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A retro-report from Fisherfield, June 2010>
Hills: Beinn Dearg Mor and Beinn Dearg Bheag
Date: Friday 18th June 2010
Company: Just me
Time: 11Hrs 20Mins
Distance: c.31km
Ascent: c.1830m
Dog friendly: NoLast night I packed my tent, and all the associated paraphernalia, for a trip to Fisherfield. After lifting the rucksack, I instantly changed my mind and instead decided to just go in and out for a day. Walking is much more enjoyable with a light pack.
In previous visits to Fisherfield/Letterewe, I have went in three times from Poolewe and twice from Corrie Hallie. Today, for a change, I opted to go in from Gruinard.
I parked on a verge near Inchina. Room for several cars on verge.
Today the air was filled with birdsong. Cuckoos were cuckooing and sandpipers were piping. Dragonflies and damselflies were darting about chasing each other. I found the five mile walk-in, alongside the River Gruinard, really pleasant.
Gruinard River:
Gruinard River:
Looking across Gruinard River towards An Teallach:
As I walked along the track, a dragonfly landed beside me. Unusually, by the time I got the camera out and powered it up, the dragonfly was still there
.
Golden-ringed dragonfly:
I took to the hillside a few hundred metres after crossing the bridge over the Allt Loch Ghuibsachain.
Beinn Dearg Bheag above 348m top:
I ascended towards the 348m top but skirted round the highest point.
Looking back along Gruinard River towards starting point:
Sail Mhor (zoomed):
An Teallach across Loch na Sealga:
I also skirted round the highest point of the 392m top.
As I approached closer to Beinn Dearg Bheag it started to look quite intimidating – seriously steep and craggy.
Really steep ridge of Beinn Dearg Bheag above 392m top:
An Teallach:
I started ascending a wet grassy gully. I could see no human footprints only deer tracks and soon began to question if I was on the correct route. I wasn't happy so I descended back to the base and instead made my way up the crags. The scrambling didn't last long and the ascent became much easier. I was overtaken by a couple who had biked in from Gruinard and we met again at various points throughout the day.
Ascent of Beinn Dearg Bheag:
Looking back towards 392m and 348m tops:
Loch na Sealga:
Sail Mhor across Loch na Sealga:
I reached the summit ridge without too much difficulty. The following section, leading towards the summit, does involve scrambling (some avoidable and some unavoidable). I wouldn't recommend this route to anyone who doesn't like scrambling or exposure.
Cairn marking start of summit ridge:
Ruadh Stac Mor and A'Mhaighdean:
Ridge:
Looking back at down-climb:
Next hump on ridge:
Looking back along ridge:
Beinn a'Chasgein Mor:
Looking towards summit of Beinn Dearg Bheag:
Was glad that there was an easy by-pass round the next bit.
Looking back at avoidable down-climb:
I spent a short time at the summit speaking with the couple who had overtaken me earlier.
Looking back along ridge from summit of Beinn Dearg Bheag:
The descent from Beinn Dearg Bheag towards Beinn Dearg Mor was really straight-forward as was the ascent of Beinn Dearg Mor.
Beinn Dearg Mor and Loch Toll an Lochain:
Beinn Dearg Mor from bealach:
Sgurr Ban, Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair and Beinn Tarsuinn:
Beinn a'Chlaidheimh:
During the ascent of Beinn Dearg Mor, I misjudged my current height and was pleasantly surprised to reach the large summit cairn when I thought I still had about another 100m of ascent to go
.
Approaching summit cairn of Beinn Dearg Mor:
Looking down towards Shenavall:
Beinn Dearg Bheag from Beinn Dearg Mor:
The nearby pinnacle was so tempting, I had to get my photo taken on it.
It is much easier than it looks.
Myself on pinnacle near summit:
Pinnacle near summit:
After a quick bite to eat, I returned to the col between Beinn Dearg Mor and Beinn Dearg Bheag and then descended into Coire Toll an Lochain.
Approaching Loch Toll an Lochain:
Beinn Dearg Bheag from Coire Toll an Lochain:
Loch Toll an Lochain had quite a number of really large tadpoles in it.
Tadpoles in Loch Toll an Lochain:
Beinn Dearg Mor from Coire Toll an Lochain:
Beinn Dearg Bheag:
The descent towards Loch na Sealga is quite steep but straight-forward.
Loch na Sealga:
The track alongside Loch na Sealga is not fantastic. At one point I lost the track and ended-up trying to wade through thigh-deep bracken. I felt relieved to reach the end of Loch na Sealga but was disappointed that the boat house, marked on the 1:25000 map, is no longer there.
Loch na Sealga:
The five mile walk from Loch na Sealga back out to Inchina was quite sore on the feet. During the walk out a sandpiper was flying alongside me from rock to rock.
Common Sandpiper:
Looking back towards Beinn Dearg Bheag and Beinn Dearg Mor:
Really enjoyed this walk, albeit it was a long one.
