AnnieMacD wrote:A superb read - while the rain is battering on the window and the temperature outside is 7 degrees! Fantastic photos to document your trip.
Great that you had such a wonderful day on Beinn Eighe - it's such a fantastic hill. In case you are interested I descended Morrison's Gully in summer conditions - here is the walk report -
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=45124. I would not recommend it!
I'm intending to do Beinn an Eoin this year. Would you recommend your descent route as a good ascent? I would quite like to try it and then walk the ridge westwards and descend on the usual WH ascent route.
What are you planning for next year?
7 Degrees? Now thats cold. I just came home from 2 days at the Baltic sea and we had a warm 26 degrees. Such a contrast to Scotland. I had read your report about Morrisons Gully way back in August last year and was impressed by the steepness of the gully. Must have been dangerous to climb down there right in the middle of nowhere. Respect for this trip. We never even considered climbing down the gully mostly because of your report.
Regarding your question about an ascent route to Beinn an Eoin: I would not recommend it to anyone without experience in walking over pathless terrain. But when I consider your experience in your scramble down the gully I'd say you will manage the long walk from Talladale to Beinn an Eoin. It took us 2h 30min from the summit to our car in Talladale and we paused for at least 15min at the waterfall. The ascent will take a bit longer though. There are a few difficulties with this route:
- it is a pathless route and the ground is in places quite boggy and in others places you'll find high heather which can make going a bit difficult in places especially lower down near Talladale
- near the gorge you'll find a few gullies that you'll have to cross. It's nothing serious just a few meters down and up again.
- There is a new fence in place around the Old Mill Highland Lodge that prevents access to the area south of the lodge on the left hand side of the gorge from the road. The fence isnt on the OS50 or OS25 maps. but there is a gate behind the lodge close to the burn Allt a Choire Sliabh. Once you are on the other side its just following the fence, and climbing up the slope south of the lodge. Dont try to do this close to the gorge, because its very steep there. Maybe just have a look at our GPS track, it shows a possible route.
- The ascent up Beinn an Eoin is probably the easiest if you follow the burn Allt a Chaoruinn from the Talladale waterfall (you must see this, its impressive) all the way up to the northern end of the ridge. from there its an easy walk. We descended further south and although it was manageable it was steep in places.
- Do not consider crossing the Talladale river, its too wide and/or deep.
Whatever you decide, have fun on your trip to Beinn an Eoin. Its a nice corbett with a great view.
Our plans for next year? So far we have no idea. While I favour the places with lots of summits and ridge walks my mate favours the remote places with no roads or buildings for miles. So my favourite area would be the Mamores or Glen Etive.
All the best,
Stephan