Ciste Dhubh and An Bathach

[Cairngorm creeper]

With the weather forecasters promising a dry day and low winds we decided that we should aim for something a little harder than many of the walks we have done this winter and Ciste Dhubh with its narrow ridge fitted the bill. We were unsure what the snow conditions would be like but the SAIS reports were for low avalanche risk in all areas and The Cairngorms had certainly lost there very white look.
We followed the The Walk the Highlands route in reverse and at 9:20 set out from the car park heading towards the Glen. The cloud was low and we could not see much above 500m.

The route

Low cloud in the Glen

It was a very pleasant walk through the the Glen and not as boggy as I expected. By 11:00 we had reached the end of the stream and it was time to head up to the Bealach.

Heading up to the Bealach

Given the poor visability we decided to head for the base of the ridge on Ciste Dhubh. Bealach a'Choinich is almost a small plateau with 3 ridges and 3 descents leading from it. We were very aware the soft snow was hiding deep bog, Lochans and water courses, route finding across the Bealach was tedious and at times, quite tense in the mist.

Bealach a' Choinich

So pleased to be able to get grid references from OS locate which helped us arrive at the ridge to Ciste Dhubh with at 12:00'with dry feet.
The ridge was quite broad to begin with and there was a path all the way. All the snow apart from one patch was avoidable. The way up to An Cnappach looked formidable so we took the bypass path

Bypassing the first summit

but we enjoyed the remainder of the ridge which felt quite spectacular in the mist.

Ciste Dhudh ridge

Ciste Dhubh ridge

Ridge leading into the cloud

13:15 Ciste Dhubh summit

? The tip of Mullach Fraoch Coire

After a brew and noodles above the clouds we left the summit at 14:00 and aimed to take in all the tops we missed on the way up.

Looking down to Allt a Chomhlain

Looking down to Allt Cam Ban

Start of the ridge up to An Cnappach

An Cnappach

Looking across to Am Bathach

The mist started to clear as we were on our way back down to the Bealach and there was very little snow as we crossed it to reach Am Bathach.

16:00 Am Bathach summit

Looking back at Ciste Dhudbh

. Then another brew before a delightful walk along Am Bathach with great views across Loch Cluanie and towards the Brothers ridge and its Corries.

Loch Cluanie and beyond

Looking at Druim Shionnach and Anoach Air Chrith

Final Descent

18:00 and back at the car

[litljortindan]

Must have been great to pop out of the cloud. A misty ridge seems to magnify the depths below too though.

[Alteknacker]

The ridge part of the walk looks really excellent, and glad you got out of the mist in the end and got those great views.

Planning on getting to Ciste Dubh and one or two others in the area this year, and this has sharpened my appetite!!

[Petr Dakota]

Nice photos from the ridge I had not views from Ciste Dhubh last year there...in clag in the time, but clear when I got down and looked back

The ridge part of the walk looks really excellent, and glad you got out of the mist in the end and got those great views.

Planning on getting to Ciste Dubh and one or two others in the area this year, and this has sharpened my appetite!!

One or two ? As I know you, it means The Brothers and the Five Sisters as two...but sets
Very doable for you all the route: Am Bathach - Ciste Dhubh - Kintail Brothers - Five Sisters ( 7 Munros & 1 Corbett ), I almost did all of them last year, but left the 3 M of five Sisters for this year, solo and without a bike long way back on the road @ 25 km with a bike or another car would be nice to continue. You are using your bike for this type of your efective trips so I'm not worried and without any doubts
Nice route all of them in the ridge line on top
My plans for Kintail this year: atleast twice there...one trip The Five Sisters and 2nd trip the 5M on the Easter side.

[2manyYorkies]

Going round the opposite direction looks to have been a grand decision. Hoping to do this next week. Nice report, thanks.

[Cairngorm creeper]

Thank you all for your kind comments, I hope you have a good time in Kintail, it is great walking but we will never quite manage the great, long hikes you guys do

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Nice to see the summit of this hill which we didn't quite get to! Some lovely shots of the ridges.

[Jaxter]

That ridge looks formidable good job!! Sometimes I think they're better in the clag...can't see the drop

[Cairngorm creeper]

Nice to see the summit of this hill which we didn't quite get to! Some lovely shots of the ridges.

Thank you It is always nice to have some hills to go back to in areas you love :

That ridge looks formidable good job!! Sometimes I think they're better in the clag...can't see the drop

Very true, although I think the photos made the ridge look scary that it actually was.