached the cliff and soon after the summit of Ben Alder.
The gentle walk up, looking back
The climb up Ben Alder
The 2 other tents
Ben Alder cairn
With still no visibility I did not linger, but was happy that I had reached Munro No 5..only two to go. My planned route followed a pretty straight line and I switched to my compass. Taking a bearing I walked into the mist and yet again was glad that I had both GPS and compass...without I would probably still be walking aimlessly along the top.
I was glad when about an hour later I was on a downhill path again and was able to leave the clag. Beinn a Chumhainn was right ahead of me , but I was not sure if I should follow my planned route straight up to the top.
Beinn a Chumhainn , should I climb it or walk around it?
The path won...a walk around
By the time I reached a proper path at the bottom, I changed my mind. Walking around the mountain would save a few vertical meters and after the boggy downhill walk I just completed, I was happy for any kind of dry ground. Cheerful I walked on, but too soon I had to leave the path again and was back on pathless uphill ground.
Netherless it had been a great choice, as I did not had to climb too much and the ground was pretty much bog free in comparison to the valley I could see below. The walk alongside Beinn a Chumhainn was easy, but in the distance Meall a Bhealaich just did not seem to get any closer.
Leaving the path and back to the pathless walk
Meall a Bhealaich
Sgor Choinnich with Sgor Gaibhre behind
I walked for a good hour until I reached the top and saw Sgor Choinnich rising high above me. So many hills to climb and non was a Munro or even Corbett.
Grumpily I looked at the map, but there was no easy way around it. I would have to climb it and climb down on the other site in order to climb the Munro Sgor Gaibhre.
Deciding that there is nothing more frustration than climbing hills up and down, you don't really want to climb, I made my way up. The top of Sgor Choinnich was covered in clag and slowly the aches and pains from the previous day returned. Not stopping I made my way down on the other site, to finally being able to climb the summit of Sgor Gaibhre.
On the way to the top of Sgor Choinnich
Sgor Choinnich summit
Finally the summit of Sgor Gaibhre
The views were non existing and feeling pretty annoyed, I checked the time. 4h had passed since I left the summit of Ben Alder and as a rewards I got clag. Sitting down for something to eat and drink, the cold crept into my bones and knowing the final Munro was close I climbed down. In comparison of the huge distance I had walked, Carn Dearg looked so close. The walk across Mam Ban was easy and passed in a blur. When after 45 min the final summit of the day came into view I was so relieved…I had done it.
Walking towards the summit I gave it I hug and collapsed next to it. Time for a loong break.
The easy walk towards Carn Dearg
Views back towards Loch Ossian
The final summit of the day
My time management had bee spot on and I was now left with 3.5 hours before the train was leaving. I stayed for quite some time, but when I finally got going again my feet and legs were agony. To pass time on my way down, I did a 'whats not sore' check of my different body parts. I was left with top of my feet
and my torso. Everything else was in different stages of constant pain.
The long walk back
Loch Ossian is coming into view
The stuff I walked on
It took me ages to walk back and the closer I got to the train station, the slower I got. I was officially fed up with walking, fed up with bog and fed up with pretty much everything else.
When I reached the wee waiting room at the train station, I threw by backpack off my shoulders, took my shoes off and laid flat on the uncomfortable benches. I considered going into the restaurant, but wasn’t sure how appreciate they would be if I would lay down on the carpet.
One hour later the train finally arrived and sitting in the train and looking at the countryside I wished I could have been more cheerful, but exhaustion and tiredness had taken over.
Loch Ossian
The train station
At the tracks
Towards the other direction
I had had more cheerful days up hills, but that one will go down as a test of character and true hardship in which I managed to beat my own demons.
