Sgurr na h-Eanchainne
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 6:45 pm
Had an enjoyable, scenic drive down the western shore of Loch Linnhe and looked out for a place to park near the graveyard. As luck would have it there is enough space on the surrounding grass at the passing place opposite the graveyard for at least one small car.
Nothing to keep the sheep in their field here but they were nevertheless dutifully hard at their grass chomping. Followed the fence round the graveyard and this led to a gap with a path of sorts up onto the eastern spur of Sgurr na h-Eachainne.
Steep but easy walking to start with gave way to a slightly more demanding and steeper mid section but beyond this a fairly level ridge abutting onto the hinterland.
I headed slightly south into the head of the shallow corrie there and could see a way ahead that would avoid most of the snow.
I cut off earlier than planned onto the snow to get onto the north ridge. There was a transition here though to hard snow and I was struggling to kick steps. At the next opportunity I put on the microspikes I'd elected to carry in favour of crampons, in the hope that the sparse snow covering would be largely dodgeable. That was a lot better. I was now striding out without a care about slipping until I got to the last little steepening of the summit slope at which point the microspikes became less effective and I was back to kicking steps. This was fine though as there were no big drops or sticky out rocks were I to slip.
Just clear grass at the top so a gentle stroll for the last few metres.
Very fine views from Ben Nevis to Glencoe to Jura and inland over a less familiar Ardgour.
Glad I finally got round to this hill as I have often admired it from Corran.
DSC05438 by John Little, on FlickrA fine morning.
DSC05441 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05443 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05447 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05448 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05449 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05450 by John Little, on FlickrParked on ground beside the passing place and ancient burial site of McLeans of Ardgour. Sgurr na h-Eachainne visible top left.
DSC05466 by John Little, on FlickrCraggy to the north, easier on the south side of the ridge leading directly up from the graveyard.
DSC05471 by John Little, on FlickrBen Nevis prominent throughout the ascent.
DSC05479 by John Little, on FlickrTop appears again but also the end of easier ground on the south side; kept to the crest after this.
DSC05481 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05488 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05495 by John Little, on FlickrCrossing snow to get onto the north ridge.
DSC05501 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05513 by John Little, on FlickrWest.
DSC05514 by John Little, on FlickrEast -with Bidean nam Bian prominent.
DSC05518 by John Little, on FlickrThis is hard snow and slightly on the steep side for microspikes.
DSC05519 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05550 by John Little, on FlickrGarbh Bheinn to the south west.
DSC05552 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05553 by John Little, on FlickrGets around a bit!
DSC05555 by John Little, on FlickrFort William and Ben Nevis.
DSC05574 by John Little, on FlickrBeinn a' Bheithir.
DSC05575 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05587 by John Little, on FlickrMull on the horizon and Lismore to the left.
DSC05588 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05589 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05593 by John Little, on FlickrThe steep eastern slopes.
DSC05594 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05600 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05611 by John Little, on FlickrJura on the horizon.
DSC05613 by John Little, on Flickr
DSC05627 by John Little, on FlickrCommonwealth war graves.
. Great little hill (doesn't seem that little when you start from sea level), will definitely be up it again.