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My wife and I managed a walk round Loch Muick on Xmas Eve with the dogs but since then I had done nothing of note. This needed rectified and my mate Craig had been just as inactive as me so was keen on a trip. We decided on these two Munros as we felt we’d struggle with fitness, these were not long walks, not much ascent - starting at around 400m and if we really were feeling bad we could call it a day at one Munro. The hardest task it seemed was getting to the start at Lochan Daimh in one piece. The roads were like glass and even with my 4x4 and taking it well easy we nearly skidded off the road a couple of times. Therefore a slow drive got us to the start at 9.30am.
We chose Stuchd an Lochain first as we felt it be the harder of the two.
A gentle walk led to the landrover track which runs to the south of Lochan Daimh to a wee cairn where we branched off to start the climb up the hill.
- Cairn marking start of ascent up Stuchd an Lochain
The path was icy as water had obviously run down it and frozen overnight. This would be a nightmare on the descent. Soon we were in the snow and the going got tougher and slower. The dogs were in their element shooting on ahead and returning to check we were ok, the responsible pets they are.
- Looking back at Craig and Loch an Daimh
- And again
- Happy dogs
We eventually reached the fence posts which we followed up round Coire an Duich and over to Sron Chona Choirein.
- Ben Nevis in the distance
- Following fence posts
- Following fence posts
- First sight of Stuchd an Lochain
I caught up with two guys from Perth here and we spoke while walking. They rested at the foot of Stuchd an Lochain and I pressed on with the dogs while Craig followed on. I reached the summit to great visibility; I could see and identify all surrounding Mountains. What a sight, Scotland in all its glory. We stayed on the summit for 30 mins taking photos and drinking hot juice.
- Lawers range
- Me on summit with Lochy and Roy
- Looking to Rannoch Moor and Glencoe
- Right to left, Glencoe, Nevis Range and Aonachs
- Nevis Range
- Glencoe
- Loch Lyon
The two guys from Perth appeared and we briefly spoke again before saying our goodbyes and heading off down the hill, we still had another one to do. We retraced our steps all the way back to the car, we had a few bum slides in places where the snow was hard enough. We reached the car 3 hours and 30 mins after setting off.
From the same spot we set off for Meall Buidhe.
- Start of ascent up Meall Buidhe
- Craig Leading on this hill
It seemed the busier of the two as once off the landrover track which runs North of Lochan Daimh and into the snow line there were many more footprints in the snow. We spoke to a lone walker, then a family of 4, the two small children had done really well in the conditions and in front we could see a couple and their two dogs. The ascent up to Meall a’Phuill was a slog; we were really feeling the added effort needed when walking in the snow now.
- Summit ridge Meall Buidhe
Once up here we were hit with the stinging wind, I quickly put on my balaclava (one of the best purchases I’ve made in terms of winter gear). I caught the couple and their 2 x collie dogs at the summit of Meall Buidhe and they shared a dram of Highland Park with us. The views were just as spectacular but the time was wearing on so we set off quickly to get out of the wind.
- Dogs on freezing summit Meall Buidhe
My phone switched off with the cold on the summit so I was unable to take any pics of the magnificent sun set we experienced on the way down, however Craig took a couple so I have used them to show the wonderful colours of the sky. Again this hill was a return down the same way we ascended.
- Loch an Daimh sunset
- Loch an Daimh sunset
- Loch an Daimh sunset
- Summit plateau Meall Buidhe
We got back to the car in just under 3 hours. Weather wise we were really fortunate and the views from these two central Munros were fabulous. I noticed there are a few Corbetts in the vicinity so I will be back.