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The plan was to find a walk with a decent path and not too steep a gradient that wouldn't force a recovering broken ankle into angles it didn't like. I was drawn to Bidein Clann Raonaild after reading mountainsofscotland's report and reckoned if it was fine for his daughter in snow it would present no problems for Mary's ankle with little or no snow. I had a good look at the north side of the hill when passing two days earlier and could see no snow at all so was hopeful the track would be clear, which it was.
For comparison of underfoot conditions just two weeks apart here's mountainsofscotland's report.
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=60030When Janice heard what I was suggesting her response was "That's a Marilyn!" which made me wonder if she thought I was being over ambitious taking Mary there. What neither of us remembered was that since breaking her ankle last April, Mary climbed Cairngorm twice in the autumn and more recently was up Meall a' Bhuachaille. So this wee Sub 2000 with vehicle track all the way would be a doddle.
We parked on the verge beside the gate to the transmitter mast near the road at the east end of Glen Docherty. The forecast had said early low lying mist would soon clear but it was to be better in the west and I was concerned we were still too far east to get the best of the conditons.
All set to head off into the murk
Beyond the mast the track undulated through the forestry plantation and led to a locked gate with extra fencing on top which didn't look strong enough to bear any weight but to the right was one of those narrow ladder arrangements with posts on either side which can be hard to clear with an arthritic hip. Janice (the athletic one) went over it and the rest of us would have followed except that I (the opportunist one) spotted a square hole had been cut in the fence to the side about the size of a large labrador. I didn't have my labs with me (my car being full of women and the boot with all their stuff) so it seemed a waste not to use it and with Moira (the careful one) pushing my rucksack down I managed to get through without taking it off. The others followed minus their bags.
A bit further up the track we decided since we were in no hurry we'd stop for a coffee or in Mary's case a cup of tea.
Cup of tea
Checking their phones
We were fairly near the summit and still had no views looking east but at last we could see blue sky ahead and the sun was making a valiant attempt to shine through.
Is this a fog bow?
Mary (the recovering from broken ankle one) and I were ahead and couldn't see the others so stood and waited for them to catch up. After about 5 minutes we still couldn't see them but we could hear them chattering away - their voices floating eerily up to us from the opaque blanket below.
Ghostly figures emerging from the mist
Over to the south west we could see the Beinn Liath Mhor group appearing above the inversion.
Beinn Liath Mhor
But the real wow moment was on reaching the summit and seeing Liathach and Beinn Eighe bathed in sunshine with a perfect blue sky behind.
Liathach and Beinn Eighe
Transmitter mast at Bidean Clann Raonaild summit
Three of us at summit cairn
There were views on every side. Next to Beinn Eighe was Meall a' Ghuibhais which Moira and I climbed last year with two of my grandsons and which from this angle looked impressively steep rising up from Loch Maree.
Meall a' Ghuibhais, Slioch and shadow of transmitter mast
Seeing Slioch from this side brought back memories of the fabulous day I spent climbing it with Kath and the dogs and made me sad she's no longer here to climb hills with us.
Loch Maree and Slioch
The easterly Fisherfield hills
Looking east towards Fionn Bheinn
Strathconon Corbetts above the mist
The track heading down
Fionn Bheinn and Fannichs peeping out
Fuar Tholl and Beinn Liath Mhor (zoomed)
Looking back at summit
Fish shaped lochan with Slioch and Fisherfields beyond
Zoomed down to the road with northern tops of Strathconon Corbetts above the mist
Fuar Tholl and Beinn Liath Mhor
When we reached the locked gate Janice climbed over but the weight of her bag unbalanced her and she wrenched her arm saving herself from falling. So there was no question about which way we were going!
It's easier without the bag (Moira's photo)
The final stretch through the forestry was far more pleasant now that the mist had cleared.
Moira's photo
I had to be back early but we still had loads of time so added in a few extra miles to the journey so I could introduce the girls to the cafe I'd discovered in Kinlochewe two days earlier. For anyone passing it's well worth a visit.
Whistle Stop Cafe, Kinlochewe
