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Walkers: Nev, Neill, Martin, Dan
This was meant to be the Glen Strathfarrar Munros, but we felt it was simply not a viable proposition to get around in 9 hours (ish) and get out of the estate by 8.00 pm. Maybe next year.
Neill and I had long wanted to do Seana Bhraigh. Not under the pressure of time; on good paths all the way (we thought); with only 1100m of ascent; we felt that his was do-able given our ‘steady’ pace.
Suitably covered in Autan we started. Was raining so started in full waterproofs which were soon shed as it stopped raining about 0.5 km up the forestry track. Then up the zig-zags, onto and over Druim na Siobhaide to follow Allt Gleann á Mhadaidh. Neill, huffing and puffing a bit, but otherwise all OK.
From there followed the excellent stalkers’ path towards Coire an Lochain Sgeirich and first lunch, or second breakfast (take your choice) at the first of the little lochans – lovely spot and no midges despite the calm, humid conditions.
On to the plateau. Deciding when to turn N-NE away from the cairned path (running roughly W – E) would definitely be a problem in poor conditions. The path now all but disappears – footprints only obvious when the way forward is dictated by the ground. We reached the Gate of Ca’-derg (appropriately Middle Earth – expected to see Gollum pop up and show us the way). I could see the look of disbelief on faces.
Is it still that bloody far away!
Definitely not a question and to add to the collective woe we had to lose quite a bit of height. This is definitely the least best bit of the walk; descending (and don’t forget the re-ascent on the way back) the steepish ground to the rim at the head of Gleann á Chadha Dheirg.
A path can now be clearly (ish) seen. It was then a steady rise towards Seana Bhraigh and second lunch. But what views! The pics don’t do it justice. Truly in the middle of UK nowhere.
Met a couple from Yorkshire (judging from the accents) on the top – they had cycled up Strath Mulzie and ascended from the N. We would see them again on Wednesday.
After a sumptuous lunch we headed back knowing what lay before us – always a problem on walks like this. However, most was down hill apart from the ascent to the Gate of Ca’-derg.
It had taken us around 6 hours to get there and 4½ to get back (including 45 mins for rests,food and pics), by which time we were fairly cream-crackered. By unanimous vote it was fish & chips at The Chippy in Ullapool, washed down by pints of AnTeallach (orange juice + water for me - driving) from the Seaforth. Heaven on earth.
Now just had the drive back to Beauly.
A long, but great day and a major achievement for the Essex and Suffolk boys (misnomer for 3 out of the 4). How would we feel tomorrow?
