Sgurr Choinich - monotonous is a personal judgement

[TheTortoise]

We guessed just about correctly on this day, we were looking for a hill without a ridge (because of wind) and not completely west (because of incoming cloud/rain). We parked at the Butterfly Reserve, and started to walk in thin cloud. We followed the path through the reserve to the forest track, crossed over the bridge, walked past the pedestrian gate for reentry to the reserve, and past a farm gate on the south side of the track. Then we found the start of the ATV track helpfully described by BlackPanther. Soon the track went through a locked gate in a deer fence. Even a Tortoise managed to slither under the gap under the gate. The Hare opted for climbing the fence. Shortly afterwards, we popped out of the cloud and saw a fogbow, which disappeared as we fumbled for our cameras, so no picture.

A bit higher, looking west along Loch Arkaig before the clouds sweep in

Thereafter we followed the track high up on the shoulder of the hill, where we walked across pleasantly short vegetation and small rocky stones to the summit. It was quite windy up here, though the ascent had been fine.

Loch Lochy hills from lunchspot just below the summit

Clouds gathering around Loch Cuaig

After lunch, we had a last look at the views then returned via the track. ( Mini-rant - why do guidebook writers assume that everyone will find a particular route monotonous? It depends on the person and the conditions. We really enjoyed this route)

Clouds still above the loch as we get lower

Clouds above the loch and the sun reflected

.The ground was getting slightly softer, so I slid back under the gate on my rubble sack. On reaching the forest track, we went back into the other side of the butterfly reserve, and spent a bit of time photographing trees.

Frosted twigs

Waterfall in the butterfly reserve

Frosted trees, and the cloud has lifted

As we reached the car, the rain started!
Here is our approximate route up. The ATV track does a bit more weaving around than is shown.

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