The Hounds of Fionn macCumaill and Maol Ceann Dearg

[Collaciotach]

This warrior and his faithful hound found have been out and about a lot recently and now having sussed our camera úra and how to resize have a report or two to consider

Landed at Na Cuileagan on Saturday morning with the intention of Maol Ceann Dearg on this wild ,windy day .

Gleann Fhionn Abhainn

The walk up the Abhainn Fhionn is straightforward and we also enjoyed a look in the MacLennan house now a Bothan which was empty .

Ach an toiseach cuir sinn a'ceilidh air Clach nan Conn Fionn ......... and we wanted to see where Fionn MacCumhaill tethered his dogs

Clach nan Conn Fionn

It is said that Fionn Mac Cumhaill had two dogs ,Bran and Sceolan

It is also told that their mother was Tuiren, and she was Fionn Mac Cumhaill's aunt, transformed into a hound by a fairy or Sidhe however today no sign of the beasties just their tethering post

The said Gaoith was not noticed in the Gleann but the sky was fast as we headed up the Bealach and as we hit the 500m mark the wind became fierce !

Good views to An Ruaidh Stac on the way suas .... no doing that today in this weather I said on my way up the slope of Maol Ceann Dearg !

An Ruaidh Stac

Maol Ceann Dearg

No difficulty to the mullach but care in the wind which would take the feet off you ! ..... we soon hit the carn
and with a grey hue to the sky no much clarity in the views

Beinn Dearg

We took 2hrs 15mins to the summit but no hanging about today and after a 20min break we set of back down with the intention of heading home.

Air Ciuil

At the Bealach again I considered the Corbett ,sky was brightening although wind stronger should we ? ....... off we set

An Ruaidh Stac

We took a line up the druim and a wee bit lea of the gale , steep but dry and good hand / foot holds although some sgritheall (scree)

Sios

An Cu

We traversed a bit South across and under the summit and emerged in the wee bealach of the summit

Am Bhealach

An Cárn

The wind was hefty here but a grand wee hill although only a 10min stop to refuel before heading back down ,clear views all round and sun

An rathad sios

Care needed going down as a wee bit craggy and scree you would be careful in wet or snow conditions but great cráic

Sios a ribhist

Agus bha sin e ...and that was it ,back at the car for 2.30pm , six hours for both hills ... I reckon I'm a descendant of Fionn MacCumhaill at that speed .

Clach nan Conn Fionn

Cheerie

[Beaner001]

I don't know what it is but every trip report i read with An Ruadh-Stac just makes me want to climb it more. I can't put my finger on why though , anyway it is probably top of my to do list at the moment. Thats some little warrior Cu you have there Colla Look forward to your next reports
Cheers

[robertphillips]

well done colla an ruadh stac is one of the best corbett in that area. was a fair old wind on saturday on the hills.

[The Rodmiester]

So that's what the vies are like from the top! A fine hill I save for a clear day and will also head up the Corbett as well, looks wonderful. Ta for posting, I liked it the first time looking forward to doing it again now even more

[dawnfoth]

Nice one!! The corbett looks awesome! i am desperate to get up there to climb it too

[Collaciotach]

Moran Taing a mhuinntir ....... Deffo a hill for a clear day a real cracker and do the pair worth it

[AnnieMacD]

Great photos with your new camera. MCD is a great hill but not a patch on An Ruadh Stac. It's one of my favourites - has it all in my opinion. I can't believe you did them both in 6 hours!!! Were An Cu's paws OK on ARS?

[Huff_n_Puff]

Great photos, thanks. Beautiful area.

Like Annie I'd like to know how the dogs paws were at the end of the day. When we did MCD our pair ended up with cut paws so we've been keeping then off the neighboring hills, but perhaps that's going a bit too far??

[malky_c]

Excellent . A pair for the train in future I think - did them both separately before but Strathcarron keeps drawing me back.

[Collaciotach]

Great photos with your new camera. MCD is a great hill but not a patch on An Ruadh Stac. It's one of my favourites - has it all in my opinion. I can't believe you did them both in 6 hours!!! Were An Cu's paws OK on ARS?

Aye right wee pair of crampoons he has ... he was fine slowed down a bit on the way down the Glen mind ... was surprised how quick ,light pack helped and I stopped bout 40 mins !

[mountain thyme]

lovely pics... i remembered reading of ' Fionn MacCumaill'

[Collaciotach]

Excellent . A pair for the train in future I think - did them both separately before but Strathcarron keeps drawing me back.

Aye Malky a good day out indeed and easy done by train I 'm surprised more folk do not do both on the day , too much to resist for me

[prog99]

Was this Saturday or Sunday?

[Johnny Corbett]

Super stuff Colla. Didnt manage An Ruadh Stac when i did the Munro and thinking of maybe saving it for last

[dogplodder]

Great stuff. I likes a bit of history thrown in and love that dog. If ever I have a wee dog want a wee dog like that!