Aultguish 2015 (Thurs) - hard graft on Groban & Beinn Bheag
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:43 pmThese two had first come to my attention last July when I spent a few days in the Garve/Ullapool area before heading back south to the now legendary Nethy Bridge meet. My first day in the area had seen me do the two western Fannichs on a foul day from the A832 between Braemore and Dundonnell, near the eastern end of Loch a'Bhraoin. I'd got some views west along the loch towards this pair of Grahams on the fringes of Fisherfield while on the ascent of the Druim Reidh before the clag set in good and proper, and I had made a mental note to put them firmly on the agenda. When I later studied the OS sheet in a bit more detail, I noted the presence of the nearby Corbett of Creag Rainich and, Brucey Bonus, the bothy at Lochivraon!
So, with the summer meet this year taking us to the Aultguish, and it being the summer holidays an' all, I decided to head up several days before the main gathering and get some solo stuff under my belt. The Loch a'Bhraoin Graham/Corbett trio was firmly on the agenda for the week, as was the prospect of an overnighter in the bothy.
As it turned out, having done a pretty hefty route the previous day, and given that the rain (never too far away in the summer of 2015!) had come on in earnest by the time I had got back to the car at Inverlael, I had skipped the idea of an evening walk in to the bothy and opted instead for a drive to Ullapool where I partook of a fish supper from the Seaforth and a couple of pints before putting one of the rear seats down and stretching out in the now rather chaotic and messy rear of the car.
When I awoke in the morning it was another stinker in Ullapool - rain on and cloud down below the rooftops, but by the time I had got myself organised and popped into Tesco for a few bits and bobs, the rain had gone off, the cloud lifted, and a watery sunshine taken its place. Things improved even further as I drove back south to Braemore Junction and onto the Dundonnell Road and by the time I pulled into the parking area just beyond the Right of Way to Kinlochewe, it was a most acceptable kind of day! As I got prepared and did my final checks, another car pulled in and a young couple and an older bloke got out. The young couple were dressed in running gear with rehydration packs on their backs and the older bloke was clearly just the chauffeur. As they posed for a photo, I heard him say to them to "pose as if you were Mallory and Irvine". Hmmmm - cheery thought on which to set of on a mountain marathon through the Fannichs!
The familiar gates leading to the boathouse, looking towards Meall a'Chrasgaidh and Sgurr nan Clach Geala
West along Loch a'Bhraoin with the twin Graham targets centre stage in the distance
Back to the boathouse
The walk along the loch side was a bit rough in places and in others it became very shingly as it crossed a couple of gravel beach sections.
One of several "beach" sections on the lochside track
About half way along I became aware of the noise of a boat engine behind me and was passed by the boat that had earlier been moored by the boathouse, speeding its way west up the loch. By the time I reached the far end of the loch the boat was puttering around with a few tourists on board and rods hanging overboard.
The boat is away from the boathouse
Lone foxglove
The boat takes up a fishing spot at the west end of the loch below the slopes of Groban
East back down the loch from the western end
Between the loch and the bothy I had to run the gauntlet of the local gang of heilan coos and once through them I reached the bothy where I had a good look around and pulled a chair up in the front garden where I enjoyed a leisurely lunch.
You keep an eye on the boat, I'll keep an eye on him!
Approaching Lochivraon
Lochivraon
The Bothy
Don't go upstairs!
A wonderful wee howff
Chilling in the garden!
Things got a bit boggy for a while after the bothy until the river crossing and the start of the ascent of Groban. It was a steep old haul up Groban but eventually the gradient eased off and the real virtue of lesser hills such as this became apparent, as Fisherfield, Slioch and Torridon spread out before me.
Crossing point
Loch a'Bhraoin from the ascent of Groban
Eastern Fisherfield from just below the summit of Groban - Sgurr Ban and Beinn a'Chlaidheimh with An Teallach peeking up on the right
Beinn a'Mhuinidh, Slioch and Lochan Fada, with Torridon in the distance
And again from the summit of Groban
Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Sgurr Ban, Beinn a'Chlaidheimh and An Teallach
Beinn Bheag nestling below the Fisherfield giants
The scale of the descent and reascent of Beinn Bheag now became obvious and I started to wonder about giving the Corbett a body swerve. The weather was also becoming less stable with regular showers blowing through from the north west. And there was also the fact that people would be starting to gather at the bunkhouse and I was keen to get in myself and get the beer in the fridge.
Creag Rainich bathed in sunshine
Loch an Nid and another shower rolling in
Groban from the ascent of Beinn Bheag
And again from the summit
I didn't linger unduly at the second summit of the day before dropping down towards Creag Rainich, which I had by now all but decided to leave for another time, before heading for home.
Not looking so clever on Rainich now
But then again.......
Even the wildlife finds it tough going around here!
Somewhere beyond this bogfest there are several cold beers and a bed in a bunkhouse with my name on it!
Moody shot back down the loch #1
Moody shot back down the loch #2
Groban and Beinn Bheag? It's like they were never there!
So, with the summer meet this year taking us to the Aultguish, and it being the summer holidays an' all, I decided to head up several days before the main gathering and get some solo stuff under my belt. The Loch a'Bhraoin Graham/Corbett trio was firmly on the agenda for the week, as was the prospect of an overnighter in the bothy.
As it turned out, having done a pretty hefty route the previous day, and given that the rain (never too far away in the summer of 2015!) had come on in earnest by the time I had got back to the car at Inverlael, I had skipped the idea of an evening walk in to the bothy and opted instead for a drive to Ullapool where I partook of a fish supper from the Seaforth and a couple of pints before putting one of the rear seats down and stretching out in the now rather chaotic and messy rear of the car.
When I awoke in the morning it was another stinker in Ullapool - rain on and cloud down below the rooftops, but by the time I had got myself organised and popped into Tesco for a few bits and bobs, the rain had gone off, the cloud lifted, and a watery sunshine taken its place. Things improved even further as I drove back south to Braemore Junction and onto the Dundonnell Road and by the time I pulled into the parking area just beyond the Right of Way to Kinlochewe, it was a most acceptable kind of day! As I got prepared and did my final checks, another car pulled in and a young couple and an older bloke got out. The young couple were dressed in running gear with rehydration packs on their backs and the older bloke was clearly just the chauffeur. As they posed for a photo, I heard him say to them to "pose as if you were Mallory and Irvine". Hmmmm - cheery thought on which to set of on a mountain marathon through the Fannichs!
The familiar gates leading to the boathouse, looking towards Meall a'Chrasgaidh and Sgurr nan Clach Geala
West along Loch a'Bhraoin with the twin Graham targets centre stage in the distance
Back to the boathouse
The walk along the loch side was a bit rough in places and in others it became very shingly as it crossed a couple of gravel beach sections.
One of several "beach" sections on the lochside track
About half way along I became aware of the noise of a boat engine behind me and was passed by the boat that had earlier been moored by the boathouse, speeding its way west up the loch. By the time I reached the far end of the loch the boat was puttering around with a few tourists on board and rods hanging overboard.
The boat is away from the boathouse
Lone foxglove
The boat takes up a fishing spot at the west end of the loch below the slopes of Groban
East back down the loch from the western end
Between the loch and the bothy I had to run the gauntlet of the local gang of heilan coos and once through them I reached the bothy where I had a good look around and pulled a chair up in the front garden where I enjoyed a leisurely lunch.
You keep an eye on the boat, I'll keep an eye on him!
Approaching Lochivraon
Lochivraon
The Bothy
Don't go upstairs!
A wonderful wee howff
Chilling in the garden!
Things got a bit boggy for a while after the bothy until the river crossing and the start of the ascent of Groban. It was a steep old haul up Groban but eventually the gradient eased off and the real virtue of lesser hills such as this became apparent, as Fisherfield, Slioch and Torridon spread out before me.
Crossing point
Loch a'Bhraoin from the ascent of Groban
Eastern Fisherfield from just below the summit of Groban - Sgurr Ban and Beinn a'Chlaidheimh with An Teallach peeking up on the right
Beinn a'Mhuinidh, Slioch and Lochan Fada, with Torridon in the distance
And again from the summit of Groban
Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Sgurr Ban, Beinn a'Chlaidheimh and An Teallach
Beinn Bheag nestling below the Fisherfield giants
The scale of the descent and reascent of Beinn Bheag now became obvious and I started to wonder about giving the Corbett a body swerve. The weather was also becoming less stable with regular showers blowing through from the north west. And there was also the fact that people would be starting to gather at the bunkhouse and I was keen to get in myself and get the beer in the fridge.
Creag Rainich bathed in sunshine
Loch an Nid and another shower rolling in
Groban from the ascent of Beinn Bheag
And again from the summit
I didn't linger unduly at the second summit of the day before dropping down towards Creag Rainich, which I had by now all but decided to leave for another time, before heading for home.
Not looking so clever on Rainich now
But then again.......
Even the wildlife finds it tough going around here!
Somewhere beyond this bogfest there are several cold beers and a bed in a bunkhouse with my name on it!
Moody shot back down the loch #1
Moody shot back down the loch #2
Groban and Beinn Bheag? It's like they were never there!
I like the way of your comments for some photos: "You keep an eye on the boat, I'll keep an eye on him! " 
