by steven65 » Fri May 13, 2016 6:25 pm
Munros included on this walk: Blà Bheinn
Date walked: 09/05/2016
Time taken: 8.15 hours
Distance: 15.2 km
Ascent: 1196m
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Skye what a wonderful place ! I`d initially planned to come here in June & go to the Ullapool area in May - but the weather was forecast to be excellent for the next week , so I came here in May instead & hope to go up towards Ullapool in June.
I`d always planned to do this trip myself - no Oskar ,Skye isn`t a place for dogs IMHO - on my Vespa GTS 250 ie - to incorporate my love of Scootering as well as bag several Munros !
I left home having pre booked the ferry at 6pm from Mallaig to Armadale on Skye.
Unfortunatley I got "done" for speeding at Luib near Crianlarich - 75MPH in a 60 zone.
This was not the start I`d hoped for and cast a cloud over my mood for 24hrs -until I told myself to shake if off -
or it would ruin my trip.
Once on Skye at Armadale I drove to the lay by past Kilmarie on the B8083. Leaving the Vespa here I made my way over the hill on a decent track to the new Bothy at Camasunary , this took me 1hr & 18 mins -it was V HOT ! The new bothy was quite busy with 2 older guys from Portsmouth there , 2 young guys doing the Skye Trail , later on a guide with a group of 5 arrived. The bothy was nice , clean fitted out with wooden platform type bunk beds. I had some supper & some wine , chatted to the folk there & went to bed. I was up early at 5am on Mon 9/5 and off & walking for 5.40 am- it was a beautiful morning. Everyone in the bothy was up -all planning an early take -off.
I took the route up Blabheinn`s south facing ridge - as described elsewhere 1 of Scotlands` top 20 hill routes ! It was marvelous , perhaps a wee bit out of the way from the "normal" car park area - but well worth doing it from the south. As I`d started early I `d bagged the hill & was back at my Vespa at 12.40 . I chatted to 2 locals at the lay by who were very friendly and quite interested in my Vespa. After changing & putting my gear away I made off for the bright lights of Portree. I went to the excellent campsite at Torvaig -on the Staffin road - A855 - about 1.5 miles out of town. Tent up , shower & changed again I then walked into town for a few pints of expensive Guinness & something to eat . I noticed a café popping in to ask when they opened in the morning -9am was the reply. So I`d set my mind to be there at 9 before heading onto Glenbrittle.
Once back at Torvaig campsite I chatted to other folk there before having an early night. I was up at 6.30 , made a coffee and tidied all my stuff away before packing up and leaving for the town centre. I filled the scooter up with petrol & then went for breakfast which was great . Onwards now to Glenbrittle Campsite for 2 days. I`d picked the best week weather-wise to be in Skye -it was the hottest May day ever recoerded there !!!!!
After I pitched my tent at Glembrittle I decided to bag Sgurr Dubh Mor and Sgurr Alasdair - I`d climbed Sgurr nan Eag last year whilst on holiday , taking Oskar with me - my pet Standard Schnauzer - however as I`ve said I was alone this time . Setting off at exactly 12 noon it was HOT & sunny , on the path near Sron na Ciche I almost stood on an Adder sunbathing on the stone track -it gave me quite a fright ! I made a short video of it & put it on TH via F-Book . On up via Coir a Ghrunnda to the lochan , meeting 6 folk on the way .
more soon to finish 24/5/16
5 days in Skye did this from the bothy