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To summarise this walk, it is a hard, long, tough day in the hills. The initial walk in is a long way from the car, and even from the end of Loch Mullardoch (where some folk get the boat) it is still another almost 5 miles to the summit of the first munro. It is a fine ridge to follow, but there are some big drops between some munros making this a tiring expedition above the East Benula Forest.
We drove up to Cannich on the friday afternoon. After a beer in the brilliant boozer in the Cannich Hotel, wee headed up to Loch Mullardoch dam to park up for the night. Arriving at about 2100, there were still a number of cars parked there with walkers slowly returning up until about 2200. An indication of a long day in prospect.
We were up early and off at 0630. We considered whether to do this clockwise or in reverse. I'm glad we chose clockwise as the final descent of the day was a very steep drop, and the east face of Sgurr na Lapaich was still in deep snow. More of that later.
We followed a rough path along the north shore of Loch Mullardoch. About half way along, we hit the first obstacle. The crossing of Allt Taige. It wasn't in spate, but looked difficult to cross and there were no stepping stones. We wandered up and down without luck. Finally, it was off with the boots, up with the trousers, and we waded across.
It's a featureless path which follows the lochside.
Reaching the 'Seldom Inn' lidge at the end of the loch, we followed a rough track up the side of Allt Coire a Mhaan.
Then it was a long slow pull up the wide grassy ridge towards Meall a Chaisg.
Outstanding views of Beinn Fhionnlaidh and the Glen Affric Hills.
Finally the summit of An Socach came into view.
Even Loch Mullardoch was way behind us now.
The view west. It was still winter up here.
The view of the ridge ahead.
We headed along the long ridge of An Riabhachan with it's many ups, downs and cairns.
There were still large patches of snow cover, and the mist gave the occasional tricky sections.
The hills to the north.
We descended to a bealach and it was a stiff grunt up the west side of Lapaich, finally arriving at it's massive cairn.
Again, still a lot of snow on the east face. Steep snow cover for probably the top 100m.
The view over to the final munro, Carn nan Gobhar.
Looking south to Sgurr nan Clachan Geald.
We descended to another bealach, and grunted up to the final munro, Carn nan Gobhar. The summit has a small untidy cairn, with this impressive structure on the eastern top.
We headed up and over Mullach na Maoile and were glad, finally, to be heading back to the dam.
A long hard day out.
