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ARKLE
Katie was so lucky on this walk. She had given me a wonderful book called “Rock Trails: Scottish Highlands” for my recent birthday so I was able to keep up a running commentary about the relevant geology throughout the day. We parked at the small space just by the bridge on the track that leads from the A838 to Lone at the southern end of Loch Stack. It was a pleasant walk in with great views of screes of Arkle.
- Arkle
Crossing the bridge at Lone we headed towards a small wood the entrance to which is guarded by two large boulders (erratics). The track begins to climb and reaches a small cairn. We carried on to where a burn reaches the track and then ascended alongside it (on quartzite pavement as I was at great pains to point out). I was also able to indicate several examples of pipe rock which are the fossilised remains of burrows made by worms millions of years ago. Katie was impressed!! Higher up we encountered a frozen waterfall
- Frozen waterfall
before reaching our first target at the spot height of 758m. We put on our crampons at this point and descended towards the ridge which curved invitingly towards the summit in the distance.
- Ridge
The ridge becomes quite narrow as it rounds the huge corrie of Am Bathaich. Some sections were a bit awkward but Katie was fascinated as I pointed out the tilting quartzite pavement and the imbricated thrust planes and this took her mind off the large drops on either side.
- Katie listening avidly to my geology lecture
- Katie on the tilted quartzite pavement
After this excitement the ridge broadened out and we made our way easily to the summit. The views across to Foinaven were spectacular.
- Foinaven
We grappled with the tilting quartzite pavement again (for some reason Katie left me behind at this point)
- Leftbehind
as we made our way back to the spot height at 758m and then walked round the top of An Garbh-choire to the frozen Lochan na Faoileige. From there we dropped down to the path and the walk out to the car. Later that evening over dinner I gave Katie a test just to make sure she had been listening to my geology lecture.