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At the end of a summer that hasn't been much of a summer I've been wistfully remembering hills climbed in truly stunning weather.
It was a day like this when we climbed two of the Strathcarron Sgurrs in May 2009. We parked in the Achnashellach Forest car park at Craig and walked in by the track that runs alongside the Allt a' Chonais. It was a beautiful fresh May day with the gorse in bloom and great views from the start.
Looking back down the track towards Fuar Tholl
The Coulin peaks Fuar Tholl, Sgurr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhor
The track led to a fine camping spot and a two wire bridge crossing the Allt a' Chonais. I tried the wire bridge but found there was too much slack in the wires which were swinging violently
so chickened out and crossed on stones which I managed to do without getting wet feet. But if the river had been in spate I would have had to use the bridge, which to be fair others were managing to do.
We followed the stalkers path, which was a good dry one, up to Bealach Bhearnais.
Jack and Tess on climb to bealach
Sgurr nan Ceannaichean which has been downgraded to Corbett status since I climbed it
I thought this was looking back the way we came but now I'm not sure - moral being write up walk reports while still fresh in the mind!
Our ascent was up the na Aon Pacan-deug ridge which starts off broad and grassy with a few rocky steps and narrows further up
Jack likes to go ahead to find the route which I'm assuming he does by sniffing out where other walkers have been.
He's not usually wrong.
A bit of fun scrambling here
Evelyn and Moira climbing the ridge
View north from ridge
Zoom north to Liathach
View south to Bidean a' Choire Sheasgaich
Zoom to Bidean a' Choire Sheasgaich
Zoom west to Cuillin ridge on Skye
Zoom to Liathach and Beinn Eighe
View south west from summit
Moira reaching summit of Sgurr Choinnich
We could see our whole route from the top of Sgurr Choinnich
Last of the winter snow giving extra definition to the ridge
Moira photographing Loch Monar
Brilliant blue Loch Monar
Moira at summit of Sgurr a' Chaorachain with Bidean an Eoin Deirg poking up on right
The beautiful Isle of Skye from summit of Sgurr a' Chaorachain
From the top we walked down the north ridge then down its steep west side which was hard on the old knees
to Pollan Buidhe then over the river a bit east of the wire bridge.
Looking back at Sgurr Choinnich
Looking back to the two Sgurrs as we returned to Craig
A fabulous walk which I would recommend doing in May as we were midge free all day!
