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CONIVAL AND BEN MORE ASSYNT
I had been looking forward to these two ever since I walked past them on my way to Cape Wrath a few years ago. I have been gradually working my way up the country ticking off Munros and at last I find myself way up north. It was a superb day as I set off from the car park near the hotel at Inchnadamph. Loch Assynt was a deep Mediterranean blue with Quinaig towering up behind.
- Loch Assynt and Quinaig
The broad track crosses a burn and winds up past Glenbain cottage before giving way to a footpath. At a small plantation the track divides: the left hand branch leads to Conival. It was a very pleasant walk alongside the River Traligill spotting lots of great camping spots along the way.
- Traligill Burn
Great views across to Canisp.
- Canisp
After a couple of kilometres the path steepens, still following the burn, and leads up to a flatter grassy area and finally, after a short scramble up a rocky wall, to the bealach between Beinn an Fhurain and Conival. There beneath my feet was a sea of brilliant white, quite a shock when the air was so clear on the west side.
- Clouds
Scrambling up boulders and scree I encountered a patch of fairly solid snow but I kicked a few steps and found myself at the summit of Conival.
- Conival
The ridge across to Ben More looked enticing so I didn’t hang around. There was quite a lot snow on the rocky descent to the ridge so I proceeded with caution until I reached more level ground.
- The ridge to Ben More
The ridge was quite rough but good fun and after crossing a few more patches of snow I reached the small summit cairn of Ben More.
- Conival from Ben More
I decided to make it a more circular route by continuing towards the south summit and dropping down to Dubh Loch Mor.
- Dubh Loch Mor
The ridge itself presents a nice little stretch of easy scrambling.
- South ridge
The descent to the loch, however, was horrendous. If you have been using the same pair of knees for over 60 years it is not to be recommended!
- Knee wrecking descent
It would have been better to have gone further along the ridge to where the slope eases somewhat. However, I finally made it to the loch and indulged myself in a cup of tea to aid the recovery process. Then up to the bealach between Conival and Breabag Tarsuinn. From there I decided to head across Loch Mhaolach-coire: a little blue bird on the map indicated this to be a nature reserve. However, there was not a bird in sight! So I cut down to the Traligill Caves which were much more interesting and well worth a visit. In one cave water rushes down under ground: I wonder how far you can go underground?
- Caves
It was only a short distance back to the car park where the car told me it was 27 degrees! I had forgotten my sun screen so had got a bit burnt: I had to put my fleece on to protect my arms!