Soaked and dried three times over

[Ghotay]

11.35
14.20
16.35

‘Which other wild souls tumbled pathlessly down the same hillside’

Woke to a glorious bright morning over the moray firth. Couldn’t help but smile. Took a **** in the woods, and had avocado and oatcakes with a banana for breakfast. Then... out west!

Set off late, relatively dry underfoot. A couple set off shortly before me, caught up to them at the river crossing just in time to see her throw their jack russel the last little distance. I found the crossing a little tricky to navigate, and was grateful for my trekking pole for stability. One slightly dodgy jump and I was across, feet dry! Overall, overhyped

The trek uphill was a little boggy but overall pleasant. Once I reached the plateau though an unpleasant squall passed over, briefly reducing visibility to zero and soaking my left hand side with the aggressive wind. It soon passed though, and I passed the couple coming the other way on the final approach to the summit. The views of Beinn Dearg were astounding - the fine corrie, craggy peaks, and sheltered lochan. Loved it.

At the summit the weather started to turn, with the wind somehow picking up even further. A stinging horizontal rain started up and re-soaked me. I got turned around more than once on my way down, and rather than continuing to the path down I cut across the grassy slopes, desperate to escape the wind, rain, and cloud. I emerged from the cloud fairly quickly, and though I was far from the path I was at least confident of my direction.

Eventually, after a long rough way down entirely soaked, the weather eased and shortly after I regained the path. The final section held lovely mild sun, I even enjoyed a brief run. Waded across the river on the way back - I couldn’t get any wetter - and then FINALLY back to the van.

Made good time at 5hrs considering the conditions. Felt like a year’s worth of weather in one walk. A quick wash then reparked the van on the loch for a wash, dinner, stove on, and a wee read...