Weasels Go Back to Mull Again

[weaselmaster]

Well - another cracking weekend forecast, would you believe it? Unfortunately Allison's back has been playing up again in recent weeks - nothing drastic but achy. Not wanting to make it worse I had to put aside plans for 2-3 day trips into the more inaccessible of the "awkward squad" we have left. Instead I figured that we might pick up the remaining Glenfinnan Graham, Glas-Charn on Friday then head to Mull for our last two there, then hit something quick on the way back home on Sunday. All were short days out, although the Mull pair did have a ruggedness about them that might not be quite what the doctor ordered for her back, but we'd see.

Another appauling night of darkness and rain to drive up to Fort William. We stopped off at Morrisons for some provisions (weekends go much better with a cherry pie) then drove up by Corpach. Would we play it safe and call in at Loch Linnhe campsite or stick to my original plan of wild camping in the rain and dark? I'd reckoned that the parking spot at Callops would be fine to camp in, so we decided to stick to the guns and go for it. And that worked out fine - nice spotsd to camp at both sides of the car parking area, not too damp, a river nearby to lull us to sleep. Good call! It rained a lot overnight. When we emerged from the tent in the morning there was considerable surprise at the presnsce of white stuff on the peaks around, including the Graham to the south of us. No winter kit in the car... Fortunately there was no snow on our hill for the day.

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We drove along the road to Glenfinnan, parked up by Drochaid Allt an Utha and set off up the bulldozed track. Just by the footbridge, a landrover pulls up, estate manager and tweed clad party inside. All very friendly, enquiring what our plans are, delight that we're going onto Glas-Charn which isn't part of the estate. I think that's the first time we've met with a stalking party in all our outings. We did hear their doings later in the morning. We press on, temporarily thwarted by having to cross a deeper than expected river, which we manage to skirt around in the end.

Druim na Brein-Choille
P1140296 by Al, on Flickr

P1140299 by Al, on Flickr

Fogbow
P1140302 by Al, on Flickr

Sgurr an Utha apprearing from clouds
P1140305 by Al, on Flickr


Up alongside the Allt Feith a'Chatha then the remains of a fence line some small scrambly sections. Mist descends, then clears as we climb higher, A couple of fogbows, fine views to Sgurr an Utha with Sgurr nan Coireachan and Thuilm beyond, white topped. We come to the final crag lined top of Glas-Charn, scramble up the rocks and are rewarded with views out to a pink-tinged Eigg. Some summit snaps then descent SE to Sgurr a Mhuidhe. We disturb several stags on the way, have good views to the Corbetts Beinn Odhar Beag and Beinn Mhic Cedidh across the road. Another rocky topped hill, we pause for lunch. Loch Eilt leads west towards the sea. Pick a way down through some crags, then grassy ground aiming straight for the bridge where the car's parked. What a fine day!

P1140306 by Al, on Flickr

Sgurr nan Coireachan maybe in background
P1140307 by Al, on Flickr

Craggy top of Glas-Charn
P1140309 by Al, on Flickr

Pano to West
P1140310 by Al, on Flickr

Summit fogbow
P1140312 by Al, on Flickr

Eigg
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P1140316 by Al, on Flickr

Meith Bheinn
P1140317 by Al, on Flickr

Beinn Odhar Beag, Mhic Cedidh
P1140318 by Al, on Flickr

Similar to Tarsuinn's Tennis Court?
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P1140321 by Al, on Flickr

Towards the Rois-Beinn hills
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Loch Eilt
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P1140324 by Al, on Flickr

We switch boots for shoes and set off along to Lochailort, then down to Lochaline. I haven't driven the stretch from Lochailort to Kinlochmoidart before and what a day to drive it on. The views are jaw-dropping - Rum and Eigg across a mirror-calm Sound of Arisaig, autumn colours in the trees flanking the road, Beinn Resipole standing proud. Such an enjoyment to witness this. I've mislaid the timetable for the Lochaline ferry, so daren't stop for photos in case we miss it. As it happens we arrive at Lochaline around 3.15 and have only half an hour to wait before the boat arrives and turns around almost instantaneously with the 5 or 6 vehicles aboard. I use the time to wash up our pots and crockery (often a problem with wild camping) and tidy up the car a little.


Onboard the ferry for a short time, get off at Fishnish and head for Loch Buie, where I've decided we'll wildcamp. We greatly enjoyed our last time here and although it's not very near our mountains it's just so lovely that I couldn't resist. The sun is setting, turning the altocumulus clouds a light reddish gold. The sea is calm, we can see Jura to the south. It is however windier than anticipated, a cold blast coming from the north. I scramble up our meal, we eat wrapped in sleeping bags then hunker down for the night as the darkness falls.

P1140327 by Al, on Flickr

P1140328 by Al, on Flickr

Loch Buie
P1140329 by Al, on Flickr

Fine pitch
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Some light rain overnight, but a fine morning awaits. We drive the 16 miles to Glen More and are smitten with the dramatic escarpment of Ben More, with A'Chioch to its east. The mountain looks fantastic from this perspective, and will be with us most of the day. So, so much finer than the non-descript approach from Dhiseig and actually a fine way to approach the southeastern ridge of a'Chioch from here - might be tempted another day for that. For all those that complete the Munros on Ben More - surely this would be a much more fitting approach to your last hill than the drab dawdle from Dhiseig?

P1140335 by Al, on Flickr

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Anyway, we park on the old road by Teanga Brideig where there's room for a couple of cars. Walking along a wet track NW up into Sleibhte Coire, glorious golden grassy hillside, Ben More appearign over the horizon again as we climb. Passing Torr na h-Uamha on our left we can see the cracks of its caves in the gabbro. To our right rises Cruachan Dearg, the smaller "twin" top of Corra-bheinn. It's a steep climb on grass then a band of rough crags before the top is reached. The wind has got up considerably - there's considerable wind chill too, despite the sunshine. We drop down to Mam a'choir Idhar and head up Corra-Bheinn. The wind is stronger at the top, almost blowing me off my feet at times. Very cold, there's no time to hang about - we press on quickly along the eastern ridge hoping that we'll be shielded from the wind when dropping down into Coire a'Mhaim. Unfortunately any shelter is modest - we find a hollow to stop for lunch and look at the grassy slopes up to Beinn a'Mheadhain, 220m from the bealach.

P1140336 by Al, on Flickr

P1140338 by Al, on Flickr

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DSC01918 by Al, on Flickr

Torr na h-Uamha on left
P1140341 by Al, on Flickr

Torr na h-Uamha, Ben More behind
P1140343 by Al, on Flickr

Up Cruachan Bheinn
P1140345 by Al, on Flickr

Quite steep
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Corra-Bheinn
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P1140349 by Al, on Flickr

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Up Corra-Bheinn
P1140352 by Al, on Flickr

Summit Corra-Bheinn
DSC01920 by Al, on Flickr

DSC01921 by Al, on Flickr

P1140355 by Al, on Flickr

Beinn a'Mheadhean
P1140359 by Al, on Flickr

P1140360 by Al, on Flickr

Cruachan Choireadail
DSC01923 by Al, on Flickr

From here we drop down east into Mam Choireadail and seek out a way up the steep side of Cruachan Beag. Across to the final Graham, Cruach Choireadail and a deserved seat for a view out to Loch Scriodain and of course, Ben More. A steep scree-descent from the summit, then we head west on grassy ground towards the Uisgeacha Geala which we cross, stopping to fill our bladders with the icy white water. The descent from here is hampered by frequent slabs that require to be avoided - this would be difficult in snow cover. Back down on the road, we march the mile or so back to the car - only a 12 km outing but it felt more than that. Great hills though.

Beinn Talaidh
DSC01926 by Al, on Flickr

Summit Cruach Choireadail
P1140373 by Al, on Flickr

P1140374 by Al, on Flickr

Steep scree section
P1140375 by Al, on Flickr

Strange translucent fungus
P1140376 by Al, on Flickr

Descent
P1140380 by Al, on Flickr

Lots of slabs to avoid
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P1140384 by Al, on Flickr


We drive back to Loch Buie, the faithful Hilleberg has borne the day's winds without batting an eyelid. Again we're back as the day is fading - no time at this point in the year for a nice evening stroll to Moy Castle, it is dark before 6pm. A cold night in store, once again a couple of brief rain showers. We hear 4 or 5 bangs and one rocket flash- Loch Buie Firework night. It sets the local dogs off barking for at least an hour

DSC01932 by Al, on Flickr

DSC01937 by Al, on Flickr

DSC01938 by Al, on Flickr


Up early on Sunday morning to get the 9am boat from Craignure. In fact we are a little too early - away by 7.15 and it doesn't take long to drive the dozen or so miles. Advantage being we don't pass many cars on the road. Not much is open in Craignure at 7.40 on a Sunday - it is another fine morning however so we enjoy the new sun spreading golden light across the Sound of Lorn. The crossing is smooth enough, gorgeous views of the Appin and Etive hills as we sail to Oban. A pleasant drive to Tyndrum - we park at Dalrigh and prepare to set off for Fiarach. Time is about 10.50 when we leave the car.

Waiting for the ferry
DSC01942 by Al, on Flickr

Dun Gaoithe
DSC01943 by Al, on Flickr

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We take the same route we did Dubhcraig & Oss by years ago, though I can't remember it at all. There's quite a bit of snow on the tops of the surrounding Munros - Dorain, More, Stob Binnien. Again the hillsides have a golden glow as the autumn grasses are lit by the sun. We trot along the track, muddy in places then turn up onto the hillside. Slippy wet grass, steep at first. We cross a stream, continue past an outcrop of crags then head to the summit, past some lochans and rather boggy ground. The summit itself sits on a dolorite dyke that runs SE-NW. It provides fine shelter from the bitterly cold wind whilst we have our lunch, gazing out at the Crianlarich hills then find our way back to the car. A very pleasant short day.

Towards Beinn a'Chuirn
DSC01949 by Al, on Flickr

Ben Dorain
DSC01951 by Al, on Flickr

Slopes of Fiarach
DSC01952 by Al, on Flickr

Beinn a'Chuirn/Meall Odhar
DSC01953 by Al, on Flickr

The Auch Corbetts
DSC01954 by Al, on Flickr

Towards the summit
DSC01958 by Al, on Flickr

Crianlarich Hills
DSC01959 by Al, on Flickr

More/Stob Binnien
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DSC01963 by Al, on Flickr

Dolorite dyke, Dubhcraig in background
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DSC01965 by Al, on Flickr

DSC01967 by Al, on Flickr

DSC01968 by Al, on Flickr

DSC01971 by Al, on Flickr

So winter is knocking at the door, it seems - better get the winter kit in the car for next weekend. On the radio on the way home we hear that the snow gates at Tomintoul are closed. Maybe we'll be needing that kit sooner than expected - even on Grahams