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Hogmanay in Ullapool and a decent weather forecast! The Ben Mor Coigach round is a favourite of ours, but our friends hadn't done it before (as if we needed an excuse - I think it tops my list of walks in Coigach/Assynt).
We drove round to Culnacraig and set off, heading for the Garbh Coireachan ridge. This gives some nice (but entirely optional) scrambling. Higher up, some overnight fresh snow made us more cautious, and we stuck to the path on the left hand side of the ridge. Beyond the first summit the path remained a bit icy, but we were soon beyond the narrow section and heading for the main summit. A chilly east wind meant we didn't stop long, but we found some better shelter behind one of the knolls on the main ridge line for a quick sandwich.
Then onwards round the ridge, with great views of the Coigach and Assynt hills, their juxtaposition ever changing as we traversed the remaining tops. The WH route suggests a direct return from Sgurr an Fhidhleir, but including the rest of the tops is well worthwhile, with both the walking and the views remaining top notch. What a great way to end 2015 on!
Moon over the Summer Isles
An Teallach
An Teallach to Torridon
Torridon to Trotternish
Loch Broom and the Fannichs
Isle Martin
Sgurr an Fhidhleir
Garbh Coireachan ridge
Stac Polly to Cul Mor
Getting icy!
Summit of Speicien
Loch Broom
Fannichs
Looking back at Speicein
A wider angle...
Fannichs and An Teallach
Fisherfield
Cul Beag and Cul Mor
Speicein again
Stac Polly and Suilven
Coigach/Assynt pano
Beinn nan Caorach north top (point 648m) - another fine viewpoint...
...and the view!
Cul Beag close-up
Sgurr an Fhidhleir
Stac Polly, Suilven, Quinag
Last photo of the year!