free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
The wind dropped overnight and by morning the midges had arrived in force.
We could see from the safety of our sleeping bags that the flysheet was covered in them.
After liberal applications of midge repellent we dared to open the door and put the stove on for tea and brekky. They didn’t attack immediately – maybe the heat of the stove kept them at bay. Once we had packed our rucksacks for the day we unzipped the door and the flysheet and made a run for it. No stopping for a wee or cleaning teeth or washing up or anything civilised like that. Just run!! We didn’t stop til we got to about 700 metres.
Well, perhaps for a couple of photos.
![IMG_2288.JPG]()
- Beinn Fhada
![IMG_2291.JPG]()
- Ciste Dhubh
Then the toothbrushes came out.
![IMG_2296.JPG]()
- Don't forget your toothbrush!
You don’t really feel you have got up properly until you have cleaned your teeth, do you? We gained the ridge in record time and relaxed for a while enjoying the view
![IMG_2299.JPG]()
- From the ridge
before dumping our rucksacks and heading up to the summit of An Socach.
![IMG_2302.JPG]()
- Mullach na Dheiragainn from An Socach
Returning to the bealach we retrieved our bags and started along the ridge to Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan.
![IMG_2305.JPG]()
- Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan
Along the way we saw a seahorse
![IMG_2304.JPG]()
- Sea horse
and lots of deer in the corrie. We arrived at the top of my 200th Munro
in time for a spot of lunch. Somebody had forgotten to bring the celebration gateau so we had to improvise with a slice of bread and squirty cheese.
![IMG_2313.JPG]()
- Celebration gateau
We dumped the bags again and just took some water with us – no point carrying all that stuff out and back. We reckoned on 2 hours to get out to Mullach na Dheiragain but in the event it took more like 3 hours if you include posing at the cairn.
![IMG_2308.JPG]()
- A long way out
![IMG_2311.JPG]()
- Posing
![IMG_2312.JPG]()
- A long way back
On the way back a guy appeared striding purposefully in our direction. A minute or two later another figure appeared over the horizon. She seemed to be carrying something large, white and round. “Why have they brought a football with them?” I wondered.
“Not the first thing I would think of carrying up here” said Katie. With that the woman spotted us, hastily turned her back on us and proceeded to reclothe her upper half! Sorry, no photos!
After this little episode the climb back to the summit of Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan didn’t seem quite so steep! After more food we made our way along the narrow west ridge and down the long, rather boggy south ridge back to the glen.
![IMG_2315.JPG]()
- Going down
The burn provided a cold, refreshing dip, the breeze had got up again, the midges had gone and we sat outside the tent drinking tea planning the next day’s route.
![IMG_2289.JPG]()
- Nice blue flower
