free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
I'm a bit fed up with January grey skies and feel like a boost of blue skies and sunshine. So I'm going to fast forward to the spring to a report on a sparkling May day in 2008 which I should have written up long ago.
My two labradors came from Labrador Rescue in the north of England. When the woman in charge found out I took them hill walking she asked if they could do a sponsored climb up Ben Nevis to raise funds for the Rescue. I said they could, but they would have to build up to it. So early in 2008 they started their training, first with shorter walks and gradually increasing the distance and harshness of terrain.
We first collected Jack on the memorable date of 5:5:5 so the 5th May 2008 was the third anniversay of adopting him and in that time he'd come on a long way from the lovable hooligan we first met! Moira and I decided it was time to visit the Loch Lochy Munros and drove down to Kilfinnan with Anthony, parking just before the bridge crossing the Kilfinnan Burn. We started along the Great Glen Way, staying on it until our track forked off to the right. It was a lovely gentle start to the day, walking through the forest in the morning sunshine with primroses in profusion growing on the banks to the side of the track.
![DSC00038-medium.jpg]()
![DSC00039-medium.jpg]()
After about 2km there's a right turn into the woods. This is marked by a large rock and there used to be an upturned boot on a post but other walkers report the boot has now gone. This path climbs steeply through the trees and once above the tree-line continues to climb up the north side of the valley of the Allt Glas-Dhoire. This is the old Coffin Road once used by crofters to carry their dead to the cemetery at Kilfinnan.
Coffin Road
Heading for the bealach (Moira's)
Bealach (Moira's)
At the bealach we decided to head for Meall na Teanga and also that we would take our time and enjoy it as we were quite happy to come back another day to climb Sron a' Choire Ghairbh, which is what we did. We crossed the slopes of Meall Dubh, heading for the broad north ridge of Meall na Teanga. There was one short steep section up a snowy staircase that without crampons required firm kicking in with boots to get a firm hold. Moira didn't fancy the look of it so took a detour round the bottom of the snow patch which had her crawling up steep grass and I suspect might have been worse than the short snow bound section of path Anthony and I took.
North ridge showing path going up through snow
Views west as we climbed
Once on the ridge it was easy walking to the summit. As we approached the cairn there was an endearing view of Anthony looking as if he was reading stories to the two mutts with the magnificent backdrop of Ben Nevis behind.
Approaching summit of Meall na Teanga (Moira's)
Jack the lad on his 3rd gotcha day!
Meall na Teanga summit
Enjoying their carrots
Looking down on Loch Lochy (Moira's)
At top of bealach (Moira's)
On 22nd August 2009 Moira and I returned with Evelyn and Murdina to climb Sron a Choire Ghairbh. This was an important day for Murdina as she needed to climb a hill that didn't involve a narrow ridge or exposure following her challenging day on the Brothers Ridge a few weeks earlier!
The walk up to the bealach was as before then we turned right up the well made zig zag stalkers' path.
Zig zag path up Sron a Choire Ghairbh taken from Meall na Teanga (Moira's)
The path tops out on a grassy ridge which leads along the edge of broken cliffs to the summit.
Evelyn, Moira and Murdina at summit with the Great Glen visible on the right
No worries this time for Murdina
Looking west from summit
Looking east from summit
It was a good day out with the girls and on the way home we rounded it off very nicely with food at the Scots Kitchen in Fort Augustus!
