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After a glorious week, the forecast for the Friday was not quite as wall-to-wall sunshine - the valley cloud and mist was predicted to reach up the summits both north and east of our base at Invergarry - but to be maybe slightly less immediately South of us. We decided on one of the local "Loch Lochy Munros" - we would go to the Cam Bealach and then decide which one to do.
Early on Friday morning, the forecast seemed entirely correct. As so often on that week of perfect summit views, down in the Great Glen it was gloomy but almost eerily still at Loch Oich.
IMG_6774 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Like every morning that week, we had breakfast at the excellent Well of the Seven Heads overlooking the loch.
Seven Heads' breakfast...
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Enjoying breakfast and coffee.
IMG_8753 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Fortified by Haggis Rolls etc, the three of us who were walking that day went on to Kilfinnan. The walk past the farm and on through the forest was enjoyable even though mists loomed around. The turn-off for the Cam Bealach is marked with a sign and there's the landmark of a large boulder too. The plod up through the trees did not seem to take long and we soon emerged from the canopy into sunshine filtered through shreds of mist, and could see the path rising into the valley of the Allt Glas-Dhoire ahead,
IMG_8757 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
As we approached the head of the valley we could see that the Cam Bealach was filled with cloud.
IMG_8764 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We reached the bealach in thick clag. A good path led off up towards Sron a'Choire Gharbh and it seemed to make the choice of Munro obvious. The path rises in easy zig-zags and soon we could see above the clouds.
IMG_8772 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
As had happened earlier that week on Sgurr nan Eugallt, we emerged into warm sunshine.
IMG_8779 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Suddenly we were in clear air, the excellent path beckoned us upwards, and we realised that we were nearing the summit ridge.
IMG_8796 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Soon we reached the head of the massive horseshoe that makes up the Sron, and could look along the ridge leading to Sean Mheall
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
A little higher, and Loch Linnhe came into view
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
As well as an improved view over the Sean Mheall ridge towards hills such as Creag Meagaidh, Beinn a'Chaorainn and Beinn a'Chlachair (left to right skyline in this photo)
IMG_8957 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
From here on the walk was sheer delight. We kept stopping to admire the views.
IMG_8858 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking back to Meall na Teanga. Left of its summit are the Grey Corries and Binnein Mor, with Aonach Beag, Aonach Mor, Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis above and to the right.
IMG_8949 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
South-west to Gulvain, Sgurr Thuilm and Sgurr nan Coireachean
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking from the summit cairn - Meall nan Dearcag and the Sean Mheall ridge rising from the mists
IMG_8880 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
At the cairn
IMG_8898 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
North-west from the summit looking over the Meall a'Choire Ghlais ridge to a skyline of Ciste Dubh, A'Chralaig, Sgurr nan Ceathreamnan, Mullach Fraoch-Choire, Sgurr nan Conbhairean, Mam Sodhail and Carn Eige.
IMG_8893 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Northwards towards Ben Tee, with the Strathfarrar hills and Ben Wyvis in the remote distance. If you look at the Flickr image and click the little magnifying glass thingy, you can just about make out a wind turbine rising spectrally through the clouds below Ben Wyvis.
IMG_8942 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Down to Loch Linnhe
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
West to Knoydart - a skyline of "broken teeth" - prominent peaks are Bidean a'Chabair, Sgurr na Coireachan, Sgurr na Ciche, Sgurr Mor and Luinne Bheinn.
IMG_8866 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Meall na Teanga again, couldn't resist
Meall na Teanga by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
On the descent we saw some dramatic clouds back over Cam Bealach
IMG_9039 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
IMG_9032 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
