In Which Rudolph goes up Beinn Alligin and I don't.

[mrssanta]

I've been up Beinn Alligin twice, both times in beautiful weather. We planned Beinn Alligin as Rudolph had not been up it before. I still find it hard to believe I passed up the chance to go up there again, but I was really tired after the Deargs adventure, felt a little nauseous, the forecast was for cloud and strong wind, and we planned Beinn Eighe on the next day (on which I had only done one summit) so I decided that I would take a low level walk and do some reading and save my strength for Beinn Eighe.
While I did this Rudolph went up Beinn Alligin, and back the same way as he did not want to tackle the Horns in windy weather.

First I went downhill from the Coire Mhic Nobaill car park to have a look at the waterfalls.
then I set off up the track which leads round the back of Liathach and ends up at the Coire Dubh by Beinn Eighe. My plan was to walk for a while, stop for a picnic, then walk back. Which is what I did.
As I was beetling around in the car park I spoke to some people who were setting off for Beinn Dearg. For the life of me I cannot see how anyone can get up there, but the WH description gives a route going up the northern end. It looks like a grand mountain.
There was sunshine and showers. There was a stiff breeze behind me on the way up, and I walked till I found a nice rock to shelter behind at about the 240m level where I had a brew and some grub, then I walked back the same way.
Sat in the car and read my book for a couple of hours which was lovely!
Here are some photos to give a flavour of the day.

Beinn Alligin from the car park looking sunny and inviting

The gorge downhill from the carpark

standing on the bridge you see a lovely waterfall cascading into the gorge

deadly toadstool for gnomes

a shadow comes over the horns

Eag Dubh looking dubh behind the sunny hillside

Beinn Dearg

Gorge-ous river

some rain

Looking back down the path

Bonny waterfall dropping off the edge of the hill

back again again

Alligin is disappearing

not going to see much of Beinn Eighe today

dramatic cloud on Dearg

looking back again, most things have gone.

Beinn Dearg again, was fascinating to watch as I walked along under it

happy mug at picnic time

Beinn Eighe has almost made an appearance

detour to look at the amazing waterfall from above.

and again

plenty water in the burn

fern in a crack

a wee heather hanging onto a rock

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