free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Updated today the 1st Nov 2010 to include this video. As always view in 720p and in full screen as HD.
Enjoy....
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBq_QrjOXdM&hd=1[/youtube]
After many solo walks recently it was time to get social again, it was time to hit Kintail with the Scottish Hillwalkers Group
. This was a weekend adventure with 3 Munros Saturday and 2 on the Sunday, i had been emailing the organizer and pestering him to do the 5 on the Saturday
.
Weather reports very grim, 75mph winds, snow, rain and 10% chance of cloud free Munros....grrreat!!.
I drove up Friday after work with my mate Stevie, looking outside reminded me of the American Werewolf in London....going to be a slog tomorrow!.
1st night we had booked into the fantastic Ratagan Youth Hostel which has stunning views over Loch Duich with the Five Sisters towering above.
Five Sisters
But we hadn't come to do the 5 sisters, we had come for 5 Munros Near the Cluanie Inn.
Friday night we met in the Kintail Lodge, we had booked the Trekkers Lodge for Saturday night, for a Munro team talk....we would meet 8.30am Saturday.
Saturday arrived and the sky was looking very clear, could Sean Batty be mistaken
!!.
We got to the start and were ready to walk at 9.15am, we had left a car at the finish. Driving down i also clocked the finish if doing the 5, it was 4k up the road!!
Looking back to Loch Cluanie
It wasn't long (1hr 45mins) till we reached the summit of Munro No 1: Carn Ghluasaid
The weather is incredible, the sun is shining, views for miles....hey guys i think we should do the 5
With the seed firmly planted it was off to Munro No2: Sgurr nan Conbhairean
South Glen Shiel Ridge
I was soon standing on the 2nd summit with view behind me to Munros 4 & 5, A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire
On our merry way we went again, the grins firmly planted on our faces....what a day this is turning out to be
.
Standing at the bealach between Sgurr nan Conbhairean and Sail Chaorainn we discussed doing the 5 Munros. 4 of us decided to go ahead and do them with the other 2 more than happy with bagging the 3. I asked one of the guys if he could drive my car to the finish of the 5th Munro
, no problem. Onwards to the 3rd we all went, we left our rucksacks at the bealach as we all had to return to this point, but 4 of us would be heading across steep grassy slopes to Bealach Choire a'Chait
This way....
Looking back to Sgurr nan Conbhairean from the summit of Sail Chaorainn
Heading back to bealach Choire a Chait
It was here we said our goodbyes to the other 2 and headed down the steep slopes across to Bealach Choire a'Chait
Looking back to Sail Chaorainn , far left.
A'Chralaig stright ahead with Mullach Fraoch-choire in the distance.
Reaching the summit of A'Chralaig was a tough going, but hugely enjoyable. We summited with 30 minutes covering the 1st and last to ascend.
A'Chralaig
Views to Skye
At this point Stella was feeling the pace and distance, it was her 1st walk in 2 months since spending a month in her homeland in Brazil. A superb effort considering.
Onwards we headed in the direction of the 5th and last Munro, Mullach Fraoch-choire.
Descending A'Chralaig
Standing near the col with what looks like a very narrow ridge ahead to the final summit
We started the final ascent of the day, this ridge was very narrow and steep.
We stupidly tried to scramble over some pinnacles instead of taking a path to the right, which was actually scary also.
Path to the right which was slippy and steep
looking back at the pinnacles
Soon 3 of us were standing on Munro No 5: Mullach Fraoch-choire, Stella had waited at the col....she didnt want to slow us down.
The views in all directions were simply stunning
.
We took it all in before heading back to the col and making our journey to the finish, we had 7k to go. The last 4k was on a landrover track which we covered in darkness.
9 and a half hours later we were at the finish, where is my car
!!
Head torches on, Stevie went right and i left along the main road.....it was 20 minutes before Stevie drove up in my car. We picked the other 2 up and headed to the Kintail Lodge for food and drink. What a fantastic day
.
