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On Friday 21st May a group of us got a ferry at 6pm to Inverie on Knoydart from Mallaig, though the sun had been shining all day on the road north, it was raining in Maillag and had been most of the day. While waiting on our ferry The Odyssey, several small fishing boats docked and unloaded there catch of shrimps, lobsters and other small fish.
As we sailed the rain stopped and the skies lightened and when we arrived at Inverie the sun was making an attempt to shine as we sat outside the Old Forge having a drink before dinner at 7.30. We had a good meal a couple of drinks then the long walk to the Drum Bothy in Gleannn Meadail which is marked on the OS map as a ruin and was going to be home for the next three nights. Apparently it was converted into a "posh" Bothy a number of years ago and it was my first experience of staying in one and would not like to think what a standard bothy is like.
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We all settled down for the night and in the morning we split into two groups as various people had done some of the Munros and others like myself had not done any. I went with the group to do Meall Buidhe and Luinne Bheinn and since we were near the base of the ridge for Meall Buidhe we opted to do the two hills anti clockwise by heading east along the path from the Bothy for a short distance to a bridge which we crossed over then headed diagonally up the very steep grassy slope to get up onto the ridge.
We eventually picked up the path on the ridge and made our way over several ups and downs to the summit. Unfortunately the weather was very poor with low mist from almost the beginning and when on the ridge you could only see about ten yards in front of you hence the lack of photos. On our return on Monday the ferryman told us that the Skye ferry on Saturday morning could not get into Maillag harbour until the mist lifted as it was down to about five yards.
We set off north east to Meall Coire na Gaoithein Ear and though there was deep corries we were unable to see them and felt you were missing part of the excitement of the walk.On this section we passed several groups taking the more traditional route of clockwise and had a few chats. From there we headed north and dropped down to a col at 683m before the steep climb to Luinne Bheinn.
Then we headed north west to Mam Barrisdale then south west to take us past the Loch an Dubh-Lochain and by then the mist had lifted up to the higher tops of the mountains and passed a cow and her two calves out for an evening stroll.
It was one of the hardest days that I have had with so many steep ups and downs and only regret was not being able to get views.
