In the late nineteen nineties I spent a few festive breaks in Aultbea and Beinn Airigh Charr was on a list of possible destinations from there but other hills won out because of their closer proximity to the road and/or grander reputations. Still, its distinctive western aspect stuck in my head and it had been rattling around in there since.
So I suppose the way things might work is that this hill destination rolled around in there (my head) until, eventually, there was the right combination of circumstances.
Whatever, the weather forecast was good and I have more time for walking these days so let's do it!
A pre dawn start saw steady progress south east from Poolewe -easy walking on a road until the cairn that marks the start of the boggy shortcut east which, in retrospect, isn't really worth it in damp conditions. Really pleasant woodland walking with the tumbling rapidy river nearby up to this point.
A splash of sunrise pink coloured the sky now and all my usual doubts about the wisdom of a longish walk were dissolving. Even the boggy shortcut could not dampen my enthusiasm. Howvever, the grass was pretty wet, I don't wear gaiiters and my waterproof trousers were in the car so I did get a wee bit of cold, wet lower leg for a while. Never mind, travel light is my motto these days and to hell with the cold. Ignore it, that's what I say!
So where were we? Oh yes, off the boggy shortcut and onto the estate road again for a short way until cutting north east over grass for a few metres and then onto a seemingly abandonned other estate track that skirts all the way round the base of the hill until an interesting t junction of streams in wee gorges is reached. I just know I could have worded that better but I am in this sentence steeped so far etc. Well, you know what I mean.
Thereafater the path goes on and up in a sequence of long straights then long zig zags. Beware when entering a hanging valley type area that you're better off on the eastern side where the going is easier. Once out of the hanging valley there is a left turn out into the open hillside with great views south to Torridon.
Back north again with a gentle climb up to the bealach west of the top and then a final shorter, steeper slope before the summit.
Grand views all around.
An easy walk back. I opted for avoiding the boggy shortcut and I think that was the better thing to do.
looking back west from the cairn that marks the boggy shortcut east that isn't really worth it in the wet unless you are really in a hurry
that did qualify as bog so a pleasure to resume this easy peasy road walking
crags to the right on the way up
my eye's edge detection algorithm is triggered
that looks a fine top on the right there
path wriggles up there and round to the left -best to be on the east side of the stream here
views south to Torridon open up -well I suppose they wouldn't be closing down
An Teallach to the north
oh the water
view towards Slioch
nice wee foreground crag
constructive interference of shadows or should that be destructive
Lair, Slioch, torridon
decent view west
at the interesting t juntion of mini gorges that more or less marks the switch from track to path and from traverse to climb
this is the track at the base that doesn't quite join onto the estate road
the sun on the loch was very fine
lovely birch wood near Kernsary
following me from post to post
a lovely walk through the wood near the end
