The Great Cluanie Marathon 2017
Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 8:11 pm
It’s exactly 10 years ago that I first set foot on Scottish soil. This anniversary needed to be celebrated in a grand way and it turned out to be a wonderful week in the Highlands. Everything worked out fine: the weather, the mountains, the people and the public transport. It started in Cluanie. Last spring I climbed the Creag a’ Mhaim with my youngest daughter. The rest of the South Glen Shiel ridge, the Saddle and the Sgurr na Sgine had to wait another year for me, but on the 3rd of May I was ready for the battle. I closed the Cluanie Inn door at 4.30 in the morning to walk by an empty A87 in the direction of the Malagan Bridge. After a beautiful walk of about 2 hours I reached the stalker’s path. My first goal was the Saddle. To save time I took the route by the dry stone wall and the bealach. The Forcan Ridge can wait. The view was overwhelming. Skye, Knoydart, Ben Nevis and Torridon could all be seen. After having sat for some time at the trig point I left for my second Munro on this day. It was a piece of cake to reach the summit of Sgurr na Sgine. Afterwards the long walk with a lot of breaks to take pictures towards to the Cluanie Inn started. At Druim Shionnach, the last Munro of this day, I took the steep north ridge where I due found a walking path next to the rocks. When I was on the old road towards Tomdoum I kissed the sacred ground of Cluanie. I was so thankful for this unforgettable beautiful day.