View along Loch Quoich from the road on the way up

Next morning it was a quick drive up to Glen Elchaig for the three Corbetts that run in a line behind the Glen Shiel Munros. I'd already done Coinntich and Faochaig but needed to repeat them with Allison - Aonach Bhidhe was new ground for us both. I had swithered whether to try and do this walk in a day with light packs, or to do the hills and camp somewhere by Iron Lodge - given the forecast for winds of 50mph into our faces the latter was selected. If it had been earlier in the season I might have walked in along the Iron Lodge track on the Friday night and do the hills in reverse, but with the dark nights coming in this wasn't an option. We donned waterproofs on leaving the car and I realised that I'd left my poles in the boot of the Mazda after Monday's nip up Ben Lawers - D'oh

The road passes the schoolbuilding in Killilan and follows the river up to the Black Tongue where we crossed the stream watched by about 50 sheep from up on the track. I remembered the pull up grassy slopes onto Sguman Coinntich from last time. As we reached the ridge top the wind became stronger - 70kph at this point. Picking our way through the crags we reached the trig point and needed to hold on for balance against the force of the wind. Windchill was down to below zero, so another layer of clothing was applied before leaving the summit and heading down the long spine towards Sron na Gaoithe (aptly named - the windspeed here had picked up to 90kph). I got a bit disorientated in the rain as to where our next destination was but Allison kept me right. There's only about a 200m re-ascent to the top of Faochaig which was much appreciated in the conditions, and we made it up to the cairn.
Up onto the Black Tongue

Onto the ridge towards Sguman Coinntich




The way ahead

Looking back at Sguman Coinntich

Faochaig summit

The next section had me a little worried - the descent to the NE to join the stalkers' path looked a bit steep, but it was fair enough with a bit of care and we were soon on the track which wove its was down the hillside. There are craggy sections to the east of the mountain - best avoided! The track joins with the main track heading north towards the bothy at Maol Bhuidhe - we turned south along it for a short distance before turning up the steep grassy side of Aonach Buidhe. Unlike its predecessor this needed a re-ascent of 450m. As we gained height the clag came down which was disappointing as I'd wanted to look across to the Mullardoch hills from the top. We made it to the cairn and turned to head down the SW shoulder making for Iron Lodge. The ground was rather boggy and the last 200m was damned steep. Not good without poles

Towards Aonach Buidhe

Crags coming off Faochaig

Aonach Buidhe - we ascended where the line of the old wall goes up

Nearing the top

Carn na Breabaig

Cairn, Aonach Buidhe

A wet weasel

Looking towards Loch na Leitreach

Steep final descent

The views along Loch na Leitreach brought the eye to the impressive pocket battleship of Carnan Cruithneachd - it may only be a Graham but has ideas above its station! I remember climbing it from the west a couple of summers ago and finding it one of the steepest craggy climbs I'd done.
Carnan Cruithneachd at the top of the Loch

Faochaig


Having reached the track again we cast around for a spot to pitch on. The wind - which had blasted us all day - now dropped to nothing and clouds of voracious midges rose all around us. Typical! We found a suitable spot by the Allt na Doire Ghairbhe and put the tent up double quick, inhaling midges in the process. A scurry inside was needed, and we watched them through the vent on the lee side of the tent looking for all the world like clouds of smoke billowing up from the ground. I can't imagine how many millions there were, but it was quite terrifying - we just prayed there would be wind in the morning when we had to pack up again


There was little wind overnight and it was hard to tell whether it was raining at times or if it was just a multitude of midge bodies rattling in frustration against the tent. Breakfast featured porridge with a hint of midge, but our prayers were answered with enough breeze when we dissembled the tent to avoid most of the menace. We set off along the track - 12km back to the car. We met a group of half a dozen older walkers on cycles off to do Faochaig and Buidhe.





It was just gone 10 when we made it back to the car. Allison was in significant pain from many sources, I wasn't feeling that great either. However it was dry and there was the possibility of blue sky ahead. Too early to set off home, what could we do? I had 2 Tops on The Saddle, but that was quite a long day - an easier alternative was Sgurr a'Mhaoraich Beag. Decided, I drove along to Loch Quoich and we arrived at the start of the walk just after midday. I had no lunch packed, so devoured a tin of grapefruit segments and some tortilla chips. Allison had (wisely) decided that her aches and pains precluded any further hillwalking today so I set off myself up the main track up the shoulder of Bac an Canaichean - easy going on a good path. Passed a couple of guys coming down off Sgurr choire nan Eiricheallach then nipped along the ridge towards Sgurr a'Mhaoraich. The views to Ben Aden/Sgurr na Ciche and eastwards over Kintail were gorgeous. As I climbed to the top of Mhaoraich the vista included Loch Hourn and Ladhar Bheinn - I reminisced about sleeping out on the top of that great mountain last weekend.

Sgurr a'Mhaoraich (with Beag to the left)

Garich

Dessary Hills

Kintail hills

Towards the summit

The route I've walked

Loch Hourn

Munro Summit

The Top of Sgurr a'Mhaoraich Beag is a diminutive grassy rise off to the SW of the main summit. Easy going - half an hour there and back. It looked quite a nice shoulder to go down, and I might have done this if I hadn't left Allison waiting in the car - my "short cuts" usually turn out to be anything but

Beag

Ladhar Bheinn

Main Summit from the Top

11 to go!

Loch Hourn again

Loch Quoich & Garich

Rain coming in

