Walkhighlands

For our last walk of our summer (ha ha) trip we decided to go for something close to the bunkhouse we were staying at, and the Loch Lochay munros were right on the doorstep, and the fact that we didn't have a map wasn't a problem as the bunkhouse lent us a nice waterproofed 1:25000 map.

We drove to the start point and set off in fairly decent weather (which had been the story of the week, fine first thing turning to rain later in the day). We followed the good track through the forestry before branching off north on a stalkers track climbing through the forest proper. The path continued to an impressive looking bealach (the uniformly light grey sky provided a nice contrast to the u-shaped bealach as we approached - I really should have taken a photo).

On reaching the bealach I ditched my pack, despite the fact that it wasn't too heavy and we headed for Meall na Teanga. There isn't any shelter at the summit so we headed back to the bealach for a quick bite to eat, before starting the climb up the zig-zag path to Sron a' Choire Ghairbh.

Neil's camera gave up the ghost so we didn't get a photo to mark the occasion (suffice to say it was wet and windy like the majority of other summits this week). We set off and Neil initially suggested descending via the ridge to Sean Meall then Meall nan Mearcag, but as we set off the wind was increasing and our faces were being stung by hailstones (flaming June!), I asked Neil if he really wanted to spend any longer than necessary in this weather at height along the ridge. He agreed that it would be more comfortable to descend our line of ascent to the bealach, and sure enough after we dropped some height we were out of the worst of the weather.

We headed back with a spring in our step and arrived back at the car 4 hours and 40 minutes after setting off, which again lifted my confidence in my hill fitness. Now I just have to build on this before our autumn foray north!