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This was to be the Argyll Mountaineering Clubs first visit to Rum and we had all been looking forward to it for quite some while. Martin (Jeremiah Johnston) had organised it and although there had been two late call offs there was still nine of us heading over to the Island determined to have a good time. We were staying at the recently completed bunkhouse run by the Rum Community and it turned out to be an excellent base. We were not the sole occupiers of the bunkhouse as we were sharing with another walking group from Nottingham, hi again and thanks for all your help and generosity and general friendliness.
Today we were to be heading for the highlight of the weekend the Rum Cuillin which consists of two Corbetts and a well documented and highly rated Graham Trallval. I had read Mountain Thyme's excellent WH trip report and decided that this would be the way to tackle the walk, Hallival, Askival (Corbett), Trallval, Ainshval return to Bealachan Fhuarain,Bralach an Oir then skirt around Atlantic Corrie and head for the Bealach between Hallival and Barkeval the hill we did the day we arrived on Rum.
- It started off as the Famous Five all loaded with lashings of ginger beer, as we didn't know if there would be any water along the summit ridge. In front of the Bunkhouse hoping for good weather after the two previous days. From the bunkhouse we carried on towards Kinloch Castle and decided against the muddy path marked by a signpost on our left but continued on the road in front of the castle. After passing Castle and old timber Bunkhouse on our left we took the track on our left heading up towards Harris Bay and adjacent to Kinloch River, turning first left onto a path which takes you up the glen
- On a good well laid path at the start makes for quick walking beside the burn, at this point we were up to six as John had joined us
- A spot of bouldering for Ewan en route to the North East slopes towards Cnapan Breaca then up the NW slopes of Hallival
- The team pose before the climb up Hallival
- The way ahead with the three main hills in shot
- Jerimiah Johnston at a point overlooking Atlantic Corrie with Glen Harris below in the distance.
- Heading South of Hallival, before reaching the steep rocky scrambling section
- At this point the group has become five as we had said our good byes to John who had decided to head back to base another route. Ewan was already off doing his own thing looking for other climbs to do, this would be the last meeting with Ewan until the bunkhouse later on in the day
- Heading on up the North shoulder ridge of Askival from Hallival, soon as the ridge narrows there is a by pass path on your left which gets steeper later on and requires some scrambling but nothing too demanding
- The group on the summit of Askival
- Coming down off Askival, very rocky and quite steep in places, care being needed
- Looking over to the North East slopes of Ainshaval from the steep slopes of Trallval
- Nearly there, a steep climb to the summit of the Graham with Askival behind
- Looking over to the grassy summit before the downclimb
- Martin (Jerimiah Johnston)on the way
- Jerimiah Johnston arriving at the summit of Trallval after the downclimb. It was here that we decided to have a break and a bite to eat before attempting the downclimb to the second Corbett. After the downclimb we skirted around rather than climb back up, the choice is yours. It was when we were descending to Bealach an Fhurain that I found a large loose boulder which came away in my hand followed by another which crushed my finger, not broken just a bit of a mess and quite painful when it happened, after a quick bit of first aid delivered by Ramsay I was back on my feet, thinking to myself just as well I was leading at the time as there might have been more serious injuries to others. Its quite steep anf some stones are quite loose so care is required and a time for poles to be in the rucksack
- At the bealack head slightly West and you will see a path climbing up to some scree slopes. Heading on up the scree slopes on the North East side of Ainshval at the top turn right and find a path going up the ridge no more scrambling required now
- The team on the summit of Ainshval. We returned to the bealach the skirted around below the crags NE heading for Bealach an Oir where we met up with some others from the bunkhouse, then headed around the head of Atlantic Corrie
- Fancy meeting you three here, our fellow bunkhouse friends who had left behind us and had decided to call it a day after Askivall
- The four pose on the Bealach Bairc-mheall with the skies brightening up all the time
- On the Bealach Bairc-mheall looking North, with somebody looking kinda tired
- Our ferry arriving to pick us up to take us first to Canna then back to Rum then Eigg and Mallaig
- It was a pleasure to meet up with fellow walkhighlander Dogplodder on the ferry back to Mallaig
- Mallaig harbour in the evening sun after an unforgettable weekend on the beautiful island of Rum. Making many new friends and meeting up with many old ones, a good time was had by all and hope to go back again soon.