Inverie to Barrisdale via Luinne Bheinn and Meall Bhuidhe

[munrogimp]

Dave and I had been looking forward to this trip into Kintail for a long time. So I was chuffed the weather gods were smiling on us as we stood waiting at the Harbourside in Mallaig. After a beautifully smooth boat trip to Inverie my enthusiasm for this two day round trip peeked even more on seeing the Old Forge pub to which we'd be returning, relaxing and imbibing in 48 hours.
Off we went down Glenn Meadail where we stopped after crossing the second footbridge for extra water before the long slog up Druig Rhigeanaich towards Meall Buidhe N/NE up a steep grassy incline aiming for the ridge line. It was midday at this time and extremely hot, so the hard climb with an overnight pack meant a lot of sweating, which Dave never really replenished the rest of the day as there was no water once we started to climb. Once on the ridge we followed this to the summit of Meall Buidhe and stopped for lunch and a photo.
The exposed ridge was windy but afforded fantastic if hazy views across and towards burning mountains sides to the south.
The climb was tough carrying big packs for the over night stop at Barrisdale bothy.

The next leg of the trip was a descent of the NE shoulder to the Bealach lle Choire then following roughly the same line of undulating terrain until we reached the Bealach a' Choire Odhair.
Then came the second real climb of the day up the SE shoulder of Luinne Bheinn, and whilst only a couple of hundred metres Dave found it a real struggle.
At the summit we paused briefly for a photo, as we wanted to press on to our overnight objective and the weather had started to cloud over.

A long descent followed NW to Mam Barrisdale where we picked up the sketchy path that continued to descend NE towards Barrisdale Bay and the bothy at just after 6pm.

[snowdonia7]

and whilst only a couple of hundred metres Dave found it a real struggle.

I feel fit shamed

[Graeme D]

I am still drooling over the views I had to the Knoydart hills from Sgurr a'Mhaoraich a couple of weeks ago. I think a wee foray into Knoydart could be a priority for next year, probably also in April.