Beinn a’Chrulaiste.....Bookilicious

[PeteR]

Heading up to the walkhighlands Autumn meet at Kinlochleven and I had great plans to bag Sgaith Chuil, but work pt paid to that idea and so I was looking for a last minute substitute as I left the house around 10.00 a.m.

Thankfully Beinn a’Chrulaiste came to my rescue

The Big Bookil from Kingshouse

Parked up at the Kingshouse around midday and was soon on my way. The initial views toward the Big Bookil and Creise were pretty encouraging

Buachaille Etive Mor

Creise

Think this is going to a good wee walk

The Bookil

To say the approach from Kingshouse is boggy would be something of an understatement It didn’t take long for my boots to get a good soaking as I followed the boggy track come path that heads off alongside the Allt a‘Bhalaich up towards Ba’C’s east ridge It didn’t take me long to get soaked either, as one decidedly rainy, sleety, snowy shower dumped its worst on me for about 10 to 15 minutes

So, with very wet troos I continued the walk in the bog. Even on the ridge and gaining height this is one boggy hill as the situation seemed to deteriorate!

Rannoch Moor

The only way is up......steeply

Thankfully there is one majestic reward for all the effort on the sometimes steep climb up

Sneaking out after a quick shower

Toward the Mamores

A shadowy Bookil

Gaining height I was surprised by just how much snow there was nearer the top. Eventually this made walking easier, as soft, slippery bog gave way to firmer snow.

Summit trig

Once the summit was reached all struggles with bog, rain, sleet and snow was easily forgotten Now the Big Bookil took centre stage, It was just was simply majestic

Quite a summit view

Other views were superb too, Creise, over the desolation of Rannoch Moor, toward the Mamores, Grey Corries and down into Glencoe All stunning, but that Big Bookil stole the show I was like a kid in a sweet shop jumping about the summit area taking in all the views

Little Bookil, Bidean and into Glencoe

Mamores and Grey Corries......and tomorrow's target front right

That old Bookil again

Zoomed view down the Lairig Gartain

Panoramic Creise, Bookil and across to Bidean

Even in descent toward Alltnafeidh the views were just incredible

Initially the snow this side seemed to be deeper than from when I climbed up from Kingshouse. Soon enough though snow gave way to bog and I was soon taking a bit of a slip in the slop on the way down

Lairig Gartain

Once back on the West Highland Way and it was a straightforward walk back to Kingshouse and the car, all the while enjoying that Big Bookil to my right

Classic view

Driving back on the Sunday and it was clear blue sky. Anyone lucky enough to do this little gem that day would surely have had some absolutely stunning views

[Graeme D]

Driving back on the Sunday and it was clear blue sky. Anyone lucky enough to do this little gem that day would surely have had some absolutely stunning views

Yes. Paul, Helen, mountainlove, Nathan and possibly quite a few others were heading off to do this today. They would have had a right eyeful of the Big Bookil most of the day. Great set of photos Pete - a real eulogy to the Big Bookil.

[davetherave]

You lucky so and so Pete. I had read the views from this Corbett over to BEM were outstanding.
You do know where this is heading right. Thats right when we did this Corbett in similar snow conditions the views were awful.grrr.

Great photos. Cheers.

[brpro26]

Think you need therapy...that's an uncanny love affair your have with the Big Bookil....verging on stalking

However I can see the attraction.....great set....of photo's

Nae doubt a gid weekend.....

[wilkiemurray]

fantastic - love this hill

[heatheronthehills]

Beautiful photos....very atmospheric

[johnkaysleftleg]

The Highs and lows of Hillwalking, some great pics.

[basscadet]

Driving back on the Sunday and it was clear blue sky. Anyone lucky enough to do this little gem that day would surely have had some absolutely stunning views

Yes. Paul, Helen, mountainlove, Nathan and possibly quite a few others were heading off to do this today. They would have had a right eyeful of the Big Bookil most of the day. Great set of photos Pete - a real eulogy to the Big Bookil.

Dougie and I met a huge crowd of walkhighlanders up there yesterday right enough..
Aye, these boards are going to be awash with reports of this hill.. We got a stunning day.. Prefer PeteR's photos though.. more atmospheric

[stevemillar]

The Sunday was absolutely amazing... Such an under-rated hill....

[Collaciotach]

Nice one Pete briefly thought of this on Sunday but Streap won in the end