Creise was much more willing this time.
Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 7:45 pmThis was a return visit to these two. In May 2016 we had a go, we got to the top of Meall a' Bhuiridh but we were forced to abort any further progress due to very high winds, clag and near whiteout conditions, on that day we used the chairlift as a navigational aid up and down, looking at that route today I could see how steep it is compared to the route suggested by walkhighlands.
This time the weather was a lot better and it was summer so no snow.
Thursday was forecast as a good day with rain coming in from the west late afternoon so plenty of time to have a crack at these two, we set off in good time, this was our day.
On the way through Glen Coe to the ski centre the big mountains were in the cloud so there was aslight feeling of disappointment, short lived, however, because as we neared Altnafeadh the big Buachhaille looked clear and Sron na Creise was void of cloud, as we got to the ski centre our mountains cleared completely, excellent, we were in for a good day.
We set off on the path under the chair lifts, after our day in the Mamores yesterday this was a bit of a struggle at first, with achy legs and sore feet it seemed to take a lot of effort to get going.and we were thankful when we reached the group of huts in Coire Pollach. Looking up the chairlift above the huts, our route up last May didn't look inviting today, its full of craggy bits and quite steep, its surprising what the snow was covering to be honest, at the time it appeared the way to go.
From here we went the walkhighlands way up and found it a lot more pleasureable, soggy to start with but as we gained height it became drier then bouldery.
Views, Sron na Creise and the big Buachaille.
Rannoch Moor.
Up.
Creise.
At the top of Meall a' Bhuiridh the views are impressive, this time we could see the way forward so after a photo stop and snack we set off for Creise.
Summit wife.
View.
The views across to Creise and Clach Leathad are impressive, steep mountain sides and crags, Coire an Easain and Mam Coire Easain look very remote not the places to be in bad weather.
In the bealach we stopped a while before the climb up to point 1070m, this section requires hands on rock in places so adds a bit of interest, there's a cairn at the top and rocks to sit on.
Looking back to Meall a' Bhuiridh from the 1070m cairn.
Over to Creise.
Mam Coire Easain.
Coire an Easain.
From here we set off along the coire rim to Creise, at the summit cairn we could see another larger cairn further on so we walked over to it just to make sure, took a few photos then returned to the official summit and took some more.
Large cairn views. Big Bookle.
Starav and friends.
East.
Meall a'Bhuiridh.
Clach Leathad.
Creise summit.
Looking west.
We left the summit an returned to the 1070m point then retraced our way back to Meall a' Bhuiridh
Views from the return trip to Meall a' Bhuiridh
We stopped at the summit for a while then made our way back down.
So, that was Creise and Meall a' Bhuiridh done, two nice mountains, easy enough to do on a pleasant day and once away from the ski stuff there's a real sense of remoteness.
Not a bad week, eight Munros, seven of them new ones, our next trip to Scotland is to Glen Shiel in September, we've booked Paddy to help us do our final Skye munro, Sgurr nan Gillean and we're hoping to do The Saddle, Sgurr nan Saighead, Beinn Fhada and A' Ghlas bheinn during the week, lets hope the weather behaves.
This time the weather was a lot better and it was summer so no snow.
Thursday was forecast as a good day with rain coming in from the west late afternoon so plenty of time to have a crack at these two, we set off in good time, this was our day.
On the way through Glen Coe to the ski centre the big mountains were in the cloud so there was aslight feeling of disappointment, short lived, however, because as we neared Altnafeadh the big Buachhaille looked clear and Sron na Creise was void of cloud, as we got to the ski centre our mountains cleared completely, excellent, we were in for a good day.
We set off on the path under the chair lifts, after our day in the Mamores yesterday this was a bit of a struggle at first, with achy legs and sore feet it seemed to take a lot of effort to get going.and we were thankful when we reached the group of huts in Coire Pollach. Looking up the chairlift above the huts, our route up last May didn't look inviting today, its full of craggy bits and quite steep, its surprising what the snow was covering to be honest, at the time it appeared the way to go.
From here we went the walkhighlands way up and found it a lot more pleasureable, soggy to start with but as we gained height it became drier then bouldery.
Views, Sron na Creise and the big Buachaille.
Rannoch Moor.
Up.
Creise.
At the top of Meall a' Bhuiridh the views are impressive, this time we could see the way forward so after a photo stop and snack we set off for Creise.
Summit wife.
View.
The views across to Creise and Clach Leathad are impressive, steep mountain sides and crags, Coire an Easain and Mam Coire Easain look very remote not the places to be in bad weather.
In the bealach we stopped a while before the climb up to point 1070m, this section requires hands on rock in places so adds a bit of interest, there's a cairn at the top and rocks to sit on.
Looking back to Meall a' Bhuiridh from the 1070m cairn.
Over to Creise.
Mam Coire Easain.
Coire an Easain.
From here we set off along the coire rim to Creise, at the summit cairn we could see another larger cairn further on so we walked over to it just to make sure, took a few photos then returned to the official summit and took some more.
Large cairn views. Big Bookle.
Starav and friends.
East.
Meall a'Bhuiridh.
Clach Leathad.
Creise summit.
Looking west.
We left the summit an returned to the 1070m point then retraced our way back to Meall a' Bhuiridh
Views from the return trip to Meall a' Bhuiridh
We stopped at the summit for a while then made our way back down.
So, that was Creise and Meall a' Bhuiridh done, two nice mountains, easy enough to do on a pleasant day and once away from the ski stuff there's a real sense of remoteness.
Not a bad week, eight Munros, seven of them new ones, our next trip to Scotland is to Glen Shiel in September, we've booked Paddy to help us do our final Skye munro, Sgurr nan Gillean and we're hoping to do The Saddle, Sgurr nan Saighead, Beinn Fhada and A' Ghlas bheinn during the week, lets hope the weather behaves.