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Was fairly hot here yesterday, had smock on at start but it soon went in the pack as soon as I got moving. I did the long route from Ballachulish, everyone else I met had gone from the forestry car park up to bealach then left & right for each Munro. Oh, also used GPS for first time here (etrex 10), didn't really need it today but they work really well. Map & compass more interesting though.
Got to TI car park & headed off just before 10, sun tan lotion & hats necessary today - ice axe/crampons left in car. View of first hills from Ballachulish, head up Beinn Bhan on the right then across to Sgorr Dhearg on left.
Went through village, over bridge and past the school to metal gate:
Straight up here, no path and quite steep:
Got to fence, no stile so crossed at the big post, view back to village & Pap of Glencoe:
Boggy heather next, then there's a path that goes across the hill so if you keep going up you'll cross it. This leads right, then up to the ridge. I thought I was looking at both Munros here, wondered why I got there so quickly.
The initial pathless walk is probably the worst part, once that's over it's a ridge walk with great views, cairn on Sgorr Bhan:
Bit of snow on the ridge, but it's off the path. Sgorr Dhearg cairn:
Aha, there's another one, Sgorr Dhonuill:
Rocky descent gives way to grass, path all the way. Looking back from bealach:
And Sgorr Dhonuill looks imposing:
Exposed sections of path, bit of a scramble up but dodgy bits can be avoided as there are a few routes:
Spacious at top with great views:
Over to Mull:
Cairn with bottle of Bud stuck in it (empty) so someone enjoyed a refreshment up here. Ben Nevis on left, Sgorr Dhearg on right of cairn:
Rocky scramble back down:
Path down from bealach:
There's an iron fence & burn to follow down, you should be on the right of the iron fence when it joins the forest but there's a hole in it down there so easy to cross:
There's a good path here with stone steps, thought I was heading back uphill but there's a newish wooden gate with a path leading through forest.
Path descends through trees:
Then crosses one track then the next track leads back to A82.
Walked back to Ballachulish, when I passed the pub a guy came out to join his pals in the beer garden. When he saw me walking past he showed me an ice cold pint of lager & said ' you've got to the end, now here's your prize!'
. But I was driving so couldn't indulge
. There was also a guy covered in feathers & eggs tied to a chair on a trailer being driven round the village. Stag do or Wicker Man type ritual?