What's the story on Sail Mhor Eighe

[scottishkennyg]

I drove to Torridon with a rough plan of heading for the Corbett Ruadh-stac Beag and others. I set off from the visitor centre at 0730. Moon over Torridon.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
and followed the pony trail up to the shelter stone.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I turned south and followed the stream up to the south ridge of Ruaidh Stac Beag. I walked directly up the steep slopes to catch the summit plateau. The terrain was steep and I disturbed a few rocks which turned out not to be as solid as the felt.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I reached the cairn located at the North side at 1015.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
There were some quality views of the surrounding hills. Over to Ruadh Stac Mor
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
toward Beinn Eighe
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Cloud moving over BE NE ridge (route to follow)
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
North
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I headed off for lochan Uaine at the base of the Beinn Eighe North East Ridge. I refuelled and decided to head up on to the ridge. I kept to the west side and picked a route up the steep slopes.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
View back over to RSB
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr

Higher up I came to some steep rocks
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
which when climbed led to the apex of the ridge. (on ridge looking back)
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
There were no obvious signs of any paths up to this point or along the ridge.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I would not like to try to descend this ridge or the steep slopes in the wet.
A view over to Sgurr Ban
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I continued along the ridge and reached the 993m summit cairn of SCNC at 1145.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Again the views were great with some intermittent clouds.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Over to RSM
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I continued along the ridge to the trig point and then followed the obvious ridge line.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
The walk over to Ruadh Stac Mor was fine and much more enjoyable than the last time I had been up here.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I reached the summit cairn at 1310. Again the cloud cleared to reveal some great views back over the route just walked.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr

I continued back along the ridge, picked up my pack and had some lunch just along from the triple buttress.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I pushed on and headed right up to the cairn at the top of the ridge and convinced myself to head out to Sail Mor. I thought it would be a 45 minute journey but that was before I encountered the rocks. I reached the 976m cairn above the triple buttress as the dense clouds came in. I took a bearing and set off aver a narrow rocky ridge. A few moments later I could sense that there was nothing on the right hand side. The path had disappeared. I down climbed very carefully with some hands on scrambling. All the time I was thinking that this could not be right but the compass never lies!! Anyway I persevered and inched down until I reached safer ground. The clouds opened up and I could see where I had descended.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Last wee bit..
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Thankfully it was sound dry rock.
Anyway I proceeded along the ridge and the clouds lifted to highlight the route traversed..
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Near the summit there was a strange stone configuration on the ground just before the cairn.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Stones had also been set upright on the final approach to the cairn. I wondered what had been going on up here. As I sat on the summit at 1450 a wee deer appeared from the west onto the stone cairn area. It stared toward me then edged off down the East side.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
As I walked back along the ridge the clouds opened and I got a glimpse of Liathach and down into the Coire Dubh Mor.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I decided to descend into the glen to join the path back to the road. The descent was steep and made more tricky by the arrival of a heavy shower. I had to change route several times to avoid some exposed rocks and it seemed to take ages took ages to inch down.
A view back up..
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I caught the path and walked back to the main car park. Then it was the long road walk back to the car. A view back to Liathach.
. by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
After about an hour and 10 random cars passing by one driver stopped and offered a lift. Superb and big thanks to the gentleman from Glasgow who was up walking Alligan and staying in Gairloch. I got dropped off at the car park at 1830 thankfully saving at least an hour. And the added bonus was that Scotland held off for a 1-0 win too.

[Silverhill]

That looked like a fab trip. Very mysterious when the cloud sailed in.

[rockhopper]

Nice on kenny - sounded tough at times but worth it for the views early on - cheers

[litljortindan]

Great report and adventurous route. Reads like Slingsby!

[scottishkennyg]

That looked like a fab trip. Very mysterious when the cloud sailed in.

Thanks silverhill.you are spot on.the clouds create a special atmosphere..

[scottishkennyg]

Nice on kenny - sounded tough at times but worth it for the views early on - cheers

Cheers neil...i must have brought the clouds over here to portugal..

[scottishkennyg]

Great report and adventurous route. Reads like Slingsby!

Thanks litljortindan..

[AnnieMacD]

Oh, that's quite a route! Brave man to come straight down the south side of Sail Mor. Were you not tempted to go down Morrison's Gully?

The strange stone circle was there when I was up in August but the vertical stones weren't so they are new. As it's pretty rocky up there it may be to direct one to the cairn?

Really enjoyed your photos - the colours are certainly changing.

[scottishkennyg]

Oh, that's quite a route! Brave man to come straight down the south side of Sail Mor. Were you not tempted to go down Morrison's Gully?

The strange stone circle was there when I was up in August but the vertical stones weren't so they are new. As it's pretty rocky up there it may be to direct one to the cairn?

Really enjoyed your photos - the colours are certainly changing.

Cheers Annie, Morrisons gulley...that descent route rings a bell :crazy

[dogplodder]

There's something special about that last photo. That's some route too!

[Collaciotach]

Grand photos

[dawnfoth]

Wow! Wow! Wow! Your photos are superb!! Looks like a cracking walk you had. I think I might need to add that to my hit list

[scottishkennyg]

There's something special about that last photo. That's some route too!

Thanks dp..just wish I had walked back along road a bit to catch the hill with the red aura of the setting sun..maybe next time..

[scottishkennyg]

Grand photos

tapadh leat Colla

[scottishkennyg]

Wow! Wow! Wow! Your photos are superb!! Looks like a cracking walk you had. I think I might need to add that to my hit list

thanks Dawn.