A round of Six
Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2015 7:00 pmFrom the campsite at Strawberry cottage I hopped on the bike to the start of the walk, the stalkers path up to Bealach Coire Ghaidheil. It was an early start, 4.30am as the local ghillie decided to start work near the bothy at 3.30am and it was his quad bike roaring up the glen that woke me up. Up to the first Munro nice and early meant I was on the summit for 7am. But I was not the first as two intrepid campers were there all night.
It was then on to the next two, Carn Eighe and Beinn Fhionnlaidh. The weather remained warm, calm and sunny. By 11.30am I was off the final summit and heading south west into Gleann Choilien. On the 1:25000 map two huge gullies descend west off the slopes of Carn Eighe and Mam Sodhail, it was my intention to cross one and avoid the other. Following a deer track the first gully was easily crossed and then I headed sharply down to the track in the glen to avoid the other.
After a long stop for lunch at the river I forded it then ascended the grassy slopes to the fourth Munro Mullach na Dheiragain. That slope, in the heat, and just after my ample lunch was a real killer. A protein bar helped me out and I reached the summit for 2pm.
The best part of the day was the long ridge walk over the Munro Top to the fifth Munro Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan. It was so enjoyable in the warm afternoon but certainly a long slog up to the summit. It was 5pm and now for the long ridge walk over many tops for An Socach. In the evening sun it did get cooler but still lovely as I finally reached the sixth Munro of the day at 6.300pm. It was another couple of hours down the slope to where I left the bike and back to the campsite.
It was only when I reached the tent that I felt totally exhausted but glad to have done all remaining Munros in Glen Affric in one day while the sun shone.
It was then on to the next two, Carn Eighe and Beinn Fhionnlaidh. The weather remained warm, calm and sunny. By 11.30am I was off the final summit and heading south west into Gleann Choilien. On the 1:25000 map two huge gullies descend west off the slopes of Carn Eighe and Mam Sodhail, it was my intention to cross one and avoid the other. Following a deer track the first gully was easily crossed and then I headed sharply down to the track in the glen to avoid the other.
After a long stop for lunch at the river I forded it then ascended the grassy slopes to the fourth Munro Mullach na Dheiragain. That slope, in the heat, and just after my ample lunch was a real killer. A protein bar helped me out and I reached the summit for 2pm.
The best part of the day was the long ridge walk over the Munro Top to the fifth Munro Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan. It was so enjoyable in the warm afternoon but certainly a long slog up to the summit. It was 5pm and now for the long ridge walk over many tops for An Socach. In the evening sun it did get cooler but still lovely as I finally reached the sixth Munro of the day at 6.300pm. It was another couple of hours down the slope to where I left the bike and back to the campsite.
It was only when I reached the tent that I felt totally exhausted but glad to have done all remaining Munros in Glen Affric in one day while the sun shone.