A working-life passed, a few more Munros got done (mostly in Wester Ross), eventually I learned how to pronounce "An Teallach" correctly, and finally an opportunity arose to do the hill again with my nephew Euan. We chose to start again from Dundonnell largely because my right knee was feeling a bit dodgy so that we could bale after the two summits if needs be. We left one car at Corrie Hallie, and the other at the Dundonnell car-park and were on up the hill by 09.15.
The climb up Meall Garbh is steepish but eventually the gradient eases into pleasant walking on the way up the Coire a' Mhuilinn to the intermediate summit at Sron a' Choire.
- Looking back from Meall Garbh over Little Loch Broom to Badralloch and Beinn Ghobhlach.
- The conical symmetry of Glas Mheall Mor.
- The long trudge up Coire a Mhuilinn towards Sron a Choire
- Final stage of the ascent up the shoulder of Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill with Ghlas Mheall Liath in the background.
I wasn't recording times so I can only estimate that the ascent from Dundonnell to the trig-point at Bidean a'Ghlas Thuill took somewhere between two and a half to three hours. This included many stops for photos and a snack at Sron a' Choire. On a good day such as this, the views are simply stunning ...
- Euan squeezing the last few feet of ascent out of the trig point.
- Looking over to Sgurr Fiona and the main ridge from Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill.
- Ghlas Mheall Liath stretching east from the main massif.
- One of the truly spectacular views in the north-west highlands. The track up to Sgurr Fiona is just about visible.
There's a choice of tracks over to the next summit at Sgurr Fiona: right on the edge, close to the edge, and dead-safe. Although steepish, on a windless day the tracks nearest the edge give fantastic views down into the corrie and Loch Toll an Lochain.
- The best swimming pool in Wester Ross? Loch Toll an Lochain.
The final stages of the climb up to Sgurr Fiona were steep enough to require the occasional use of hands, so the poles had to be stashed. The walk over from the Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill summit to Sgurr Fiona took somewhere in the region of fifty minutes, but this included many stops to be awe-struck.
- Looking back to Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill from Sgurr Fiona.
- Looking on from Sgurr Fiona towards Lord Berkeley's Seat and Corrag Bhuidhe.
After the usual summit rituals we headed off but stopped in our tracks when we realised that Lord Berkeley's Seat was actually occupied. The guy was down by the time we got over there. "How was it?", we asked. "Warm", he smiled, "are you going to try it?". The debate was short. Thanks - but no thanks.
- Lord Berkeley's Seat. Thanks ... but no thanks.
I've done a little scrambling and even an enjoyable stint with Euan on a climbing wall, but I know my limits and so a suitable by-pass path was sought round the base of Corrag Bhuidhe. It was steep and despite the near perfect weather, you could be caught off-guard by the occasional strong thermals rising from the corrie below.
- The view up Glen na Muice and Fisherfield.
- The path continues on its way towards Sail Liath. Fannichs in the background.
- The Beinn Deargs: Mor on the left and Bheag on the right.
Finally it was time for lunch and a spot of contemplation.
- Euan suitably impressed.
- Contemplation ...
One of the memories I had of my youthful trips was of a large boulder wedged improbably within a narrow cleft in the cliffs. It was still there, and Euan saw an opportunity to garner some brownie points. "Ok", I said, "I'll take the photo and then you're out of there!".
- Look - no hands!
On the way over to Sail Liath we came across these rocks sculpted presumably over centuries by the Scottish weather. There are similar features on Ben More Coigach to the north.
- The "Old Men" of An Teallach.
- Look carefully - the rock appears to be smiling.
Finally we were on Sail Liath. I don't have a panorama feature on my ancient camera so these two shots looking back at ridge are the best I can do.
Needless to say, we could have stayed up there all day, but we were expected back at base and so finally we had to drag ourselves away. The descent off Sail Liath had to be taken carefully. Legs were tired by that stage and the going was rough, but we made it down with nothing more than a grazed shin when my right leg slid through a clump of heather and under a boulder. Could have been nasty, but thankfully wasn't.
- The junction of the Sail Liath and Shenavall paths. Downhill all the way from here to Corrie Hallie.
This day will live long in the memory and I was glad to be able to introduce Euan to the hill. A fortnight later and back in Embra, I realised that I'd got "the bug" rather more seriously than I had thought. And so onwards and upwards as they say ...
