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After a gorgeous hot sunny day on The Saddle yesterday (Lynne and Hugh had done the Forcan Ridge too) we had a lovely night with Margaret and Brian in their Morvich home. We decided to take in the Corbett directly opposite the cottage , Sgurr an Airgid, the Silver Peak. We arrange to meet up with Hugh who had been van camping back at the Kintail Lodge.
Porridge for breakfast and an arrangement to have lunch back with Margaret and Brian, we headed off to meet Hugh at 8:30am, Parked and passing through the start gate at 8:34am. Was breezier today than yesterday and there was clouds drifting in and out around the summit but we hoped it would burn off or just keep moving in the stiff breeze.
- Lynne on the up with the Glen Licht beyond towards Affric
- A wee breather on the path up the lower sections,
- Hugh with a view of cascading clouds in the distance
The initial track is a little rough but soon reaches the bigger track up and from there on, its a clear track with some great zig zags, bringing you up to the wee cairn at the beallach of Man na Dubharaiche. The cairn is visible from Margarets but its surprisingly small when you reach it. lol
- A panorama from the cairn on the beallach
Turning left,,,or West, to use a technical term haha, we had no view of the summit, low cloud still swirling around but moving fast. Views north opened up first, we could see Lurgh Mhor and Sheasgaigh, the Torridon Hills and right back up Glen Affric. Some parts of a path on the way and some soggy patches but nothing insurmountable.
- Pushing out for the summit in the clouds
- Torridon to the north
- Skye in the distance with the Skye bridge below
The clouds eventually lifted and we started to climb a bit more steeply. I spotted what I though was a deer off under the summit, then realised it was a goat, there were hundreds of them.
Pushing on, more and more goats appeared from behind rocks and headed off over the summit in the opposite direction. Not as timid as deer, they did loiter close by for the duration of our stay.
- Hugh about to scatter the summit hoarding wild goats.
10:40 Reached the damaged summit trig, lightning strike prob caused that. The views now were just utterly fantastic and the smell of goats was extremely pungent, it is just a smell of strong goats cheese, who knew? lol
We spent 40 mins at the top, taking pics, taking in the views, eating some lunch etc, just really enjoyable to sit around in this weather in t-shirts just soaking up the atmoshphere.
- Sunny summit pic
- Affric behind
- Looking all nonchalant
- 'avin a larf
- Group summit pic, im getting good at outrunning the 10 sec timer,
- Down to Morvich
Headed off around 11:30, great progress down and spotted an eagle (?) we did see 2 but couldn't track them very well on the camera so the pics are a bit blurry. They were circling around the lump under Beinn Bhuide and the gully below for Allt na Ruaraich
- Big burd
Txt Margaret from the cairn to say get the toasties on, be down in an hour!
- Margaret and Brians wee hoose.
The descent from here saw the wind drop, cloud burn off and real hot sun kick in. Thankfully, we were on the down, passed 2 couples heading up, one lady carrying her young baby on her back. Through the gate and off down to the vans.
Back down at 12:45pm , 4hrs 15 in total, including our 40min lounge at the summit. Corbett 40 for me, not that I' really counting lol. Said our goodbyes to Hugh before heading back to Mags for a lovely lunch and a natter after doing a tiny bit to help rake out the top soil for their new garden.
- Discussing terms for raking detail under the looming Beinn Fhada
- Wee Heilan Hame
- Ma wee pal
- Lunch under this mornings summit, scrummy stuff Margaret. x
Left sunny Morvich at 2:30, back in Callander at 6pm.
A glorious day to end a fab weekend, just not enough words. This is what weekends are all about.
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