free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Following a week of a horrible cold and total exhaustion it was touch and go whether I would make it to the meet…but in the end I chucked my stuff in the car on Friday lunchtime and headed up the road.
Despite the extremely iffy forecast for the weekend, Friday was a beautiful day and I had a few stops for photos along the way
Water of Tulla
Sun breaking through the clouds
Loch Lochy sunset
Loch Garry
Arriving at Ratagan I had to stop for a few more photos along the final stretch to the Youth Hostel
An enjoyable evening was had and plans were made for the next morning. My plan was to get up and decide what to do in the morning…
….which was to join Jim, Lynne and Tommy for an assault on Beinn Sgritheall; a very steep and unforgiving mountain…not ideal for my knee but I was promised that we were going up and shorter and easier route.
We had a very leisurely breakfast and several rounds of tea and coffee before the weather began to clear as the forecast was suggesting. Jim gave us a lift round in his ‘van’ and we parked up 3km short of Armisdale at the bottom of the standard descent route. We booted up and set off. It was raining lightly but looked fairly clear lower down for now.
And off we went…the path was absolutely brutal from the start. Pushing through tall grass initially, then into dense woodland, Tommy managed to attract several ticks whilst the rest of us just discussed how ill he could get…
Looking towards Barrisdale Bay
Out to sea..
The path wound up the extremely steep hillside and we followed it, clambering over rocks and under tree branches until arriving at a holly tree growing in a wee clearing where a better looking path emerged. Deciding to use that path to return, we continued uphill. From here it was no less steep but a slightly better path.
Eventually we came out of the trees and into the clag. And there we would stay for some time.
We plodded on up, eventually reaching the ridge and turning right onto the ridge. The path here took us all the way to the summit. Steep rocky sections alternated with slightly flatter sections and we discussed a variety of subjects including the merits of different types of pants (I think boxers won the day) and the best main course (steak was mentioned a lot here) until the final pull to the summit.
The wind had picked up by now and was blowing the clag at us so waterproof trousers were donned in most cases. We arrived at the summit and this is what we should have seen, thanks to Google:
However, poor weather was no excuse not to pose…
We sat down and enjoyed our sandwiches, and Jim got this group shot:
Eventually it was time to head down. Lynne and I were not looking forward to this, however my knee had stood up to the assault so far so I was cautiously optimistic
We were walking into the wind now, so got our heads down and got on with it
Topics of discussion had now turned to comfort food – choice of desserts and then the merits of gin
This got us most of the way down. We took the easier path down the final descent which was much easier on the knee and we eventually reached the car after just under 5 hours.
Jim pulled a bottle of gin (for non drivers) and a box of chocolates out and celebrated in style...
....before heading back along the road…
…for a well earned shower, dinner and then the quiz where I managed to retain my crown…
…and was then turned on by the team mates and nominated to organise the next meet. But hey, we won
The next morning was a fairly slow start and I eventually headed down the road enjoying a few photos on the way….
The view from the hostel
Loch Cluanie
Wee inversion on Nevis Range from the Commando Memorial
The Aonach Eagach
Sun glistening on Water of Tulla
The Falls of Falloch - often driven past but never visited
Loch Lomond
A fabulous weekend as always – looking forward to the next one. Now I just need to organise it...
