Firey Friday Funtime

[Jaxter]

A very hot day and a late start saw us driving a few miles down the road to Drumnadrochit and then up the glen to the parking area at Grotaig. It was so hot that we almost couldn’t be bothered getting out but eventually managed to get going. Fortunately there was enough of a breeze to keep the beasties away as we walked down the road and onto the path which led us through grassy fields and into the woods where we started climbing uphill.

Once out of the wood the gradient steepened and we almost stepped on a giant mushroom
A giant mushroom

The path steepens

We gained height quickly here and the views improved
Looking back to Loch Ness

A big stile got us easily over the deer fence and we were on the ridge
On the ridge

Loch Ness

Malky doesn’t understand smiling for the camera

It was a really long ridge and the summit didn’t seem to be getting any closer (or maybe we were just far too warm ) But the views were fantastic!
Loch Ness - can't fit it all in

Ben Wyvis in the distance

Malky had described this path as boggy but fortunately due to the recent dry spell it was to avoid the few damper patches. He’s still not happy about it though
Malky still doesn't look happy

The summit of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh looking a little closer

The views across to Strathfarrar were great – the sun was hitting the higher peaks and Sgurr na Diollaid was looking great in the front
The Strathfarrar hills

The ridge steepened as we climbed the last section towards the summit
Loch Ness

The actual summit was a few metres further on
Summit ahoy

Meall Fuar-mhonaidh summit

We found a wee spot for a sit down and some lunch while we enjoyed the views
Strathfarrar and the Northern Mullardoch hills

We were feeling good and higher up it was a little cooler which meant we were heading out to Glas-Bheinn Mhor
Glas-bheinn Mhor and Loch nam Bhreac Dearga

We headed a few metres further along the ridge to get past the steepest of the cliffs
Looking back up Meall Fuar-mhonaidh

Looking south down Loch Ness

Zoomed to Ben Nevis

We picked a route down – it looked like we could drop onto a grassy shelf and work our way downwards from there
Steep descent and Loch nam Bhreac Dearga

The last section was fairly horrendous but after that we were down and could see across the bumpy bealach to our next hill
Glas-Bheinn Mhor ahead

Loch nam Bhreac Dearga and the impressive side of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh

A wee burn was easily hopped across and we were able to refill our water which was running out fast. There were bits and bobs of path and we were able to pick our way across the bealach and into the corrie on Glas-Bheinn Mhor
Loch Ruighe an t-Seilich

Here we skirted the lochan before picking the least heathery sections to climb upwards
Looking back to Meall Fuar-mhonaidh

Up the worst of it we were on the summit plateau which was a bit squishy underfoot as we made our way over to the trig point at the summit
Glas-Bheinn Mhor summit

Mullardoch and Strathfarrar hills

Kintail and a wind farm

Loch Ness

The wind had picked up a lot by now which made this a bit precarious
Glas-Bheinn Mhor summit

We weren’t sure that the trig was actually on the highest point so wandered around onto the other possible places that could be higher and came to no conclusions whatsoever It was time to go – we headed back down towards the wee lochan before passing to the other side of it off towards the northern tip of Loch nan Bhreac Dearga
Loch nam Bhreac Dearga

We had planned to pass to the left of Mac a’ Mhill but actually decided that it would be better to traverse around and meet the path up the ridge of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh
Loch nam Bhreac Dearga

Malky leads the way

More impressive cliffs

Looking back down Loch nam Bhreac Dearga

We picked up a path which made for slightly easier walking and led us most of the way back up onto the Meall Fuar-mhonaidh path
Back on the ridge and our views of Loch Ness are back

Looking back up the ridge to Meall Fuar-mhonaidh

Back over the stile and down the steep section, then through the woods and onto the grassy path – we could see back to Meall Fuar-mhonaidh. Although it had been cooler up high it was still super muggy back at the car and we were sad that the tea room was closed as we passed Still, good to have a short drive back
The path leading through the fields looking back

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