Beinn a'Chearcaill, chilly Torridon graham

[gld73]

Nice clear, cold day, turned out to be perfect for doing Beinn a'Chearcaill as it wouldn't be a good one to navigate in the cloud. Followed the WH route - path started beside the cottage, so followed that to the wee cairn where I branched right and headed up the coire to where the path ended. After that there was no clear path, it was nice to pass both the small lochans mentioned in the walk description so I knew I was about right. From there to the summit plateau it was a wide area, no set route. Pretty much no snow but everything iced up, so good that the bogs were frozen but bad for trying to keep my feet in some spots.

View back north to Slioch

Great views back over to Slioch most of the way on this walk, then over to the other Torridon mountains around. Summit plateau is an odd one, like a massive flat slab of rock, with the cairn on the west. Put on an extra jacket as it was pretty chilly up there, but the winds weren't strong.

Summit cairn and Beinn an Eoin to the west

Sail Mhor and Liathach

Beinn Dearg and Beinn Alligin

Summit selfie with Slioch taking centre stage behind :)

Headed back more or less the same way, massively glad it was a clear day and I could orientate myself by the surrounding mountains, only got the map and compass out once and that was more of a check of the route I was doing. Relieved when the 2 lochans came into view and confirmed I was where I was aiming for.

1 couple also doing this walk today, passed them on my walk in and then as they were heading up when I was returning, I agreed with their comment that it's sometimes nice to have someone else on the mountain, especially when it's rocky and icy.

Not a long walk, done in 4 hrs, but really enjoyed it on a day like this, and finishing early meant no rush to get through Garve before the road closed overnight at 7pm for work.

Left car 1050, summit 1250, back at car 1442
Graham #22