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It was rather busy heading up the A82 and A87 on Saturday 7 June and I had an important deadline: to meet Jimmy (jamesjones) for a pint in the Kintail Lodge Hotel bar! After overtaking a few caravans etc. I made it to my B and B at Innis a' Chro near Morvich, and that evening honoured my commitment. This was the start of a fortnight in the Highlands: 7 nights in Kintail, and 7 at Spean bridge. This report deals with the first week.
Sunday 8/6/14: Carn Ghluasaid, Sgurr nan Conbhairean, Sail Chaorainn
Distance: 17.3 km
Ascent: 1368 m
Time: 6.1 hJimmy was doing the S. Glen Shiel ridge this day, so en route from Innis a' Chro to Lundie I picked him up where he'd parked at Malagan Bridge and dropped him off at Cluanie. On reaching Lundie, I encountered another walker who introduced himself as Dave, from Glossop. We agreed to walk the East Kintail 3 together.
Dave en route to Carn Ghluasaid:
On Carn Ghluasaid, with a cloudy Sgurr nan Conbhairean in the background:
Sgurr nan Conbhairean was in mist when we reached it, but a view appeared just as we were about to leave.
On Sail Chaorainn, looking over Creag na Coire Mheadhoin:
Descending towards Loch Cluanie:
We came down on the west side of Allt Coire nan Clach. In spate, this burn would be better crossed higher up, as per WH route description.
Monday 9/6/14: Beinn Liath Mhor, Sgorr Ruadh
Distance: 18.4 km
Ascent: 1430 m
Time: 8 h This was my first venture into Coulin Forest, and a very impressive place it is.
Two views from Beinn Liath Mhor's east ridge:
Fuar Tholl...
...and Sgorr Ruadh:
Beinn Eighe from Beinn Liath Mhor:
Although the weather was clear, care was needed in finding the path on the steep descent at NG 959 516.
Loch Torridon, Beinn Alligin and Liathach from Sgorr Ruadh:
Looking back to Beinn Liath Mhor on the walk out:
The fine weather held until shortly before the end of the walk, but the rain without wind didn't send the Achnashellach midges away. They couldn't spoil a superb day, though.
Tuesday 10/6/14
Saileag, Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg, Aonach Meadhoin, Ciste Dhubh
Distance: 16.5 km
Ascent: 1678m
Time: 8 hJimmy and I had arranged to do the Brothers' ridge together, leaving a vehicle at either end, as we'd done in 2012 with the 5 Sisters.
View in retrospect of Saileag, backed by the 5 Sisters, en route to Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg:
Approaching Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg:
Moving towards Ciste Dhubh:
Descending from Ciste Dhubh with An Cnapach in front:
Jimmy suggested giving the Corbett, Am Bathach, a miss, and I agreed.
Wednesday 11/6/14: A' Chralaig, Mullach Fraoch-choire
Distance: 14.7 km
Ascent: 1241 m
Time: 6 h Another day walking with Jimmy, and these two Munros were lined up to be his 99th and 100th. The weather was a bit damp and misty at first, and A' Chralaig was in clag when we reached it. But a slight clearance of the clouds allowed something of a view.
Loch Cluanie from A' Chralaig:
The ridge leading to Mullach Fraoch-choire:
Jimmy reaching the ton on Mullach Fraoch-choire!..
As with A' Chralaig, the Mullach was in and out of the mist, so we did get some views.
So, congratulations to Jimmy on bagging 100 Munros. After the walk, he drove back home to Alnwick. I returned to my B and B and looked at the WH 'meeting up' board on my phone. Fife Flyer was intending to do the two Loch Lochy Munros on Saturday 14th, the day I would be driving from Kintail to my next B and B in Spean Bridge. Strategically, it made sense to join him, so the arrangement was made. Martin (FF) and I were also to be accompanied by Karen (kmai1961).
Thursday 12/6/14: Meall Chean-dearg
Distance: 16.3 km
Ascent:972 m
Time: 5.9 h
My second visit to Coulin Forest, and the weather again allowed some superb views.
Moving towards Meall Chean-dearg:
An Ruadh-stac from just above Bealach a' Choire Ghairbh:
Liathach and Beinn Eighe from Meall Chean-dearg:
Descending, with Meall nan Ceapairean in front:
On the descent from the Bealach, I stopped to talk to another walker who was ascending. With a look of alarm, he pointed towards my right hand. I hadn't felt it, but a great cleg had landed there; fortunately, I brushed it off before it could get its teeth in.
Friday 13th was a rather wet day in the west, so I had a rest and went to Inverness; the weather wasn't so bad there.
So that was the end of a superb week around Kintail, and I made ready to head to Spean Bridge via Loch Lochy.