walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

The Best

The Best


Postby pigeon » Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:20 am

Route description: Sgùrr Breac & A' Chailleach: Western Fannichs

Munros included on this walk: A' Chailleach (Fannichs), Meall a' Chrasgaidh, Sgùrr Breac, Sgùrr nan Clach Geala, Sgùrr nan Each

Date walked: 02/04/2013

Distance: 23.3 km

Ascent: 1973m

10 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

One of the few good things about working in the building trades is that you are entitled to a weeks paid holiday at Easter :D So with this to look forward to plans for a week up north were hatched months ago,Gavin took a week off as well and so did Pat(Morcambe Monkey)and we met up at the campsite in Ullapool on Easter Sunday then set out for a few beers and discuss tactics for the week.The forecast was almost to good to be true so we settled on driving north a bit for the Monday to walk Conival and Ben More Assynt,this was a great day,clear blue skies giving us superb views all round in an area none of us had visited before ,so day one of the week had been a belter,would the good weather continue to Tuesday.
Yep was the answer,Diane had driven up on the Monday night and we deciced to try and boost her Munro count with an attempt on 5 of the western Fannichs,these hills had kicked me when i was down last Easter so this time they were getting it :lol:
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 134.JPG
in for a treat
The weather was great again as we set off down to the boat house,somehow missing the track through the forest, then heading over the frozen ground to the start of the steep lower slopes of Meall a' Chrasgaidh,crampons and axes were deployed sooner than we had expected as we hit a few quite steep and icy patches,once at about 600m though the slopes eased off and it was a nice stroll to Munro number one of the day.
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 138.JPG
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 141.JPG
crampon time already
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 143.JPG
steeper than it looks as Gav teaches Diane a few moves
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 146.JPG
An Teallach,nice
The views from here were superb ,hardly a cloud in the sky so An Teallach ,the rest of the Fannich hills ,Fisherfields and away up to Assynt were gazed on before setting of to Sgurr nan Clach Geala.
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 148.JPG
top of Meall a'Chrasgaidh looking to Sgurr Nan Clach Geala
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 159.JPG
Gavin on the icy bealach to number 2
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 160.JPG
Diane and Pat making progress
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 170.JPG
Gavin nears the top of Sgurr nan Clach Geala
This for me was the best hill of the day,great walking down the icy slopes of Chrasgaidh before crossing a big wide icy bealach and then up the steep-ish north side,looking down into the crags and up at the big cornices of Clach Geala.Being Munro 200 for me was also a bonus :wink: so hand shakes all round and we were off towards Sgurr nan Each.
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 171.JPG
looking delighted on number 200
Not too much descent and ascent to get to this one so we were on it quite quickly,didn't hang around that long as despite the pics looking like it was nice and warm up there a stiff breeze was still blowing meaning much layering being required.
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 172.JPG
Fisherfield hills
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 175.JPG
route to Sgurr nan Each
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 177.JPG
Gav,Di and Pat on chilly Sgurr nan Each
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 178.JPG
over to Sgurr Breac
Re traced our steps a bit before descending down to the glen,softer snow here so we were able to lose the crampons for a bit,took a wee break at the shelter next to a big stonebefore deciding we were all fit and able to continue on towards Sgurr Breac.
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 179.JPG
Gavin takes shelter at bealach
Head down arse up for this climb,about 450 metres we reckoned and we were at the top soon enough.
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 180.JPG
Fionn Bhienn over Loch Fannich
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 181.JPG
Diane battles on towards Sgurr Breac
A real treat here as what we reckoned to be a sea eagle soared over head ,never even seen a golden eagle on the hills so to see this bad boy was a real hightlight :D
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 185.JPG
sea eagle ?
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 188.JPG
me,Di and Pat on Sgurr Breac
On the way to A'Chailleach we filled Diane's head with nonsense about eagles that eat monkeys and owls that burrow into holes :lol: :lol: :lol: skirting round the side of Tom Coinnich and at last reaching the last munro of the day A'Chailleach.
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 189.JPG
setting off for A'Chailleach
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 191.JPG
Gav and Di on the last munro of the day
The day so far had been magic but we kind of lost track of time so it was time to head home ,back over Tom Coinnich and down the Druim Reidh was the choice,this was easy enough but when we reached the descent down Leitir Fhearna none of us were too keen to go down there :(
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 195.JPG
a frozen Loch Toll An Lochain
A quick re think by chief navigator Gav and we were off west to find a safer line down,once we had reached a deer fence that no self respecting deer would even look at :lol: :lol: we were sorted.Followed this down and then strolled along the shore of Loch Bhraoin as the sun set and soon we were on the track through the trees and back at the cars.
ullapooll kinlochewe easter week 2013 200.JPG
sun goes down over Loch Bhraoin
No hanging about as the race against time was on to make it back to the Seaforth for burger and chips,boots and ruck sacks hastily lobbed into the back of car we sped off to Ullapool and made it with 5 minutes to spare for a well earned dinner a couple of pints :wink:
Probably my joint best day ever on the hills this,Pat and Diane done really well on a tough hike,Gavin made it look easy as usual,so cheers to them for the company and laughs. :thumbup: :thumbup: Next day we took it easy with a stroll up Am Faochagach,Thursday a day off ,driving round to Kinlochewe and meeting some Walkhighlanders on the Spring meet,Friday another superb day on thehills with Gav,Pat and Kev before more drinks at night then home Saturday for rest :lol: :lol: Don't get much better than that :thumbup:
P.S,Get well soon Charlie,from all the gang :wink:

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Last edited by pigeon on Wed Aug 26, 2020 3:26 pm, edited 6 times in total.
User avatar
pigeon
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 1489
Munros:282   Corbetts:128
Fionas:41   Donalds:40+7
Sub 2000:23   Hewitts:2
Wainwrights:1   Islands:2
Joined: Apr 29, 2010
Location: Linlithgow
Walk wish-list

Re: The best

Postby soapy27 » Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:34 am

Great report and pics there pigeon :clap: snow is fairly disappearing now eh .Soon get the summer boots on again 8)
User avatar
soapy27
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 473
Munros:282   Corbetts:175
Fionas:23   Donalds:8
Sub 2000:54   
Islands:23
Joined: Apr 5, 2009
Location: Perth

Re: The best

Postby Huck Finn » Sun Apr 07, 2013 10:03 am

As always a great report with cracking pics, well done on getting past 200, not many to go now :D
User avatar
Huck Finn
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 255
Munros:78   Corbetts:6
Fionas:2   Donalds:2
Sub 2000:2   
Joined: Nov 14, 2010
Location: Bo'ness

Re: The best

Postby Ian Bayne » Sun Apr 07, 2013 12:00 pm

Looked at your 3 reports Looks like you a good week weather wise cracking photos some views . Hope its like that in may when I go up
User avatar
Ian Bayne
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 401
Munros:184   Corbetts:39
Fionas:13   Donalds:7
Sub 2000:12   
Joined: Oct 25, 2010
Location: Rosyth

Re: The best

Postby rockhopper » Sun Apr 07, 2013 12:09 pm

Congratulations on the 200, pigeon :clap: :clap: and what a way to do it ! Makes all the difference when you get good weather, especially as good as this :thumbup: Not often that holidays coincide so well with a weather break - well done all - cheers :)
User avatar
rockhopper
 
Posts: 7446
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:136   Donalds:89+20
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:2
Wainwrights:3   Islands:20
Joined: May 31, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: The best

Postby quoman » Sun Apr 07, 2013 1:59 pm

Quality once again pigeon and the gang stunning views and well done on cracking the 200 mark.
User avatar
quoman
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 960
Munros:282   Corbetts:10
Fionas:1   Donalds:5
Sub 2000:2   
Joined: Nov 14, 2011
Location: larbert

Re: The best

Postby soulminer » Sun Apr 07, 2013 2:05 pm

A double ton, well done that man- not be long now :wink: A rather nice way to do it as well :lol:
User avatar
soulminer
 
Posts: 804
Joined: Mar 18, 2010
Location: Johnstone

Re: The best

Postby sharkey83 » Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:38 pm

great report pigeon. this has to be one of my favourite days on the hills and i learnt so much about birds too!!! :-)
sharkey83
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 14
Munros:118   Corbetts:2
Fionas:3   Donalds:2
Sub 2000:4   
Joined: Jul 28, 2011

Re: The best

Postby kevsbald » Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:42 pm

Good to meet you albeit very briefly.
Cracking day you had.
User avatar
kevsbald
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 2248
Munros:273   Corbetts:134
Fionas:82   Donalds:53
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:17
Wainwrights:29   
Joined: Jan 15, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: The best

Postby malky_c » Sun Apr 07, 2013 4:37 pm

That looked pretty much perfect :D

Congratulations on the 200 and good to meet you on the Friday evening.
User avatar
malky_c
 
Posts: 6342
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:219   Donalds:80+37
Sub 2000:315   Hewitts:281
Wainwrights:140   Islands:39
Joined: Nov 22, 2009
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: The best

Postby The Rodmiester » Sun Apr 07, 2013 4:47 pm

Quality stuff there, in what looks like superb weather conditions. :D
User avatar
The Rodmiester
Walker
 
Posts: 3396
Munros:107   Corbetts:196
Fionas:45   Donalds:13
Sub 2000:76   Hewitts:3
Wainwrights:1   Islands:17
Joined: Aug 15, 2012
Location: Newbigging

Re: The best

Postby sharkey83 » Sun Apr 07, 2013 5:03 pm

a few of my pics
Attachments
20130402_104459.jpg
20130402_095630.jpg
20130402_114348.jpg
20130402_114342.jpg
20130402_114337.jpg
20130402_112539.jpg
sharkey83
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 14
Munros:118   Corbetts:2
Fionas:3   Donalds:2
Sub 2000:4   
Joined: Jul 28, 2011

Re: The best

Postby sharkey83 » Sun Apr 07, 2013 5:04 pm

not sure why pat is upside down! :-(
sharkey83
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 14
Munros:118   Corbetts:2
Fionas:3   Donalds:2
Sub 2000:4   
Joined: Jul 28, 2011

Re: The best

Postby Morecambe Monkey » Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:54 pm

Great report & pics there Pigeon on what certainly was an epic day & it was some way to reach your 200 too. Cheers for a cracking week of mountains,beer & laughs.
sharkey83 wrote:not sure why pat is upside down! :-(

Diane,that really has made me laugh,i felt like i was upside down at the end of the walk. :lol:
User avatar
Morecambe Monkey
Walker
 
Posts: 607
Munros:282   Corbetts:118
Fionas:43   Donalds:40
Sub 2000:39   Hewitts:143
Wainwrights:214   Islands:28
Joined: Apr 9, 2011
Location: Lancashire

Re: The best

Postby Graeme D » Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:07 pm

Brilliant stuff pigeon. Like others have said, good to meet you on Friday evening, albeit all too briefly, but another time! 8) Congrats on the 200. :clap:
User avatar
Graeme D
 
Posts: 3996
Munros:251   Corbetts:123
Fionas:75   Donalds:22
Sub 2000:59   Hewitts:36
Wainwrights:28   Islands:6
Joined: Oct 17, 2008
Location: Perth

10 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Next



Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: AwryDiamond, Bill64, Broggy1, dougiebroon, K Armstrong, peter mc g, smac1 and 65 guests