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Sub 2k Marilyns: Cnoc Ceislein
Date: 03/08/2020.
Distance: 11.5km.
Ascent: 485m.
Time: 3 hours, 45 minutes.
Weather: Sunny and warm, with overcast spells.
My parents were up to stay for a week. We weren't going to go walking with them today, but the route they settled on actually suited us quite well, so we all decided to go together. The usual Cnoc Fyrish carpark was busy, but due to the fact that we turned up long after lunchtime, getting a space was actually straightforward.
Starting up We followed the usual path to the summit sculpture and stopped there for a break. We all decided to carry on as the sun was breaking through the cloud for periods, and I was hoping for a quick nip up Cnoc Ceislein as well.
Lochan near the summit
Black Isle
Cromarty Firth
Invergordon
Summit views SW
Fyrish monument
Carn Chunneig
Beinn Tharsuinn
Invergordon and Nigg
Sunlight on Evanton by
Malcolm Clark, on Flickr
Mouth of the Cromarty Firth
Alness Bay
Dropping off the summit of Cnoc Fyrish We all carried on towards the shoulder of Cnoc Ceislein on good tracks, dropping into the woods then back out again. Mum wasn't overly keen on going up Cnoc Ceislein, but also wasn't sure of the way back to the car along the maze of forestry tracks. We had also forgotten a map. So I decided to leg it quickly to the summit and catch her up before she had descended too far. Dad and Jackie would then follow on at a more leisurely pace.
Beinn Tharsuinn
Back to Fyrish I did my usual straight line route to the summit - I had been this way before and the heather was thick. Sadly the sun had disappeared by the time I reached the top but the views into Strathrudale and the back of Ben Wyvis were still good. O the way back down I tried following something of a path....and it went all the way back to the track we had all been on earlier! Wish I'd thought to look for this on the way up - I shouted to Dad and Jackie to move over to it (they had just started heather bashing), and legged it up to catch up with Mum.
Back of Wyvis from Cnoc Ceislein
Strathrusdale Fortunately the way down was straightforward - there is a maze of forestry tracks around here, but sticking to the most obvious through route keeps you right. The midges were beginning to move in as we got back, so we sat in the car and waited for Dad and Jackie, who arrived around 20 minutes later as predicted.