free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Tuesady 7th June
Bidean nam Bian,Stob Coire Sgreamhach.
6.96 miles, 11.2km, ascent 1334mtrs.
Had driven up from Tyneside the previous night for the 5th decent Scottish trip this year alone. The target was the Glen Affric hills but being too far to drive I had to settle driving to Bridge of Orchy, kipping there in the van and needing an early start in Glen Affric I chose instead to do a Glencoe hill and then drive to Glen Affric. Parked up on the big car park on the A82 around 9 in the morning and took the path across the meeting of the three waters and up into the coire leading to Stob coire nan Lochan. I had been here a month previous and hadn't fancied the ascent up to Bidean due to the amount of wet snow lying around. Climbed again up the east shoulder of SCNL and then descended to the col between that and Bidean which was largely free of snow. To my disappoint after the recent spell there was a large of mist which occasionally swept across the tops. Glencoe were the hills of my youth some 35yrs ago and I'm sure I've been on Stob Coire Sgreamhach, before it was a munro, to do the Beinn Fhada ridge but I just cant remember it so a repeat was in order. Dropped down from Bidean and then continued on before dropping back down to the loose stone chute at the lowest part of the col. The descent is not pleasant but is short lived before the path is reached. In the lost valley which I reckon I haven't been in since 1980 I resisted the temptation to climb the big boulder and descended straight to the car park arriving to the sounds of the piper. Its a relatively short round but hard on the knees and feet. Drove around to Fort William to use Morrison's and could see very dark clouds to the north
Wednesday 8th June.
Toll Creagach, Tom A Choinich, Carn Eighe, Bionn Fionlaidh, Mam Sodhail.
19.8 miles, 31.8km ascent 2305 metres.
The previous evening I had driven up from Fort William up to Glen Affric and to my surprise the area had been hit by torrential rain and at one point in the glen a burn had burst its banks and moved boulders across the road surface. Parked and slept in an old quarry just pat the Chisholm bridge. Woke up the next morning and was disappointed to see low cloud and overcast conditions. Took the new hydro road which had suffered water damage and then eventually to the old path. Its disappointing the new hydro tracks that are being bulldozed, you can see from the old track what it was like before. Because of the clag I couldn't find the track straight up Toll Creagach and went to the old pass path up Bealach Toil Easa. I had been this way before in April 2008 when a heavy snow dump and leaking boots stopped my day. Got to the Bealach and then cut back right to Creagach which is a surprising distance from the Bealach. Returned to the Bealach and then began the ascent of Tom A Choinich. I then began the continuance of the ridge to Carn Eighe. The ridge is delight to walk, unfortunately I was in the clag for most of the way. I will return to this is on a decent day. Got to Carn Eighe and took a compass bearing for Bienn Fionnlaidh. On the way I surprised a grouse with 6 chicks. The chicks scattered whilst the mother buzzed my feet and then comically walked wounded in front of me. Began the descent to Bienn Fionnlaidh and then the ascent which I moved up surprisingly quick before returning to the col. Rather than climbing high up to Carn Eighe I took a bypass path that started more or less as you start to ascend Carn Eighe. It did disappear every now and again but I ascended easily and got to the col before the ascent of Mam Sodhail. Descended by way of Coire Leachavie which is a long way down and then a long way along the track on the north side of Loch Affric before getting back to the van in a 12 hour day. A magnificent day, 19.8 miles, 31.8km and 2305 metres of ascent on hills that I had wanted to do for a long time. I will however return, maybe on an autumn day to do the connecting ridge again
Thursday 9th June.
Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, Mullach Na Dheiragain, An Socach
Stayed overnight again in the old quarry and then in the morning drove into the car park and paid the £2 for parking. The midges were out in force as I got my bike set for the cycle along the southern path of the loch. I cycled for 6.42 miles stopping by the path that leads up by the Alt Coire Ghaidheil. The track by the loch was fine but the newly laid sections from Strawberry cottage were awful. Climbed up by the burn and then onto an excellent stalkers track up to the col. From there it was a simple walk up to An Socach. met a guy on top who had 6 munros to do, Blaven and the hills I did yesterday. Continued on and as Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan had its head in the clouds made the decision to do the Mullach instead.I dropped down just after the path started to rise from the col and got to the streams. The heat was suffocating and I began to feel thirsty and dry. I carry a 1 litre of sugary tea so had to ration it as I could see there would be no water on the ridges. Met a welsh lad on top of the Mulach who had gone from Glen Affric car park to Mam Sodhail, Carn Eighe, Beinn Fionnlaidh and dropped down to the glen before ascending the Mullach and Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan. I thought I was working hard!
The ascent of the Mullach is easy. The ascent of Ceathreamhnan must be around 1000ft sections of which are on a great ridge. if it was in England it would be praised to the hilt. Got to the top and drained the remainder of the flask and began the descent to the col that would lead to the YH. As I descended I felt extremely dehydrated and began to drink from stagnant pools that I found. If they are peaty bottomed I leave them alone but if they are rocky I would swish the surface and check what was in my hand. After the col dropped down to the nearest stream and refilled with water which felt warm given the heat. Getting to the YH I still had a 2 mile walk back to the bike which I found had been moved. I had chained it to the bridge but it had been pushed around the bridge edge and but for the chain would have been in the burn. The cycle to Strawberry cottage was impossible in the tired, dehydrated condition that I was in and I pushed to the bridge past the cottage before a slow cycle back to the van. A 24 mile day, 14 of them on the hills with 2306 metres of ascent over another 12 hour day.
Friday 10th June.
Strathfarrar hills
The weather had definitely broken. As I drove around to the glen the cloud remained around the 800 feet mark and stayed like all day. Completed the round using compass bearings all the way round which is not a bad thing. Its easy to become blasé and its not bad to refresh the skills. I can imagine its a good airy walk particularly from Sgurr a Choire Ghlais westwards and another worthy of an Autumn repeat. Got back to the van and did my good deed for the day giving a lift to 2 backpackers back to Cannich to pick up their vehicle.
I stayed again in Glen Affric as I still had to do the Mullardoch munros but the forecast was poor and on Saturday it was tipping down so I began the long drive home. All in a good trip, the total is gradually getting there. I'm now on 272, 10 to go. The end is in sight, I've got the Inn Pinn in July and then will do a Mullardoch/ Fisherfield backpack in October to finish off.
